Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-08

Fhen they elected Sir William Berkeley
GOVERNOR that, by the very first act of III
anne session they expressly took the pow
RS Of government into their own hands (;
and directed that all writs should issue
f" 10 the name of the Grand Assembly D
BY the second act, they appointed Sir VII
liam Berkeley, governo enjoined If on
sim to call an emily ones IN Two years
at least or ofener il Necessary; gave him
the power of making cho!ce of a ecreta.
" and council of ate, win the approbA,
ton OF the assembly; and restrained hun
from dissoiving the assembly without the
consent OF the major part oil the house.
These acts passed in an assembly held Ia
March l659a6o between the resignation
OF Richard Cromwell, (on the 22d of a.
pril 1887 and the restD alton Charles
III. (oa he 2sth of May, 1860; { al tim
when as the assembly express themselves,
= there was no res.d AT, ab-Ou aid gen
erai confessed power IN England" hey
were nnquesilonably he offspring OF ne
cesslty and arose fon h1t state Of in,er.
regnum which exs.ed IN Engiand, when
the cautious proceedings OF Gsa, Rlonck
,attiI uncertain VIVA, k'ad { govsrnme
uld be ult'ma,ely adopted ~s& = .
n 4 X X r. y u X X X 4 x y X 4 II Il n X X Il
The admimslra ion of justice, 10 Vmgi
ma, was orig Many extremely cheap, and
simple Us dsaIli. COMMANDERS Of plan
tations held monthly courts for the rial OF
civd actions, 10, exceeding he value Of one
huudred pou d, of tobacco, and tor he
punishment OF petty Offences, FeserynY
the righi OF appeal to The quar,er court
! bed by the governor aud couaci, which
possessed he suPecms j,diciaI fswsr, ~.
der the different Charters and had oig,na.
Iu1i.d csioD IN al Cases whatsoever Co0-
misslcners OF mon hiy courts succeeded
20 commanders OF plantations, wI>h The
IKE jurisdiction IN Ciyl cases; which
" a, afterwards extended to Eve pcuaus
stethng. The jurisdiction OF me cour,
vas iurIheg extended to sIxleeH hund ed
pnds CT tobacco, aud hay weie 10 be
caird cou.;y lrslead of mon,hly cur 5 +;
and that CT single magistrate was f al
as tar a. twenty shihags sterling. In
consequence OF The grea DIS ance o; ma.
J ny OF The counties from James CITY where
! ih5 quarter courts were held, jurisdiction
was finally gwen 10 The county courts, Il,
! All ca,eS Ct iaw and equity. a1d line tai
I by Jury sscdfed 10 mos VINO desired e.
Fne DECISION o. the county court was, a,
I hrs final a far as siX.ee. nuudrc pun IS
Of Tobacco, aid TO- ~ sum s0oVe That
an appea 81 WAS allowed 20 ,h= QuaueF
court, 4 ID from hence 10 ,ae assembly ,
( "h.ch afterws ds mad juri>d'c IGN of ap
| ps-is N All cases, OF 'waateYsr am1unt
Besides the general jurl,d'ctoa Of ne
aunly aud qUtrei co3g,s, special pto
VISION was made lur cer,4ln c unuss euu
I seti mshts Wherc 1t Wos con5. aeTcd TOO
ilacCGVenient to The people TO aHend
1t the usua! place Oh holding courts.
The leading primo pie sean's 20 have
been to Garry justice 10 the doors of the
inhabitants. Thus, the COMFY court oI
Northampton, "on account Of lis re
moJeness from Jam Guy" had 6nal
lIursdlct on IS far as three ,hcu and twC
hundred poUnds Of tobacco; one com
nissloner on the South side Of The rive
IN James City county, was Ves,ed with IN,
; lpowers OF a county court; The iuhabi
la0ts Of Appomattock o. Bristol Pari.h
were also authorised 10 hold courts, will
= l.ne righy ct appeal 20 Hs0rco Or Chsrie
! City county courts, Two courts wee
n permitted 10 b. held in Northampton
. two IN Isle of Wight, and Two IN Caarle
e Cry. A. the population of The count
increased and new counties wers formed
these special courts we've abolished.
u