Under the pany were directed to prohibit the cultivation of it in

London

Company, the colony. Notwithstanding, it outlived this preju1612-24. dice, and the cultivation of it soon revived again. It

afterwards became a profitable article of commerce not only, but its use also as a beverage, though none the less odious and disgusting in some of its forms, has since been freely adopted in almost all parts of the

world. It formed for many years in Virginia an article Succession of currency, and has always been a staple of trade. of Sir In 1616 Sir Thomas Dale returned to England, having George Yeardley, previously appointed Sir George Yeardley, deputy gov

1616,

1617.

ernor of the colony; who after a mild and judicious administration for one year also returned to England, leaving the plantation under the Presidency of Capt. Samuel Argall. Argall was a rough, hardy sea-captain, Succession a man of impetuous enterprise and ability, but of a of Capt. Argall, brutal, selfish, and domineering disposition. Imitating the absolutism of his craft he proclaimed martial law, not because it was necessary, but because it was more congenial to his overbearing spirit. He ruled the colonists with a rigorous and unjust severity. He imposed arbitrary and oppressive restrictions upon their trade, interdicted the sports of the forest, and doomed to imprisonment and even servitude all who refused to attend the services of the church on Sundays and Holy-days. The colonists appealed from his arbitrary ordinances Appeal to to the Crown, and laid their grievances before the company and council in England. Whereupon Sir George Yeardley was commissioned to enquire into the causes of their complaints, to redress their wrongs, and to act as governor of the colony.

the Com

pany.

Commis

This commission was dated the eighteenth day of sion to Sir November, 1618; and appointed a council, who, with George Yeardley, the governor, were directed to divide the colony into

1618.

cities, boroughs, &c. Sir George arrived in Virginia, pursuant to this commission, early in the year 1619, and under his auspicious rule was established the first regular and efficient political organization in Virginia

UNDER THE THIRD CHARTER OF JAMES I.

PART I.

of which we can find any definite record. He laid out Under the

London

four new corporations; and summoned the colonists to Company, meet in a General Assembly. But as their plantations 1612-24. had now become widely scattered, and it was inconven

Colo

1619.

how com

ient, if not entirely impracticable, for the people gene-First regurally to come together at Jamestown, they were author-nial Govized to appear by delegates chosen by and from among ernment, themselves. As no counties had as yet been formally laid off, the several plantations were designated as The Astownships or boroughs, and hence the delegates to sembly, the assembly were called burgesses. Eleven boroughs posed. were represented in this assembly, which was composed of the governor and council and the burgesses. They all sat together as one House,* and debated and * Beverly. acted together upon all matters which concerned the Henning. general good of the colony.

The acts passed by this assembly were not numerous, Proceedor of particular importance, except an act dissolving ings of the Assembly. martial law, which had been established by Capt. Argall. The principal object of the governor and council in calling it seems to have been for the two-fold purpose of a more specific colonial organization, and to soothe the spirit and allay the ill-temper which had been engendered by the administration of Argall. The colonists of Virginia now rejoiced, says Marshall, "to find themselves exercising the noblest functions of English freemen."

This was the first representative assembly ever held in America, and the earliest instance of the exercise of legislative functions by the colonists in Virginia. It forms an interesting and important era in our governmental history. It gave the people an idea of First develrepresentation, and a taste for legislative liberty, which opment of Republicould never thereafter be offended with impunity. canism in Hitherto they had had no voice in the enactment of America. their laws, or the administration of their public affairs. These prerogatives had been exercised either by the King's council, or by the company in England, or by

Under the a council, or officers of their appointment, in the Company, colony: But the planters of Virginia had reached 1612-24. that period in their own, and in the history of the

ments of

mother country, when Protestantism began to disclose to the world its elements of political as well as religious freedom. When it had come to be seriously questioned in the minds of far-seeing and sagacious men, how far the people were entitled to have a voice in choosing the

rulers and enacting the laws, which they were called Develop- upon to obey. Many things might, indeed, for a while Protestant-longer, check the too curious inquiry, and many influism in Eng- ences might contribute yet to stifle its freer utterance Virginia. in the mother country; while here in America, far

