Page:A Brief History of the Constitution and Government of Massachusetts (1925).pdf/14

4 granted in 1621 by the Council for New England. In 1629 another patent was granted. All freemen, who were church members, met together as a General Court. Here legislation was enacted, and up to 1636 all trials were also held before this body. In that year, however, the laws were revised, the government established on a permanent basis, the powers of the Governor and Assistants were defined, and the Governor and two Assistants were given certain jurisdiction over trials. This office of Assistant to the Governor had been provided for in 1621, and although at first there was only one Assistant (to succeed the Governor in case of death), the number was gradually increased to seven.

As the settlements increased in number, it was no longer convenient or feasible for all the people to meet as a General Court so deputies were provided for, and in 1639 these deputies were chosen and assembled together from different towns. The towns paid their own delegates and this mode of payment, as we shall see, was customary in Massachusetts. It was not until some time after the adoption of a Constitution in Massachusetts that the burden was taken away from the individual towns and placed upon the State treasury.

The General Court in Plymouth could enact laws but they had to be acted on by two Legislatures, and the freemen could repeal them at the next general election, and enact any other useful measures. What a curious provision this seems to us now! In colonial days we had such safeguards thrown about the enactment of a mere law as are now usually