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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44955 ***
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+This version of the text is unable to reproduce certain typographic
+features. Italics are delimited with the '_' character as _italic_.
+Superscripts are used in certain period quotations (e.g., y^e), are
+represents, as shown, with the carat character. Should more than one
+character be superscripted, they are enclosed in brackets (e.g.,
+Y^{or}). The 'oe' ligature appears only in the words 'manoeuvring',
+and is rendered as separate characters. Words printed using small
+capitals are shifted to all upper-case.
+
+Footnotes have been relocated to the end of paragraph breaks or tables,
+and are assigned sequential letters.
+
+Please consult the notes at the end of this text for a more detailed
+discussion of any other issues that were encountered during its
+preparation.
+
+
+[Illustration: STATUE OF ROGER WILLIAMS.]
+
+
+
+
+ A
+ SHORT HISTORY
+ OF
+ RHODE ISLAND,
+
+ BY
+
+ GEORGE WASHINGTON GREENE, LL.D.,
+
+ LATE NON-RESIDENT PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN HISTORY IN CORNELL
+ UNIVERSITY; AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL
+ NATHANAEL GREENE;" "HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE
+ AMERICAN REVOLUTION," ETC., ETC.
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ PROVIDENCE:
+ J. A. & R. A. REID, PUBLISHERS,
+ 1877.
+
+
+ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by
+ ANNA MARIA GREENE,
+ in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
+
+
+
+
+ TO
+
+ Anna Maria Greene,
+
+
+ MY DEAR MOTHER:
+
+You bear your ninety-three years so lightly that I invite your
+attention to a new volume of mine with as much assurance of your
+sympathy as when I crowed and wondered over my first picture book an
+infant on your knee. For your sympathy is as quick and as warm as it
+was then, and your memory goes back with unerring certainty to the men
+and the scenes of almost a century ago. Your eyes have looked upon
+Washington, and your tenacious memory can still recall the outline of
+his majestic form.
+
+The first time that I ventured to send forth a volume to the world,
+I set upon the dedication page the name of my father. He has been dead
+many years. You still linger behind, and long may you linger. Long
+may those fresh memories which give such a charm to your daily life
+continue to cheer you and instruct those who have the privilege of
+living with you. They have seen life imperfectly who have not seen what
+a charm it wears when the heart that has beat so long still lends its
+genial warmth to the still inquiring mind.
+
+ REVERENTIALLY AND AFFECTIONATELY YOUR SON,
+
+ GEORGE W. GREENE.
+
+
+
+
+ Preface.
+
+
+There are two classes of history, each of which has claims upon our
+attention peculiarly its own. One is a sober teacher, the other a
+pleasant companion. One opens new paths of thought, the other throws
+new light upon the old, and both agree in making man the chief object
+of their meditations.
+
+Nearly two thousand years ago a Roman historian likened the life of his
+country to the life of man. Time has confirmed the parallel. Nations,
+like men, have their infancy and their youth, their robust manhood and
+their garrulous old age. Their lives like the lives of men are full of
+encouragement and of warning. Interpret them aright and they become
+trusty guides. Misapply their lessons and you grope in the dark and
+stumble at every step.
+
+And both states and men have their special duties and were created for
+special ends. The God that made them assigned to each its problem,
+and to work this out is to work out His will. Of this problem history
+is the record and the interpreter. It tells us what man has been, and
+thereby aids us to divine what he yet may be.
+
+If with the philosopher history reveals the laws of life, with the poet
+she recalls the past and stirs human sympathies in their profoundest
+depths. Man follows man on her checkered stage; nations rise and fall;
+mysteries enchain us; imagination controls us; reason guides us;
+conscience admonishes and warns; and first and foremost of all our
+stimulants to action is our sympathy with our fellow-man.
+
+I have attempted in the following pages to tell what the part of Rhode
+Island has been in this great drama. A talent was entrusted to her. Did
+she wrap it in a napkin?
+
+To those who are familiar with the accurate and exhaustive work of
+Governor Arnold, it will be needless to say that but for the aid of his
+volumes, mine would never have been written.
+
+ GEORGE W. GREENE.
+
+ WINDMILL COTTAGE,
+_East Greenwich, R. I., April 8th, 1877_.
+
+
+
+
+ Analytical Table.
+
+
+ CHAPTER I.
+
+ CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND PLYMOUTH
+ COLONIES.--ARRIVAL AND BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS.
+
+ The religious sentiment connected with the
+ foundation of states, 1
+
+ Resistance to the doctrine of theocracy occasioned
+ the settlement of Rhode Island, 2
+
+ 1631. Ship Lyon arrived at Boston, bringing Roger
+ Williams, 2
+
+ Early life of Williams, 2
+
+ Massachusetts in possession of two distinct
+ colonies, 3
+
+ In Massachusetts Colony the clergy were virtually
+ rulers, and they were extremely rigid, 3
+
+ Disputes between Williams and the authorities of
+ Massachusetts Bay Colony, 4
+
+ Removal of Williams to Plymouth, 4
+
+ Williams makes friendship with Massasoit and
+ Miantonomi, 5
+
+ Learns the Indian language, 5
+
+ Williams returns to Salem, 5
+
+ 1635. He is persecuted and finally banished, 6
+
+ Articles of banishment, 6
+
+
+ CHAPTER II.
+
+ SUFFERINGS OF ROGER WILLIAMS IN THE WILDERNESS.--FOUNDS A SETTLEMENT
+ ON THE SEEKONK RIVER.--IS ADVISED TO DEPART.--SEEKS OUT A NEW
+ PLACE WHICH HE CALLS PROVIDENCE.
+
+ Attempt to send Williams to England, 7
+
+ His flight, 8
+
+ He is fed by the Indians, 8
+
+ He is given land on the Seekonk River by Massasoit
+ and starts a settlement, 8
+
+ He receives a friendly letter from the Governor of
+ Plymouth asking him to remove, 9
+
+ He starts with five companions in a canoe to find
+ a place for a settlement, and finally lands at
+ Providence, 9
+
+ CHAPTER III.
+
+ WILLIAMS OBTAINS A GRANT OF LAND AND FOUNDS A COLONY.--FORM OF
+ GOVERNMENT IN THE COLONY.--WILLIAMS GOES TO ENGLAND TO OBTAIN A
+ ROYAL CHARTER.
+
+ Early inhabitants of Rhode Island, 11
+
+ Williams makes peace between Canonicus and Massasoit, 12
+
+ He receives a grant of land from Canonicus and begins
+ a settlement, 12
+
+ Compact of the colonists at Providence, 13
+
+ Experiment of separation of church from state tried
+ in the new Colony, 13
+
+ The right of suffrage not regarded as a natural right.
+ Illustrated by Joshua Verin and his wife, 14
+
+ 1639. The first church founded in Providence, 15
+
+ Five select men appointed to govern the Colony, subject
+ to the action of the Monthly Town Meeting, 15
+
+ Massachusetts Colony applied for a new charter to cover
+ the land occupied by Providence, 15
+
+ 1643. Providence in connection with Aquidneck and Warwick
+ sent Williams to England to obtain a Royal charter, 15
+
+ 1644. Williams returns in 1644 successful, and is
+ received with exultation, 16
+
+
+ CHAPTER IV.
+
+ SETTLEMENT OF AQUIDNECK AND WARWICK.--PEQUOT WAR.--DEATH OF
+ MIANTONOMI.
+
+ 1637. Anna Hutchinson arrived in Massachusetts and banished, 17
+
+ Nineteen of her followers under William Coddington
+ and John Clarke, purchased the Island of
+ Aquidneck and formed settlements at Pocasset and
+ Newport, 17
+
+ Roger Williams proclaimed the right of religious
+ liberty to every human being, 18
+
+ Samuel Gorton banished from Pocasset, 19
+
+ He denied the authority of all government except
+ that authorized by the King and Parliament, 19
+
+ He, with eleven others, bought Shawomet and settled
+ there, 19
+
+ He is besieged by troops from Massachusetts, is
+ captured, imprisoned, and afterwards released, 19
+
+ He is appointed to a magistracy in Aquidneck, 19
+
+ Roger Williams prevented the alliance of the
+ Pequots and Narragansetts, and formed one between
+ the English and the Narragansetts, 21
+
+ Pequots rooted out and crushed, 21
+
+ Miantonomi treacherously put to death, 22
+
+ The Narragansetts put themselves under the protection
+ of the English, 22
+
+
+ CHAPTER V.
+
+ CHARTER GRANTED TO PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.--ORGANIZATION UNDER
+ IT.--THE LAWS ADOPTED.
+
+ 1643. The charter granted to Providence Plantations, 23
+
+ Provisions of the charter, 23
+
+ 1647. The corporators met at Portsmouth and in a general
+ assembly accepted the charter, and proceeded to
+ organize under it, 24
+
+ The government declared to be democratical, 24
+
+ President and other officers chosen, 25
+
+ Description of the code of laws, 25
+
+ Design for a seal adopted, 26
+
+ Roger Williams presented with one hundred pounds
+ for services in obtaining the charter, 26
+
+ Spirit of the law, 27
+
+
+ CHAPTER VI.
+
+ FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.--UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT USURPATION BY
+ CODDINGTON.
+
+ Death of Canonicus, 28
+
+ Possibility of the doctrine of soul liberty
+ demonstrated, 28
+
+ Dissensions among the colonists, 29
+
+ Troubles with Massachusetts, 29
+
+ Baptists persecuted in Massachusetts, 30
+
+ 1651. Coddington obtained a royal commission as
+ Governor of Rhode Island and Connecticut for life,
+ which virtually dissolved the first charter, 30
+
+ Roger Williams sent to England to ask for a
+ confirmation of the charter, 31
+
+ John Clarke, also, sent to ask for a revocation of
+ Coddington's commission, 31
+
+ 1652. Slaves not allowed to be held in bondage longer than
+ ten years, 32
+
+ Commerce with the Dutch of Manhattan interrupted by
+ war between England and Holland, 32
+
+ Coddington's commission revoked and the first charter
+ restored, 32
+
+
+ CHAPTER VII.
+
+ MORE FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.--CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
+ REGULATIONS OF THE COLONY.--ARRIVAL OF QUAKERS.
+
+ Conscience claimed as the rule of action in civil
+ as well as religious matters, 33
+
+ Contentions between the Island and the main-land
+ towns, 34
+
+ 1654. Court of Commissioners met and effected a reunion
+ in the Colony, 34
+
+ Attempts of the United Colonies to make war on the
+ Narragansetts, but they failed, as Williams had
+ influenced Massasoit not to sanction it, 35
+
+ Qualification of citizenship, 36
+
+ Duties of citizenship ascendant over dignity of
+ office, 37
+
+ Protection of marriage, 38
+
+ The Pawtuxet controversy settled by acknowledgement
+ of the claims of Rhode Island, 38
+
+ Fort built for protection against Indians, 39
+
+ Quakers arrived. Difference of treatment of them
+ between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, 39
+
+ 1663. A new charter granted by Charles II. and accepted
+ by the colonists, 40
+
+
+ CHAPTER VIII.
+
+ TROUBLES IN OBTAINING A NEW CHARTER.--PROVISIONS OF THE
+ CHARTER.--DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING THE NARRAGANSETT
+ PURCHASE.--CURRENCY.--SCHOOLS.
+
+ The new charter gave a democratic government, 41
+
+ Some of its provisions, 41
+
+ Religious liberty recognized by it, 42
+
+ Assembly and courts reörganized, 43
+
+ State magistrates chosen by the freemen, 44
+
+ Jealousy of Massachusetts, 44
+
+ Trouble concerning the ownership of Narragansett, 45
+
+ Attempt to dispossess Rhode Island of part of her
+ territory, 46
+
+ The Narragansetts compelled to mortgage their lands
+ to the United Colonies, 47
+
+ New charter obtained by Connecticut extending its
+ bounds to the Narragansett River, 48
+
+ 1663. The boundary line left to arbitrators who fix it at
+ the Pawcatuck River, 49
+
+ The intrigues of John Scott for the purchase of the
+ Narragansett tract, 49
+
+ Letter obtained from the King, putting the
+ Narragansett purchase under protection of
+ Massachusetts and Connecticut, 50
+
+ This was rendered null by the second charter of
+ Rhode Island grant soon afterward, 51
+
+ Wampum used as money in the Colony, 52
+
+ Also used as an article of ornament by the natives, 52
+
+ 1652. Massachusetts began to coin silver in 1652, 53
+
+ Rhode Island abolished the use of wampum ten years
+ later, 53
+
+ 1662. New England shilling made legal tender in Rhode
+ Island, 53
+
+ 1640-1663. First schools established at Providence and
+ Newport, 53
+
+ Affirmation is declared to be equal to an oath, 54
+
+
+ CHAPTER IX.
+
+ TERRITORY OF RHODE ISLAND IS INCREASED BY THE ADDITION OF BLOCK
+ ISLAND.--DISPUTES BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND THE OTHER COLONIES
+ SETTLED BY ROYAL COMMAND.--STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE COLONY IN 1667.
+
+ 1663. Block Island added to Rhode Island, 55
+
+ Regulations concerning its admission, 56
+
+ It is incorporated under the name of New Shoreham, 56
+
+ Four Commissioners sent to America to reduce the
+ Dutch and settle all questions of appeal between
+ the colonies, 57
+
+ The vexed questions of boundary line between
+ Rhode Island and Plymouth; the Narragansett
+ question and Warwick difficulties referred to the
+ Commissioners, who referred the first to the King
+ and decided the second in favor of Rhode Island, 57
+
+ The Indians removed from King's Province, 59
+
+ Five propositions submitted by the Commissioners to
+ the Rhode Island Assembly, 59
+
+ 1st. All householders should take the oath of
+ allegiance to the King, 59
+
+ 2d. Mode of admitting freemen, 59
+
+ 3d. Admission to the sacrament open to all well
+ disposed persons, 60
+
+ 4th. All laws and resolves derogatory to the King
+ repealed, 60
+
+ 5th. Provisions for self-defence, 60
+
+ 1672. Trouble with John Paine concerning Prudence Island, 62
+
+ Members of the Assembly to be paid for their
+ services, 63
+
+ Financial difficulties in the Colony, 64
+
+ 1667. Preparations for defence against the French, 64
+
+ 1672. Act passed to facilitate the collection of taxes, 65
+
+
+ CHAPTER X.
+
+ KING PHILIP'S WAR.
