Table of Contents
THE SEEDS OF LIBERTY
Introduction 6
1625 - Charles I takes throne 6
1628 - Petition of Right issued 6
1629 - Parliament dissolved / Puritans receive Royal charter for a self-governing colony. 6
1635 - Colony of Connecticut settled 7
1639 - Fundamental Orders of Connecticut adopted. 7
1642 - English civil war begins 7
1648 - East Hampton purchased, English civil war ends 7
1650 - First international boundary in America is established on Long Island. 8
1654 - Town of East Hampton established. 8
1660 - Crown restored to King Charles II 8
1664 - Duke of York gets Charter / Stuyvesant cedes New Amsterdam 9
1665 - Meeting at Hempstead, “Duke’s Laws” established 9
1673-74 Dutch reoccupation of New York 9
June, 1682 - East Hampton delivers grievance and petition of liberty of a “Generall and free Assembly of our Representatives” 10
Sept. 30, 1682 - Dongan appointed Governor 10
Jan. 27, 1683 - Instructions issued to Governor Dongan 10
Oct. 17, 1683 - New York’s first general assembly convenes 12
Feb. 6th, 1685 - Duke of York ascends throne as King James II. 14
Aug. 13, 1685 - Dongan proclaims dissolution of assembly. 14
Oct. 20, 1685 - Second general assembly begins. 15
June 10, 1686 - King James issues new commision to Gov. Dongan 15
Dec. 9, 1686 - First meeting of Gov. Dongan with his council under his new commission - East Hampton Town Patent issued. 15
April 7, 1688 - New York annexed to New England. 16
Dec. 11, 1688 - James II abandons throne 16
Feb. 13, 1689 - Crown tendered to William and Mary 16
Nov. 14, 1689 - Sloughter appointed Governor of New York 16
April 24, 1690 - First Leisler assembly 17
Sept. 15, 1690 - Second Leisler assembly 17
March 19, 1691 - Sloughter arrives in New York 18
April 9, 1691 - A new assembly is had under the authority of William and Mary 18
May 13, 1691 - The new Charter of Liberties 18
July 4th, 1776 - the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence 20
1777 - New York adopts a sovereign constitution of democratic government. 21
1791 - The Federal Union adopts the Bill of Rights 21
CHARTER OF LIBERTIES AND PRIVILEGES - 1683
Preamble 22
1. [Supreme legislative authority.] 22
2. [Governor and council.] 23
3. [Council to act in governor’s absence.] 23
4. [General assembly] 23
5. [Right of suffrage; qualifications of voters.] 24
6. [Representatives, how apportioned] 24
7. [General assembly, how constituted.] 25
8. [Sessions of General Assembly.] 25
9. [Assembly may determine qualifications and election of members.] 25
10. [Immunities of members.] 25
11. [Laws must -be approved by governor and council.] 26
12. [Elections for vacancies in assembly.] 26
13. [Freemen’s rights.] 26
14. [When aids and other burdens not to be levied.] 27
15. [Due process of law.] 27
16. [Amerciaments, to be reasonable.] 27
17- [Trial by jury.] 28
18. [Indictment and trial in criminal cases.] 28
19. [Bail.] 28
20. [Martial law regulated.] 29
21. [Land to be deemed estate of inheritance] 29
22. [Execution against property regulated.] 30
23. [Married woman’s deed.] 30
24. [Conveyance by will.] 30
25. [Dower.] 30
26. [Alienation of lands to be free.] 31
27. [Religious toleration.] 31
Declaration of Independence
Ju1y 4, 1776
[Preamble] 34
[Grievances] 35
[Pleading] 37
[Declaration] 37
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1777
[I. Authority] 42
[II. Supreme legislative power in Assembly and Senate] 42
[III. Council of Revision - Governor, Chancellor & Judges of the Supreme Court.] 42
[IV. Apportionment of representatives to Assembly.] 43
[V. Provision for census] 44
[VI. Elections to be had by ballot] 44
[VII. Eligibility to vote.] 45
[VIII - Oath may be required to vote.] 45
[IX. Assembly to proceed in like manner as assembly of colony.] 45
[X. Constitution of, and eligibility requirements for, Senate] 46
[XI. Term and rotation of Senate.] 46
[XII. Senatorial districts] 46
[XIII. Protection from interference with rights and liberties.] 47
[XIV. Adjournment by assembly or senate limited.] 47
[XV. Senate-Assembly conferences] 47
[XVI. Limitation of size of Senate and Assembly] 48
[XVII. Power and election of Governor] 48
[XVIII. Governor is General and Commander in Chief of Militia and Admiral of Navy.] 48
[XIX - Responsibilities of Governor] 49
[XX. - Lieutenant-Governor] 49
[XXI. Absence of Lieutenant-Governor] 50
[XXII. Treasurer to be appointed by the Assembly.] 50
[XXIII. - Appointment of Officers] 50
{XXIV. Commissioning of Military Officers] 50
[XXV. Chancellor and Judges to hold no other office.] 51
[XXVI. Sheriffs & Coroners annually appointed.] 51
[XXVII. Appointment of Clerks.} 51
{XXVIII. Duration of officers not ascertained.] 51
[XXIX. Town & County officials to continue.] 52
[XXX. Appointment of Delegates to the General Congress of the United States of America.] 52
[XXXI. Preamble of all laws to be “by the people of the State of New York.” 52
[XXXII. Court for Impeachments and Corrections of Errors.] 53
[XXXIII. Power of impeachment vested in Assembly.] 53
[XXXIV. Party to be impeached has right to counsel.] 54
[XXXV. Laws of England and colonial assembly continued.] 54
[XXXVI. Grants and Charters to bodies politic continued.] 54
[XXXVII. Puchases or contracts of sale with Indians prohibited.] 55
[XXXVIII. Freedom of religion and worship protected.] 55
[XXXIX. Ministers and priests barred from public office.] 56
[XL. Militia to maintain readiness.] 56
[XLI. Right to trial by jury.] 56
[XLII. Naturalization] 57