Page:Notes on the State of Virginia (1802).djvu/169

Rh rights of the people remained as they were. But they did not remain ſo long. The northern parts of their country were granted away to the lords Baltimore and Fairfax, the firſt of theſe obtaining alſo the rights of ſeparate juriſdiction and government. And in 1650 the parliament, conſidering itſelf as ſtanding in the place of their depoſed king, and as having ſucceeded to all his powers, without as well as within the realm, began to aſſume a right over the colonies, paſſing an act for inhibiting their trade with foreign nations. This ſucceſſion to the exerciſe of kingly authority gave the firſt color for parliamentary interference with the colonies, and produced that fatal precedent which they continued to follow after they had retired, in other reſpects, within their proper functions. When this colony, therefore, which ſtill maintained its oppoſition to Cromwell and the parliament, was induced in 1651 to lay down their arms, they previouſly ſecured their moſt eſſential rights, by a ſolemn convention, which having never ſeen in print, I will here inſert literally from the records.

‘ agreed on & concluded at James Cittie in Virginia for the ſurrendering and ſettling of that plantation under the obedience & government of the Commonwealth of England by the Commiſſioners of the Councill of ſtate by authoritie of the parliamt. of England & by the grand aſſembly of the Governour, Councill & Burgeſſes of that countrey.

‘F i rſt it is agreed and conſted that the plantation of Virginia, and all the inhabitants thereof ſhall be and remain in due obedience and ſubjection to the Comon wealth of England according to the laws there eſtabliſhed, and that this