+
+ Wamsutta summoned before the General Court at Plymouth, 67
+
+ His death, 67
+
+ Indignation of the Indians, especially King Philip, 68
+
+ Condition of the Indians, 68
+
+ Attack on Swanzey, 69
+
+ The Indians pursued by the English, 69
+
+ Philip and his allies besieged in a swamp at Pocasset, 71
+
+ His escape, 71
+
+ The Indian attack on Hadley, 71
+
+ Goffe, the regicide, 72
+
+ Philip joined the Narragansetts, 72
+
+ Battle in the swamp, 73
+
+ Indians defeated, and their village destroyed, 74
+
+ Depredations in Rhode Island, 75
+
+ Death of Canonchet, 76
+
+ Death of Philip and end of the war, 77
+
+ Condition of the country after the war, 77
+
+
+ CHAPTER XI.
+
+ INDIANS STILL TROUBLESOME.--CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.--TROUBLES
+ CONCERNING THE BOUNDARY LINES.
+
+ Precautions against the Indians, 78
+
+ Troubles with Connecticut concerning Narragansett, 79
+
+ Two agents sent to England, 80
+
+ War party obtains power, 80
+
+ Foundation of East Greenwich, 82
+
+ Bitter controversy concerning the limits and extent
+ of the Providence and Pawtuxet purchase, 82
+
+ 1696-1712. Settled in 1696 and 1712, 83
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XII.
+
+ DEATH OF SEVERAL OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEN.--CHANGES
+ IN LEGISLATION.
+
+ The United Colonies still encroached upon Rhode
+ Island, 84
+
+ Deaths of John Clarke, Roger Williams, Samuel
+ Gorton, William Harris, and William Coddington, 85
+
+ 1678. Financial condition of the Colony in 1678, 88
+
+ Changes in the usages of election, 89
+
+ Bankrupt law passed and afterwards repealed, 89
+
+ Law concerning disputed titles to lands, 90
+
+ 1679. Law for the protection of servants, 91
+
+ Law for the protection of sailors, 91
+
+ John Clawson's curse, 92
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIII.
+
+ COURTS AND ARMY STRENGTHENED.--COMMISSIONERS SENT FROM
+ ENGLAND.--CHARTER REVOKED.
+
+ Disputes concerning the title of Potowomut, 93
+
+ 1680. Power of the town to reject or accept new citizens, 93
+
+ Efficiency of the courts increased, 94
+
+ English navigation act injures the commercial
+ interests of the Colony, 95
+
+ Commissioners appointed to settle the vexed
+ question of the King's Province, 96
+
+ Rhode Island's position in New England in regard to
+ the other colonies, 96
+
+ Trouble with the Commissioners, 97
+
+ Charter revoked, 98
+
+ Rhode Island returned to its original form of
+ government, 98
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ CHANGES IN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.--SIR EDMOND ANDROS APPOINTED
+ GOVERNOR.--HE OPPRESSES THE COLONISTS AND IS FINALLY DEPOSED.
+
+ John Greene sent to England with an address to the
+ King for the preservation of the charter, 100
+
+ Changes in the names and the boundaries of
+ Kingston, Westerly and East Greenwich, 101
+
+ 1687. Arrival of Sir Edmond Andros, 101
+
+ Taxes farmed out, 102
+
+ Marriages made illegal unless performed by the rites
+ of the English Church, 103
+
+ Passport system introduced, 103
+
+ Composition of the council, 103
+
+ Andros's commission enlarged, 105
+
+ The press subjected to the will of the Governor, 105
+
+ Title of Rhode Island to King's Province again
+ confirmed, 106
+
+ Persecution of the Huguenots, 107
+
+ Andros deposed, 107
+
+
+ CHAPTER XV.
+
+ CHARTER GOVERNMENT AGAIN RESUMED.--FRENCH WAR.--INTERNAL
+ IMPROVEMENTS.--CHARGES AGAINST THE COLONIES.
+
+ Chief-Justice Dudley attempted to open his court,
+ he is seized and imprisoned, 108
+
+ Return of the old form of government, 108
+
+ Legality of resumption confirmed by the King, 109
+
+ 1690. The Assembly reorganized, 110
+
+ Town house built, 111
+
+ The colonists taxed to sustain the French and
+ Indian war, 112
+
+ Coast invaded by French privateers, 112
+
+ New taxes levied, 113
+
+ Small-pox broke out in the Colony, 113
+
+ 1691. Sir William Phipps appointed Governor of
+ Massachusetts with command over all the forces of
+ New England, 114
+
+ This command over the forces of Rhode Island
+ restricted to time of war, 115
+
+ 1693. First mail line established between Boston
+ and Virginia, 116
+
+ State officers to be paid a regular salary, 116
+
+ Assembly divided into two houses, 116
+
+ Indians still troublesome, 117
+
+ Courts of Admiralty established in the Colony, 117
+
+ 1697-1698. Trouble from enemies to the charter government, 117
+
+ Interests of trade fostered, 118
+
+ Smuggling common, 118
+
+ Charges made against the Colony by the Royal
+ Governor, 119
+
+ Captain Kidd, 119
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ COLONIAL PROSPERITY.--DIFFICULTIES OCCASIONED BY THE WAR WITH THE
+ FRENCH.--DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE COLONY.
+
+ 1702. Prosperity of the Colony, 120
+
+ Providence the second town in the Colony, 120
+
+ Religious freedom, 120
+
+ Attempt to establish a Vice-Royalty over the Colonies, 122
+
+ 1701. Better Laws enacted, 123
+
+ 1702. Preparations for defence, 123
+
+ 1703. Boundary line between Rhode Island and
+ Connecticut finally settled, 124
+
+ The character and interest of the Colony
+ misunderstood by England, 124
+
+ French privateer captured, 125
+
+ Further acts of the Assembly, 126
+
+ Slave trade, 127
+
+ 1708. First census taken, 127
+
+ Public auctions first held, 128
+
+ Commercial and agricultural progress, 128
+
+ 1709. First printing press set up at Newport, 129
+
+ Internal improvements, 130
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ PAPER MONEY TROUBLES.--ESTABLISHMENT OF BANKS.--PROTECTION OF HOME
+ INDUSTRIES.--PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUFFRAGE.
+
+ Issue of paper money, 131
+
+ Clerk of the Assembly first elected from outside
+ the House, 131
+
+ Arts of peace resumed, 132
+
+ New militia laws enacted, 132
+
+ Laws concerning trade, 133
+
+ Troubles occasioned by paper money, 134
+
+ 1715. Banks established in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 134
+
+ Paper money question carried into election, 134
+
+ Improvements in Newport, 136
+
+ Criminal code, 136
+
+ 1716. School-houses built in Portsmouth, 136
+
+ Punishment of slander, 137
+
+ Indian lands taken under the protection of the Colony, 137
+
+ Law concerning intestates, 137
+
+ 1719. First edition of the laws printed, 138
+
+ Boundary troubles, 138
+
+ Industry of the Colony protected by loans and
+ bounties, 138
+
+ 1724. Freehold act passed, 139
+
+ 1723. Pirate captured, 139
+
+ Evidences of the progress of the Colony, 139
+
+ 1727. Death of Governor Cranston, 141
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+ CHANGE OF THE EXECUTIVE.--ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY.--GEORGE BERKELEY'S
+ RESIDENCE IN NEWPORT.--FRIENDLY FEELING BETWEEN THE COLONISTS AND
+ THE MOTHER COUNTRY.
+
+ New Governor elected, 142
+
+ State of affairs in England, 142
+
+ 1728. Revision of the criminal code, 143
+
+ Laws for the encouragement and regulation of trade, 144
+
+ 1727. Earthquake, 145
+
+ 1723-1724. Division of the Colony into counties, 146
+
+ George Berkeley, 146
+
+ Establishment of Redwood Library, 147
+
+ Laws concerning charitable institutions, Quakers
+ and Indians, 147
+
+ 1730. New census taken, 148
+
+ 1731. New bank voted, 149
+
+ Commercial prosperity, 149
+
+ New edition of the laws published, 149
+
+ Fisheries encouraged, 150
+
+ Regulation concerning election, 150
+
+ William Wanton chosen Governor, 152
+
+ Depreciation of paper money, 152
+
+ 1733. Marriage laws, 152
+
+ John Wanton chosen Governor, 153
+
+ Watchfulness of the Board of Trade, 153
+
+ 1735-1736. Throat distemper, 154
+
+ Law against bribery at elections, 154
+
+ Arrival of his Majesty's ship Tartar, 155
+
+ Means of protection against fire, 155
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIX.
+
+ WAR WITH SPAIN.--NEW TAXES LEVIED BY ENGLAND.--RELIGIOUS AWAKENING
+ AMONG THE BAPTISTS.
+
+ Preparation for war against the Spaniards, 156
+
+ Great expedition against the Spanish West Indies, 157
+
+ New taxes levied on importations by England, 157
+
+ Death of Governor Wanton, who is succeeded by
+ Richard Ward, 158
+
+ Arrival of Whitefield and Fothergill, 159
+
+ Further provisions for the defence of the Colony, 159
+
+ Report of the Governor concerning paper money, 160
+
+ 1741. Boundary line between Rhode Island and
+ Massachusetts settled, 161
+
+
+ CHAPTER XX.
+
+ PROGRESS OF THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.--CHANGE IN THE JURISDICTION
+ OF THE COURTS.--SENSE OF COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPING AMONG THE
+ COLONISTS.--LOUISBURG CAPTURED.
+
+ Privateers fitted out, 162
+
+ 1741. James Greene started an iron works, 162
+
+ Changes of the jurisdictions of the courts, 163
+
+ Encroachments of Connecticut, 163
+
+ 1741. Newport Artillery chartered, 165
+
+ Counterfeit bills troublesome, 164
+
+ 1744. Lotteries legalized, 165
+
+ Rhode Island's part in the capture of Louisburg, 165
+
+ Death of Colonel John Cranston, 166
+
+ Two privateers and two hundred men lost, 166
+
+ Sense of common interest and mutual dependence
+ gaining ground, 166
+
+ Caution against fraudulent voting, 167
+
+ Disaster to the French armada, 168
+
+ 1746. Close of the campaign, 168
+
+ Accession of territory, 168
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXI.
+
+ ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENTS.--CHANGES IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF
+ CITIZENSHIP.--NEW COUNTIES AND TOWNS FORMED.--FRENCH AND INDIAN
+ WAR.--WARD AND HOPKINS CONTEST.--ESTABLISHMENT OF NEWSPAPERS.
+
+ 1748. Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 170
+
+ Hutchinson's scheme for returning to specie payment
+ rejected by Rhode Island, 171
+
+ Act against swearing revised, 172
+
+ Provisions concerning legal residence, 172
+
+ New census taken, 172
+
+ 1748-1749. Death of John Callender, 173
+
+ Beaver Tail Light built, 173
+
+ Troubles from depreciation of currency, 173
+
+ 1754. First divorce granted, 174
+
+ Kent County formed, 174
+
+ 1752. Gregorian calendar adopted, 175
+
+ Troubles concerning the Narragansett land settled, 175
+
+ 1753. First patent granted in the Colony for making potash, 175
+
+ Fellowship Club founded--afterwards the Newport
+ Marine Society, 176
+
+ 1754. Commissioners sent to the Albany Congress, 176
+
+ French and Indian war, 177
+
+ French settlers imprisoned, 178
+
+ Ward and Hopkins contest, 178
+
+ Providence court house and library burned, 179
+
+ David Douglass built a theatre at Providence, 180
+
+ 1758. Newport Mercury established, 180
+
+ 1762. Providence Gazette established, 180
+
+ Writs of assistance first called for, 181
+
+ 1759. Death of Richard Partridge, 181
+
+ Freemasonry first introduced into the Colony, 181
+
+ Regulations concerning fires, 181
+
+ Towns of Hopkinton and Johnston formed, 182
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXII.
+
+ RETROSPECT.--ENCROACHMENTS OF ENGLAND.--RESISTANCE TO THE REVENUE
+ LAWS.--STAMP ACT.--SECOND CONGRESS OF COLONIES MET AT NEW
+ YORK.--EDUCATIONAL INTEREST.
+
+ Resumé of the progress of the Colony, 183
+
+ Reason for the enactment of the laws, 184
+
+ Rhode Island's solution of the problem of
+ self-government and soul-liberty, 185
+
+ Encroachments of England on the liberties of the
+ colonies, 186
+
+ War had taught the colonies a much needed lesson, 187
+
+ Harbor improvements, 188
+
+ Parliament votes men and money for the defence of
+ the American colonies, 188
+
+ Restrictions of commerce, 189
+
+ 1764. Molasses and sugar act renewed and extended, 189
+
+ Resistance to the enforcement of the obnoxious
+ revenue laws, 190
+
+ Action of the colonies in regard to the stamp act, 191
+
+ England is obliged to repeal the stamp act, 193
+
+ Resistance to impressment, 193
+
+ 1765. Second Colonial Congress met at New York and issued
+ addresses to the people, Parliament, and to the
+ King, 194
+
+ New digest of the laws completed and printed, 195
+
+ 1766. Free schools established at Providence, 196
+
+ Brown University founded, 196
+
+ Iron mine discovered, 197
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+ TRANSIT OF VENUS.--A STRONG DISLIKE TO ENGLAND MORE OPENLY
+ EXPRESSED.--NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT.--INTRODUCTION OF SLAVES
+ PROHIBITED.--CAPTURE OF THE GASPEE.
+
+ Collision between British officers and citizens, 199
+
+ Dedication of liberty trees, 199
+
+ Laws concerning domestic interests, 199
+
+ Transit of Venus, 200
+
+ Armed resistance to England more openly talked of, 201
+
+ Scuttling of the sloop-of-war Liberty, 202
+
+ Non-importation of tea agreed to, 203
+
+ Prosperity of Newport, 203
+
+ First Commencement at Rhode Island College, 204
+
+ 1770. Further introduction of slaves prohibited, 204
+
+ Governor Hutchinson advanced a claim for the
+ command of the Rhode Island militia, 205
+
+ Evidence of justice in Rhode Island, 206
+
+ Capture and destruction of the schooner Gaspee, 207
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+ PROPOSITION FOR THE UNION OF THE COLONIES.--ACTIVE MEASURES
+ TAKEN LOOKING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.--DELEGATES ELECTED
+ TO CONGRESS.--DESTRUCTION OF TEA AT PROVIDENCE.--TROOPS
+ RAISED.--POSTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED.--DEPREDATIONS OF THE
+ BRITISH.--"GOD SAVE THE UNITED COLONIES."
