The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-20


almost entirely occupied with the engrossing subject
OF the war The distinction enjoyed by Kingston was
special punishment Not much moro than month
had passed by when u actually RACED 10 the
ground by the orders OF Sir Henry Clinton
cHAScEs ~ THE CONSTITUTION
After the Revolution, aud when party movements
became active. detects pointed out In the copst.
tuition OF l'II and the great difficulty was that u did
not contain any provision for las alteration amend
ment According TO that instrument the Assembly and
the Senate especially the senate, incrcasng IN
numbers 20 degree extremely incon venienL Differ
ences arose 10 nominations TO Office between tho
Governor and Council and under those circumstances
some changes became absolutely requisite. But the
Legislature found themselves wholly. unsuthor.
tied to pass law which would warrant
or make new However,
sity knows no law, they recommended. in 1901,
thorzeu solely take into consideration that portion
OF the constitution which relates to members OF the
senate and ASSEMBLY and also the section affecting
IN october. ls0l They soon agreed to the limlta-
ton OF tho number OF members OF tho Legislature.
There was no difficulty In settling tho question Of NOM
inlSions to Office. In 1921 the people decided
by majority Of $4,000 In favor OF q second
revision Of tho constitution. A convention Tor
The purpose assembled al ALBANY August %. aud
was presided over by Daniel ID. Tompklns. Highly
important changes were made and ratified by a popu.
lar majority Of SO. 925. Tho chief amendments were
the abolition Of tho Council or REVISION giving the
veto power 10 the Governor and reducing his Of
Office 10 two years rcmodcipg the Judiciary aud the
extension Of tho franchise, the election of Shcrns and
County Clerks by The people. Tho constitution has
1872 and In 1876 The last alterations create .
Superintendent OF Public Works and a superintendent
OF state PRISONS me TORN OF Govcrnor Is once more
three years and no has power TO disallow items IN APP
preparation acts. The property qualification tor
groos TO voto WINS abolished IN 1906.
THE EARLIEST POPULAR CHARTER
AS stated elsewhere, the people OF New York ut nm
carry day claimed voice in the administration OF
public affairs The rule under Dutch sovereignty was
arbitrary ana unwlso, and It was only when Indian
were In progress that delegates elected 10
adyIso with the Governor. When the danger was over
q a AakA
attempts were made subsequently, to obtain some
ccssions all such efforts wore sismazed ~ factous
and specially rcpresscd Under English rulo tho Cow
ernor and his council retained the solo right impose
taxes aud enforce such laws they though proper
,es. presented in 1867 by Delegates from
eight Long Island towns publicly burned
by tho common hansmar by order OF Lovciacc.
Repeated imporunitcs and petitions having ut length
convinced tho home government that It's narrow pol.
icy was last bringing It's authority into contcmpt II
the suggestion oil William Penn, Governor Dongau
Instructed 10 convene General Assembly After many
delays the people authorized elect delegates
tho first Legislature. This body October II. 1852
II consisted OF the Governor, his council OF ten and
seventeen members chosen by the Inhabitants Ot the
province TO form tho House oil Representatives A
charter VAS adopted which declared that s.suprcmo
legislative power shall forever be aud reside IN tho
Governor Council and people met IN General mbly.
Every freebooter and freeman shall vote Jor represen
tatNes without restraint No freeman shall suicr,
except by Imprisonment OF Ave years, aud all trials
sessed any pretence whatever but By the consent
OF tho Assembly. No seaman or solder shall be quar-
law shall exist No person processing faith IN God by
Jesus Christ shall ut amy time be any way disqualified
questioned Tor any difference OF opinion" Such
tho language of the earliest popular charter OF
New York, aud u remained practically force until
superseded by the constitution that went into encc'
April 20, I'LL
OBSTRUCTION or KINGSTON
Not long after the adoption and PRONUNCIATION OF tho
first constitution Kingston where tho Convention had
hold ITS wantonly destroyed by u royal
force under tho command OF General Vaughan. At
this time BurgOyne had advanced from tho north mt
4 h.h hand nf md amin la.du
troops almost within striking distance OF Albany nj
winch point he hoped to eiec, IA junction with the
southern army. II therefore became highly important
Tho OF TINS project that the British then
possession OF this city should secure the forts In tbA
ON the 4th October l777. Sir Henry Clinton landed u,
Turrytown with over QUO men, designing To mask the
enterprise no had IN view by threatening attack
upon Feckskil, at which place Ivy General Put
with 1000 Continental troops lntclI-
gcnco OF tho movement ut once conveyed
20 Governor Clinton, who held tns rank Of
brigadier general IN tho army. Hc forthwith
prorogued the Legislature and FASTENED the dclonce
Vi the posts where his brother General James Clinton
had boon lett IN command OF about hundred m-
litia These wcro Forts Montgomery anu Clinton,
which were attacked and after vigorous Resistance
turc. No obstacle being now Ia the way naval force
proceeded up the rivor with orders to burn ana dc.
