BAYNE: First LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IN AMERICA 13 
sick of diverse of the Burgesses, to break up so abruptly,” and 
“that in so short a space they could bring their matter to no more 
perfection” and while they conceited that it belonged to the com- 
pany to allow or to advocate any laws which they should make, and 
that it was their right so to do, they humbly beseeched the company 
not to take it in ill part if the laws just passed be of force until the 
pleasure of the company was ascertained; “for otherwise this 
people (who nowe at length have got the raines of former servi- 
tude into their owne swindge) would in shorte time growe so 
insolent as they would shake off all government and there would 
be no living among them.” 
“Their last humble suite is that the said Counsell and Company 
would be pleased so soon as they shall finde it convenient to make ~ 
good their promise, sett downe at the conclusion of their Commis- 
sion for establishing the Counsel of Estate and the General As- 
sembly, namely that they will give us power to allowe or disallowe 
of their orders of Courte, as his Maty hath given them power to 
allowe or reject our lawes.” 
The governor then prorogued the Assembly until the first of 
March 1620. | 
Thus ended the prototype of every other parliamentary body 
that ever sat in Virginia and in this country. When the Pilgrims 
landed at Plymouth Rock the following year, a second Assembly 
had met and the way had been clearly blazed in the colonies to the 
assertion and maintenance of popular rights through deliberative 
bodies, selected by the people themselves. 
The type was thus set for the form and substance of our present 
National and State governments. The governor corresponding to 
the State and National Executive, the council to the senates, and 
the burgesses to the lower houses. 
And thus it was that legislative government began in America. 
