The
planting of this small seed of freedom here, in 1619, upon the banks of the
James in Virginia, is an event of prime importance.
On the 30th of July, 1619, there was convened in the log church in
Jamestown the first true Parliament or Legislative Assembly in America.
Twenty-two burgesses sat, hat on head, in the body of the church, with the
Governor and the Council in the best seats. Master John Pory, the speaker,
faced the Assembly; clerk and sergeant-at-arms were at hand; Master Buck,
the Jamestown minister, made the solemn opening prayer. The political
divisions of this Virginia were Cities, Plantations, and Hundreds, the
English population numbering now at least a thousand souls. Boroughs
sending burgesses were James City, Charles City, the City of Henricus,
Kecoughtan, Smith's Hundred, Flowerdieu Hundred, Martin's Hundred, Martin
Brandon, Ward's Plantation, Lawne's Plantation, and Argall's Gift. This
first Assembly attended to Indian questions, agriculture, and religion.
Most notable is this year 1619, a year wrought of gold and iron. John
Rolfe, back in Virginia, though without his Indian princess, who now lies
in English earth, jots down and makes no comment upon what he has written:
"About the last of August came in a Dutch man of warre that sold us twenty
Negars."
No European state of that day, few individuals, disapproved of the African
slave trade. That dark continent made a general hunting-ground. England,
Spain, France, the Netherlands, captured, bought, and sold slaves.
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