286 The New England Tozvn-Hoiise. [May,
covenant and combine ourselves to- town, when, in 1632, the people assem- gether into a civil body politic, for our bled and expressed their discontent better ordering and preservation, . . . with a tax laid by the court, and at and by virtue hereof to enact, consti- Dorchester as previously referred to. tute, and frame such just and equal To Dorchester, however, belongs the laws, acts, constitutions, and offices, honor of leading the way to that form from time to time, as shall be most meet of town government which has pre- and convenient for the general good of vailed in New England ever since. It the colony ; unto which we promise all came about in this way. The settle- due submission and obedience." ment was begun in June, 1630, and for
These words were the constitution of more than three years the people seem
more than a town government. They to have managed their affairs under the
erected a democratic state — a com- administration of the Court of Assistants
monwealth. It was a general govern- by means of meetings. At such a
ment separate from and above the town meeting, held October S, 1633, it was
governments which were afterwards in- ordered " for the generall good and
stituted. It enacted general laws by an well ordering of the affaires of the
assembly of deputies in which the plantation," that there should be a
eight plantations in the colony, which general meeting of the inhabitants at
afterwards became towns, were repre- the meeting-house every Monday morn-
sented. These laws were executed by ing before the court, which was four
a governor and an assistant, and were times a year, or became so the next
of equal binding force in all the plan- year, " to settle & sett downe such
tations after, as well as before, these orders as may tend to the general
plantations became towns. good as aforesayd, & every man to be
The Massachusetts Colony came over bound thereby without gainsaying or
as a corporation with a royal charter resistance." This very interesting order
which gave power to the freemen of the is given entire in the Memorial History
company to elect a governor, deputy- of Boston.* There were also appointed
governor, and assistants, and " make twelve selectmen, " who were to hold
laws and ordinances, not repugnant to monthly meetings, & whose orders
the laws of England, for their own were binding when confirmed l)y the
benefit and the government of persons Plantation."
inhabiting their territory." The colo- Here was our New England town
nists divided themselves into plantations, almost exactly as it is to-day. The
part at Naumkeag (Salem), at Mish- inhabitants met at stated times and
awum (Charlestown), at Dorchester, Bos- voted what seemed necessary for their
ton, Watertown, Roxbury, Mystic, and own local order and welfare, and com-
Saugus (Lynn), and while the General mitted the execution of their will 10
Court, as the governor, deputy-governor, twelve selectmen, who were to meet
and assistants were called, made general monthly. Our towns now have an
"laws and ordinances" for the whole, annual meeting for the same purpose,
the plantations were at liberty to man- and elect generally three selectmen, who
age their own particular affairs as they meet at stated times, — sometimes as
pleased. They called meetings and often as once a week. Watertown
took action by themselves, as at Water- *voi. i, p. 427.
�� �
