GENESIS OF AGRARIANISM IN THE U. S. 95 



says Willis Mason West, "in a royal charter, marks 

 an onward step in the history of liberty. The crea- 

 tion of the Virginia Assembly, and the devotion of 

 the Virginians to it, had borne fruit. Seemingly, be- 

 tween 1620 and 1630, it became a settled conviction 

 for all Englishmen, at last even for the court circle, 

 that colonization in America was possible only upon 

 the basis of a large measure of self-government." 2 



Two methods of land settlement were actually 

 evolved by the English proprietors. The earlier 

 method involved the bestowal of large land grants 

 upon favored individuals who as proprietors pro- 

 vided ships, tools and equipment, and provisions for 

 the enterprises. Immigrants were relieved of finan- 

 cial burden but were expected to render some service 

 or provide some income to the proprietors as com- 

 pensation for the cost of transportation and as rental 

 for the land they cultivated. The other method in- 

 volved the payment of the transportation charges 

 of prospective settlers by planters. As compensation 

 for this outlay, planters accepted a grant of land and 

 the labor of the new settlers for a number of years. 

 Laborers of this type were called "indentured 

 servants." They constituted the agricultural labor 

 supply of the southern colonies until replaced by 

 negro slaves. Under the title of "redemptioners," 

 they formed the principal labor supply of Pennsyl- 

 vania. This class of laborers in Maryland were 

 known as "freewillers." The term of indenture was 



'American History and Government (1913), Chap. I, p. 45. 



