Louisiana and Aaron Burr 273 



matters concerning its own welfare; but the back- 

 woodsmen lived so scattered out, and the thinly- 

 settled regions covered so large an extent of terri- 

 tory, that the county was at first in some ways 

 more suited to their needs. Moreover, it was the 

 unit of organization in Virginia, to which State 

 more than to any other the pioneers owed their 

 social and governmental system. The people were 

 ordinarily brought but little in contact with the 

 Government. They were exceedingly jealous of 

 their individual liberty, and wished to be interfered 

 with as little as possible. Nevertheless, they were 

 fond of litigation. One observer remarks that 

 horses and lawsuits were their great subjects of 

 conversation. 36 



The vast extent of the territory and the scanti- 

 ness of the population forced the men of law, like 

 the religious leaders, to travel about rather than 

 stay permanently fixed in any one place. In the 

 few towns there were lawyers and clergymen who 

 had permanent homes; but as a rule both rode cir- 

 cuits. The judges and the lawyers traveled together 

 on the circuits to hold court. At the Shire-town all 

 might sleep in one room, or at least under one roof ; 

 and it was far from an unusual thing to see both 

 the grand and petty juries sitting under trees in 

 the open. 37 



The fact that the Government did so little for the 

 individual and left so much to be done by him ren- 

 dered it necessary for the individuals voluntarily 



36 Michaux, p. 240. " Atwater, p. 177. 



