Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-30
YE FIRST ASSEMBL
VlRGiNlA-OAY AT THE GREAT CO.
LUMBAR EXPOSITION.
A Notable Anniversary and Its signifi-
cance--The Spirit Of the An
cIent Pinntiea

"sir George Yeardley, knight Governor
md Captaine-General Of Virginia, having
sente bis sumons all over the country. as
well to invite those Of the COUNSEL of Es-
tate that were ahsente as also for the cleo
ton Of Burgesses, there were chosen and
appeared at James City Jamestown on
the 3Oth Of July Iold stylel. 9th of August
Inew stylel twenty. two Burgesses, two
from each plantation.
This date. 9th of August. has been chosen
as NirgInia-Day at the Colum bian Exposl-
ton. and Is the anniversary OF the meeting
OF the first representative assembly on the
American Continent But the significance
and fuggestiveness Of the anniversary does
not end here. The First Virginia Assem-
biz was the first Fnglish-speaking legisla-
tive BODY ever elected by universal suf-
frage and in its proceeding and some Of
the laws IL enacted Is found the genius
that has animated the Virginia people
the people speaking through their repre-
sen.atives was asserted from the very be-
ginning.
THE REAL IIFE OF VIRGINIA
Bancroft. IN his introduction 10 his copy
of the proceedings of che assembly. says
From the moment Of YeardleY's arrival
dates the real life of Virginia. He brought
with him commissions and instructions
from the company for the better establish
inge of a commonwealth here lBrelie
declaration of tho Plantations in Virginia
during the first twelve years He made
proclamation that those cruel lawes by
which We 1.-THE planters wordsl had so
lonCe been governed were now abrogated,
and that we were to be governed by those
FREQ lawes which his Majesties' subjects
live under in Englande.'"
Nor were these considerations made de-
pendent on the goodwill of the admins
tratlve officers. The planters further de-
clare: And that they might have handle
in the governinge of themselves. Vet was
grounted that General Assemble
snoulde be helde yearly once, wnoreat
there were to he present the Gov. and
Counsel, with two Burgesses from each
Plantation freely 20 lie elected from tho
inhabitants thereof. this Assemble 10 have
power 20 make and ordaine whatsoever
lawes and orders should be thought good
and profitable for their subsistence"
THE ORGANIZATION.
According to tho ancient record when
the Assembly came to organize: The
most convenient place we could finde TO
slit in was the Quire of the churche. When
sett down IN his accustomed place. those
Of the Counsel of Estate safe nexte 70 him
on Doth handles. excepte onely the Secre-
tarv. there appointed Speaker, who safe
right before him. John Twine. Clerke OF
the General Assembly, being placed neXte
the Speaker, and Thomas Pierce.
the Sergeant standing at the barre
10 be ready for any service the
Assembly should cOmmand.shim. But
g. t,Ia oaya'a atI
prosper where Gods service Is neglected
all the Burgesses tOoke their places IN the
Ouire TIL a PRAYER was said by Mr.. Buckle,
the minister. that 1t would please God 10
guide and sauctific oil our proceedings TO
his owne Glory and the good OF this Pan
tation."
AFTER THE PRAYER.
PRAYER being ended to the intente,
that as we had begun at God Almighty 50
we might proceed with awful and due re-
specte towards the Lieutenant. ourl most
gracious and dread soveraigne, all the
Bureesses were intreatted to retyre them
selves into the body of the churche, web
beng done, before they were fully al
mitted they were called in order and by
name. and 10 every man none staggering
at it, tooke the oathe of supremacy and
then entered the Assembly,
II will he observed that the Assembly
established precedent-that opening
with prayer-which has ever since been
respected bv legislative bodies and con-
ventions IN Virginia.
WAS III FIIGBIE?
But notwithstanding this auspiciOus be-
ginning the Assembly did not organize
without a contest. for the record con-
tinues:
"At Captaine Warde the Speaker tooke
.aycpDtion as AT one that without anv
comssiOn or authority had seated
himselfe either upon the companies.
and then his Plantation would not
be lawful" &c. so Captain Warde
was commanded TO absente himself
until such time a. the Assembly had
agreed what was best for him TO doe
However, despite the protest OF the
Speaker and Secretary of the colony, the
Assembly asserted the right e. be the
Judge OF the election. qualifications, and
returns" Of its own members. and seated
Captain Warde upon condition that with
all expedition he procure a commission
to lawfully establish and plant hlmselte
and his company "a the chiefs OF other
Plantations have DONE"
TWO UNsEATRD.
Later the Assembly unseated Mr.. Thomas
Davis and Mr.. Robert Stacy, the Burgesses
from Captain John Martins plantation.
Captain Martin held patent "of an higher
condition and Of greater force than any
acto of the Assembly" and the Bureesses
made the issue then and there that UNI
loss be be "contente TO quite and
give over that parte of his patente
and contrary thereto wou!de sub
mite himself 10 the general form OF
Governemente as all Others did his repre-
sentatives be utterly excluded as being
spies rather than loyal Burgesses." Cap
rain Martin was called before the Assembly,
and refusing to infringe any parte OF his
patente" his Burgesses were turned out.
HAD OPINIONS OF THEIR OWN.
That the people of the colony proposed
N lecislate for themselves and not submit
bllndlv aud without protesttO any laWes
that might be sent out from England by
the Counsel and Company Is shown by
this paragraph, which occurs in the pro
ceedings towards the close OF the hrst
day
- But some man may here obiecte to
what ende we should presume to referre
that to the examination OF committees
which the COUNSEL and Company IN Eng
land bad already resolved TO be perfect
and did expect nothing but our assente
thereuntO. To this we answere That
we did it not 10 the. ende TO
correcte or CONTROL anything therein
contained, Nul OILY III Nb'N w
shoulde fnde ought not perfectly squarlng
with the state Of this colony or any law
which did press or binde too harde, tnat
we might by wave of humble petition
seeke TO have it redressed especially be-
cause this great charter 1.-THE charter
brought out by Yeardlevl Is to binde us
and our heyers forever"
That this spirit was destined to grow
"The Treasurer, Counsel, and Company"
and the crown subsequently had ample
reason to know.
PETITIONS OF TIE ASSEMBLY.
During the session of the Assembly 1t
framed several petitions to be sent to
England. One petition was that the trea-
surer and company "sende men hither 10
occupie their landes." Another was that
they will be pleased ito Above to the
male children of them and all Others be.
gotten in Virginia, being the onely hope OF
a posterity, q single share piece LOT landI
and shares for their issues or for them
selves, because that in newe plantation
it Is not known whether man or woman be
most necessary" A third petition be-
seeches the COUNSEL and company that
towards the erecting of the university
and colledge they shall sende when they.
shall thinke mort convenient workmen OF
all sorts fit for that purpose"