The part tnleetfby' the state of NOV York in the war of secession was foremost, se became t'rst state in the union in wealth and population. Every county furnished quota of volunteers; its well-organized and thoroughly drilled militia reniments sup plied capable officers to the inexperienced army which was so rapidly and the great manufactories of the state were kept busy night and day in supplying anus, cloth ing, and equipments; at the_Watervliet arsenal alone 1500 men were employed during the war. The wealth of New York was poured out like water to sustain' the union cause. The United States sanitary commission and the union defense committee were organized from among its citizens.
Government.-1` The Dutch political system made the judiciary supreme, and denied all i arbitrary power, either in people or parliaments, in civil rulers or religious teachers, and sought to fortify the people against its exercise. Thus the feudal shell of Dutch govern ment inclosed the seed of liberty, ready in fullness of time to germinate in most perfect form." A government was actually established for the first in New Netherland in 1624, after the arrival of a party of Walloons sent out by the Dutch West India company, under the direction of capt. Cornelis Jacobsen May, who preceded Minuits as director. In 1629 the manorial system was introduced, the patroons being invested with the authority of feudal barons, but no political or judicial changes could be introduced without consent of the home govern inept. In 1638 and 1640 the privileges of the patroons were materially restricted and those of free settlers enlarged. Whenever the people settled in sufficient numbers, the company was obliged to give them local government, the officers of which were to be designated by the director and council, in accordance with the custom in the Netherland. But although by the plan of government "no other religion was to be publicly tolerated or allowed in New Netherland, save that then taught and exercised by authority of the Reformed church in the united provinces,"this provision was a dead letter. English colonists were already settled on Gardner's island, and at Southampton and Southold, at the eastern extremity of Long Island (1639-40), and others in Westches ter and at Gravenzande. On the outbreak of the Indian war in 1641, director Kieft invited all the masters and heads of families of New Amsterdam and its vicinity to assem ble in the fort on a given day, this being the first official recognition of the existence of the people in New Netherland. When these freemen convened, they gave their opin ion on the questions before them, and appointed twelve men to continue to represent their interests. These twelve men proceeded to demand certain reforms of government, but were reminded by the director that they had only been appointed to consider the Indian troubles. They were again called together in 1643, when larger liberties were accorded them, and finally eight men were elected by the director, who became an actual representative body. Gov. Stuyvesant continued this plan, by appointing nine men, who \\ ere "tribunes" of the people, to hold weekly courts of arbitration, and advise the director and council. Troubles afterwards grew out of the demands of the tribunes for a burgher government, and these were referred to the states for decision, and a more liberal form of government was ordered, to which order Stuyvesant paid no attention.
The Dutch governor continued to oppose the efforts of the people for greater liberty. until his forced surrender to the English cut short his prerogative. Under Nicolls and Andros, the people of New York found themselves in a worse position than under the Dutch governors, but gov. Dongan convened the first general assembly of the colony, which passed the act entitled " Charter of Liberties and Privileges granted by His Royal Highness to the Inhabitants of New York and its Dependencies," and by which legisla tive power was granted to the colony, James II. abolished this general assembly, and endeavored to unite all the colonies as the dominion of New England, under gov. Andros. William and Mary revived the general assembly, and granted to the people of New York a certain degree of freedom; but the struggle between the colonists and the crown con tinued until the final revolution in all the colonies resulted in the expulsion of English nuthority. The provincial convention which met in New York, April 20, 1775, Witi: the first organized body in the colony after the overthrow of royal authority, the latter having been declared to have come to an end in the colony on April 19. The first constitution of the state of New York was adopted April 2-0, 1777. The articles of confederation of the continental congress were ratified by the state, Feb. 6, 1778. The constitution of the 'United States was ratified by the state July 26. 1787. The present executive government of the state of New York comprises a governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state. comptroller, treasurer, attorney-general, state engineer and surveyor, superintendent of the bank department, superintendent of the insurance department, superintendent of public instruction, auditor of the canal department, superintendent of state prisons, superintendent of public works, besides the governor's staff, and various boards and commissions for charity, lunacy, quarantine, etc. The names of the governors of the state from 1777 to 1881, inclusive, in order, are as follows: George Clinton, John Jay. George Clinton, Morgan Lewis. Daniel D. Tompkins, DeWitt Clinton, Joseph C. Yates. De Witt Clinton, Martin Van Buren, Enos J. Throop, William L. Marcy, William H. Seward, W 11 liam C. Bolick, Silas Wright, John Younfr, Hamilton Fisb,Washington Hunt, Horatio Sey mour, Myron H. Clark, John A. King, Edwin D. Morgan, Horatio Seymour, Reuben L. Fenton, John T. Hoffman, John A. Dix, Samuel J. Tilden, Lucius Robinson, Alonzo B. Cornell. The legislative branch of the state government includes a senate and assembly; the senate consists of 32 members, elected in November of every alternate year (1881, 1883, etc.), holding tbeir offices for two yearsfrom the first of January next succeeding. The state is divided into 32 dittrictF, each electing one.senator. The senators receive an annual salary of $1500, and also $1 for each ten miles of travel in going to or returning from the place of meeting once in each session. Ten dollars per day in addition is allowed when the senate alone is convened in extraordinary session, or when acting as a court for the trial of impeachments. The lieutenant-govcrnor is ex officio president of the senate. The assembly consists of 128 members, elected annually by single districts. Each county has at least one member. They receive the same compensation as senators. Their officers are chosen at the opening of the session.