The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
The First American Legislature

L
Possibly it viii he interesting, as the
echos are dying away in the leg slativc
halls of the session of i9ll-l9l2. TO
compare the doings and sayings Of that
nrst American Legislature that sat in
lSi9--2o3 years ago. convening Friday,
July 30. in the old wooden church at
jamestown.
Certainly 1913 was tbs greatest year
In Colonial Virginia. greater even than
lI1s. because 1t forms tho basis. with
out winch not even the events Of l7I6
could have taken place.
This Assembly. called The House OF
Hursesscs, composed of Governor. six
Councillors and twenty Burgesses, sat
siN days ANA accomplished a great deal
OF Work. In tho choir Of the church,
the members Of the Council sat on eth
Ell side OF the Governor, their coats
trimmed with gold lace, and the Speak
CT right before him. The clerk sat
next TO The Speaker, and the sergeant
stood at the bar. In the body OF the
church, facing the choir. sat the Bur
gesses. or delegates. IL their tes, at
TIRE, with s,arch.d runs and coats OF
SIX and velvet In bright colors
as there were no roads and public
h:sh"ays In those days. and not until
i'5.' the members of the Assembly
anne In barges and sloops from the
plantations to Jamestown. and they
mad to take an early breakfast OF bacon
and l'oecakc. for the meeting was call.
eI to order at the third beat Of The
uTnnI--one hour after sunrise
The sessions were always opcned
With prayer "Forasnucne as mems az
ihirts doc little prosper where Gods
service is neglected" AS soon as All
we're settled Rev. Richard Buckle Of
Tered prayer for guidance, that ihcv
g" His owne glory and the good OF
the plantation" Every nbsepcc from
ms service was published with a tne
OF smiling. The fnc for absence dur
ms the whole DAY was crown. This
over tho members We're sworn into
Oillce.
Lawn Not So Ludicrous.
HNn"ush some OF the laws enacted
stein IndicFous and even absurd in the
hhn, Oh modern methods. yet this body.
10 TINS day, Is uOtcd for it's thorough
ness, as it oonsciemtieusly represented
Inc VIII OF the people
INC very last work III tho Assemble
vas N regard to It's own organization
Hsiaries were h%cd for the Speaker
clerk and sergeant, all others being
supposed 10 give their services willing.
LOT me good of the Colony. The
methous Of collecting tobacco for these
salaries were arranged and "a ,c,.o- ~
me London Company was drawn IN
presenting respects ara askin.- ,ar
non LOT having brought their laws tn
no more perfection.'"
mat was veritabio training srhoo,
iof american coionists, and they prew
easily into statesmen
The General Assemble
legislative and judicial bodv 49,,
sweeping principles of consti.u,,o,''i
"a" down to the pettiest sumntunry
caicts, there was nothing tb!s lIt,,o
parliament did not supcrintcnd ana
direct ana
fiske and Cooke arc among The his.
torians who interes.ngly tell of aon,o
me ancient laws, as follows: Any
.sl l""hn drunk was. for the first
oHHnse, TO he privately rcnrovcd h,.
the minister: the second time This 70
PROOF was 10 he publicly administered.
Tue third time the offender rnur, hs
put In irons twelve hours and nay ,
hhc' for any subsequent o1cnsas be
must be severely punished at the dis
crction OF the Governor and CouncjI"
10 guard the community against ey.
cessivc vanity in dress II was enacted
that. for all public contributions go.
unmarried man muet be assessed in
church according to his own apnareI.
and every married man mus, he os.
sessed according to his own and h,y
wifes apparel
Flirting L. Condemned.
Not merely extravaganza In dress
out auch social lnisdemcanors as nirt
ing, received due legislative conde,n
nation Pretty maids were known 10
encourage hopes in more than one
suitor and gay dcce!yers OF the sterr.
CT seq would sometimes seek 10 win
the directions of two or more woman
at the same time. II was enacted that
every minister should give notice In
his church that what man or woman
speVer should use any word or speech
tending to contract OF marriage 10
two several persons at ona time as
mlght entangle or breed scruples in
their conscience. should for such Of
lenses either undergo corporal correc-
toh twhiprins), or be punished hy
fine or otherwise. according to tho
quality OF the person so offending"
If persons of quality indulge In this
dangerous amusement. they are only
to he fined; all others are to be cor
rorally punished with good iashes or,
the back. Cooke says: "T.l ere Is no
proof whatever that any Virginia
maid was ever thus corporally cor
rected."
No planter could dispose of so much
as pound Of tobacco until the min
lister be satisfied as to salary. Sneak
Ing against the Governor or any mem
her of the Council was liable to be
punished With the pillory. 1t seemed
good that vile offenders against the
law or the respect due to dignitaries
should have arms and head held by Il
md be fired at by passersby. Often
after this public exposure the pris-
of.Nr had his ears cut off.
Edward Sharpless. clerk of the Coun-
ell. furnished John Pory, of the Kings
Commissioned with COPY of the pub