position for mercenary ends. After about twenty years, the Grand Model, as it was called, was set aside; but the government went on as before. Each of the proprietors had a delegate in the council in each province. The colonists were of various nationalities and sects; and considerable trouble arose concerning

Religion. religion. The proprietors wished to estab

lish the Church of England, but there were large numbers of dissenters of different names. Sometimes these were allowed equal privileges with the others; but ultimately Episcopacy was established, and was supported by law until the Revolution.

Elections.

In 1705 the colony was divided into parishes. Until 1716, the members of the assembly of South Carolina had been chosen by such of the freemen as chose to assemble at Charleston for the purpose; but in this year the parishes were made election districts. About the same time, the northern province was also divided into parishes with the usual officers.

In 1720 the people rebelled against the proprietary Royal Govern- government, and a royal governor was sent ernments. to Charleston; and in 1729 the whole province was purchased by the crown, and separate royal governors were appointed for the two colonies. From this time, the government resembled that of other royal provinces. It is impossible to present a picture of the early political life of either of these colonies. There are no records of the mode in which the assemblies were chosen or organized; and nothing is known as to the qualifications required for suffrage. There was never so large a number of indentured white persons as in Virginia; and consequently there was not so wide a difference in social and political rank as in that State.

The people were so scattered that churches and schools could not be maintained; and there was less local political activity than in the more densely populated colonies.

GEORGIA.

Grant to Trus

tees.

Georgia was not only settled last of the thirteen colonies, but it differed from them all in its early civil relations. A number of philanthropic gentlemen received from the king a charter, vesting in them as trustees, for twenty-one years, the territory between the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers (1732). Their object was, to provide a home for those unfortunate persons whom failure in trade and other causes had brought to poverty, and upon whom the laws of England pressed with most unjust severity.

Administration.

The trustees were to grant small portions of land to settlers of this class whom they should induce to emigrate. There were to be no large estates, and no slavery was to be tolerated. The trustees received the whole power of legislation. The affairs of the corporation were to be in the hands of a council; and such officers as were necessary were to be appointed for the colony by this council. Beside the English poor, the colony was increased by German Protestants, by Scotch Highlanders, and by Moravians. The government by the council having proved unsatisfactory, a single executive officer was appointed, styled president, acting with whom were four councillors.

After about twenty years, a colonial assembly was called, not to legislate, but to advise. In Royal Govern1751 the trustees surrendered their char- ment.

ter to the crown; and a provincial government of the

usual form was at once established, and continued until the Revolution.

SUMMARY.

1. Virginia was settled under the direction of the London Company.

2. At first the king controlled the affairs of the company, and the colonists were wholly without political privileges.

3. In 1621 the colony received a written constitution establishing a representative assembly. The consent of this body was required to make any law of the company valid. Trial by jury was also established.

4. The assembly early declared that no tax could be levied without its consent, and assumed the right to control the expenditure of the public money.

5. In 1624 the colony became a royal province, and continued so until the Revolution.

6. Local administration early came to be intrusted to parish officers: afterward it was vested in county officers appointed by the governor.

7. Political power came to be chiefly in the hands of the wealthy landholders.

8. The territory of the Carolinas was granted by Charles II. to eight English noblemen.

9. The colonists were few and widely scattered, and could not be governed by the complicated constitution made by the proprietors. In each colony the proprietors were represented by a governor, and the people by an assembly.

10. The colony finally became a royal province, governed like the others.

11. The people always guarded their liberty jealous

ly, and resisted all attempts of the proprietors to tax them.

12. Georgia was founded as a refuge for the poor of England. The land, at first, was held by trustees, who governed the people arbitrarily.

13. Afterward a better class of settlers came; the king assumed control; and the colony was governed like the other royal provinces.

CHAPTER XVII.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

FROM the beginning of colonial history, as we have seen, there had been disputes between the home government and the colonies concerning their respective authority. At first Massachusetts had been the chief defender of colonial claims; but after the revolution of 1689 had settled political affairs in England, and both parties united in a general colonial policy, all the colonies were strenuous in asserting their rights.

Colonies.

During all their history, the colonists acknowledged Claims of the themselves subjects of England, and successively proclaimed the Commonwealth and the sovereigns who followed it. They admitted the authority of Parliament in general legislation, and adopted the English statutes and the common law as far as their local circumstances made it possible to do

So.

They were willing to defend the person and territory of their sovereign against foreign enemies to the extent of their means.

On the other hand, they claimed, that, in emigrating to America, they had not forfeited any of the rights of English subjects. Foremost of these were those conferred by Magna Charta, trial by jury, and the writ of habeas corpus. Beside these, they claimed the right of