+
+ 1774. Limitation of negro slavery, 210
+
+ Resolution recommending the union of the colonies
+ passed at Providence town meeting, 210
+
+ 1774. Boston port bill passed, 211
+
+ Small-pox at Newport, 211
+
+ Indication of popular indignation, 212
+
+ Activity of Committees of Correspondence, 212
+
+ Publishment of the Hutchinson letters, 213
+
+ Franklin removed from his position as superintendent
+ of American post-offices, 214
+
+ 1774. General Gage entered Boston as Governor, 215
+
+ Sympathy of Rhode Island for Boston; East Greenwich
+ the first to open a subscription, 215
+
+ Hopkins and Ward elected delegates to Congress, 216
+
+ 1774. Congress met in Philadelphia; adopted a declaration
+ of rights; recommended the formation of an American
+ Association, 217
+
+ Distribution of arms, 218
+
+ Exportation of sheep stopped; manufacture of
+ fire-arms begun, 219
+
+ Tea burnt at Providence, 219
+
+ Troops started for Boston, 219
+
+ Army of Observation formed with Nathanael Greene,
+ commander, 220
+
+ Rhode Island troops on Jamaica Plains, 221
+
+ Articles of war passed, 221
+
+ Capture of a British vessel by Captain Abraham
+ Whipple, 221
+
+ Rhode Island Navy founded, 222
+
+ William Goddard's postal system went into operation, 222
+
+ Colony put upon a war footing, 223
+
+ Bristol bombarded and the coast of Rhode Island
+ plundered, 224
+
+ Part of the debt of Rhode Island assumed by
+ Congress as a war debt, 225
+
+ Rhode Island in the expedition against Quebec, 226
+
+ Depredation of the British squadron, 226
+
+ Battle on Prudence Island, 227
+
+ Evacuation of Boston, 228
+
+ Death of Samuel Ward, 228
+
+ The Assembly of Rhode Island renounced their
+ allegiance to the British Crown, 228
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXV.
+
+ RHODE ISLAND BLOCKADED.--DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE INDORSED BY THE
+ ASSEMBLY.-- NEW TROOPS RAISED.--FRENCH ALLIANCE.--UNSUCCESSFUL
+ ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE BRITISH FROM RHODE ISLAND.
+
+ Islands and waters of Rhode Island taken possession
+ of by the British, 229
+
+ Quota of Rhode Island, 230
+
+ Inoculation introduced, 231
+
+ Treatment of Tories, 231
+
+ Declaration of Independence indorsed by the Assembly, 232
+
+ Rhode Island's part in the Continental Navy, 232
+
+ Convention of Eastern States to form a concerted
+ plan of action, 233
+
+ Financial troubles, 234
+
+ Regiment of negroes raised, 234
+
+ 1778. Tidings of the French alliance received, 235
+
+ Expedition against Bristol and Warren, 235
+
+ Attempt to drive the British from Rhode Island
+ rendered unsuccessful by a terrible storm, and
+ jealousy among the officers of the French fleet, 236
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+ ACTS OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.--DISTRESS IN RHODE ISLAND.--EVACUATION
+ OF NEWPORT.--REPUDIATION.--END OF THE WAR.
+
+ Disappointment of the Americans, 241
+
+ Wanton destruction of life and property by the
+ British, 241
+
+ Pigot galley captured by Talbot, 242
+
+ Scarcity of food in Rhode Island, 242
+
+ Steuben's tactics introduced into the army, 244
+
+ Difficulty in raising money, 244
+
+ British left Newport, 245
+
+ Town records carried off by the British, 246
+
+ Repudiation of debt, 247
+
+ Rhode Island's quota, 248
+
+ Preparations for quartering and feeding the troops, 249
+
+ An English fleet of sixteen ships menaced the Rhode
+ Island coast, 250
+
+ Assembly met at Newport; the first time in four
+ years, 250
+
+ 1781. End of the war, 251
+
+ The federation completed, 251
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+ ARTS OF PEACE RESUMED.--DOCTRINE OF STATE RIGHTS.
+
+ Name of King's County changed to Washington, 252
+
+ New census taken, 253
+
+ Question of State Rights raised, 253
+
+ 1782. Nicholas Cooke died, 254
+
+ Armed resistance to the collection of taxes, 254
+
+ Troubles arising from financial embarrassment, 255
+
+ 1783. Acts of the Assembly, 256
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+ DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY.--INTRODUCTION OF THE
+ SPINNING-JENNY.--BITTER OPPOSITION TO THE FEDERAL UNION.--RHODE
+ ISLAND FINALLY ACCEPTS THE CONSTITUTION.
+
+ Desperate attempt to float a new issue of paper money, 257
+
+ Forcing acts declared unconstitutional, 258
+
+ First spinning-jenny made in the United States, 259
+
+ Bill passed to pay five shillings in the pound for
+ paper money, 260
+
+ Refusal of Rhode Island to send delegates to the
+ Federal Convention, 261
+
+ Proposed United States Constitution printed, 261
+
+ Acceptance of the Constitution by various states, 261
+
+ State of manufactures, 262
+
+ 1790. Rhode Island declared her adhesion to the Union, 264
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+ MODE OF LIFE IN OUR FOREFATHERS' DAYS.
+
+ Early condition of the land, 265
+
+ Agriculture the principal pursuit of the early
+ settlers, 266
+
+ Early traveling, 267
+
+ Early means of education, 267
+
+ Amusements, 268
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXX.
+
+ COMMERCIAL GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF RHODE ISLAND.
+
+ Rhode Island wiser on account of her previous
+ struggles for self-government, 270
+
+ Commercial condition of Rhode Island, 271
+
+ Trade with East Indies commenced, 271
+
+ 1790. First cotton factory went into operation, 273
+
+ 1799. Free school system established, 273
+
+ 1819. Providence Institution for Savings founded, 274
+
+ Canal from the Providence River to the north line
+ of the state projected and failed, 274
+
+ 1801. Great fire in Providence, 274
+
+ Visit of Washington to Rhode Island, 275
+
+ 1832. Providence made a city, 275
+
+ Rhode Island in the War of 1812, 276
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+ THE DORR REBELLION.
+
+ The Right of Suffrage becomes the question of Rhode
+ Island's politics, 277
+
+ Inequality of representation, 278
+
+ No relief obtainable from the Assembly, 278
+
+ Formation of Suffrage Associations, 279
+
+ Peoples' Constitution, so called, voted for, 279
+
+ 1842. Thomas Wilson Dorr elected Governor under it, 280
+
+ Conflict between the old and new government, 280
+
+ Attempt of the Dorr government to organize and
+ seize the arsenal both failures, 281
+
+ End of the War, 281
+
+ Dorr tried for treason and sentenced to imprisonment
+ for life; afterwards restored to his political and
+ civil rights, 281
+
+ New Constitution adopted, 282
+
+ Freedom of thought and speech the foundation of
+ Rhode Island's prosperity, 282
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+ LIFE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.--THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.--THE
+ CENTENARY.
+
+ Life under the Constitution, 283
+
+ The War of the Rebellion, 283
+
+ Rhode Island's quota, 284
+
+ The Centennial Exposition, 285
+
+
+ APPENDIX.
+
+ King Charles' Charter, 291
+
+ Present State Constitution, 301
+
+ Copy of the Dorr Constitution, 317
+
+ State seal, 333
+
+ Governors of Rhode Island, 334
+
+ Deputy-Governors of Rhode Island, 337
+
+ Members of the Continental Congress, 339
+
+ Towns, date of incorporation, &c., 340
+
+ Population from 1708 to 1875, 345
+
+ State valuation, 348
+
+ The Corliss Engine at the Centennial Exposition, 349
+
+
+
+
+ A Short History of Rhode Island.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER I.
+
+ CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND PLYMOUTH
+ COLONIES.--ARRIVAL AND BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS.
+
+
+The nations of antiquity, unable to discover their real origin, found
+a secret gratification in tracing it to the Gods. Thus a religious
+sentiment was connected with the foundation of states, and the building
+of the city walls was consecrated by religious rites. The Christian
+middle ages preserved the spirit of Pagan antiquity, and every city
+celebrated with solemn rites the day of its patron saint. The colonies,
+which, in the natural progress of their development, became the United
+States of America, traced their history, by authentic documents, to
+the first Christian cultivators of the soil; and in New England the
+religious idea lay at the root of their foundation and development. In
+Plymouth it took the form of separatism, or a simple severance from the
+Church of England. In Massachusetts Bay it aimed at the establishment
+of a theocracy, and the enforcement of a rigorous uniformity of creed
+and discipline. From the resistance to this uniformity came Rhode
+Island and the doctrine of soul liberty.
+
+On the 5th of February, 1631, the ship Lyon, with twenty passengers and
+a large cargo of provisions, came to anchor in Nantaskett roads. On the
+8th she reached Boston, and the 9th, which had been set apart as a day
+of fasting and prayer for the little Colony, sorely stricken by famine,
+was made a day of thanksgiving and praise for its sudden deliverance.
+Among those who, on that day, first united their prayers with the
+prayers of the elder colonists, was the young colonist, Roger Williams.
+
+Little is known of the early history of Roger Williams, except that he
+was born in Wales, about 1606; attracted, early in life, the attention
+of Sir Edward Coke by his skill in taking down in short hand, sermons,
+and speeches in the Star Chamber; was sent by the great lawyer to
+Sutton Hospital, now known as the Charter House, with its fresh
+memories of Coleridge and Charles Lamb; went thence in the regular time
+to Oxford; took orders in the Church of England, and finally embraced
+the doctrine of the Puritans. Besides Latin and Greek, which formed
+the principal objects of an University course, he acquired a competent
+knowledge of Hebrew and several modern languages, for the study of
+which he seemed to have had a peculiar facility. His industry and
+attainments soon won him a high place in the esteem of his religions
+brethren, and although described by one who knew him as "passionate
+and precipitate," he gained and preserved the respect of some of the
+most eminent among his theological opponents. The key to his life may
+be found in the simple fact that he possessed an active and progressive
+mind in an age wherein thought instantly became profession, and
+profession passed promptly into action.
+
+When this "godly and zealous young minister" landed in Boston, he
+found the territory which has long been known as Massachusetts in
+the possession of two distinct colonies, the Colony of Plymouth,
+founded in 1620, by the followers of John Robinson, of Leyden, and
+known as the colony of separatists, or men who had separated from
+the Church of England, but were willing to grant to others the same
+freedom of opinion which they claimed for themselves; and the Colony
+of Massachusetts Bay, founded ten years later by a band of intelligent
+Puritans, many of them men of position and fortune, who, alarmed by the
+variety of new opinions and doctrines which seemed to menace a total
+subversion of what they regarded as religion, had resolved to establish
+a new dwelling place in a new world, with the Old and New Testament
+for statute book and constitution. Building upon this foundation the
+clergy naturally became their guides and counselors in all things, and
+the control of the law, which was but another name for the control
+of the Bible, extended to all the acts of life, penetrating to the
+domestic fireside, and holding every member of the community to a rigid
+accountability for speech as well as action. Asking for no exemption
+from the rigorous application of Bible precept for themselves,
+they granted none to others, and looked upon the advocate of any
+interpretation but theirs as a rebel to God and an enemy to their peace.
+
+It was to this iron-bound colony that Roger Williams brought his
+restless, vigorous and fearless spirit. Disagreements soon arose and
+suspicions were awakened. He claimed a freedom of speech irreconcilable
+with the fundamental principles of their government; and they a power
+over opinion irreconcilable with freedom of thought. Neither of them
+could look upon his own position from the other's point of view. Both
+were equally sincere. And much as we may now condemn the treatment
+which Williams received at the hands of the colonial government of
+Massachusetts Bay, its charter and its religious tenets justified it in
+treating him as an intruder.
+
+The first public expression of the hostility he was to encounter
+came from the magistrates of Boston within two months after his
+arrival, and, on the very day on which the church of Salem had
+installed him as assistant to their aged pastor, Mr. Skelton. The
+magistrates were a powerful body, and before autumn he found his
+situation so uncomfortable that he removed to Plymouth, where the
+rights of individual opinion were held in respect, if not fully
+acknowledged. Here, while assiduously engaged in the functions of his
+holy office, he was brought into direct contact with several of the
+most powerful chiefs of the neighboring tribes of Indians, and among
+them of Massasoit and Miantonomi, who were to exercise so controlling
+an influence over his fortunes. His fervent spirit caught eagerly at
+the prospect of bringing them under Christian influences, and his
+natural taste for the study of languages served to lighten the labor
+of preparation. "God was pleased," he wrote many years afterwards, "to
+give me a painful, patient spirit to lodge with them in their filthy
+holes, even while I lived at Plymouth and Salem, to gain their tongue;
+my soul's desire was to do the natives good."
+
+This was apparently the calmest period of his stormy career. It was
+at Plymouth that his first child, a daughter, was born. But although
+he soon made many friends, and had the satisfaction of knowing that
+his labors were successful, his thoughts still turned towards Salem,
+and, receiving an invitation to resume his place as assistant of Mr.
+Skelton, whose health was on the wane, he returned thither after an
+absence of two years. Some of the members of his church had become so
+attached to him that they followed him to the sister colony.
+
+And now came suspicions which quickly ripened into controversies,
+and before another two years were over led to what he regarded as
+persecution, but what the rulers of the Bay Colony held to be the
+fulfillment of the obligation which they had assumed in adopting the
+whole Bible as their rule of life. In 1635 he was banished from the
+colony by a solemn sentence of the General Court, for teaching:
+
+ "1st. That we have not our land by Pattent from the King, but that
+ the natives are the true owners of it, and that we ought to repent of
+ such receiving it by Pattent.
+
+ 2d. That it is not lawful to call a wicked person to swear, to pray,
+ as being actions of God's worship.
+
+ 3d. That it is not lawful to heare any of the Ministers of the Parish
+ Assemblies in England.
+
+ 4th. That the civil magistrates power extends only to the Bodies and
+ Goods and outward state of man."
+
+For us who read these charges with the light of two more centuries of
+progress upon them, it seems strange that neither the General Court
+nor Williams himself should have perceived that the only one wherein
+civilization was interested was that to which they have assigned the
+least conspicuous place.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER II.
+
+ SUFFERINGS OF ROGER WILLIAMS IN THE WILDERNESS.--FOUNDS A
+ SETTLEMENT ON THE SEEKONK RIVER.--IS ADVISED TO DEPART.--SEEKS
+ OUT A NEW PLACE, WHICH HE CALLS PROVIDENCE.
+
+
+When the sentence of banishment was first pronounced against the
+future founder of Rhode Island, his health was so feeble that it was
+resolved to suspend the execution of it till spring. This, however,
+was soon found to be impracticable, for the affection and confidence
+which he had inspired presently found open expression, and friends
+began to gather around him in his own house to listen to his teaching.
+Lack of energy was not a defect of the government of the Colony of
+Massachusetts Bay, and learning that rumors of a new colony to be
+founded on Narragansett Bay were already afloat, it resolved to send
+the supposed leader of the unwelcome enterprise back to England. A
+warrant, therefore, was given to Captain Underhill, a man of doubtful
+character in the employment of the Colony, with orders to proceed
+directly to Salem, put the offender on board his pinnace, and convey
+him to a ship that lay in Boston harbor ready to sail for England with
+the first fair wind. When the pinnace reached Salem, he found only
+the wife and infant children of the banished man, and a people deeply
+grieved for the loss of their pastor. Williams was gone, and whither no
+one could say.
