The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-11-22
FREEDOM Of THE CITY: HOW THE
PRACTICE HAD ITS ORIGIN

New York. NOV. 2i.--"To one freedom
OF the ciry--6 beaver Yk'ns.'
Entries like this would have dotted
the debit side Of the expense account.
OF Foch. Diaz, Beatty. Jacques ana
others Of the brilliant proccsSton 81 o."
world figures drawn L. America Ia TN"
wake Of the World war. had they come
about three centuries earlier.
And instead OF ridiug at IN" head OF
trIumphul pruccSSionS 10 thu city hats
OF various municipalities. iher" To re-
Ccive tho freedom Of the city At the
hands Of respectful mayors. 10 the &C
commandment OF bands and cheering
thronGS. they would hay" had to file
petitions in court Cnr their freedom and
take uathS not To- offend against the law
ct the land.
Gathering OF the freedom OF a city
ON al ,.V:tOr has come tu m"rn almost
precisely the opposite Of what II meant
In the young days OF America AMI
earlier. in the medieval days in Mcrrio
England.
"The origin Of the custom Of granting
the freedom ~ the city IL aliens Is Nlr-
tunlly lost III antiquity said Professor
Harold MCBain. Instructor ~ municipal
government utS Columbia university,
commenting nu the round oC brilliant
OF New York and other cities almost
constantly IN tall hats and fr"cl coats
1 in recent months.
1T appears however, - huNH grown
directly uut "f N" nelleval organization
! industry on monop"list'c basis. and
was originally IN economic measure
/ pure and simple.
lin the old English borough it
amounted to Il license I" carry ON huSi-
ness AMI. later 70 vote. Without the
status 81 Il freeman, conferred by tn"
! grant. II man could not risr above the
= class ~ cmpluyc
9 The early Dutch settlers 81 New AM
sterdnm--now Now York SCI mp u sim
| liar status. called the BurCher Right,
. in 16%S. AZ Il protection against "Sr"tch
! Merchants and Petty Traders who spoil
! trade and business by undrrsrllinG."
/ Persons not holding Il Burgh"r Right
, wore prohibited from conducting bust.
: nos either with ChrRunn or licuChcn.'
! The fee was s!S beaver skins.
"rrrrdom of the city was PROV i1cd for
. in the Dongan charter of 1856 the mrs,
I English ,narlrr If New York city. and
its dspenssiion was entrusted 10 ye
mayor or any three OF more Of yH alder
men The fee by this time was reCkon"l
/ In British pounds instead Of beaver
+ skius--3 pounds, - shillinEs for the
; shopkeepCr class and / pound. 4
! shliingS FOR handiCraftsmrn.
/ Persons receiving the gran; was re-
CURED 10 take the oath. obey SAINT ana
0redicnt shall " hoe 10 the Mayor and
Minister'S Of this city aud Swor" To-
AXE turns At the watch. pay their taxes,
, and VAIN she mayor Of Any Gatherings :,
: Concenliclrs or CouspiCaC'es made
against the Kings Peace
1T was I'm the latter part OF The
! eighteenth century that the rractic@ of
bestOwtng pratuitous. honorary freedom
or the city appeared.
/ EARLY New York records r"Cite the
! hestowal of the freedom "' the city Of
New York on, Captain Sir Peter Warren
, for his exploits against tn" French
and 20 Generals Shirley, Muuch'on pu.
Gage.
Later there is an entry showing tho
honor bestowed on three sailors IT Il
vessel lying in New York hurhor. in
recognition Of their services IN help!ns >
. extingu'Sh disastrous IRE"
The form0lity had nearly died cat
/ when the termination Of the war brought
! revival des. gned to honor noted Wis
ltors. Professor MCPain said he knew
., ~ no records showing the origin OF the
practice OF delivering the "k-ys Of the
city 10 persons receiving the honor.