Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-24
70 Me Editors Of the Yirg,n,a .4drocafe.


GENTLEaIEN While reading the recent de.
bates in our legislature on the Convention bill.
was induced 10 look into the history OF RepreScn-
foti0n in Virginia? / have thought tha, sketch
al this history, however imperfect, might be in
tcrestiDE at This time TO some O! your readers.
1t seems that the first settlers of Virginia we're
disposed to claim, 10 the full extent, what was
guaranteed TO them by the charters of the crown;
the enjoyment OF " all tho liberties, iranchisse
and immuntes of British subjects. The Lon
don company by their ordinance of July, 1921 ,
established the General Assembly permanent
branch of the Colonial Government. This Gene
raj Assembly was 10 be composed of the council Of
state, and two burgesses out of every town,
hundred other particular plantation. TO be res
pectivey chosen by the Inhabitants" The Co
vernon directed 10 convene the Assembly annual
ly, or oftener if occasion required. The enact
ments of this body were subject to the unQualifi-
ed veto Of the company in England, and were ne
valid until ratified there. Our early historians
speak of che General Assembly as holding its ses-
sipns in the year -20,-though authentic
trace remains of those sessions which enables us
TO conjecture any thing as to the plan upon which
1t was constituted. The House OF Burgesses seems
10 have undergone no very material change, when
the Virginia company in London were dissolved
and the Government OF the Colony assumed by
Charles the First The restriction Of the number
of burgesses, as established by the company, 10
two from every" towr, hundred or other particu-
lar plantation" seems TO have been subsequently,
disused abolished, and each settlement parish
both before and tor time after the establish
fnent OF counties, sent as many delegates TO the
Assembly as was thought proper. Almost the first
Assembly which convened was composed OF We
~ unequal representation. The earliest Assem-
bly, Of which any record has been preserved, was
that of the year 1929. The places represented
designated az " hundreds "necks Of land, ;"
" Henry Throgmor tons plantation" q" the other
side sf the water" the plantations between Ar
cher's Hope and Martins Hundred Sc sc. Some
OF these places represented by one. others
by many as six hurgesses. The first territorial
divisions OF the colony were very imperfect and
irregular. Those adventures who settled during
its infancy dwelt in small societies or villages,
building their cabins very near together, and cuJ-
tjvsting their grounds in common. or in view OF
each other, for greater security against the HOSTILE
Ties Of Indians. These settlements seem TO have
been indferently called plantations, !oWns, or
Hundreds.
1t was enacted in 1893, 20 that no sheriff should
compel any man to go of the plantation where he
lived to choose burgesses." Burgesses were c.
lected by ballot for number OF years after the
sumption of the government by the CROWN
Their expenses were paid in tobacco by the pa
FISHES, hundreds counties which they repre-
senied. In 1912. provision was made to compen-
safe such burgesses chose 20 be attended by
their own servants during the sessions of Assem-
bly,, by acquiring their constituents 10 furnish an
equivalent in labor for the loss OF the servants
iius employed. After the establishment Of coun-
ties, the number OF burgesses from each was unii
Ifited until 1915 ,--when il was enacted that no
the Assembly except James City which was allow
ell TO send fUe; and J. city Che metropolis in The
county OF the same nancy was 20 send one In
1862, the governor and council, who were APP
pointed by the crown, were declared to he &c
o6icio members Of Assembly. About this time a
burgess from Isle Of Wight was expelled by al
vote Of the Assembly. In 1903, persons in holy
orders were declared ineligible as hurgcssrs.
Hitherto, we find no provision touching the
right Of suffrage. This right seems 10 have been
exercised prescribed in the first ordinance OF,
the Virginia Company, by all free, white male in
hu6itanfs of the colony. In 1865, il was enacted
that call housekeepers,w whether freeholders, lease
holders, or otherwise, shall only be capable 10
elect burgesses." At the same, or the next ses-
sion, this act was repealed, when il was declared
by the Assemby-"That whereas we consider il
something hard and unagreeable 10 reason, that
any person shall pay equal taxes and yet have no
vote in elections, therefore, much Of the act for
choosing burgesses be repealed as excludes free
men from votes--proyided always that they fairly
give their votes by subscription, and not in tu.
mu'tuous way" About this time the expenses Of
the Assembly began 10 be complained Of, and it
vas attempted to reduce The number Of delegates
from county or parish. IL did not then succeed.
The parishes and hundreds seem 10 have continu-
oa 10 send delegates TO the Assembly long after
the number Of representatives. from the counties
we're limited In 1901, it Is reciled in an act
81 the Assembly, that--"Whe7eas the charge Of
AssemDies IS much increased toy the great nun.
Der o. burgesscs-no county shall hereafter sem
,abeye ttc0 provided always that James Cite 10.
ing the metropolis Of the country shall have tho
privilege 20 elect burgess ior themselves ana
every county that viii lay oct one hundred acres
Il land, and people il with one hundred Gtl,abie
sersons, sba!l enjoy Tie like privilege" Another
Better known as James own. This aucIent
fhace, venctable as the 6rsi settlement in Virgin.
ia, was the metropolis Of the colony until about
The year lT)n when the seat q rGyF-r mint wac