land and

removed from the direct disturbances and pains it might engender, it could safely assume a more tangible shape. Its development in Virginia, though necessarily more tardy and less striking than in New England, was still progressing in an under current, which, though it hardly rippled the surface, was yet impregnating the swelling tide of emigration with its elements of political liberty and its sources of popular power. The subdivision of their plantations into townships, the expansion of their resources, and their generally increasing prosperity, henceforth relieved the colonists from the anxieties and embarrassments which had attended the infant growth of their settlements. Exemption from disease, freedom from exacting labour, and relief from the earnest necessities of self-preservation, gave them leisure to devote themselves more carefully to the general interests and concerns of a community in which they now lived as traders, as landowners, and property holders. Hence they began to turn their attention to the charter of the company, and discovering the extent of its prerogatives and the inaptness of many of its privileges, they emerged from that quiet and easy state of acquiescence in which they had hitherto reposed. In their social gatherings, in their political assemblies, and at the sittings of their

UNDER THE THIRD CHARTER OF JAMES I.

PART I.

London

courts, there appeared able controversialists and popu-Under the lar orators, who exposed the injustice of the policy of Company, government adopted by the parent council, and whose 1612-24. denunciations of the operations of the company were bold, manly and energetic. The conditions, limitations and restrictions imposed by the corporation, to which they had submitted in their infancy, were now felt as restraints beyond the measure of which the spirit of liberty soon swelled itself, until the appeal went forth, loud and incessant, that to them should be practically extended, "all and unqualified, the privileges of free natives and denizens of England." The most essential of these they considered the right of participating by The right their representatives in the action of the government of repreto which they were subjected. They had grown to a degree of strength, which commanded the respect of the company, while the interests of its principal projectors were too much involved in the prosperity of the colony, to allow their demands to go unheeded. Hence the action of the home administration, from this time onward, necessarily becomes a part of our history, and demands our attention.

On the twenty-fourth day of July, 1621, was issued "An Ordinance and Constitution of the Treasurer and Company in England for a Council of State and General Assembly" in Virginia-as follows:

ORDINANCE OF THE COMPANY.

sentation.

I. To all people to whom these presents shall come, Ordinance be seen, or heard; The Treasurer, Councel and Com-nial govpany of adventurers and planters for the city of ernment, London, for the First Colony of Virginia, send greeting: KNOW YE that we, the said Treasurer, Councel, and Company; taking into our careful consideration Declarathe present state of the said colony of Virginia, and tion of intending by the Divine assistance, to settle such a tention. form of government there, as may be to the greatest benefit and comfort of the people, and whereby all injustice, grievances, and oppression may be prevented

PART I.

Company,

VIRGINIA,

Under the and kept off as much as possible, from the said colony; London have thought fit to make our entrance by ordering and 1612-24. establishing such supreme councels, as may not only Supreme be assisting to the governor, for the time being, in the Assistant administration of justice, and the executing other

Council.

duties to his office belonging, but also by their vigilant care and prudence, may provide as well for a remedy of all inconveniences growing from time to time, as also for advancing of increase, strength, stability, and prosperity of the said colony.

II. WE, therefore, the said Treasurer, Councel, and Company, by authority directed to us from his Majesty under the great seal, upon mature deliberation, do hereby order and declare, that from henceforward,

Two Su- there shall be Two Supreme Councels in Virginia, for the better government of the said colony aforesaid.

preme Colonial Councils.

Members.

III. The one of which Councels, to be called the Councel of State (and whose office shall chiefly be, assisting with their care, advice, and circumspection,

to the said governor), shall be chosen, nominated, The first, placed and displaced, from time to time, by us, The ' how designated. said Treasurer, Councel, and Company, and our successors: which Councel of State shall consist, for the present, only of these persons as are here inserted, viz.: Names of Sir Francis Wyatt, governor of Virginia; Capt. Francis West; Sir George Yeardley, Knight; Sir William Neuce, Knight, marshall of Virginia; Mr. George Sandys, treasurer; Mr. George Thorpe, deputy of the College; Capt. Thomas Neuce, deputy for the company; Mr. Powlet, Mr. Leach; Captain Nathaniel Powel; Mr. Christopher Davidson, secretary; Dr. Potts, physician to the company; Mr. Roger Smith; Mr. John Berkley; Mr. John Rolfe; Mr. Ralph Hamer; Mr. John Pountis; Mr. Michael Lapworth; Mr. Harwood; Mr. Samuel Macock; which said Councellors and Councel we earnestly pray and desire, and in his majesty's name strictly charge and command, that (all factions, partialities, and sinister respect laid

Their duties.