NJDARM: What's New @ DARM: George Sang Donations

This is the earliest original New Jersey law known to have survived, and one of only a few extant from the colony's proprietary period (1664-1702). It regulates the process for advertising and claiming stray livestock that were not "flesh marked or Branded." The law stipulates that the town crier was to publicly announce, three times, an exact description of "ye said beast or horse kind with their Coolers [colors] and naturalI markes." Enacted by the East Jersey "Assemblie" on 11 October 1677, the law was signed by James Bollen, Secretary, and Isaac Whitehead, Clerk to the Deputies.

The preamble to this 1783 law characterizes the practice of medicine in New Jersey at the end of the Revolutionary War in dramatic terms. It begins "Whereas many Ignorant and Unskillful persons do take upon themselves to Administer Physick and Practice Surgery ... to the endangering of the lives and Limbs of the Good Subjects of [this State]." It goes on to mandate the licensing of physicians and surgeons through examination by justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court, a function now assigned to the State Board of Medical Examiners.

New Jersey was one of a number of states that lobbied for the establishment of the seat of the federal government within its own boundaries. This law, passed in September 1788, cedes to Congress an unspecified tract of land in New Jersey containing up to ten square miles and designates the same as a federal jurisdiction for use as the nation's capital district. The act was passed in consideration of the recommendations of New Jersey's convention to ratify the United States Constitution. Its passage launched a debate as to where the district might be located. Of course, in the end, New Jersey lost out to swampland along the Potomac River.

The federal constitution was ratified by the State of New Jersey on 18 December 1787--making our state the third to join the Union. Ratification was accomplished through a convention of delegates elected by the citizens. Following adoption of the United States Constitution, the New Jersey Legislature passed this law carrying into effect constitutional procedures relative to election and appointment of the state's congressional delegation. This law sets up the first election of representatives, and authorizes the appointment of two U.S. senators by the State Legislature. Members of the United States Senate were not elected directly until 1913, under Amendment XVII of the United States Constitution.

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New Jersey was the first state to ratify the first ten amendments to the federal constitution, known today as the Bill of Rights. These amendments guarantee religious freedom, freedom of speech and of the press, the right to bear arms, and other basic civil rights to all American citizens. Twelve amendments were proposed by Congress on 25 September 1789, of which New Jersey ratified eleven. The amendment not ratified by New Jersey in 1789 prohibits Congress from increasing compensation to its members during the current session. In 1992, 203 years after it was proposed, the states finally passed this so-called "Flying Dutchman" amendment.

The Medical Society of New Jersey was formed in 1766 and is, today, the oldest professional society in the United States. In 1790, its members--fifty physicians from around the state--petitioned the state legislature for incorporation. The organization's central mission was "generally to improve the science of medicine and to alleviate human misery." Its charter was passed into law by New Jersey's first state governor, William Livingston, on 2 June 1790.

"Act to prescribe the manner of appointing Senators of the United States & Electors of the President and Vice President of the United States on the part of this State"

1790

This 1790 law codifies the procedures for appointing members of the United States Senate and the Electoral College, and for filling vacancies occurring in either body. This law also specifically prescribes procedures for replacing New Jersey's first U.S. Senators, Jonathan Elmer and William Paterson, who both took office on 4 March 1789. Elmer had been elected to the Senate's first class (a two-year term). Paterson had been elected to the second class (a four-year term); however, he resigned in November 1790 in order to serve as the State of New Jersey's second governor. Philemon Dickerson (who would later serve as governor) was chosen to complete Paterson's senatorial term.

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By this act, New Jersey's legislature approved an amendment to the United States Constitution that would have stripped citizenship from, and barred from office, persons who accepted titles of nobility or received a pensions from "any emperor, king, prince or foreign power." The law was signed on 13 February 1811 by Governor Joseph Bloomfield. The amendment, however, was never ratified by enough states to become part of the Constitution.

During December 1860 and January 1861, six southern states declared their secession from the United States: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. On 29 January, following New York's example, the New Jersey Legislature passed joint resolutions pledging the state's support of the Union. The document asserts that the people of New Jersey consider the unity of the government to constitute "a main pillar in the edifice of their independence" and resolves that it is the duty of every good citizen "to stand by and sustain the Union of the States as transmitted to us by our fathers."

Joseph R. Klett, Chief of Archives

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