opinions, that it was not safe to pay moneys after that sort, for fear of bringing themselves and posterity into bondage. . . After much debate, they acknowledged their fault.

The ground of their error was, for that they took this government to be no other but as of a mayor and aldermen, who have not power to make laws or raise taxations without the people; but understanding that this government was rather in the nature of a parliament, and that no assistant could be chosen but by the freemen and therefore at every

clare their grievances they were fully satisfied; and so their submission was accepted, and their offence pardoned."

1634.-The general court came to a deadlock. So when they could proceed no farther, the whole court agreed to keep a day of humiliation to seek the Lord, which accordingly was done, in all the congregations. [And then when they met again] although all were not satisfied yet no man moved aught about it; [and thus Puritan theology ruled and softened Puritan politics].—Winthrop's Journal.

1635.

At this court, one of the deputies was questioned for affirming that the power of the governor was but ministerial, etc. He had also much opposed the magistrates, and slighted them, and used many weak arguments against the negative voice, as himself acknowledged upon record. He was adjudged by all the court to be disabled for three years from bearing any public office.-Winthrop, History.

1637. For an interesting case of political division and party manipulation, see Hart, I, pp. 378-9.

1639.-Governor Winthrop gives us this very interesting view of theocratic government:

When the people have chosen men to be their rulers, and to make their laws, and bound themselves by oath to submit thereto, now to combine together . . in a public petition to have any order repealed, which is not repugnant to the law of God, savors of resisting an ordinance of God

amounts to a plain reproof of those whom God hath set over them, and putting dishonor upon them, against the tenor of the fifth commandment.-Winthrop, History.

1646.-The Presbyterians demanded a share in the government.

We therefore desire that civill liberty and freedom be forthwith granted to all truely English, equall to the rest of their countrymen and as all freeborne enjoy in our native country. Further, that none of the English nation, who at this time are too forward to be gone, and very backward to come hither, be banished, unless they break the known lawes of England in so high a measure as to deserve so high a punishment . . and we likewise. desire that no greater punishments be inflicted upon offenders than are allowed and met by the laws of our native country.-Hutchinson.

1653. In this year Massachusetts furnished the first American example of the nullification of a federal act—i. e., of the New England Confederation.

It can be noe lesse then a contradiction to affeirme the Supreame power; which wee take to bee the Generall Courts of every Jurisdiction Can bee commanded by others an absurditie in pollicye; That an Intire gov'r'ment and Jurisdiction should prostitute itselfe to the comaund of Strangers; a Scandall in Religion that a generall court of Christians should bee oblidged to acte and engage upon the faith of six Delligates against theire consience all which must be admitted.-Plymouth Records.

1639. Connecticut.-"Fundamental Orders" made by "a Gen❜all Cort at Harteford."

This constitution consists of eleven articles, but the lack of space necessitates very brief quotations.

conjoyne our selves to be as one Publike State or Common

wealth
purity of the gospell

to mayntayne

the liberty and as also in our Civil Affaires to be guided and governed according to such Lawes, Rules, Orders and decrees as shall be made

as followeth :

that there shall be yerely two

the first shall be called the

Courte of Elections [to choose officers].

(5.) Also the other General Courte in September shall be

for makeing of lawes.

(10.) It is Ordered

shall consist of the Governor

that every Generall Courte and 4 other

Magistrats at lest, with the major p'te of the deputyes of the

severall Townes legally chosen. and Constitutions; also Hart, I.

-Poore, Charters

New York had a reform party and movement in 1650, and their leaders have left us their ideas of reform and good government. Colonization

Trade

was not begun properly; for it was merely accidental, and was not intended. is more suited for slaves than freemen, in consequence of the restrictions upon it and the annoyances which accompany the exercise of the right of inspection. [For years, too, not] any thing large or small,-worth relating, was done, built or made, which concerned or belonged to the commonalty, the church excepted.-New York Historical Society, Collections.

Care ought to be taken of the public property as well ecclesiastical as civil. There should be a public

school, so that first of all in so wild a country, when there are many loose people, the youth be well taught and brought up, not only in reading and writing, but also in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. . . There ought also to be an alms house, and an orphan asylum, and other similar institutions the country must also be provided with godly, honorable and intelligent rulers who are not very indigent, or indeed, are not very covetous. Documents relating to New York Colonial History.

