Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-24

may nere&ter INDUCE interested persons 10 pur-
chase votes, by Offering TO at low rates, &c.
Set is therefore enacted that the maintenance
OF every Burgesse shall be one hundred and fifty
pounds of tobacco and cask per day, besides the
necessary charge OF going to the Assembly aud
! returning" The counties were allowed about
this time, 10 send one or tr0 delegate TO the As
sembly, at pleasure. The small counties, j, seems
felt the Inconvenience OF paying for two delegates
] In l669-10, each county was again required 10
\ send f,cO delegates.
Charles the Second, whose character AZ "A man
and prince, has been sufficiently portrayed by
the historians Of the country, was now seated ON
The British throne. His royal prerogatve of puter
pdircr at home. entitled him to act the part Of
cruel step 5dther 10 the colonies. series OF
systematic entertainments on the rights which
had been chartered TO the colonies by the crown
commenced under the auspices OF his reign. 10y
al as our ancestors certainly were, and proud of
The iancieC excellence Of the British constitution,
they were often constrained TO demonstrate and
supplicate against the expressions which their
monarch sought 10 inilict through his representa-
yves ard vicc-Toys. ihe colonial governors. In
! i6O6, controversy arose between the BurgeSses
and the Governor TO the exclusive right ot the
people through their representatives, to levy tax
es. Ii was contended that the governor and coun-
ell, as attornies i'll TACT for the crown entitled
. 10 share OF this power. Various other causes
contributed 10 excite and finally 10 exasperate
The dissentons between the people and the gov
ernor and council. The king was rhe consti,u-
, oonai arbiter OF these disputes. His decisions
were pronounced in that spirit with which the
wolf guards the helplessness of the lamb. The
royal rapaciiy was for long time satisfied with
The fleece of it's victm--but it finally demanded
The a,onement Of blood. The angry feelings OF
Glscontent between the people and the governor
and Council. presently ril ened into acts Of open
hostility. Bscon's Rebellion, Gas it has been
worthily cailcd) ensued. This event WINS the
| distant prototype of our Revolution Had its pro-
gress not been arrested by the unti,nely death:
!; OF man, to whose memory history has done great
injustice, the final emancipation OF the colonies.
might not have been postponed another century.
bacon's Rebellion TO preserve Che name by which
monarch chose 10 stamp this evenly took place
IN 16I1-just one hundred years before the colony
OF Virginia instructed its representatives in the
federal Congress. 10 move public declaration OF
| independence. In the year 1910, the following
act was adopted in the Assembly: s9hat where
| as the usual way Of choosing burgesses BY votes
, OF all persons. who having served their time as
ireemen OF this country, who having little interest
IN lie country do ottner make tumuits al the cleo
uon' TO Tie disturbance OF his Majesties peace,
than by their discretion IN their votes provide for
The conservation thereof, 10y making a choice of
persons huy qualified to discharge so great trust
and whereas tie LaWs Of England grant a
voice az sueh election only to suca 5y the es-
.ases, real or personal, haze interest enough 20
tye them TO The endsGvoT Of the public good 1t il
hereby enacted that none but JieehoIders and
houSe-heepens wdo only are answerable to the
public Tor se ieyies, shall hereafter have voice
IN The election OF any burgess in this country"
This act was repealed in 1876, b. the Assembly
which held its session during Baeon's Rebellion
among these statutes which are termed. "Bacon's
LAYS 1t 10 provided that 'reemen. together NTH
5Fee.ome7s and house-6eeperS shall Vote as for
meIty' IN elections OF Burgesses. The tumults
"!scH had involved the colony in civil war, soon
subsidized after the death Of bacon. When peace
was restored, and the crown had resumed the ex-
e.c!se OF its preTogaves. Charles the second issu-
ed ms royal proclamation TO Sir William Berieiy,
governor OF the colony, in which he commanded;
~ oe more To call On Assembly once every Yeare,
out on'y.once in two years, unless some etnergent
occasion make 1t necessary" and "wtenever the
Assembly is called, fourteen days shall be the
t!me OF their sitting uniesse you find good cause.
to continue it beyond that time" You shall take
care That The members Of the Assembly be elect
cd only byJreeholders, as being more agreeable
10 The custome of England, to which you are as
high as conveniently yon can. TO coaforme your
seEe-' his proclamation was made Nov 18th.
1916.
In 1886, Che contests were renewed between
the BurgesseS and the Governor and Council as
10 The right Of the latter TO negative the laws and
to adjourn or dissolve the Assembly at pleasure
5ames the second had now assembled the throne
Ills disposition 10 usurp and trample on the rights
OF the colonies had not been surpassed by any of
has predecessors. II is no part Of my design. 20
houce these CONTROVERSIES further than they are
supposed 10 have influenced the progress of Rep
Tesentaiton In the colony. The influence of the
right oil suffrage, is manifest from what has been
Already shewn. do not propose 10 discuss any
question involving the wisdom, iu siice or expedi-
ehcy Of these restrictions, but only TO furnish an
Imperfect outline OF The course Of legislation On
In 1892 that .eing the -ilth year OF William
III the restrictions imposed on the right Of suf
'"se ~ the royal mandate OF Charles II were
re-ehactecs when IT was also provided, that "wo-
men, infants and Popish recpsants" though free
holders should not vote. Inl105. the 4ih year
OF anne, an act was passed in pursuance Of the
royal Recommendation, for the establishment of
clues and boroughs, ports Of entry, esc-This act
contained general provision for the representa-
ton OF all cities ana boroughs which should grow
up Under its authority Norfolk, HAMPTON, York
&c. &c. we're comprehended in this act
4 tie right OF DANES Town, (or as it was term
ed during this period Of the colony, James City,
to elect burgess to the Assembly, was establish.
ed at very early period. This ancient ana ven |
erabie city. as well as the college Of WIN. and
MARY, continued TO enjoy a separate representa-
zion, until they were DISTINGUISHED by our cons,i
futon in l776. Provision was made for the cleo
ton OF burgesses from James Town and the col.
iege, during the inerTegnum of the revolution.
and this RICH, was not interrupted until the pre- I
seat government went into operation. Several |
other cities which were represented had lost
this right long before The revolution whether on
account Of their becoming depopulated or for what
other reason does not appear. James town at the
periou Of the revolution mus, have been citv, On.
~ ia contemplation Of law.
Various and frequent provisions were made for
paying the members Of the Assembly Some
times they were paid in tobacco-sonetirnes in
money--someiiTnes out Of the public funds
sometimes by the respective counties and boz
toughs-by the day and BY the job. In 1890.
Sherihs and persons holding lucrative Offices were
declared ineligible as burgesses. In 1886 die
qualification OF voters ygas declared IN bc a froo |