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.

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 During the reign of William and Mary, the proprietor's political rights were withdrawn, and a royal governor was appointed.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.

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

The London
Company.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE SOUTHERN COLONIES.

VIRGINIA.

THE early political history of Virginia is the history of the London Company, whose formation 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 Colony.

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

nent residence. Community of property, even when all the members of society are well disposed, is fatal to progress; but when a large proportion are idle and vicious nothing but disaster can follow. The colony suffered from scarcity of food, from disease, from the Indians, and from the rivalries and jealousies of those who had been appointed to the council.

In two years, the company received a new charter, which enlarged its own powers without New Charter. increasing the liberty of the colonists.

The local council, with its president, was abolished. A single council in England was empowered to manage all colonial affairs, to make laws, and to provide for their execution. The king had less power than before; but the colony had no more. Under this charter, governors were appointed, who administered a military code of laws prepared in England, making such additions to it as they pleased. This absolute power, in the hands of wise and well-meaning men, promoted the prosperity of the colony; but it gave to unprincipled men opportunity for the greatest injustice.

The Colonial

The company in England changed from an aristocratic to a democratic body, the council being abolished, and all business trans- Assembly. acted in general meetings. This change proved favorable to the political interests of the colony; and, in 1619, a governor was appointed, limited in his executive authority by a council also appointed by the company. He found existing seven distinct plantations, to which he added four more, composed of new settlers. In each of these was a commandant, who was chief of the militia, and civil magistrate.