+
+And whither, indeed, could he go? The thin and scattered settlements
+of the northern colonies were bounded seaward by a tempestuous ocean,
+and inland by a thick belt of primeval forest, whose depths civilized
+man had never penetrated. If he escaped the wild beasts that prowled in
+their recesses, could he hope to escape the wilder savage, who claimed
+the forest for his hunting grounds? "I was sorely tossed," Williams
+writes in after years, "for fourteen weeks in a bitter winter-season,
+not knowing what bread or bed did mean." The brave man's earnest mind
+bore up the frail and suffering body.
+
+And now he began to reap the fruit of his kind treatment of the
+natives, and the pains which he had taken to learn their language.
+"These ravens fed me in the wilderness," he wrote, with a touching
+application of Scripture narrative. They gave him the shelter of their
+squalid wigwams, and shared with him their winter store. The great
+chief Massasoit opened his door to him, and, when spring came, gave him
+a tract of land on the Seekonk River, where he "pitched and began to
+build and plant." Here he was soon joined by some friends from Salem,
+who had resolved to cast in their lot with his. But the seed which they
+planted had already begun to send up its early shoots, when a letter
+from his "ancient friend, the Governor of Plymouth," came, to "lovingly
+advise him" that he was "fallen into the edge of their bounds;" that
+they were "loth to displease the Bay," and that if he would "remove
+but to the other side of the water," he would have "the country
+before [him] and might be as free as themselves," and they "should be
+loving neighbors together." Williams accepted the friendly counsel,
+and, taking five companions with him, set out in a canoe to follow
+the downward course of the Seekonk and find a spot whereon he might
+plant and build in safety. As the little boat came under the shade
+of the western bank of the pleasant stream, a small party of Indians
+was seen watching them from a large flat rock that rose a few feet
+above the water's edge. "Wha-cheer, netop?--Wha-cheer?--how are you,
+friend?" they cried; and Williams accepting the friendly salutation as
+a favorable omen, turned the prow of his canoe to the shore. Tradition
+calls the spot where he landed, Slate Rock, and the name of Wha-cheer
+square has been given in advance to the land around it. What was said
+or done at that first interview has not been recorded, but the parting
+was as friendly as the meeting, and Williams resuming his course, soon
+found himself at the junction of the Seekonk and Mooshausick. Two
+points mark the intermingling of the two streams, and in those days the
+waters must have spread their broad bosom like a lake, and gleamed and
+danced within their fringe of primeval forest. Williams, following,
+perhaps, the counsel of the Indians, turned northward and held his way
+between the narrowing banks of the Mooshausick, till he espied, at the
+foot of a hill which rose shaggy with trees and precipitate from its
+eastern shore, the flash and sparkling of a spring. Here he landed,
+and, recalling his trials and the mighty hand that had sustained him
+through them all, called the place Providence.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER III.
+
+ WILLIAMS OBTAINS A GRANT OF LAND AND FOUNDS A COLONY.-FORM OF
+ GOVERNMENT IN THE COLONY.--WILLIAMS GOES TO ENGLAND TO OBTAIN A
+ ROYAL CHARTER.
+
+
+The territory which now forms the State of Rhode Island, with the
+exception of Bristol County, in which lay Mount Hope, the seat of
+Massasoit, chief of the Wamponoags, was held by the Narragansetts, a
+tribe skilled in the Indian art of making wampum, the Indian money,
+and the art common to most barbarous nations of making rude vessels
+in clay and stone. They had once been very powerful, and could still
+bring four or five thousand braves to the warpath. Their language was
+substantially the same with that of the other New England tribes, and
+was understood by the natives of New York, New Jersey and Delaware.
+With this language Roger Williams had early made himself familiar.
+
+It was labor well bestowed, and he was to reap the reward of it in his
+day of tribulation. The chiefs of the Narragansetts when he came among
+them were Canonicus, an "old prince, most shy of the English to his
+latest breath," and his nephew, Miantonomi. Their usual residence was
+on the beautiful Island of Conanicut; and when Williams first came he
+found them at feud with his other friend, Ossameguin, or Massasoit,
+Sachem of the Wamponoags. His first care was to reconcile these chiefs,
+"traveling between them three to pacify, to satisfy all these and their
+dependent spirits of (his) honest intention to live peaceably by them."
+The well founded distrust of the English which Canonicus cherished to
+the end of his life did not extend to Williams, to whom he made a grant
+of land between the Mooshausick and the Wanasquatucket; confirming it
+two years later by a deed bearing the marks of the two Narragansett
+chiefs. This land Williams divided with twelve of his companions,
+reserving for them and himself the right of extending the grant "to
+such others as the major part of us shall admit to the same fellowship
+of vote with us." It was a broad foundation, and he soon found himself
+in the midst of a flourishing colony.
+
+The proprietors, dividing their lands into two parts, "the grand
+purchase of Providence," and the "Pawtuxet purchase," made an
+assignment of lots to other colonists, and entered resolutely upon
+the task of bringing the soil under cultivation. The possession of
+property naturally leads to the making of laws, and the new colonists
+had not been together long before they felt the want of a government.
+The form which it first assumed amongst them was that of a democratic
+municipality, wherein the "masters of families" incorporated
+themselves into a town, and transacted their public business in town
+meeting. The colonists of Plymouth had formed their social compact in
+the cabin of the Mayflower. The colonists of Providence formed theirs
+on the banks of the Mooshausick. "We, whose names are hereunder," it
+reads, "desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to
+subject ourselves in active or passive obedience to all such orders
+or agreements as shall be made for public good for the body, in an
+orderly way, by the major assent of the present inhabitants, masters of
+families, incorporated together into a town fellowship, and such others
+as they shall admit unto them only in civil things."
+
+Never before, since the establishment of Christianity, has the
+separation of Church from State been definitely marked out by this
+limitation of the authority of the magistrate to civil things; and
+never, perhaps, in the whole course of history, was a fundamental
+principle so vigorously observed. Massachusetts looked upon the
+experiment with jealousy and distrust, and when ignorant or restless
+men confounded the right of individual opinion in religious matters
+with a right of independent action in civil matters, those who had
+condemned Roger Williams to banishment, eagerly proclaimed that
+no well ordered government could exist in connection with liberty
+of conscience. Many grave discussions were held, and many curious
+questions arose before the distinction between liberty and license
+became thoroughly interwoven with daily life; but only one passage of
+this singular chapter has been preserved, and, as if to leave no doubt
+concerning the spirit which led to its preservation, the narrator
+begins with these ominous words: "At Providence, also, the Devil was
+not idle."
+
+The wife of Joshua Verin was a great admirer of Williams's preaching,
+and claimed the right of going to hear him oftener than suited the
+wishes of her husband. Did she, in following the dictates of her
+conscience, which bade her go to a meeting which harmonized with her
+feelings, violate the injunction of Scripture which bids wives obey
+their husbands? Or did he, in exercising his acknowledged control as a
+husband, trench upon her right of conscience in religious concerns? It
+was a delicate question; but after long deliberation and many prayers,
+the claims of conscience prevailed, and "it was agreed that Joshua
+Verin, upon the breach of a covenant for restraining of the libertie of
+conscience, shall be withheld from the libertie of voting till he shall
+declare the contrarie"--a sentence from which it appears that the
+right of suffrage was regarded as a conceded privilege, not a natural
+right.
+
+Questions of jurisdiction also arose. Massachusetts could not bring
+herself to look upon her sister with a friendly eye, and Plymouth
+was soon to be merged in Massachusetts. It was easy to foresee that
+there would be bickerings and jealousies, if not open contention
+between them. Still the little Colony grew apace. The first church
+was founded in 1639. To meet the wants of an increased population the
+government was changed, and five disposers or selectmen charged with
+the principal functions of administration, subject, however, to the
+superior authority of monthly town meetings; so early and so naturally
+did municipal institutions take root in English colonies. A vital
+point was yet untouched. Williams, indeed, held that the Indians, as
+original occupants of the soil, were the only legal owners of it, and
+carrying his principle into all his dealings with the natives, bought
+of them the land on which he planted his Colony. The Plymouth and
+Massachusetts colonists, also, bought their land of the natives, but
+in their intercourse with the whites founded their claim upon royal
+charter. They even went so far as to apply for a charter covering all
+the territory of the new Colony.
+
+Meanwhile two other colonies had been planted on the shores of
+Narragansett Bay: the Colony of Aquidnick, on the Island of Rhode
+Island, and the Colony of Warwick. The sense of a common danger united
+them, and, in 1643, they appointed Roger Williams their agent to repair
+to England and apply for a royal charter. It has been treasured up as a
+bitter memory that he was compelled to seek a conveyance in New York,
+for Massachusetts would not allow him to pass through her territories.
+His negotiations were crowned with full success. In 1644 he was again
+in the colonies, and the inhabitants of Providence, advised of his
+success, met him at Seekonk and escorted him across the river with an
+exultant procession of fourteen canoes.
+
+To defray the expenses of his mission he taught Latin, Greek and
+Hebrew--counting "two sons of Parliament men" among his pupils--and
+read Dutch to Milton.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER IV.
+
+ SETTLEMENT OF AQUIDNECK AND WARWICK.-PEQUOT WAR.--DEATH OF
+ MIANTONOMI.
+
+
+I have said that two other colonies had been founded in Rhode Island.
+Like Providence, they both had their origin in religious controversy.
+Not long after the return of Roger Williams there came to Boston a
+woman of high and subtle spirit, deeply imbued with the controversial
+temper of her age. Her name was Anna Hutchinson, and she taught that
+salvation was the fruit of grace, not of works. It is easy to conceive
+how such a doctrine might be perverted by logical interpretation,
+and religious standing made independent of moral character. This was
+presently done, and Massachusetts, true to her theoretic system,
+banished Anna Hutchinson and her followers as she had banished Roger
+Williams. In the autumn of 1637, nineteen of these Antinomians, as they
+were called to distinguish them from the legalists or adherents of the
+law, took refuge in Rhode Island, where they were kindly welcomed;
+and, soon after, purchasing the Island of Aquidneck, through the
+intervention of Williams and Sir Henry Vane, laid the foundation of a
+new town at Pocasset, near the north end of the Island. Their leaders
+were William Coddington and John Clarke, under whose wise guidance the
+little Colony made rapid progress, and soon began another settlement
+at Newport, in the southern part of the island. Here, breaking roads,
+clearing up woods, exterminating wolves and foxes, opening a trade
+in lumber, engaging boldly in building ships, and above all forming
+a free and simple government, with careful regard to religion and
+education, they soon found themselves in advance of their elder sister,
+Providence. In both colonies the principle of religious liberty
+formed the basis of civil organization. On Rhode Island, however, it
+was confined to Christians--a step greatly in advance of the general
+intelligence of the age. But in Providence Roger Williams went still
+further, and, meeting the wants of all future ages, proclaimed it the
+right of every human being.
+
+The other Colony, as if to illustrate the varieties of human opinion,
+was founded by Samuel Gorton, one of those bold but restless men who
+leave doubtful names in history because few see their character from
+the same point of view. In Gorton's religious sentiments there seems
+to have been a large leaven of mysticism, and the writings that he
+has left us are not pleasant reading. But the practical danger of his
+teaching lay in his denial of all government not founded upon the
+authority of the King or of Parliament. Massachusetts was a legitimate
+government within her own bounds. But unchartered Rhode Island had
+no legal existence. At Pocasset Gorton soon came into collision with
+the civil authorities and was banished. In Providence he presently
+raised such dissensions that Williams almost lost heart, and began to
+think seriously of withdrawing to his little Island of Patience, in
+Narragansett Bay. At last Gorton with eleven companions bought Shawomet
+of its Indian owners and established himself there. This brought him
+into open hostility with Massachusetts, which having already cast
+longing eyes upon the commercial advantages of Narragansett Bay, was
+secretly endeavoring to establish a claim to all the land on its shores.
+
+Hostile words were soon followed by hostile acts. Gorton and his
+companions were besieged in their house by an armed band, compelled
+to surrender, carried by force to Massachusetts, tried for heresy,
+and barely escaping the gibbet, condemned to imprisonment and irons.
+A reaction soon followed. Public sentiment came to their relief. They
+were banished indeed from Massachusetts, but they were set at liberty
+and allowed to return to Rhode Island. At Aquidneck they were received
+with the sympathy which generous natures ever feel for the victims of
+persecution, and Gorton was raised to an honorable magistracy in the
+very colony wherein he had been openly whipped as a disturber of the
+public peace. It was not till the claims of Massachusetts had been
+virtually set aside by the charter which Roger Williams obtained for
+his Colony that Gorton returned to Shawomet, and set himself to rebuild
+the Colony of Warwick.
+
+Meanwhile great changes had taken place in the relations of the white
+man to the red. I have told how kindly the natives received Roger
+Williams, and how justly he dealt by them. I will now tell, though
+briefly, with what a Christian spirit he used the influence over the
+Indians, which his justice had won for him, to protect the white men
+who had driven him from amongst them. On the western border of the
+territory of the Massachusetts dwelt the fierce and powerful Pequots.
+No Indian had ever hated the whites with a hatred more intense than
+they, or watched the growth of the white settlements with a truer
+perception of the danger with which they menaced the original owners
+of the soil. They resolved upon war, and to make their triumph sure,
+resolved also to win over the Narragansetts as active allies. Tidings
+of the danger soon reached the Bay Colony, and Governor Vane appealed
+to Roger Williams to interpose and prevent the fatal alliance. Not
+a moment was to be lost. The Pequot embassadors were already in
+conference with Canonicus and Miantonomi on Conanicut. Forgetting his
+personal wrongs, and barely taking time to tell his wife whither he was
+going, he set forth alone in his canoe, "cutting through a stormy wind
+and great seas, every minute in hazard of life."
+
+Greater hazard awaited him on shore. English blood had already been
+shed by the Pequots, and knowing their fierce nature, he "nightly
+looked for their bloody knives at his own throat also." For three days
+and three nights he confronted them face to face, and so great was
+the control which he had gained over the Narragansett chiefs that he
+succeeded in "breaking in pieces the Pequot negotiation and design, and
+made and finished by many travels and charges the English league with
+the Narragansetts and Mohegans against the Pequots." The war came. The
+Narragansetts were on the side of the English; fearful massacres were
+committed; the Pequots were rooted out from their native soil forever;
+Massachusetts was saved; but the Christian, forgetting of injuries
+wherewith Williams had come to her aid in the critical moment of her
+fortunes, was not deemed of sufficient virtue to wash out the stain
+of heresy, and the sentence of banishment was left unrepealed on the
+darker page of her colonial records.
