The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-09
Theft sit Armeriican Legisl ature

i
In 1919. the greatest year In Colonial
virginia Cgreater ever than 1916. be-
cause ~ forms the basis Without Which
not even the cvcnts of 1875 could have
taken pIace). the first Legislature met
in the old wooden church ut James
town, on Friday. July 10. go years
ago. 1'liiB assembly Was called the
House or Burresscs. WIS composed OF
q Governor, six councillors and TWEEN
" Burgesses, sat six days and &C
complished a great deal OF work.
In the choir Of the church. the mem
bers of the Council sat OH either SIDE
of the Governor, their coats trimmed
with gold lace, and the Speaker right
before him. rho clerk sat next tho
Sneaker, and the sergeant stood at
the bar. |
In the body of the church. facing the
choir, sat the Burgesses or Delegates!
In their best attire. with starched runs
and coats of silk and velvet IN bright
co!ors.
Az there were no roads aud public
/ highway In those days (and not I'M
til 1922. the members OF the Assembly
came In baraes or Sloops from the
plantations ID Jamestown. and they
had to take an carly OF ba-
con and hoecake, for the meeting was
called to order at the third beat OF the
drum, one hour after sunrise.
The sessions were Away opened
with prayer, "Forasmuche as mems
a~ffaires doe little prosper where Gods
service is neglected." AS soon as all
were settled, Rev. Richard Buckle Of
fered a prayer for guidance, that they
might do those things that would be
10 His owneg glory and the good or the
plantation" Every absence from this
service was punished with a fine OF
L shilling. The fine for absence dur
ing the whole day was half a crown.
This over. the members were sworn
into Office.
Although some OF the laws enacted
seem lndicrous even absurd In the
light OF. modern methods. yet this
body. to this day. is noted for it's thor
ouellness. as It conscientiously repre-
!, scented the will Of the people. n
very last work of the Assembly was In
/. regard TO It's own organization. Sala-
ries were fixed for the Speaker, clerk
and sergeant, all others being sup
!, posed to give their. services willingly
a for the good of the Colony. me
methods of collecting tobacco for these
salaries was arranged, and letter TO
the London Company was drawn up
"~presenting respects and asking par
don for having brought their laws 10
. no moro perfection"
This Was a veritable training schooi
for American colonists, and they grew
. easily into statesmen.
q This General Assembly was both a
legislative and judicial body. FROM
q sweeping principles of constitutions
law down TO the p~et,iest suInptuary
cd!cts there was nothing this litlc
s Parliament did not superintcnd and
= direct.
Fiske. and Cooke are among the his
torians who interestingly tell OF some
% of tho ancient laws as follows: ANY
person found drunk was, for the frs
e. ofense. to be privately reproved b,
the minister; the second time this re,
= proof was 10 be publicly administered
G., the third time the tfende must b'
put in irons for twelve hours and pa!
q, a fine; for any subsequent oitehses ~
must be severely punished at the dis
cretion OF the Governor and Council.
TO guard the community against ex
cessfye vanity in dress. it was enacte
that. for all public contributions, ever
unmarried man must be assessed u
church according to his own ap
parei; and every married man mus
be assessed according to his own an
his wifc's apparel"
Not merely extravaganza in dres:
bu. such social misdemeanors as fiirt
ing, received due legislative condemna
ton. Pretty maids were known I
encourage hopes In more than on
sutton, and gay deceivers of the stern
err sex would sometimes seek to wi
the affections of two or more wome
at the same time. 1t was enacted tina
every minister should give notice !
his church that what man or woma
soever should use any word or speec
tending to a contract of marriage 7
. two several persons at one time .
. as might entangle or breed scruples ]
their conscience; should. for such OF
Tense. either undergo corporal cor
~rection (by whipping) or be punishe
by fine or otherwise, according TO In
quality OF tho person SO
II persons of equality indulge in thi
dangerous amusement, they are oni
to be fined: all others are to be cor
porally punished with good lashes o
the back. Cooke says: There is II
proof whatever that any Virgin
..maid" was ever thus corporally COZ
rected.
Then other laws follow. No plante
could dispose OF so much as a poun
of tobacco until the minister be satis
fed as to salary. Speaking again'
the Governor or any of tn
Council was liable to be punished wit
the pilIory. 1t seemed good thai vi
Offenders against the law or the n
spect due to dignitaries should ha,
arms and head held by it and be fire
at by passcrs-by. Often after tn
public exposure the criminal had h
cars cut off. Edward Sharpless, cler
of the Council, furnished John Por
of the Kings Commission, with a COZ
OF the public records after the Assem-
bly, had resolutely refused to produ'
LII the originals. and Ills punishment vi
to stand in the pillory for awhll
then be taken TO jail. Thence he
sued with ono car and a half cut off.
Profane swearing was punished J