That none shall be admitted freemen or free Burgesses within our Town but such Planters as are members of some or other of the Congregational Churches nor shall any but such be chosen to Magistracy or to Carry on any part of Civil Judicature, or as deputies or assistants, to have power to Vote In establishing Laws, and making or Repealing them or to any Chief Military Trust or Office. Nor shall any But such Church Members have any Vote in any such elections; Tho' all others admitted to be Planters have Right to their proper Inheritance, and do and shall enjoy all other Civil Liberties and Privileges. -Records of the Town of

Newark, N. J.

6. Characteristics of colonial life.

Massachusetts.-John Endicott

Charles II. in 1661:

wrote to

Your Servants are true Men, Fearers of God and of the King, not given to change, zealous of Government and order, orthodox and peacable in Israel; we are not seditious as to the Interest of Cæsar, nor Schismaticks as to the matters of Religion; We distinguish between Churches and their Impurities, between a living Man, though not without Sickness or Infirmity, or no man; Irregularities either in ourselves or others we desire to be amended. [A most excellent description.]-Hazard, Historical Collections.

Samuel Newall, in 1692, enters in his diary the ominous note that

A Bill is sent in about calling a Fast and Convocation of Ministers that may be led in the right way as to the Witchcrafts. [And the next page we read about] 7 Balls of Fire that mov'd and mingled each with other. .-Diary of Sewell in Mass. Hist. Society Collections. •

In 1631 Winthrop's diary gives us this item: At this court a servant .. being convict of most foul, scandalous invectives against our churches and government, was censured to be whipped, lose his ears, and be banished the plantation, which was presently executed. Connecticut.-In the true Blue Laws of 1672

[And] forasmuch as the good education of Children is of singular behoof and benefit to any Colony, and whereas many Parents and Masters are too indulgent and negligent,

If any man have a stubborn or rebellious Son

sixteen

years of age, which will not obey . his Father or Mother then may his Father or Mother, being his natural Parents lay hold on him, and bring him to the Magistrates assembled in Court, and notifie that their Son

is Stubborn and Rebellious, and will not obey their voice and chastisement, but lives in sundry notorious Crimes, such a Son shall be put to death.

No man shall exercise any Cruelty towards any Bruit Creatures which are usually kept for the use of man. Laws of Connecticut.

John Josselyn, in 1674, after enumerating a number of punitory laws, sums up New Eng landers:

Their great masters, as also some of their Merchants are damnable rich; generally all of their judgment, inexplicably covetous and proud, they receive your gifts but as an homage or tribute due to their transcendency, which is a fault their Clergie are also guilty of, whose living is upon the bounty of their hearers. . . The chiefest objects of discipline, Relig on, and morality they want, some are of a Linsie-woolsie disposition, of several professions in Religion, all like Æthiopians while in the Tent, only full of ludification and injurious dealing, and cruelty the extreamest of all vices.—Hart, I, 495.

Virginia. In 1622 Capt. Nathaniel Butler tells us how he

found the plantations generally seated upon meer salt marshes, full of infectuous boggs and muddy creeks and lakes. Their houses are generally the worst that ever I saw, the meanest cottages in England being every way equal (if not superior) with the most of the best.

Tobacco only was the business, and for ought that I could hear every man madded upon that little thought or looked for anything else.-Virginia Historical Society, Collections.

Governor Berkeley, in his official report of 1671, tells us, too, that of

commodities of the growth of our country, we never had any but tobacco. Now for shipping we have admirable masts and very good oaks; but for iron ore I dare not say there is sufficient to keep one iron mill going for seven years.Berkeley's Report, Henning's Statutes of Va.

Rev. John Clayton, writing on Tobacco Culture in 1686, tells us that in Virginia

'tis only the barrenest Parts that they have cultivated, by till ing and planting only the High-Lands, leaving the richer Vales unstirr'd, because they understand not anything of Draining. Therefore every three or four years they must be for clearing a new piece of ground out of Woods, which requires much Labour and Toil. Thus their Plantations run over vast Tracts of Ground, each ambitious or engrossing as much as they can, that they may be sure to have enough to plant whereby the Country is thinly inhabited; the Living solitary and unsociable; Trading confused and dispersed; besides other Inconveniences. [And moreover] resolute they are and conceitedly bent to follow their old Practice and Custom, rather than to receive Directions from others, tho' plain, easi'e and advantageous. .-Force's Tracts.