Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-22
Early History Of tho Commonwealth


We ale indebted to the Hon. George Ban
croft for the discovery. in the British State
| PAPER OHice, Of full records of the proceed.
ings Of the first General Assembly Of Eir-
pipia. clnyened hy Sir George YHardlev, on
the 3Oth July, 1919. The New York llisto.
| rical Society has published this curious re-
cord, together with Mr.. BancroIt's preface.
From Yeariley's arrival, in 1919, the
Commonwealth of Virginia dates lt' origin.
For the twelve months previous, Virginia
| existed in q state of most dependent sutJec-
,irn-"languished under the government OF
SIR Thomas SmitI, Treasurer OF the Virgin
ia Company 10 England" We are also in
formed that this government was OF q des-
pOtIc character. almipistered in such a
manner that 1.-THE c~Ol)ni,ts suffered an eY-
trpmity of distress too horrible to lie de-
scrited."
Wherever the Anglo-Ssxou race has been
subjected to distress" arising from the
incJmpetency of government, one sovereign
remedy has ever been found available. Tnat
pauacea is seIt-gO.ernment. And herein we
find the cause why the colony OF Virginia
first began u flourish under the adnlnistra-
ton OF Governor Ieardley. lie brought
with him Commissions and Instructions
from the company for the better establi 'h-
inge of a Commonwealth here" lie made
proclamation that those crusll lawes, by
which We had 80 long been governed were
now abr1ga ei. and that zee are 10 be govern
Ell by those free lures, which his Magesries
subjects i've under in Englsnde ."-"And
Mdt they miyht hare a hdhie IN the gOrern-
iHge If themselves, It was granted that a Cen
erail Assemble shoulde he helde yearly,
once, whereat were to be present the Cover
nor aud COUNSEL with two Burgessess from
each plantation, freely to be elected by the
iuhabltantes thereof; this Assemble to have
power to make and ordaine whatsoever lawes
aud orders should by them be thought good
and profitable for our subsi,t .nce."
Ii is. indeed. astonishing, thar our histo-
rians have Teen able 10 furnish us with no
details concerning the mode in which this
tir-t step towards democratic Government
Was initiated. As Mr.. Bancroft lnf1rms US,
Captain John Smith give. but a "metgre
notice OF the Assembly," Beverley "denles
that there was any Assembly held there be-
fore May, 1920" 1.-The careful Stita" ''errs
q little in the DATE" and WAS unable to find
any record; mo traces Of it were met with
by Jefferson; and lleniDg, and those who fol-
lowed ~llening, believed it no longer ~extant."
Thanks To Mr.. Bancroit's researches, we are
~ last advised how and when ii was, that
the people Of Virginia began to exercise the
right Of selI-gUSernment, before the Puritan
fathers had SIT foot on the deck OF the May
hJwer. The record is entitled "A RspDrte
Of the manner Of proceedings 10 the Geoerill
Assembly convened At James City in fir-
sInia, July 30th, 1919, consisting of the Co.
vernon, the COUNSEL OF Estate, and two Bur
gcsses elected out of cache Incorporation
ADD Plantation, q being dissolved the 4tn OF
August next ensuing"
The Assembly convened in tho "QIire Of
the churche." Dle attention was yaii to
all the etiquette Of rank, 10 the manter OF
seating the Governor ADD The COUNSEL Of
state" the Secretary OF which WAS appoin.
I'd Speaker, aud seaied opposite the GJver-
nor. We are also Informed: John Irvine,
clerk OF the GeueraI Assembly being placed
uexte toe Speaker and Thomas Pierse, the
Sergeant, Standing at the harre, 10 be ready
'or ATTY service the Assembly should com-
mand him"
The following paragraph sets forth the ac-
customei reverence aud yalty Tor which
our ancestors were distinguished:
But, fOrasmuche as mems atlaires doe lit
tie prosper, where Gods service is neglected.
all the Burgesses tOoke their places 10 the
Quire til a prayer was said by Mr.. Buckle,
the Minister, that it would please God to
guide and ~sanctItie all our proceedings TO his
own glory, and the good OF this plantation.
Prayer being ended, to the inteDte that rs
49,, I,y l.,,, a., Odd tIrtul ty @ ua nnirhf
pruseed with awful d cue respecte towards
his Lieutenant, our most gratlous and dread
SJveraigne; all the Burgesses were IN treat
ted TO rrtyre themselves INTO the body OF the
Cburcha; web beng done, before they were
fully admitted, they we're called IN order and
by name, and 80 every man none staggering
AZ it, toxic the uathe Of Supremacy and
then entered the Assembly"
The qualifications Of BJrgesses were strict
ly scrunHi2ed. The Speaker took exception
at "Captaiuc Ward" las having planted
here in Virginia, without authority or cOm-
mission from the Treasurer, COUNSEL aud
company IN tnsiande." But after puch
debate. sUd 10 consideration of many circum-
stances, Including the eminent services Of
CaPtaloe Ward (amUng which is cited his
having brought home a good quantity OF
tshe. To relieve the colony, by wayc OF
traie,"t both himself and his lieutenant
were permitted immediately u take their
seats rs Burgesses-prO,iied, however, that
he should with all possible despatch procure
from Epglard a ''cOmmIssion lawfully to es-
taDirsue and plantc bimsslfe and his oompa-
ny as the chief, vi other plantations have
done"
The Governor himself objected against tho
admission of "Captalne Martins Burgess
ses." unless that gentleman would yoIunta-
rIiy reilrqulsh the privileges OF lis patent,
which rendered him and tIs company lnde-
pendent OF tho general government OF the
colony. Capt in Martin was accordingly
summoned By order Of the General Assem-
tiy, and offered the option, - withdraw his
representatives or resign his exclusive prlvl-
leges. With q jealous care Of his corporate
immunites, which would delight a State
R,ghtS Democrat Of the present day, the
stout Captain chose the former alternative.
We are also presented with an instance Of
the manner in which il wa- usual, in tbose
days, to assist pstrisrchal with municipal
authority
TUESDAY, Aug Bird, lGl9.-"This morning
n third sOrie OF lawes such as might pro-
coed out OF every mans private couceipte)
were read aud referred by halves to the same
which we're from the beginning.
"This done, CAPTAIN William Powell pre-