The present wellknown Ben Franklin Transportation Line of Yonkers took its name from a sloop of fifty-seven tons, launched July 4, 1831, which was for the exclusive service of the people of Yonkers and vicinity; and even the original " Ben Franklin " had several predecessors devoted to the local interests of Yonkers. The organic law of the State of New York, as established by the constitution of 1777, underwent two radical alterations during the period of sixty years now under consideration. Constitutional conventions were held in 1801 and 1821, the delegates from Westchester Comity to the convention of 1801 being Thomas Ferris, Israel Honeywell, Jonathan G. Tompkins, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr., and Ebenezer White, and to that of 1821 Peter A. Jay, Jonathan Ward, and Peter J. Munro. Both conventions made revisions in the constitution designed to render it more acceptable to the democratic masses -- changes which had the hearty support of the majority of the people of our comity. The old property qualification for the suffrage was practically abolished in 1821. For the purpose of representation in the State senate. Westchester Comity was from 1777 to 1815 associated with New York, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, and Richmond, in the so-called Southern district. From 1815 to 1821 the Comities of Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland were added to the district, whose name was changed to the 1st. From 1821 to 1816 this comity belonged to the 2d senatorial district, embracing also Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland, Orauge, Sullivan, Ulster, Queens, and Suffolk. Westchester County's representatives in the assembly, at first six in number, were reduced successively to five, four, three, and finally (May 23, 1836) to two. The number was again increased, in 1857, to three, at which figure it has since remained. The assemblymen were elected on a general ticket until 1817, when the county was first divided into assembly districts.