§ 9. Such is a brief description of the government of the colonies before they became free and independent states. There is not room in this work for a history of all the circum. stances which led to their separation from the parent country, and the establishment of independent governments. The reasons for the separation are stated in the declaration of independence. It may be necessary, however, to say here, 'that laws were made in England which bore heavily upon the people of the colonies. The general object of these laws was to compel the colonies to sell their produce to England, and to make them buy from England the goods they wanted; and to prevent them from buying goods from other countries, they were obliged to pay duties on such articles as were brought hither from such countries.

§ 10. A duty, as the word is here used, is a tax which a person who buys an article has to pay in addition to the price of such article. I will explain the nature of these duties, and how they operated. The colonies traded with the West India islands. Some of these islands belonged to France, some to Spain, and others to Great Britain. Now to prevent the colonies from trading with the French and Spanish islands the British parliament enacted a law compelling the colonists to pay duties on the articles they received from these islands. In order, therefore, to avoid paying this tax, they must obtain such articles from the British Islands.

§ 11. Many other laws similar to this were passed by parliament, all for the benefit of that country; and the money thus obtained, was put into their own treasury for the sup port of the British government. The colonists remonstrated against these unjust laws. Petitions were sent to the king, and memorials to both houses of parliament, and every argument was employed to persuade them to repeal these laws, but all to no purpose. At length the colonists resolving not to submit to such laws, and the British government being determined to enforce them, a war between the two countries was the consequence.

§ 12. The war commenced in 1775. On the 4th of July, is the nature of the laws made in England, that led the colonies to separats from that government? 10. What is a duty? How are the nature and operation of a duty explained? 11. What did the colonists do to get these laws repealed? What is repeal? 12. When was independence declared

1776, Congress declared the colonies to be free and independent states, no longer subject to Great Britain. Congress was a kind of legislative body, composed of a few delegates or representatives from the several colonies. A description of this congress will be given in another part of this work; also the declaration of independence, with the names of the men who signed it. After a hard struggle of about seven years, the war was ended, and Great Britain acknowledged the independence of the states. This change in our relations with that country, and the establishment of an independent government in the states, is called the American revolution. § 13. Since the states declared themselves independent, one after another has changed its government, until all of the original thirteen have adopted new constitutions, except New-Jersey, whose constitution is the same that was established the 2d of July, 1776, two days before the declaration of independence. Since the revolution, thirteen new states have been admitted into the union; and the three territories, Florida, Iowa, and Wisconsin, will soon be added to the number.

CHAPTER IV.

Of the Government of New York.-The general Nature and the Origin of the Government of this State.

§ 1. If the scholar has attentively studied what is written in the preceding chapters on the principles of government, he will now be prepared to enter understandingly upon the study of the government of the state of New York. Every citizen of the state ought to be well acquainted with its constitution and laws, that he may know both his own rights and duties, and the rights of his fellow-citizens.

2. It is necessary also for every one to understand his rights and duties as a citizen of the United States. For

By whom? How was that body composed? What is meant by the American Revolution? 13 How many states were there at that time! How many at present?

12 What is said of the two governments in this country? What is the

there is not only a government in each state, but the people of the several states are also united in one general govern ment, which exercises authority, in certain matters, over all the states. The form of the general government is on the plan of the state governments, and its constitution is called the "Constitution of the United States." Sometimes this government is called the national government, because it extends over the whole nation; and sometimes the federal government, the word federal signifying to be united by a league

or contract.

§3. Being citizens of both this state and the United States, a knowledge of both governments is necessary. But it is thought proper to give a more full and particular description of the state government than of the national; and it will be treated of first, as a knowledge of this will enable the young student the better to comprehend the provisions of the national constitution. And I shall begin by stating a few things of a general nature, which will apply to the government of all the states.

§ 4. In the first place, the government of the state may be considered divided into three departments; the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The legislature is composed of two assemblies, or houses, the members of which are chosen by the people to make the laws of the state.

