House of Burgesses of Virginia

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General Assembly begun and held at the Capitol in the City of Williamsburgh, on Thursday, the first day of June, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c˙, Annoque Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

On which day, being,the first day of the meeting of this General Assembly for the despatch of publick business, pursuant to a Proclamation hereunto annexed, and also to the Writs, which had issued for that purpose, his Excellency the Right Honourable John Earl of Dunmore, His Majesty' s Lieutenant and Governour-General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice-Admiral of the same, having made a Commission under his hand and the seal of the Colony, hereunto also annexed, empowering the Honourable Thomas Nelson, Richard Corbin, William Byrd, John Tayloe, Robert Carter, Robert Burwell, and Ralph Wormeley, Esquires, John Camm, Clerk, and John Page and Gawin Corbin, Esquires, to administer the Oaths appointed to be taken by the Members returned to serve in the General Assembly before they go into the House of Burgesses, several of the said Commissioners came about ten of the clock into the Council Chamber, where the said Oaths are usually taken, and George Wythe, Clerk of the House of Burgesses, attending according to his duty, with a book containing a list of the names of such Members as had been returned to serve in this General Assembly, and with the Writs for electing them, delivered to him by the Clerk of the Secretary' s office, the said Commissioners administered the said Oaths to such of the said Members of the House of Burgesses as appeared; which being done, the Members repaired to their seats in the House of Burgesses.

After which, a Message was delivered by John Blair, Esquire, Clerk of the General Assembly:

GENTLEMEN: The Governour commands this House to attend his Excellency immediately in the Council Chamber.

Accordingly the House went up to attend his Excellency in the Council Chamber, where his Excellency was pleased to say to them:

Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses:

You must return again to your House, and immediately proceed to the choice of a Speaker.

And the House being returned,

Henry Lee, Esquire, one of the Members for the County of Prince William, addressing himself to the Clerk, (who, standing up, pointed to him, and then sat down,) moved that Peyton Randolph, Esquire, should take the Chair of this House, as Speaker, which office he had before filled with such distinguished abilities, steadiness,

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Mr˙ Randolph was elected without opposition, and was taken out of his place by two Members, who led him from thence to the Chair; and having ascended the uppermost step, and standing there, Mr˙ Randolph returned his thanks to the House for placing him again in that elevated station, and assured them, that as he had gained their favourable opinion, of which their unanimous suffrages on this and other occasions were a testimony equally convincing and honourable, so he would studiously endeavour to preserve it by a strict attention to, and a faithful discharge of, his duty, in any department the publick should think him worthy to serve them in; adding, that he doubted not the House would judge of his future conduct with their wonted candour, and would support him with their assistance, more especially necessary at this critical season.

And thereupon he sat down in the Chair; and then the Mace (which before lay under the table) was laid upon the table.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Governour, to acquaint his Excellency that this House, in obedience to his commands, have made choice of a Speaker, and to know his pleasure when they shall attend to present him; and that Mr˙ Henry Lee and Mr˙ Treasurer do wait upon his Excellency with the said Message.

They accordingly withdrew, and being returned, Mr˙ Treasurer reported, that the Governour was pleased to say he would send an answer by a messenger of his own.

A Message from the Governour by Mr˙ Blair:

Mr˙ SPEAKER: The Governour commands this House to attend his Excellency immediately in the Council Chamber.

Accordingly Mr˙ Speaker elect, with the House, went up to attend his Excellency in the Council Chamber; and he was pleased to declare his approbation of their choice.

Then Mr˙ Speaker did, in the name and on behalf of the House, lay claim to all their ancient rights and privileges, particularly a freedom of speech and debate, exemption from arrests, and protection for their estates; and lastly, for himself, requested that his errours might not be imputed to the House.

The Governour answered that he should take care to defend them in all their just rights and privileges.

The House being returned,

Mr˙ Speaker reported, that the House had attended the Governour in the Council Chamber, where his Excellency was pleased to approve the choice they had made of him to be their Speaker, and to grant and to allow to them, upon petition of claim made by him to his Excellency, in the name and on the behalf of the House of Burgesses, all their ancient rights and privileges, particularly a freedom of speech and debate, exemption from arrests, and protection for their estates.