Most of the officers thus appointed held office during the pleasure of the Governor. This condition of affairs produced dissatisfaction among the people, and led to an almost perpetual conflict between the Government and the General Assembly. The elective officers were the overseers, supervisors, collectors, assessors and constables of the town, the mayor, aldermen and Common Council of the town or borough of Westchester,- ( which had a special charter) and representatives in the General Assembly.

CorxTY uxDER THE CONSTITUTION. -- When New York ceased to be a colony of England and became an independent State, great and radical changes in principle were made, yet the machinery of government was but little changed. The source of authority was changed, not its expression. The Constitution of 1777 substituted for a Governor appointed by the King one elected by the people ; the Council appointed by the King or Governor became a Senate, elected by the people ; and the General Assembly elected by the people remained. The apportionment in both branches of the Legislature \vi\s according to population, -- a principle not previously recognized. The number of elective officers remained the same, but the appointing pow»r was vested in the Council of

• See Supervisors, below.

2 See Histori' of Town of Westchester.

HISTORY. 643

Appointment, presided over by the Governor, who

had a casting vote, consisting of one Senator elected annually by the Assembly from each of the four senatorial districts. A Governor and Council holding office at the pleasure of the King gave place to a Governor and a Council elected by the people for a limited term, and thus became directly amenable to them. The elective franchise in principle remained the same, with the single exception that there was no discrimination on account of religion. The property qualification was still retained.