§ 5. The executive department consists of a governor, assisted by a great number of other officers, some of whom are elected by the people, and others are appointed in some manner prescribed by the constitution and laws. The gov ernor, or chief magistrate, is elected by the people in all the states except three or four; in these he is chosen by the legislature. It is the business of this department to see that the laws are executed or carried into effect. The governor oversees the general business of the state, and recommends to the legislature such matters as he thinks ought to receive their attention. He also has a part in enacting the laws.

§ 6. The judicial department is composed of the different

meaning of federal? 4. Into what departments is the state government divided? Of what is the legislature composed? How are the members chosen? And for what purpose? 5. Of what does the executive department consist? How is the governor chosen? What is the business of this department? 6. Of what does the judicial department consist? What is

courts of justice. All judges and justices of the peace are judicial officers. It is their business to judge of the laws, and to decide what is just and right between citizens. There are several kinds of courts in a state. Some are of a lower, and others of a higher order. The manner in which these courts are constituted is not precisely the same in all the states; but their general powers, and their manner of conducting trials, is the same.

§ 7. The history of the origin and progress of the government of New York, is briefly as follows:

The colony of New York was not settled by the English as most of the other colonies were, but by the Dutch, who commenced a settlement as early, it is said, as the year 1614. The Dutch continued to occupy it for fifty years. It was claimed, however, by the British, as a part of their territory; and in the year 1664, Charles II., king of England, granted it, together with certain other lands, to his brother the duke of York and Albany. An expedition was sent out from England, under the command of Col. Nichols, to whom the colony was surrendered by the Dutch. When the English obtained possession of the colony, the name of New Amsterdam was changed to that of New York, and fort Orange to that of Albany, in honor of the duke.

§8. The government was that of a governor and council, who were appointed by the duke, to whom the king gave this power of appointment. Col. Nichols was the first English governor. The colony was thus governed during the greater part of the time until the revolution; the governor and council being appointed by the proprietor or proprietors of the soil. Hence it was called a proprietary government, which kind of government existed in several of the colonies.

§ 9. The next year after the war commenced, and a few months before the general Congress declared the independence of the colonies, and while the government under the crown of Great Britain was in force, the people of the colony of New York established a government by congress and

the business of this department? 7. By what people was the colony of New York settled? How long did they occupy it? By whom, and when, was it taken from the Dutch? By what names were New York and Albany first called? 8. How were the governor and council appointed? Why was it called a proprietary government? 9. What kind of a government

committees for the purpose of opposing the usurpation of the British parliament. But they intended that this government should expire when peace should be restored, which it was supposed would soon take place. This congress of the colony consisted of a number of representatives, called deputies, who were elected by the people in each county, and constituted the legislature. The committees consisted of a number of persons entrusted with certain matters in each county.

§ 10. Immediately after the general congress (then called the continental congress) had published their declaration of independence, that body recommended to the several state assemblies to establish such governments as should “best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general."

§ 11. But the assembly, that is, the congress of the colony of New York, were not certain that they had the power of instituting a new government; and, believing that it belonged to their constituents, the people, to determine this matter, they recommended to the electors to meet in the severa counties, to determine by vote whether a new government should be formed, and if so, then either to authorize them, (the congress of the colony,) to institute a new government, or to choose other deputies in their stead for this purpose.

§ 12. The election was held, and deputies were appointed and authorized by the people to form a new government. A constitution was formed, which continued about forty-five years, when the present constitution was adopted.

CHAPTER V.

Of the formation of the present Constitution of New York.

§ 1. Ir has already been observed, that the people of the United States live under constitutions and forms of government which they have established themselves. But how this was established about the time independence was declared? Of whom did this congress consist? 10. After the declaration, what did the general congress recommend? 11. What did the congress of the colony of New York then do? 12. Was a new government formed? How long did that constitution continue?