+
+The Pequots were crushed. The turn of the Narragansetts came next. It
+was the fate of the red man to everywhere give way as a civilization
+irreconcilable with his habits and his beliefs advanced, and it is for
+the good of humanity that it is so. But it is sad to remember that
+the Christian, with the Bible in his hand, should have sought his
+examples in the stern denunciations of the Old Testament, rather than
+in the injunctions to love and mercy of the New. Six years after the
+formation of the league against the Pequots, a war broke out between
+Sequasson, an ally of Miantonomi and the Mohegans. The Narragansett
+Sachem, trusting to the good faith of his adversary, the powerful
+Uncas, was betrayed in a conference, and his followers, taken by
+surprise in open violation of the laws of even Indian warfare, were
+put to flight. The unfortunate chief fell into the hands of his enemy,
+who, fearing the English too much to put an ally of theirs to death,
+referred the question of his fate to the Commissioners of the United
+Colonies--Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven--who were
+about to hold a conference in Boston. Rhode Island, which had been
+excluded from the league, had no voice in this outrage, and Williams,
+whose remonstrances might have been of some avail, was in England.
+To give greater solemnity to their deliberations the Commissioners
+called to their aid "five of the most judicious elders," and by their
+united voices Miantonomi was condemned to die. The execution of the
+sentence was entrusted to Uncas, and the only condition attached to the
+shameful act was that the generous friend of the white man should not
+be tortured. His people never recovered from the blow. In the very next
+year they placed themselves by a solemn resolution under the protection
+of the King, and appointed four commissioners, one of whom was Gorton,
+to carry their submission to England.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER V.
+
+ CHARTER GRANTED TO PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.--ORGANIZATION UNDER
+ IT.--THE LAWS ADOPTED.
+
+
+We have seen that in 1643 Roger Williams had been sent to England as
+agent to solicit a charter for the three colonies of Narragansett
+Bay. He found the King at open war with the Parliament, and the
+administration of the colonies entrusted to the Earl of Warwick and a
+joint committee of the two Houses. Of the details of the negotiation
+little is known, but on the 14th of March of the following year,
+a "free and absolute charter was granted as the Incorporation of
+Providence Plantations in Narragansett Bay in New England." It was not
+such as Charles would have given. But one fetter was placed upon the
+free action of the people--"that the laws, constitutions, punishments
+for the civil government of the said plantation be conformable to
+the laws of England"--and that was made powerless by the qualifying
+condition that the conformity should extend only "so far as the nature
+and constitution of that place will admit." Civil government and civil
+laws were the only government and laws which it recognized; and the
+absence of any allusion to religious freedom in it shows how firmly
+and wisely Williams avoided every form of expression which might seem
+to recognize the power to grant or to deny that inalienable right.
+The regulation of the "general government" in its "relation to the
+rest of the plantations in America," was reserved "to the Earl and
+Commissioners."
+
+Yet more than three years were allowed to pass before it went into
+full force as a bond of union for the four towns. Then, in May, 1647,
+the corporators met at Portsmouth in General Court of Election, and,
+accepting the charter, proceeded to organize a government in harmony
+with its provisions. Warwick, although not named in the charter, was
+admitted to the same privileges with her larger and more flourishing
+sisters.
+
+This new government was in reality a government of the people, to whose
+final decision in their General Assembly all questions were submitted.
+"And now," says the preamble to the code, "sith our charter gives us
+powere to governe ourselves and such other as come among us, and by
+such a forme of Civill Government as by the voluntairie consent, &c.,
+shall be found most suitable to our estate and condition:
+
+"It is agreed by this present Assembly thus incorporate and by this
+present act declared, that the form of Government established in
+_Providence Plantations_, is Democratical; that is to say, a Government
+held by y^e free and voluntairie consent of all or the greater part of
+the free Inhabitants."
+
+In accordance with this fundamental principle all laws were first
+discussed in Town Meeting, then submitted to the General Court, a
+committee of six men from each town freely chosen, and finally referred
+to the General Assembly. The General Court possessed, also, the power
+of originating laws, by recommending a draft of law to the towns,
+upon whose approval the draft obtained the force of law till the next
+meeting of the General Assembly.
+
+The first act of this first Colonial Assembly was to organize by
+electing John Coggeshall Moderator, and secure an acting quorum by
+fixing it at forty. It was next "agreed that all should set their hands
+to an engagement to the Charter." Then, after some provision for the
+union of the towns, the formation of the General Court and the adoption
+of the laws "as they are contracted in the bulk," Mr. John Coggeshall
+was chosen "President of this Province or Colonie; Wm. Dyer, General
+Recorder; Mr. Jeremy Clarke, Treasurer, and Mr. Roger Williams, Mr.
+John Sanford, Mr. Wm. Coddington and Mr. Randall Holden, Assistants
+for Providence, Portsmouth, Newport and Warwick" respectively. Then,
+entering boldly upon its independent existence, the little Colony--a
+State in all but the name--proceeded to examine the body of laws which
+had been prepared for its acceptance. One of the most significant of
+them, as indicating their commercial aspirations, was their adoption of
+the laws of Oleron for a maritime code; and another, as illustrating
+their consciousness of their perilous position in the midst of savages,
+still able to strike sudden blows, though no longer strong enough to
+wage long wars, the revival and extension of "the Statute touching
+Archerie," and the enactment of a stringent militia law. The laws
+against parricide, murder, arson, robbery and stealing, show that
+there were men in the community who were believed to be capable of
+these crimes. The law against suicide, and still more the law against
+witchcraft, are too much in harmony with the general spirit of the
+age to warrant a severe condemnation. The punishment provided against
+drunkenness reads as though it were not an infrequent offence. Marriage
+was regarded as a civil contract. The law of debt was wise and humane,
+forbidding the sending of the debtor to prison, "there," it says with
+simplicity and force, "to lie languishing to no man's advantage,
+unless he refuse to stand to their order." The character of the whole
+code was just and benevolent, breathing a gentle spirit of practical
+Christianity and a calm consciousness of high destinies. "These," it
+says, "are the laws that concern all men, and these are the Penalties
+for the transgression thereof; which by common consent are Ratified and
+Established throughout this whole Colonie; and otherwise than thus what
+is herein forbidden, all men may walk as their consciences persuade
+them, every one in the name of his God."
+
+By the same Assembly it was ordered, "that the seale of the Providence
+shall be an anchor." A free gift, also, of one hundred pounds was made
+to Roger Williams, "in regarde to his so great travaile, charges, and
+good endeavors in the obtaining of the Charter for this Province." This
+sum was "to be levied out of the three towns;" and how far the island
+was in advance of the main-land may be seen by the distribution of the
+levy which assigns fifty pounds to Newport and thirty to Portsmouth,
+while Providence was held at twenty. Of Warwick, still poor and weak,
+nothing was asked.
+
+The spirit of this first legislation may be comprised in four articles:
+the first of which provides for the protection of the citizen against
+the government by guaranteeing liberty of property and person, and
+restricting criminal suits to the violation of the letter of the law.
+The second forbids the assumption of office by any who are not legally
+chosen, and the extension of official action beyond its prescribed
+bounds. The third by making the charter and acts of the Assembly the
+sources of law, secures the rights of minorities. And the fourth,
+displaying a comprehension of the true principles of public service
+which succeeding generations would do well to study, required that
+every citizen should serve when chosen to office or pay a fine,
+and that his service should receive an adequate compensation. The
+engagement of state and officer was reciprocal--the officer binding
+himself to serve the state faithfully, and the state to stand by her
+officers in the legitimate exercise of their functions.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER VI.
+
+ FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.--UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT USURPATION
+ BY CODDINGTON.
+
+
+And now, just as the new Province was entering upon that chartered
+existence which was to lead to such brilliant results, the wise and
+peaceable Canonicus died, closing in humiliation and sorrow a life
+which had begun in strength and hope. He had seen the first foot-prints
+of the stranger; had aided him in his weakness; had resisted him in
+his strength; had lived to see his destined successor fall victim to
+an unholy policy, and his people, impoverished and enfeebled, vainly
+strive to avenge the murder on their adversaries; and thus with a heavy
+heart he passed away from the scene of his early glory and his long
+humiliation. We shall see bye and bye the miserable end of the great
+Narragansetts.
+
+The new Colony entered upon its career with two great problems before
+it. The first was almost solved. An experience of eleven years had
+demonstrated the possibility of soul liberty, which had taken a hold
+upon the hearts of the colonists too strong to be shaken. But did
+it leave the needed strength in the civil organization to bear "a
+government held by the free and voluntary consent of all, or the
+greater part, of the free inhabitants?" Thus the reconciliation of
+liberty and law formed from the beginning the fundamental problem of
+Rhode Island history.
+
+At first there were great and frequent dissensions. There were
+dissensions between Newport and Portsmouth. There were still greater
+dissensions in Providence. Enemies exulted, foretelling an early
+dissolution of the feeble bands which held the dangerous Colony
+together. Friends trembled lest their last hope of the reconciliation
+of liberty and law should fail them. But still the great work of
+solution went on, each new dissension revealing some new error, or
+aiding in the demonstration of some new truth. It would take us far
+beyond our limits were we to attempt to follow up the history of these
+dissensions in detail, even if the materials for a full narrative of
+them had been preserved. There were other difficulties, also, which
+demand more than a passing allusion.
+
+Massachusetts had not yet renounced her designs upon the territories of
+the heretical Colony. A party in Pawtuxet which had put itself under
+the protection of the Bay Colony had opened the way for action, and the
+dispute with Shawomet had enlarged it. Gorton was in England in 1647,
+exerting himself to answer the assertions of the Massachusetts agent,
+Winslow. Three years later the question became so complicated and the
+danger so imminent that Roger Williams was asked to go again to England
+on behalf of the Colony. Meanwhile there were menacing indications
+of an Indian war, and a serious effort was made on the part of the
+Island towns to obtain admission to the New England confederation. The
+application was refused unless on terms equivalent to the surrender of
+all right to independent existence. The time for justice and a clear
+comprehension of the common interest was not yet come. Especially
+strong was Massachusetts' dread of the Baptists, who were becoming a
+powerful body in Rhode Island, and three of the prominent members of
+that communion, among whom was John Clarke, one of the most illustrious
+of the colonists, were seized at Lynn--whither they had been summoned
+to give comfort and counsel to an aged brother--cast into prison,
+fined, and one of their number, Obadiah Holmes, cruelly scourged with a
+three-corded whip.
+
+Another danger menaced the Colony. William Coddington, who had been
+chosen President, but had never taken the legal engagement, had gone
+to England, and, as was soon ascertained, with the design of applying
+for a commission as Governor of the Island. For two years he was unable
+to obtain a hearing. The new government of England was too busy with
+its own concerns to lend an ear to the agent of a distant and humble
+Colony. At last the favorable moment came, and, on the 3d of April,
+1651, he received a commission from the Council of State, appointing
+him Governor for life of Rhode Island and Connecticut. By what
+representations or misrepresentations he obtained the object of his
+ambition, history does not tell us. A council of six, nominated by the
+people and approved by him, were to assist him in the government. The
+charter government was apparently dissolved.
+
+But the men of Providence and Warwick did not lose heart. Roger
+Williams, who had already given proof of his diplomatic skill at home
+by his successful negotiations with the native chiefs, and in England
+by obtaining a charter, was still with them, and to him all turned
+their eyes in this hour of supreme danger. It was resolved that he
+should repair to England without delay, and ask for a confirmation of
+the charter in the name of Providence and Warwick. To provide money for
+the support of his family during his absence he sold his trading-house
+in Narragansett, and, obtaining a hard-wrung leave to embark at
+Boston, set forth in October, 1651, upon his memorable mission. In
+the same ship went John Clarke, as agent for the Island towns, to
+ask for the revocation of Coddington's commission. On the success of
+their application hung the fate of the Colony. Meanwhile the Island
+towns submitted silently to Coddington's usurpation, and the main-land
+towns continued to govern themselves by their old laws, and meet and
+deliberate as they had done before in their General Assembly.
+
+It was in the midst of these dangers and dissensions that on the 19th
+of May, in the session of 1652, it was "enacted and ordered ... that
+no black mankind or white being forced by covenant, bond or other wise
+shall be held to service longer than ten years," and that "that man
+that will not let them go free, or shall sell them any else where to
+that end that they may be enslaved to others for a longer time, hee or
+they shall forfeit to the Colonie forty pounds." This was the first
+legislation concerning slavery on this continent. If forty pounds
+should seem a small penalty, let us remember that the price of a slave
+was but twenty. If it should be objected that the act was imperfectly
+enforced, let us remember how honorable a thing it is to have been the
+first to solemnly recognize a great principle. Soul liberty had borne
+her first fruits.
+
+In the same month of May the embarrassments of the Colony were
+increased by the breaking out of a war between England and Holland,
+which interrupted the profitable commerce between Rhode Island and the
+Dutch of Manhattan. But welcome tidings came in September, and still
+more welcome in October. Williams and Clarke, who went hand in hand in
+their mission, had obtained, first, permission for the Colony to act
+under the charter until the final decision of the controversy, and a
+few weeks later the revocation of Coddington's commission. The charter
+was fully restored. Williams had again proved himself a consummate
+diplomatist, and Clarke had proved himself worthy to be his colleague.
+We shall soon see him using his newly acquired skill under more
+difficult circumstances.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER VII.
+
+ MORE FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.--CIVIL AND CRIMINAL REGULATIONS
+ OF THE COLONY.--ARRIVAL OF QUAKERS.
+
+
+And now it seemed as though the little Colony might peaceably return to
+its original organization and devote itself to the development of its
+natural resources. But the spirit of dissension had struck deep. The
+absolute independence which was claimed for religious opinion, led some
+to claim an equal independence for civil action. If conscience was to
+be the supreme test in the relations between man and God, why should
+not conscience decide between man and man? Roger Williams addressed a
+letter full of calm wisdom to the Town of Providence, explaining, under
+the figure of a ship, the distinction between civil obedience and soul
+liberty. A few years later an able advocate of the opposite opinion was
+found in William Harris; and for a long while an unhealthy agitation
+pervaded the community, justifying, in appearance, the unfriendly
+prophecies of the early enemies of Williams and his doctrines.
+
+There was still another ground of contention. Who should take the
+lead in restoring the charter government? The Island towns claimed
+it on the ground of superior wealth and population, the main-land
+towns because they had always held fast to their charter. There were
+double elections and two Assemblies, and the dispute grew so warm as
+to threaten a permanent division. At the same time the Island towns
+entered zealously into the Dutch war, issuing letters of marque
+and making captures which led to new controversies with the United
+Colonies. Williams became alarmed, and leaving Mr. Clarke in charge of
+their common business hurried back from England to meet the danger.