patriots that could BIO found Tho Gol,ila reached
skingston the 18th October, Ill., and anchored
front Of It. was thea Tho third town In tho State
and had population OF 1900. The houses sub
stantiay built Of stone, and some OF them wcrc
ceedingy handsome structures The Inhabitants vol
Understood the intentions OF their visitors and hastily
took TO flight. removing with thom all the valuablcs
they could carry away. There OF de-
Tending tho place, and In low hours It OF
ruins
Tho royal troops landed IN two deach under tho
command OF General Vaughan, and formed junction
on an elevation close TO tho town. They . once
marched into the place and commenced tho work OF dc.
struction Tho torch was indlscrimnately applied In
every quarter, and, besides the dwellings knd stores.
large amount Of valuable property was consumed.
Every house In the nourshng village except one was
l777, thus describes the savage occurrence -'Tho
conhagration was general Ia few minutes, and In
short time that pleasant and wealthy town reduced
TO ashcs. Only ono house escaped tho
flames. Thus BY the wan,onncss Of power
wealth IS reduced 10 heap OF rubbish, and tho once
happy Inhabitants twho asc chiefly oi Dutch descentl
Obliged 10 solicit for shelter among strangers.
ami those who possessed iatciy costly nnd
convenient dwellings,. obliged 10 take up with
such huts as they lind can defend them
they took little time 10 pundcr being told that General
Canton was Ut hand with 500 mon, but unhappy not
80 near as TO save the ow They burned several yes.
sells ana houses ~ tho landing and then scampered OF
prccipitately 10 their ships Next day they burned
several houses RhinebccK Flats Livingston
Manor, who're they burned lew or
troops are now up with them, and Il
is hoped they viii DO abo 70 put a stop
TO their dcprodatons" Tho enemy forced &c
return 70 the city having totally failed carrying
Burgoyncs design, and very soon after that Officer
had 20 surrender his entire army at Saratoga TO the
tunes and Affections endured by Kingston and It's In.
habitants AMI tho crueltics practiscd there ny SIR
Henry Clinton and General Vaughan. The burning Of
The town one OF the least doenslble acts OF tho
roynl commanders during the war of Independence,
ana caused iocling vi deep ennity and Indignation
among the people Tor very many years alter It's occur
renee The inhabitants were particularly noted for
their devotion and SACRIFICES In tho Revolutionary
THE cELEBRATIoN.
The celeb ration NJ Kingston will be conducted
Imposing scale President Hayes and tho members OF
his Cabinet, Governor Robinson and the Governors OF
adjoining States ana other distinguished citizens In
different parts Of The country arc expected 10 be
The citizens OF the Will perform their part
toward making tho centennial worthy OF the historical
events IL Is to commemorate The civic and military
procession, Is believed, Will DO grand affair, D.
vatons have been sent 10 all portions Of the State
such bodies 10 participate IN the celebration. com.
mtec has been formed to take charge OF tho matter.
II consists OF Colonel john McEntcc, chairman; Gen.
erai ID. I. Van Buren,, Colonel c. ID. Wcstbrook, Cap.
tain Jacob II. Trempor Major Edward O'ReiIey and
Lieutenant Colonel Z. Coddington. The cntiro Stats
Is Interested the centennial, and great efforts will