The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-26
THIS IS BIRTHDAY OF NEW YORK STATE Ratified Constitution By Major
 ity of Three Votes STORY OF EMPIRE STATE Island of Manhattan Was Bought From Indians for $24-Indians Delv-
 cred First Temperance
 Lecture.
STORY OF EMPIRE STATE
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

New York became the eleventh state in the union. It had been a stormy session. Alexander Hamilton had made the great est fight of his life, backed by John Jay, R. R. Livingston and James Duane. The opposition to the constitution, led by Gov ernor Clinton, was equally fierce, for these men believed that the great document would destroy the liberties of the peo- pie Since July r they had debated, and the ten states that had already ratified were filled with apprehension over the possible results, for without New York the union could not be perfect. Rhode Island and North Carolina, neither of which had yet ratified the constitution, could be spared, because the one was so small and the other so far south. But New York was the great wedge that would have divided the northern from the southern states, and have made any gov ernment so situated a most disjointed df- fair. The federalsts worked zealously, and when the vote was taken New York became a state by a majority of threo votes, thirty being for ratification and twenty-seven against 1t. It was such momentous step in the history of the country that couriers on horseback soon carried the news to other states, and New
 
 ing the right to the name Empire state, Iven it by Washington In 17S4 when he referred to if as "the present seat of the empire,"
 It was prophetic of It's present commer cial supremacy that New York should have first been settled and owned by d trading company, and protected by a na- ton that then led in commerce. Holland had succeeded in freeing herself from the dominion of Spain. and when that na- ton had weakened, became heir to her former monopoly as common carrier for the commerce of the world. The opening of world to the west offered new poss- bilties to the thrifty Dutch. There were rich lands where might be secured com modities for their rich patrons, and there was always still that great hope of find ing a northwest passage to Asia.
 Dutch explorers and traders are said to have come up and down the coast with in the century after Columbus, but t. Henry Hudson the chief honors must g In the employ of the Dutch East Ind company he explored the river now call for him, seeking a northwest route the East Indies, and pushing his plu little Half Moon up the river as as the present site of Albany. So unt are the happenings in the game O that at the same time Champlain, interest Ol the EGenCn HlHS, Was
 ing the lake in northern New Tor
 now bears his name, and the paths
 two almost met. Hudson did not il
 China sea- but his enterprise ano
 of adventure had sent him throu narrow gateway where the greates
 ing vessels of the world have sir lowed him. At this gateway Dutch turers laid the foundation Tor u whose commerce is next only to
 london and TjVprpOOl. and thrOuE over s3O00, ,O00 000 worth of domestic factures go out each year. MonoT an early incident in New World If merchants of Amsterdam were g exclusive right for three years to the fur trade in the lands known as New Nether- lands. and later this concession was given for forty years to the Dutch West lnuia company
 Colonization soon followed the traders and the population that came was al most as cosmopolitan as that now in New York There were Dutch, Walloons, French Huguenots, English Puritans. German Dissenters and adventurers Of every kind from all Europe. who came to find refuge there. They came in "The Spotted Cow" the "Jan Baptiste,' "The Gilded Otter and the Arms of Amsterdam" Those who came in the vessels that had St. Nicholas for its figure-head, named their church for him. The Carly ldnuS were gwen Oul tp pa- trooons" who could sublet on their own terms This custom lasted until the midr ale of the nineteenth century, when the famous "anti-rent" troubles caused revision of the state constitution, and feudal tenure was forever abolished. From 16lS until 1864 the colony which they had founded on Manhattan Island prospered under the rule of the Dutch companies and Dutch kings
 
 Then came a buccaneering expedition from England, though that country was at peace with Holland, and captured the little tt wn. It seems that In spasm or generosity Charles II of England had given this territory to his brother James, Duke of York, passing ownership on the ground that the Cabots had discovered the continent and it was his. Peter Stuy Vesan-, on the advice of the people, sur rendered his fort and though his methods oi government were still kept and his people were not harmed, he saw his lit tie town renamed New York" instead of New Amsterdam" Fort Orange further mp the river, changed tos Al bany" and the flag of England set over Kingston and Esopus.
 In 1e67 by the Peace of Breda England coded Surinam Dutch Guainal, to inc United Netherlands. and received the New Netherlands (New York, in exchange.
 
 more territory than is now the state of New York, yet Holland was supposed to have the best of the bargain. In the light of today the exchange would be D great farce. While the areas are almost the same. the other figures are not in proportion. Surnams population ls about 74.000. New York.'s over 0000 Surinam's exports to foreign countries amount to s2,0Oo000. New Yorks to $6oo, O. GOO; from Surinam's ports vessels to the all ount of 150000 tons clear annually, from New York over 9,0O0,O00 tons. Petcr S.uyvesant left a population of 1000 souls in his little town; today the population of New York city Is almost as great as that of Holland, whose trading post 1t once was.
 Tne first concerted action of any kind for a protective union among the colo nies was in New York. In June. 1884 Thomas Dongan the Irish governor, had as his guest Lord Efflngham. governor of Maryland and Virginia where Indian troubles were still causing unrest. At Dongar's suggestion these two governors, with representative from Massachu- setts, held a meeting with chiefs of the Five Nations and by showing the spirit of sympathy among the colonies cured q cessation of hostilities. The spir- It of personal liberty was strong there. too AS early as 1yn Keft called a meet in- of townsmen to discuss ways and means to treat with the Indians, and since that time the men of the state have had voice in it's government. In fraa5opa nf cneapb and cOnsCieoce Now