+Sir Henry Vane, who had already been a firm friend of Rhode Island,
+wrote in a public letter, "Are there no wise men among you? no public,
+self-denying spirits who can find some way of union before you become a
+prey to your enemies?"
+
+At last, in August, 1654, a full Court of Commissioners met at Warwick,
+and on the 31st set their hands to articles of reunion. To meet
+the difficulties that arose from the different acts of independent
+assemblies, it was agreed that all such acts should be held good for
+the towns and persons who originally took part in them. Then the
+charter was once more made the fundamental law of the land, and finally
+the General Assembly recognized by fixing the number of delegates from
+each town at six for all purposes except the election of officers.
+Two days were then devoted to general legislation, and among other
+acts the delicate question of a Sunday law was reconciled with the
+distinguishing principle of the Colony, by referring the matter to the
+several towns under the head of a day "for servants and children to
+recreate themselves."
+
+As the danger of civil commotions passed away, came the danger of an
+Indian war. The Narragansetts had old quarrels with the Indians of
+Long Island, and in 1654 a new quarrel broke out between them. For
+the Colony itself there was nothing to fear from the Narragansetts
+with whom it had always maintained friendly relations. But should
+the Long Island Indians prevail, an inroad upon the main would
+bring them dangerously near to the new towns. The United Colonies,
+proceeding as usual with a high hand, summoned Ninigret, the chief
+sachem of the Narragansetts, to Hartford. He refused to go, saying
+that the enemy had slain a sachem's son and sixty of his people--all
+he asked of the English was that they would let him alone. "If your
+Governor's son were slain," he said, "and several other men, would
+you ask counsel of another nation how and when to right yourselves?"
+The spirit of the Narragansetts was not yet broken. Williams, who was
+then President, wrote to the government of Massachusetts defending
+the Indians, asserting that the war was a war of self-defence, and
+that the Narragansetts had always been true to the English. But the
+Commissioners were resolved upon war, and without listening to his
+remonstrances sent Captain Willard with a body of troops to seize the
+refractory chief. The wily Indian took post in a swamp where the troops
+were unable to reach him. The Commissioners were sorely annoyed, but
+Massachusetts, listening, perhaps, to the energetic representations of
+Williams, refused to sanction the war, and without her coöperation it
+could not be carried on.
+
+There were still dissensions and jars, but the Colony throve and grew
+in industry and strength. Newport above all increased in wealth and
+population. In estimating the population, however, we must bear in mind
+that not every inhabitant was a freeman, nor every resident a legal
+inhabitant. A probationary residence was required before the second
+step was reached and the resident became an inhabitant with certain
+rights to the common lands, the right of sitting on the jury and of
+being chosen to some of the lower offices. This, also, was a period of
+probation, and it was only after it had been passed to the satisfaction
+of the freemen that the name of the new candidate could be proposed
+in town meeting for full citizenship. Even then he had to wait for
+a second meeting before he could be admitted to all the rights and
+distinctions of that honorable grade.
+
+As a picture of the times it deserves notice that there was still a
+struggle with crime which called for stocks and a jail; that the sale
+of liquors was regulated by a license, and the number of taverns that
+could be licensed in a single town limited to three; that the bars were
+closed at nine in the evening; that a fine of ten pounds or whipping,
+"accordinge as y^e court shall see meete," was the penalty of giving
+a blow in court; that malicious language was treated as slander and
+made ground for legal prosecution. The Assembly seldom sat beyond three
+or four days, and six in the morning was the usual hour of entering
+upon the business of the day. Absence from roll call was punished by a
+fine of a shilling. As an illustration of the degree in which the idea
+of the duties of citizenship prevailed over the idea of the dignity
+of office, it deserves to be recorded that when the first justices'
+court was established in Providence for the hearing of cases under
+forty shillings, Roger Williams though President of the Colony was
+appointed one of the justices, and of the other two Thomas Olney was
+assistant for Providence, and Thomas Harris a member of the Assembly.
+The principle of the reciprocal obligation of citizen and state seems,
+as we have already observed, to have found early acceptance. High
+treason was recognized as a great crime and provision made for sending
+the accused to England for trial--a dangerous measure even in that
+early day, and which in the following century became a just ground of
+alarm. But now, even Coddington not only came off unharmed from his
+daring usurpation, but appears again in 1656 as member of the Court
+of Trials. A written submission and a fine for refusing to give up the
+public records were the only penalties that he paid for his offence.
+Early provision was made for the protection of marriage, and to give it
+that publicity which is essential to security the bans were announced
+in town meeting, or at the head of a company on training days, or by
+a written declaration signed by a magistrate and set up in some place
+of common resort. If objections were made the parties were heard by
+a tribunal of two magistrates, or for final decision by the Court of
+Trials. Freedom in the young society was always connected with morality.
+
+There were still questions to arrange with Massachusetts, which had
+not yet given up the hope of enlarging her territory at the expense of
+her diminutive neighbors. The Pawtuxet controversy which began almost
+with the beginning of the Colony, was a fruitful source of anxiety
+till 1658, when it was finally settled by the acknowledgment of the
+claims of Rhode Island, Roger Williams again appearing in his favorite
+character of mediator. Hog Island, at the mouth of Bristol harbor,
+gave rise to other disputes which extended through several years. In
+the original purchase of Aquidneck the grass only had been bought.
+To secure the fee of the land itself a second purchase was required.
+Other purchases also were made, which gave rise to long and vexatious
+disputes. Small as it was, it was almost inch by inch that Rhode
+Island won its narrow territory.
+
+From time to time, also, there were alarms of Indians. In 1656 their
+movements excited so much apprehension in Providence, that a fort was
+built on Stamper's Hill for the protection of the town. In this same
+year the fundamental principles of the governments of Rhode Island and
+of Massachusetts were brought into striking contrast by the arrival
+of the Quakers. In Massachusetts they were imprisoned, scourged,
+mutilated, put to death, and with the increase of persecution increased
+in numbers. In Rhode Island they were allowed to follow their own
+convictions and became useful and industrious citizens. And when the
+United Colonies urged the General Assembly, not without threats, to
+join in the persecution, it appealed to Cromwell, asking "that it might
+not be compelled to exercise any civil power over men's consciences
+so long as human orders, in point of civility, are not corrupted or
+violated."
+
+In these days great changes were taking place in England. Cromwell
+was dead. Richard Cromwell soon resigned the Protectorate. A general
+reaction for royalty followed, and Charles II. was received as King
+with general satisfaction. How would the young and dissolute monarch
+look upon the claims of Rhode Island? It was well for her that at this
+perilous moment she was represented at the new court by so earnest,
+clear-headed, and dexterous a diplomatist as John Clarke. By his
+exertions a new charter was obtained, and, on the 24th of November,
+1663, accepted "at a very great meeting and assembly of the Colony of
+Providence Plantations, at Newport, in Rhode Island, in New England."
+With the adoption of this charter begins a new period in the history of
+Rhode Island.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER VIII.
+
+ TROUBLES IN OBTAINING A NEW CHARTER.--PROVISIONS OF THE
+ CHARTER.--DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING THE NARRAGANSETT
+ PURCHASE.--CURRENCY.--SCHOOLS.
+
+
+The charter of Charles II. was a practical recognition of the right
+of self-government. The government which it established, like that
+instituted by the colonists in their first organization, was a pure
+democracy, emanating from the people and framed for their good. In
+form it consisted of a Governor, a Deputy-Governor, ten assistants,
+and a House of Deputies, six of whom represented Newport, four
+Providence, four Portsmouth, four Warwick, and two each other towns.
+The first appointments of Governor, Deputy-Governor, and assistants,
+as preparatory to a permanent organization, were made by the King. The
+organization once effected, they were chosen annually at Newport, on
+the first Wednesday in May. The deputies were elected by the people
+in their respective towns. Thus election day became the great civil
+festival of the year, bringing the inhabitants of the towns together to
+interchange thoughts and feelings, and make merry with their wives and
+children in the chief town of the Colony.
+
+Although the new charter was negotiated by John Clarke, it is
+impossible not to recognize in it the spirit of Roger Williams.
+The original right of the natives to the soil was acknowledged,
+practically, in other colonies; but it was acknowledged as subordinate
+to the right of the King. The royal grant preceded the actual purchase.
+But in Rhode Island the royal grant followed the Indian title-deed, and
+was never accepted as sufficient of itself to justify the occupation
+of Indian territory. This doctrine, so widely at variance with the
+received doctrine of the age, stood first in the list of heresies for
+which Massachusetts had driven Roger Williams into exile.
+
+No less prominent in the second charter was that great principle which
+had formed the leading characteristic of the first. "Noe person," it
+says, "within the sayd colonye, at any tyme hereafter, shall be any
+wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any
+difference of opinion in matters of religion which doe not actually
+disturb the civill peace of our sayd colonye; but that all and everye
+person may, from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter, freelye and
+fullye have and enjoy his and their own judgments and consciences, in
+matters of religious concernments, through the tract of lande hereafter
+mentioned, they behaving themselves peaceablie and quietlie, and not
+using this libertye to licentiousness, and profaneness, nor to the
+civill injurye or outward disturbance of others."
+
+There was much work for the new Assembly to do, and it addressed
+itself promptly to the task. The statute book contained laws which,
+arising from circumstances no longer existing, were "inconsistent
+with the present government." To weed these out and replace them by
+others better suited to the new order of things, was an early object of
+attention. Hitherto the assistants had not been vested with legislative
+authority. They now held it by the charter, and henceforth acted in
+conjunction with the deputies, a change which at a later day led to the
+division into two houses. The increase of population brought with it an
+increase of litigation. The original courts were not sufficient to meet
+the demand for legal protection. They were reorganized.
+
+There were two general courts of trials, composed of the Governor, with
+or without the aid of the Deputy-Governor, and of a body of assistants
+whose number was never less than six. Their place of meeting was
+Newport, the seat of government and largest town, and their regular
+sessions were held in May and October. Providence and Warwick had each
+a court of trials--Providence in September and Warwick in March. But
+in these, as if in indication of their subordinate authority, neither
+the Governor nor the Deputy-Governor had a seat, and the number of
+assistants absolutely required to give validity to its acts was reduced
+from six to three. To complete their organization twelve jurors were
+added, six from each town. Their decision, however, was not final,
+and the cases which they had tried could be carried by appeal to the
+General Court. To quicken the tardy steps of justice any litigant
+who was willing to bear the expense, might, with the sanction of the
+Governor or Deputy-Governor, have a special court convened for the
+immediate decision of his cause.
+
+The grand and petty jurors were chosen from the four towns, five of
+each from Newport, three from Portsmouth, and two from Providence and
+Warwick respectively. The same superiority was accorded to Newport in
+the apportionment of state officers, five of whom were required to live
+there. In this, however, Providence outranks Portsmouth, having three
+allotted to her for her portion, while Portsmouth had but two. The
+duties of coroner were performed by the assistant "nearest the place
+occasion shall present."
+
+Another grave question met them on the threshold of their work of
+organization. The charter left a doubt concerning the manner of
+choosing the state magistrates. Should they be elected by the freemen
+in town meeting, or by the General Assembly? The democratic instinct
+prevailed, and the choice was left to the freemen.
+
+There was a still graver question to be decided, requiring firmness,
+self-control and skilled diplomacy. Rhode Island had never been looked
+upon by Massachusetts with friendly eyes. That a banished man should
+have become the founder of a new colony close upon her borders was
+irritating to her pride. That his success as a colonizer should have
+cut her off from the beautiful Narragansett Bay was humiliating to her
+ambition of territorial aggrandizement. That a freedom of conscience
+subversive of her theological dogmas should have been the fundamental
+principle of the new government was irritating to her bigotry. Thus,
+although she did not hesitate to avail herself of the good offices
+of Roger Williams to avert a dangerous war, she did not scruple to
+forbid the sale to citizens of Rhode Island of the powder and arms
+which they needed for their own protection, and exclude them from the
+league which the other colonies of New England had formed for their
+common defence. When, in 1642, four of the principal inhabitants of
+Pawtuxet factiously put themselves under her protection, she greedily
+seized the opportunity of securing for herself a foothold in the
+coveted territory. It was not till 1658 that this dangerous dispute
+was settled and the perpetual menace of mutilation removed from the
+northern district of the Colony soon to reappear in the southern. Amid
+the fresh recollections of this contest, the General Assembly passed a
+law forbidding, under the penalty of confiscation, the introduction of
+a foreign authority within the limits of the Colony. Both Massachusetts
+and Connecticut laid claim to Narragansett, a valuable tract in the
+southern part of the Colony and controlling the communication with the
+bay of that name. The claim of Rhode Island was founded upon purchase,
+and although her physical inferiority left her no hope of success
+except through an appeal to the King, she was none the less vigilant
+in defending her rights. The necessity of this watchfulness was soon
+made manifest, for scarce a year had passed from the passage of the
+prohibitory law, when, in direct violation of its provisions, a company
+of aliens purchased Quidneset and Namcook, two large and valuable
+tracts on Narragansett Bay. It was like throwing down the gauntlet to
+the little Colony, for it was only by supporting the pretensions of
+Massachusetts or Connecticut that the purchasers could hope to make
+their title good. An artful attempt was made to obtain the sanction of
+Roger Williams's name by offering him, under the title of interpreter,
+a liberal grant of land. But the loyal old man refused to connect
+himself in any way with the illegal act, and warned the company of the
+dangerous ground whereon they were treading.
+
+The warning was not heeded, and Humphrey Atherton, John Winthrop and
+their associates, completing their bargain with the Indians, claimed
+the tracts as theirs by lawful purchase. New complications followed.
+The very next year the Commissioners of the United Colonies, following
+up their aggressive policy towards the Narragansetts, imposed upon the
+feeble remnant of the once powerful tribe a heavy fine for alleged
+injuries to the Mohegans, and compelled them to mortgage their whole
+territory for the payment of it. Atherton paid the fine, and held that
+his claim was strengthened by this act of unjustifiable violence.
+
+For a time hopes were entertained of inducing the company to accept
+the jurisdiction of Rhode Island, but they were futile. The attempt of
+either party to exercise legal authority in the disputed territory was
+a signal for the active intervention of the other. It was soon evident
+that the decision must be referred to England. Fortunately for Rhode
+Island, John Clarke was still there.
