House of Burgesses
Smith served in the House only during the 1658 session, representing Warwick County, and was chosen as Speaker. Governor Samuel Mathews tried to dissolve the House on April 1. The House, under Smith's leadership, replied that the dissolution was illegal; it swore its members to secrecy and threatened to censure anyone who left the session. The following day, Mathews and his council offered to refer the dispute to Cromwell. The House refused and declared the governor's and councillors' offices vacant. It then proceeded to reelect Mathews and his council, forcing them all to swear an oath to honor the sovereignty of the House.
Read more about this topic: John Smith (Virginia Burgess)
Famous quotes containing the word house:
“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-and great was its fall!”
—Bible: New Testament, Matthew 7:26-27.
Jesus.