New York

was one of the original thirteen colonies. Henry Hudson, in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, discovered the Hudson River (1609) while seeking for a pa age to India. The Dutch carried on fur trade with the Indians with no serious attempt at colonization until (1621) the formation of the Dutch West India Company, when the patroon system was introduced (which gave rise to the anti rent difficulties of 1839-46). Settlements were made at Fort Na au (Albany) 1614, and New Amsterdam (New York) 1623. The four Dutch Governors were Minuit, Van Twiller, Kieft and Stuyvesant. In 1664 Nicolls captured the colony for the English and introduced the mixed system of local government. At this time the population was very heterogeneous, eighteen languages being spoken. Andros was made Governor of New England and New York in 1688. His deputy, Nichelson, was overthrown in New York by Leisler. In 1690 the first colonial congre met at Albany to consider Indian troubles. About 1700 Captain Kidd, the pirate, was captured. The ‘' negro plot ’’ of 1741 caused terrible excitement. During the Revolution the State contained many Tories. In 1777 the first State Constitution was adopted (others, 1821 and 1846). The National Constitution was with difficulty adopted July 26, 1788. The political history of New York until 1807 was a struggle of the great families for control. In 1798 Burr introduced the ‘ machine "’ into the politics of New York City. The Livings tons and Clintons introduced the spoils system in 1801. From 1823 to 1850 New York was for the most part under the control of the Albany Regency. When Van Buren entered Jackson's Cabinet he carried the practical methods used by the Regency into national politics. The Erie Canal was opened in 1825, and the following year the first railroad, the Hudson and Mohawk, was chartered. In 1826 William Morgan, who had divulged some of the secrets of the Masonic Order, disappeared, and the Masons were charged with his murder. The Anti-Masonic party was formed and nominated William Wirt, of Virginia, for President in 1831. The ‘loco focos '’ opposed the grant of special banking privileges. The ‘‘hunkers ” desired the extension of the canal system, the ‘ barn burners "’ its restriction. In 1850 the Regency disappeared. In 1855 the ‘' know-nothing ’’ party elected State officers below the Governor. After this the State was Republican until 1862, when the Democrats elected the Governor. During the Civil War the State furnished 467,047 troops to the Union army. In 1873 the Democratic party was thoroughly organized by Samuel J. Tilden. In 1871-72 William M. Tweed was convicted of peculation iu New York City. The failure of Jay Cooke & Co. caused a financial panic in 1873. John Kelly led a revolt of Tammany against the regular Democratic candidate, Robinson, in 1879, and caused the election of a Republican Governor. Garfield refused to grant the control of the patronage in New York to the Senators, Conkling and Platt, whereupon they resigned their seats and appealed to the Legislature for re-election, but were defeated in July, 1881. A division of Republicans into “ stalwarts’ and “‘ half-breeds’’ followed. In recent 36 ENCYLOPEDIC DICTIONARY. years the Republicans have carried the elections of the years 1872, 1879, 1881, 1883, 1888, 1892 and 1896. Inu 1882 Cleveland was elected Governor by a majority of 192,854. A constitutional convention sat in 1894. The population of New York, which in 1790 was 340,120, in 18g0 was 5,997,853. The fifth State in 1790, it became the most populous in 1820, and has remained such ever since. 34