+
+Agents from Connecticut, also, were there petitioning for a new
+charter, and their petition was enforced by the wise and virtuous John
+Winthrop. Court favor came to his aid, and he used it judiciously. The
+venerable Lord Say and Seal lent him the influence of his name, and the
+skillful negotiator dexterously reviving the memory of the intercourse
+between his father and Charles the First, succeeded in touching for
+a moment the callous heart of Charles II. In the season of that
+intercourse Charles had given Winthrop a curious and valuable ring,
+and now when the son of the subject came before the son of the King
+as a suppliant for a charter for his distant home, he bore that ring
+in his hand as a record of kind feelings on one side and reverential
+observance on the other. The plea was successful, and, on the 30th of
+May, 1662, a charter was granted. In this charter the eastern boundary
+of Connecticut was extended to Narragansett River, and Narragansett
+River it was claimed was Narragansett Bay.
+
+Great was the indignation of Rhode Island when the tidings of this
+arbitrary mutilation of her territory reached her. It was like
+introducing a foreign jurisdiction into the heart of the Colony, and
+stripping it by a stroke of the pen of some of the chief advantages
+which it had promised itself from its long and painful labor of
+colonization. There was but one hope left, and that lay in the wisdom
+and firmness of John Clarke. The trust was well placed. Not for a
+moment did the brave man lose heart or suffer himself to grow weary
+in his difficult task. Of the details of his negotiations no accurate
+record has been preserved, but we know that, possessing no means of
+corruption, even if his noble nature could have stooped to it, he
+placed his confidence in the justice of his cause. In negotiating for a
+charter he had presented two elaborate petitions to the King, giving a
+rapid sketch of the origin and principles of the Colony, and asking for
+"a more absolute, ample, and free charter of civill incorporation," as
+for men who "had it much on their hearts (if they may be permitted) to
+hold a lively experiment, that a flourishing free state may stand, yea,
+and best be maintained, and that among English spirits, with a full
+liberty in religious concernments."
+
+The question of a charter was for the King to decide, and we have
+already seen how he decided it. But the question of boundaries was
+within the competence of the agents of the two colonies. After much
+discussion it was decided to refer it to arbitration. Four arbitrators
+were chosen, and on the 7th of April, 1663, they rendered their award
+in four articles, by one of which the Pawcatuck River was made the
+eastern boundary of Connecticut. The Atherton company was left free to
+decide under which of the two jurisdictions it would live.
+
+As long as Winthrop remained, although Clarke had much to apprehend
+from his open opposition, he had nothing to fear from secret intrigues
+or willful misinterpretation. But not all the advocates of the Atherton
+purchase were like John Winthrop. False claims will always find base
+agents, and no sooner was Winthrop gone than one of these willing
+instruments of wrong pressed eagerly forward to his loathsome office.
+His name was John Scott, and the record of his meanness has been
+preserved in his own hand. "Mr. Winthrop," begins his confidential
+correspondence with Captain Hutchinson, the corresponding agent of the
+company, "was very averse to my prosecuting your affairs, he having had
+much trouble with Mr. Clarke whiles he remained in England; but as soon
+as I received intelligence of his departure from the Downes, I took
+into the society a Potent Gentleman and prepared a Petition against
+Clarke, &c., as enemyes to the peace and well being of his Majestye's
+good subjects, and doubt not effecting the premises in convenient
+tyme, and in order to accomplish y^r businesse, I have bought of Mr.
+Edwards a parcel of curiosityes to y^e value of sixty pounds; to
+gratifye persons that are powerfull, that there may be a Letter filled
+with Awthorising Expressions to the Collonyes of the Massachusetts and
+Connecticut, that the proprietors of the Narraganset countrye, shall
+not only live peaceably, but have satisfaction for Injuryes already
+received by some of the saide Proprietors and the power y^t shall be
+soe invested (viz) the Massachusetts and Connecticut by virtue of the
+saide letter will joyntlye and severallye, have full power to do us
+justice to all intents, as to our Narraganset concernes."
+
+For a moment it seemed as though this vile intrigue were about to
+succeed. A letter from the King to the United Colonies was obtained,
+recommending the interests of the Atherton company to their protection.
+John Scott's "curiosityes" had done their work. The "Potent Gentleman"
+had not failed him. The little Colony lay unarmed at the feet of its
+powerful enemies. But the triumph was short. John Clarke was carefully
+bringing his negotiations for a new charter to a close. Surrounded by
+bitter and unscrupulous adversaries he still kept his own counsel,
+kept the object of his mission constantly in view, and, after much
+weary waiting and watching, came out triumphant. The charter of
+Charles the Second, as I have already stated, which so long served the
+Colony as a constitution and exercised such a controlling influence
+upon her development, passed the seals on the 8th of July, 1663. By
+this charter the western boundary line was fixed at Pawcatuck River,
+"any Grant or Claim in a late Grant to the Governor and Company of
+_Connecticut_ Colony in _America_ to the contrary thereof in any wise
+notwithstanding." Thus the Pawcatuck River was henceforth to be held
+as the same with the Narragansett River, and the question of western
+boundary decided in accordance with the agreement, which, "after much
+debate," Clarke and Winthrop had both signed in the names of their
+respective colonies. It is evident that there was much ignorance, and
+no very firm principle of action with regard to the colonies in the
+cabinet of the second Charles.
+
+While these events were passing an important change took place in
+the commercial medium of the country. When the colonists first began
+to trade with the natives, they found them already advanced in their
+buyings and sellings from the primitive barter of product for product
+to the use of a fixed medium of exchange. This medium, indeed, was of
+a purely conventional character. There were neither mines of gold, nor
+mines of silver, nor mines of copper to perform the office of money.
+But the waters of their rivers and bays yielded an abundant supply
+of shells, and these they wrought with much ingenuity into beads;
+the periwinkle furnishing the material for the lower values, six of
+its white shells being held at an English penny, while the dark eye
+of the quahog or round clam, smoothed by grinding, and polished and
+drilled, was rated at twice the value of the white shell. Both were
+known as wampum or peage. As money belts of wampum were counted by the
+fathom, three hundred and sixty of the white passing for five shillings
+sterling, and a fathom of the black being worth twice as much as a
+fathom of the white. Like the metallic medium of other countries they
+served also for personal decoration, supplying the Indian belles and
+beaux with their necklaces and bracelets, and princes with the most
+valued ornaments of their regalia. When used for this purpose they
+were wrought into girdles, or worn as a scarf about the shoulders,
+great pains being taken and not a little skill displayed in arranging
+the colors in various figures. The mints in which this primitive money
+was coined were on the sea-shore, where shells were found in great
+abundance, and so well was this simple article adapted to the wants and
+the tastes of the aborigines that it passed current six hundred miles
+from the coast, and was used by the colonists in all their bargains
+with the natives. But shells like metals and paper are subject to the
+same inexorable laws of trade. When beaver skins became plenty in the
+colonial market and wampum was made in larger quantities, it fell from
+ten shillings a fathom to five, and the Indian hunter thought it hard
+that an equal number of furs should bring him but half as much wampum
+as before. Like all money, also, wampum was liable to be counterfeited,
+and even in that rude commerce there were men who preferred the
+ill-gotten gain of the counterfeiter to the fruit of honest industry.
+Fortunately for the native he was quick in detecting the fraud, and
+never failed to exact full compensation. But wampum, like the race for
+whom it was made, was unable to hold its ground against the advancing
+civilization. We have seen it reduced to half its original value by
+overissues and the increasing supply of furs in the colonial market.
+Gradually it began to disappear. Rhode Island continued to use it long
+after it had ceased to be current in colonies where the intercourse
+with Europe was more direct. Massachusetts had begun to coin silver in
+1652, but Rhode Island continued to accept wampum as a legal tender
+for ten years longer, when it reached its lowest point, and, like
+the Continental money of a century later, was abolished by statute.
+Thenceforth all taxes and costs of court were exacted in "current pay"
+in sterling that is, or in New England coin of thirty shillings New
+England to twenty-two shillings sixpence sterling.
+
+Nothing has been said thus far of the measures taken by the young
+Colony for the establishment of schools. Newport, though only in the
+second year of her settlement, took the lead in 1640, by "calling Mr.
+Robert Lenthall to keep a school for the learning of youth, and for his
+encouragement there was granted to him and his heirs one hundred acres
+of land, and four more for a house lot." In the same meeting it was
+voted: "That one hundred acres should be laid forth and appropriated
+for a school, for the encouragement of the poorer sort, to train up
+their youth in learning, and Mr. Robert Lenthall, while he continues
+to keep school, is to have the benefit thereof." The wise example was
+followed by Providence in 1663, and at May town meeting a hundred acres
+of upland and six acres of meadow were reserved for the support of a
+school.
+
+But in nothing perhaps does the character of the Colony appear to more
+advantage than in the law of oaths. "Forasmuch," reads the statute,
+"as the consciences of sundry men, truly conscionable, may scruple the
+giving or the taking of an oath, and it would be no wise suitable to
+the nature and constitution of our place, who profess ourselves to be
+men of different consciences, and not one willing to force another,
+to debar such as cannot do so, either from bearing office among us,
+or from giving in testimony in a case depending; be it enacted by
+the authority of this present Assembly, that a solemn profession or
+testimony in a court of record, or before a judge of record, shall be
+accounted throughout the whole colony, of as full force as an oath." So
+strong was the hold which the principle of soul liberty had taken of
+the public mind.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+ TERRITORY OF RHODE ISLAND IS INCREASED BY THE ADDITION OF BLOCK
+ ISLAND.--DISPUTES BETWEEN BLOCK ISLAND AND THE OTHER COLONIES
+ SETTLED BY ROYAL COMMAND.--STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE COLONY IN
+ 1667.
+
+
+The charter came at a fortunate moment, for petition and remonstrance
+had reached their utmost, and it is difficult to see how the little
+Colony could have preserved the integrity of its territory much longer
+against two such powerful neighbors but for the intervention of an
+authority that was recognized by all. The services of John Clarke
+must be estimated by the imminence of the danger, and his skill by
+the difficulty of the negotiation. Meanwhile the territories of Rhode
+Island were enlarged in another direction.
+
+Block Island has already been mentioned in connection with the Pequot
+war. In 1658 it was granted by Massachusetts, in whose hands the war
+had left it, to Governor John Endicott and three others, as a reward
+for their public services. Endicott and his associates sold it to
+Simon Ray and eight associates, who, in 1661, entered upon their work
+of colonization by liquidating the Indian title with a reservation in
+favor of the natives, and setting apart one-sixteenth of the lands
+for the support of a minister forever. The new settlement had not
+yet reached its third year when it passed under the jurisdiction of
+Rhode Island, and, in the May session of the General Assembly for
+1663, was summoned to appear at the bar of the house and be regularly
+received into the Colony. At the appointed time three messengers
+presented themselves, bringing the submission of the inhabitants to
+"his Majesty's will," and a petition of householders for the freedom
+of the island. Three select men were chosen to govern it with power
+to "call town meetings," hear causes under forty shillings, and where
+a greater amount was involved, grant appeals to the General Court of
+Trials, and "issue warrants in criminal cases." Their representation in
+the Assembly was fixed at two, and their attention was called to the
+clause in the charter declaring freedom of conscience. The question
+of a harbor for the encouragement of the fisheries soon attracted
+the attention of the Assembly, and, as early as 1665, we find John
+Clarke with the Governor and Deputy-Governor examining this important
+subject on the spot. But it was no work for a feeble Colony, and it
+was not till two hundred years later and under a rich and powerful
+national government that it was begun. Meanwhile the population grew
+and throve under colonial protection. Nine years after its first civil
+organization Block Island was incorporated under the name of New
+Shoreham, "as sign," say the petitioners, "of our unity and likeness
+to many parts of our native country."
+
+The conflict of patents did not end with the promulgation of the
+second charter. Massachusetts and Connecticut still persisted in
+their claims, and Rhode Island in her resistance. Fortunately for
+her the final decision lay with the Crown, and, although both of
+the intruding colonies made repeated attempts to set up governments
+of their own within the limits of the disputed territory, they were
+restrained from persistent violence by the knowledge that Rhode
+Island claimed and was prepared to exercise the right of appeal. An
+opportunity soon offered of making an important step towards decision.
+Four Commissioners--Colonel Richard Nichols, Sir Robert Carr, George
+Cartwright and Samuel Maverick--were ordered to proceed to America,
+reduce the Dutch provinces, and decide all questions of appeal,
+jurisdiction and boundary between the colonies. On their arrival in
+New York harbor, where they made the British fleet their headquarters,
+Rhode Island sent a deputation of three, with John Clarke at their
+head, to welcome the Royal Commissioners in the name of the Colony.
+
+They set themselves promptly to their work. The first question that
+came up for decision was the boundary line between Rhode Island
+and Plymouth. This they were unable to settle, and reserved it for
+reference to the King. Next came the vexed question of Narragansett.
+The submission of the sachems was confirmed, an annual tribute of two
+wolf-skins imposed, and the right to make war and sell land reserved
+to the authorities set over them by the Crown. A new division of the
+territory followed, all of the land west of the Bay, the southern half
+of the present Kent County, being set apart as King's Province, under
+the administration of the Governor and Council of Rhode Island, as
+magistrates of King's Province. Last came the bitter Warwick question,
+which had almost led to bloodshed. This was decided in favor of
+Rhode Island, upon the ground that no colony had a right to exercise
+jurisdiction beyond its chartered limits. It would have been well
+for the three colonies if the dispute had ended here. But neither
+Massachusetts nor Connecticut was satisfied. It was hard to give up the
+beautiful Narragansett Bay, "the largest," say the Commissioners, "and
+safest port in New England, nearest the sea and fittest for trade."
+
+The Indian was fast disappearing, and sometimes under circumstances
+which awaken a natural regret that where adverse civilizations met so
+little could be done for the individual. The old Sachem Pumham still
+clung to his home in the woodlands of Warwick Neck, encouraged, it was
+believed, by the hope of support from Massachusetts. John Eliot, the
+translator of the Bible, interceded for him. Roger Williams asked for
+a little delay till the harvest was in. But twenty years experience
+had shown that his residence there was incompatible with the peace
+of the Colony. Sir Robert Carr, the Royal Commissioner, met Eliot's
+intercession by sending him copies of all the papers relating to the
+question, and so far satisfied the scruples of Williams as to secure
+his hearty coöperation in the removal of this thorn from the side
+of the struggling Colony. Thirty pounds were paid into the hands of
+the old chief, a large sum for those days of general poverty, and he
+removed forever beyond the limits of King's Province.
+
+The Royal Commissioners on their arrival in Rhode Island had laid
+before the Assembly five propositions as "the will and pleasure of the
+King:"
+
+ "1st. That all householders inhabiting the Colony take the oath
+ of allegiance, and that the administration of justice be in his
+ Majesty's name."
+
+This brought up the delicate question of oaths, which, recurring from
+time to time, was gradually shaped by successive modifications so as to
+meet the demands of government without infringing upon the principle of
+soul-liberty.
