Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

man who had not voted for a deputy to have a seat himself in the legislature. The assembly thus consisted of the governor, secretary, those specially called, and the representatives, called burgesses. These were elected from counties. All sat and voted as one body until 1649; when it was enacted that the persons called by the proprietor should form an upper house, and those elected by the colonists a lower house, each having a negative upon the other.

Judiciary.

The assembly of 1639 established a judiciary system, and made such laws as were necessary. In civil cases the governor was made sole judge. Capital crimes were to be tried by a jury before the governor and his council. County courts were also established. The assembly remained the final court of appeal. The people early affirmed the principle that no taxes should be imposed without the consent of the assembly; but they continued to maintain the most grateful and friendly relations to the proprietor. The most remarkable enactment was that which established religious freedom: "No person within this province professing to believe in Jesus Christ shall be in any ways troubled, molested, or discountenanced for his or her religion, or in the free exercise thereof." The only other colony which at this time professed toleration was Rhode Island; and there Catholics were excepted. The colony grew quite rapidly; but the new-comers were mostly Protestants. During the rule of Cromwell and the Puritan party in England, the Protestants acquired the supremacy in the provincial assembly, and proceeded to disfranchise the Catholic settlers; but toleration was afterward re-established.

Religious Toleration.

The general features of the government underwent no important change until the Revolution. Unlike the more northern colonies, the people were unwilling to gather in towns; and, in consequence, churches were few and poorly sustained, and little opportunity was afforded for education. а

The religion of the proprietor subjected him to constant misrepresentation and injustice; The Royal Govand the peace of the colony was frequently ernment. disturbed by quarrels growing out of religious differences. During the reign of William and Mary, the proprietor's political rights were withdrawn, and a royal governor was appointed. The province was divided into parishes, in each of which a Protestant minister was to be appointed by the governor, and supported by a tax upon all the inhabitants. The Church of England was set up, and Catholics were persecuted. In the parishes, the management of affairs was placed in the hands of vestries elected by the Protestant inhabitants and free schools and libraries were by law established in all the parishes; but these were not flourishing. Such local matters as in New England devolved upon the selectmen were in Maryland cared for by the parochial officers. But these soon ceased to be elective, and not only held their office for life, but filled the vacancies in their bodies by their own appointment. After a suspension of the rights of the proprietors for twenty-four years, they were restored to a descendant of Lord Baltimore who was a Protestant.

SUMMARY.

1. The territory of Delaware was settled by Swedes and Dutch, afterward came into the hands of the Duke of York, and was by him ceded to William Penn.

2. Pennsylvania was granted to Penn by Charles II., and was settled by English Quakers in 1681.

3. The first government established by Penn gave to the people the choice of a legislative assembly and an executive council. The local officers were appointed by the proprietor.

4. Subsequent changes were made in the government, all increasing the political privileges of the people.

5. After the death of Penn, his son inherited his proprietary rights, and exercised his authority through a deputy. The people now, in their assembly, had complete legislative power, and controlled their own sessions and the finances of the colony. They also controlled the local administration:

6. The Delaware counties obtained a separate legislature, but had the same executive as Pennsylvania. Both remained under the proprietor until the Revolution.

7. Maryland was settled by English Catholics under Lord Baltimore, who received proprietary power from Charles I.

8. In the charter, the king forever exempted the colonists from taxation by royal authority.

9. The people were represented in a legislative assembly, and early insisted upon making their own laws, subject to the approval of the proprietor or his deputy.

10. The proprietor established religious toleration, trial by jury, and local courts of justice; and the people claimed exemption from taxes levied without their

consent.

11. During the reign of William and Mary, the Church of England was established. The colony was

divided into parishes each with a Protestant minister supported by general tax. The management of local affairs came into the hands of parish officers who held their place for life. There were no towns. 12. The colony Revolution.

remained proprietary until the

CHAPTER XVI.

THE SOUTHERN COLONIES.

VIRGINIA.

THE early political history of Virginia is the history The London of the London Company, whose formaCompany. tion we have already noticed. This company, to which was given the power to transport settlers, and found colonies, was placed under the control of a council resident in England, the members of which were appointed by the king. Local affairs in the colony were to be managed by an inferior council resident in the colony, the members likewise appointed by the king. Power was afterwards given to this council to elect a president, to remove members, and to fill vacancies in its membership. Judicial power was placed in the hands of the president and council; and they also had such legislative functions as the king did not himself exercise. The settlers had no political rights whatever. Property was to be held in common for five years. Under this charter, Virginia received the first permanent English colony (1607).

The object of the company was solely commercial profit; and the settlers had no higher moThe Colony. tive. They came without families, and with no intention of making the New World a perma

« AnteriorContinuar »