Tompkins.

Pierre Van Cortlandt.

The latter was the presiding officer.

State Conventions. -- The Fourth Provincial Congress, which assumed the name of the Convention of Representatives of the State of New York, resolved itself into a convention to frame a Constitution for the State. August 1, 1776, a committee^ of thirteen members was appointed to prepare a form of government. This committee reported March 12, 1777, and the first Constitution was adopted April 20th, following. It is saturated with the principles for which the people had contended for more than a cen-

> For names of representatives of Fourth Provincial Congress, see list above. Gouverneur Morris, of Westchester County, was on the committee.

tury. The three distinct functions of government were recognized. A Legislature, consisting of a Senate and Assembly, was the law-making body. The executive officer was called the Governor. The appointing power was vested in a Council of Appointment, which consisted of one Senator from each of the four Senatorial Districts. These members of the Council were appointed annually by the Assembly. The Governor, who presided over the Council of Appointment, was to have " a casting voice, but no other vote." The elective officers were Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Senators, Assemblymen and the clerks, supervisors, constables and collectors of the several towns. All other officers -- civil and military -- were appointed by the Council of Appointment. Male resident owners of freeholds of one hundred pounds' value elected the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and Senators ; while owners of freeholds of twenty pounds in value, etc., were entitled to vote for Assemblymen.