CALIFORNIA PART I THE FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 1. Commission to Dongan as Governor of New York Speaking broadly, the commission and instructions to the governor formed the constitution of a royal colony. The commission was a formal document published at the governor's accession as evidence of his authority to govern the colony. The instructions were less formal and were frequently kept secret unless the governor chose to make portions of them public. In general, "the commission contained a grant of power, while the instructions told how that power should be used and often limited its scope. 991 The commission to Governor Dongan in 1686 is interesting not only because it is typical of this kind of document, but also because it marks an important step in the long struggle of the colonies for an increasing measure of self-government. Even before 1685, while New York was still a proprietorship of the Duke of York, the colony gradually managed to secure a limited amount of control over its own affairs. Thus, in 1682 the Duke reluctantly yielded to its demands and authorized the newly appointed Governor Dongan to call a representative assembly to advise him in levying taxes and passing laws. But in 1685 Charles II died and the Duke came to the throne as James II. Immediately the whole status of the colony changed; it automatically became a royal province under the direct administration of the Lords of Trade and subject to the personal control of the King. James determined to use his increased power to coordinate the royal provinces in America more closely under 1E. B. Greene, Provincial Governor (New York, 1898), 94. 3 |