48o

THE GREEN BAG

uses — it was in the Old Dominion only that the plant became possessed of those high and honorable functions that entitled it to be termed "The Virginia Weed." Being the only article of export, it was the product of all others most readily conver tible into English money, and so became the representative of money in the colony, and as such, the standard in barter, the measure of values, and medium of exchange for all other articles — in fact, the currency of the people. The cultivation of it, therefore, became a privilege, and was hedged about with such restrictions and requirements by the law-making power, as to make it a most exclusive and aristocratic engagement. The General Assembly or House of Bur gesses — the first law-making body in Vir ginia, as early as 1632 enacted that, "The necessitie of the present state of the country requiringe, Itt is thought fitt that all gun smiths and nailors, brickmakers, carpenters, joiners, sawyers, and turners be compelled to work at their trades, and not suffered to plant tobacco." It was in the direction of whatever af fected its functions as the circulating me dium, that most of the early enactments of the assembly were directed; the intention being to secure a sound and stable currency of the highest possible standard. Thus a system of laws gradually evolved, which provided for almost every imaginable phase in the cultivation, manipulation, and sale of tobacco, and thus also was secured an article of the very best quality for its ulti mate uses to the consumer. The fact that the burgesses themselves, and all officers of the assembly, as well, the justices, sheriffs, bailiffs, and other officials, received their salaries and fees in tobacco, was in itself a guarantee that a high standard would be maintained for the currency. The Church of England being the established church of the colony, and the stipends of the clergy being payable in tithes of tobacco, the in fluence of the clergy also, was on the side of a sound and stable currency, and "The

raisinge and curinge of good tobacco," was enjoined from the pulpit, not only as of the highest order of civic duty, but as a Chris tian privilege and religious obligation hardly second to observance of the decalogue and the partaking of the sacraments. It was according, therefore, to the appar ent scarcity or redundancy of the currency that the assembly enacted laws for the increase or decrease of the number of to bacco plants "per poll" to be planted, and the number of leaves from each plant to be gathered and cured. From the Acts of the Assembly, October, 1629, is the following — "It was put to the question whether for this yeare there should be an ordinance made and established for the stintinge of the planting of tobacco. To this the opinion of the most voices was that noe person work ing in the ground, which are all to be tithable, should plant above 3000 plants upon a' head." Act VIII of the same Assembly provided. "That noe person whatsoever shall plant or tende above two thousand plants of tobaccoe for any head within his family including woemen and children — and it is further ordered that if any man shall make any bad conditioned tobaccoe, and offer to pay away the same — either for debts or marchan dise, it shall be lawful' for the commander of any plantation, upon view thereof to burne the same; and the partie that shall be found délinquant in any part of this order shall be hereby barred from planting any tobaccoe until he be re-admitted by a gen eral assembly." The plantation, or "hundered," was the earliest civil and military district or jurrisdiction. It had representation in the House of Burgesses, and the commander was clothed with great discretionary powers, and was held to corresponding accountabil ity. The enforcing of the tobacco laws de volved upon him and his subordinates. Act XXI, Assembly of 1631, provided. "That no planter or mayster of a familie shall make or transfer this right of plantage