+
+ "2d. That all men of competent estates and of civil conversation,
+ who acknowledge and are obedient to the civil magistrate, though of
+ different judgments, may be admitted to be freemen and have liberty
+ to chose and to be chosen, officers, both military and civil."
+
+This was accepted and the mode of admitting freemen prescribed.
+
+ "3d. That all men and women of orthodox opinion, competent knowledge
+ and civil lives, who acknowledge and are obedient to the civil
+ magistrate and are not scandalous, may be admitted to the Sacrament
+ of the Lord's Supper, and their children to Baptism, if they desire
+ it, either by admitting them into the congregations already gathered,
+ or permitting them to gather themselves into such congregations where
+ they may enjoy the benefit of the Sacraments, and that difference of
+ opinion may not break the bonds of peace and charity."
+
+If we interpret the word orthodox according to the Rhode Island
+standard of theological interpretation, this was already Rhode Island
+doctrine and required no deliberation.
+
+ "4th. That all laws and expressions in laws derogatory to his
+ Majesty, if any such have been made in these late and troublesome
+ times, may be repealed, altered and taken off the files."
+
+This, also, was accepted, and a revision of the laws ordered for that
+purpose.
+
+ "5th. That the Colony be put in such a posture of defence that if
+ there should be any invasion upon this island, or elsewhere in this
+ Colony (which God forbid) you might in some measure be in readiness
+ to defend yourselves, or if need be to relieve your neighbors,
+ according to the power given you by the King in your charter and to
+ us in the King's commission and instructions."
+
+This, also, struck a familiar cord. Provisions for self-defence had
+already been made as circumstances called for them. A new militia law
+was now passed, requiring six trainings a year under heavy penalties,
+and allowing nine shillings a year for each enlisted soldier. Every man
+was to keep on hand two pounds of powder and four of lead, and each
+town was required to maintain a public magazine. To defray the expenses
+of these magazines Newport was taxed fifty pounds, and the other three
+towns twenty pounds each.
+
+The Royal Commissioners were well satisfied with the conduct of
+Rhode Island, and Rhode Island, surrounded by powerful enemies, had
+every reason to be well satisfied with the Commissioners. Still
+the encroachments and aggressions of Massachusetts and Connecticut
+continued. As a prospective means of defence against them John Clarke
+was again asked to carry the complaints of the suffering Colony to
+England, and John Greene was chosen to accompany him. In 1672 a new
+claimant appeared in the lists.
+
+The Council of Plymouth had been lavish of its gifts of land, and in
+its ignorance of American geography had formed a perplexing map of
+conflicting claims. In one of its grants it had given the greater part
+of Maine, together with Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Long Island and
+the adjacent islands, to the Earl of Stirling. The Earl of Stirling
+sold his grant to the Duke of York, already proprietor by royal gift of
+the recently conquered province of New Netherlands. The term adjacent
+islands would have included Acquidneck and the other islands of
+Narragansett Bay. Prudence, one of the pleasantest and most valuable
+of them, had been bought of the Indian proprietors by Roger Williams
+and John Winthrop. In the course of time it passed by regular sale to
+John Paine, a Boston merchant, who had won the favor of the Duke of
+York by contributing liberally to the rebuilding of Fort James, in New
+York harbor. Governor Lovelace, the Duke's attorney, felt that such
+liberality was deserving of a signal reward. Paine was already the
+owner of Prudence. Lovelace resolved to make it a free-manor by the
+name of Toply manor, and confer the governership for life on Paine.
+By a second grant the original quit-rent of two barrels of cider and
+six pairs of capons was remitted, and this territory of seven miles in
+length became an untaxed and independent government.
+
+But Rhode Island was an uncongenial soil for feudal tenures. Paine
+was arrested, indicted and convicted under the law of 1658 against
+the introduction of a foreign jurisdiction, and Prudence without any
+formal act of adjustment returned to its original position as a part of
+Portsmouth.
+
+Thus the Rhode Island Colony grew apace. From time to time questions of
+practical government arose, to be worked out and solved by experience.
+It was not easy to make citizens feel their duty to the State. More
+than once the Assembly failed in attendance, to the serious detriment
+of the public. Fines were imposed, and that some inducement to
+greater regularity might be held out, a small pay of three shillings
+a day, which was soon reduced to two, was attached to the function
+of delegate. To facilitate the expression of opinion voting by proxy
+was permitted, and to secure the election of the most acceptable
+candidate it was enacted, "that whereas there may happen a division
+in the vote soe that the greater half may not pitch decidedly on one
+certaine person, yett the person which hath the most votes shall be
+deemed lawfully chosen." The laws of the Colony had been the growth
+of circumstances, expressing new wants and representing a progressive
+society. Committees were appointed on several occasions to revise
+and harmonize them. On the committee of October, 1664, we find Roger
+Williams and John Clarke.
+
+The progress of society has established a fundamental distinction
+between legislative, executive and judicial powers, which was not known
+to ancient publicists. The Court of Trials was composed of members of
+the Assembly, and thus the whole body of law-makers was gradually led
+to exercise judicial authority.
+
+The Colony was poor, and the persecutions of Massachusetts and
+Connecticut compelled it to incur expenses greatly beyond its means.
+When Roger Williams went on his second mission to England he sold part
+of his estates in order to raise the money for his expenses. When John
+Clarke was sent to negotiate the second charter he was obliged to
+burthen his estate with a mortgage. The whole sum due him by the Colony
+was but three hundred and forty-three pounds, and yet so hard was it to
+collect the tax by which this sum was to be paid that it was not until
+twenty years after his death that the mortgage was lifted.
+
+Internal dissensions and the alarm of foreign war troubled the Colony
+in 1667. Two names long prominent in Rhode Island, Harris and Fenner,
+appear at the head of two hostile factions in Providence and continue
+for a while to disturb the public peace. England, whose wars now found
+a reëcho in the colonies, was again at war with France and Holland.
+Efficient measures were taken to put the Colony in a state of defence,
+and thus new burthens were imposed. A council of war was organized
+in each town. Ammunition was collected. Officers were commissioned.
+Cannon were mounted at Newport. Cavalry corps were formed in the
+towns. The Governor and Council met in frequent deliberations. The
+Indians were disarmed and sent off the Island. A line of beacons was
+established from Wonumytomoni Hill, near Newport, to Mooshausick
+Hill, in Providence. Abundant proof was given of the energy and good
+statesmanship of the Colony. But the day of real trial was not yet come.
+
+The question of taxation was an early cause of difficulty. The poorer
+towns felt themselves aggrieved, and often put insuperable obstacles
+in the way of the collector. Even the tax for the payment of John
+Clarke was disputed, and Roger Williams drew upon himself a severe
+condemnation from Warwick by a letter wherein he urged its payment.
+At last, in 1672, the Assembly took the matter seriously in hand and
+passed a bill declaring, "that whoever opposed by word or deed, in town
+meeting or elsewhere, any rate laid, or any other of the acts or orders
+of the General Assembly should be bound over to the Court of Trials,
+or imprisoned till it meet, at the discretion of the justice, for high
+contempt and sedition; and if found guilty, should be fined, imprisoned
+or whipped, as the court might adjudge."
+
+It was not altogether without reason that this stringent act was
+passed, for the aggressions of Connecticut and the alarm of an Indian
+war made it necessary to strengthen as far as possible the hands of
+government. But there was a danger in this legislative omnipotence
+which the people quickly perceived, and the new Assembly of May undid
+by a comprehensive repeal the work of its predecessor of April.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER X.
+
+ KING PHILIP'S WAR.
+
+
+I have now reached the story of the longest and bloodiest war which
+the colonists had yet waged with the Indian. It is known in colonial
+history as King Philip's war, and belongs more to the histories of
+Massachusetts and Connecticut than to that of Rhode Island, although
+two of its bloodiest battles were fought on Rhode Island soil. Like all
+wars with barbarians it is filled with strange mixtures of barbarism
+and heroism, the savage warrior often rising in the pursuit of his
+ideal to a moral grandeur which his civilized antagonist failed to
+attain. And although like the war with the Pequots it was fatal to
+those who began it, it has left one of great names of Indian history,
+and brought into play some of the greatest traits of Indian character.
+
+First and most faithful of the allies of the English was Massasoit,
+Sachem of the Wamponoags. A pestilence too malignant to be controlled
+by the medical science of the natives had decimated his tribe and
+exposed him to the ambition of the Narragansetts, his immediate
+neighbors, a little before the arrival of the Pilgrims. Perceiving
+only the present danger, he looked upon the advent of the white man
+as a means of preserving his independence, and eagerly made a covenant
+with him which he faithfully kept to the end of his life, (1661). At
+his death his eldest son, Wamsutta, or Alexander as he was called by
+the English, succeeded to his authority, but not to the confidence of
+his allies. Suspicion arose; he was accused of plotting against the
+colonists, and though an independent chief, summoned to appear at the
+General Court at Plymouth. Disobeying the summons, he was threatened
+with personal violence, and reluctantly yielding set forth with his
+warriors and women, some eighty in all, under the escort of a small
+body of troops commanded by Major Winslow. The indignity was too great
+for the unfortunate chief. Winslow saw that he was sinking under
+fatigue--for the weather was very hot--and wounded pride, for wrong was
+hard to bear. "Take my horse," he said, touched with compassion. "No!"
+replied the chief with a last touch of pride, "there are no horses for
+my wife and the other women." When they reached Winslow's house, which
+was on the way he sickened, and though allowed to turn back, quickly
+died. Deep was the indignation of the Indians at this treatment of
+their sachem, and even some of the colonists felt that they had gone
+too far.
+
+But there was one among them into whose breast the wrong sank deepest,
+for it called him to avenge not only a chief but a brother. That
+brother was known in colonial history as Philip of Pocanoket. The story
+of Philip has been variously told, some looking upon him as a crafty
+savage loving the wiles and cruelty of Indian warfare and fighting with
+no other object than immediate success; others as an Indian patriot
+contending for the independence of his country. In either case, if we
+judge him by the standard of his own people, he was a great ruler in
+peace and a valiant leader in war.
+
+We are told that it was a sore grief to the young sachem to see the
+white man daily taking a firmer hold of the soil, and the red man
+melting before him. But how could the march of the invader be stayed?
+The arrow was a feeble weapon with which to oppose the firelock, the
+tomahawk even in the strongest hand was no match for the sabre. The
+foresight, judgment, method and power of combination of the white man
+enabled him to provide for the future while making wise provision for
+the present. While he was well supplied with food, the Indian was
+starving. While he was warmly clad, the Indian was exposed almost naked
+to the rudest blasts of winter. Philip saw the danger and resolved to
+face it.
+
+His first step was to secure allies by winning over the neighboring
+tribes. It was a broad field for diplomacy, wherein Indian not
+Christian ethics prevailed, and was well suited to his bold and wily
+nature. Yet with all his wiles he could not so completely cover his
+track as not to excite the suspicions of the English. He was summoned
+to Plymouth and closely questioned. But the hour for action was not yet
+come and he succeeded in allaying suspicions by giving up his arms.
+
+But treason beset his path. A "praying Indian," as the converts of
+Eliot were called, who had lived some years with Philip as secretary
+and counselor, betrayed the secret of the sachem's preparations. The
+betrayal cost him his life but saved the Colony by compelling Philip to
+begin his outbreak before his preparations were completed. It is said
+that when he saw the necessity he cast himself upon the ground and wept
+bitterly.
+
+But there was no escaping it, and collecting his forces he fell upon
+the settlements with fire and sword, and what was still more dreaded,
+the scalping knife and tomahawk. The first to feel his fury was the
+border town of Swanzey, where houses and barns were burnt and nine of
+the inhabitants put to death and seven wounded. Succor came promptly
+from Plymouth and Boston. The Indians fell back upon Mount Hope,
+Philip's favorite seat. Mutilated corpses and burning dwellings marked
+the track of the pursued. The pursuer looked round him in vain for an
+enemy. A few dogs prowled round the deserted wigwams, but not an Indian
+was to be seen.
+
+And here comes into view one of the boldest leaders of the colonists
+in their wars with the natives, Benjamin Church, of Plymouth, a man
+skilled in all the arts of Indian warfare, and in whose ardent nature
+a sound judgment and self-control were combined with intrepidity and
+enterprise. He pressed close upon the track of the enemy, crossed the
+bay to Aquidneck, and after a six hours' fight with a superior force
+was compelled to take refuge on board a sloop just as his ammunition
+began to fail.
+
+The war was fairly begun, and for over a twelvemonth raged with various
+fortunes but unabated fury. Plymouth and Massachusetts suffered most,
+but it left bloody traces in Rhode Island also.
+
+For unfortunately for Rhode Island, Philip's favorite seat was that
+beautiful range of hills, some twelve miles long, which separates the
+Taunton River and Mount Hope Bay from Narragansett Bay, thus bringing
+him within the limits of the present Town of Bristol. Tradition
+still points to a rock on the southernmost hill where the "noble
+savage" loved to sit and gaze on the waters as they held their way to
+the Atlantic, revolving, perhaps, in his embittered mind, a bloody
+vengeance upon his arrogant foe. It was from Mount Hope that he set
+forth to strike his first blow, and thither that he returned to fall by
+the hand of a traitor. "But a small part of the domain of my ancestors
+is left," he said to his friend, John Borden. "I am determined not to
+live till I have no country."
+
+Part only of the bloody record as I have already said belongs to Rhode
+Island. In the modern Town of Tiverton, known in those earlier colonial
+days as Pocasset, there was a swamp--seven miles in length--one of
+those difficult spots wherein Indian warriors love to concentrate
+their forces in the hour of danger. Here, amidst intricate paths and
+trembling morasses Philip first awaited the assault of the enemy. The
+colonists came up bravely to the charge, but were bravely repulsed
+with the loss of sixteen men. Then they resolved to take possession
+of the avenues to the swamp and starve the Indians into surrender.
+But the wily Philip after standing a siege of thirteen days made good
+his escape by night and took refuge on the Connecticut River, where
+he was joined by the Nipmucks, a Massachusetts tribe which he had won
+over to his fortunes. Surprises, pursuits, gallant stands, fearful
+massacres follow. At Brookfield it is an ambush followed by a siege.
+At Deerfield there was a battle in which the Indians were worsted,
+then a second trial of strength in which the town was burnt. At Hadley
+the enemy came while the inhabitants were in the meeting-house engaged
+in their devotions. For a while the men, who had brought their arms
+with them and were well trained to the use of them, thus held their
+ground firmly. But the surprise had shaken their nerves, and they were
+beginning to cast anxious glances around them, when suddenly in their
+midst appeared a venerable man clad in the habiliments of another age
+and with a sword in his hand. With a clear, firm voice he roused the
+flagging courage of the villagers, reformed their ranks and led them
+to the charge. A Roman would have taken him for one of the Dioscuri--a
+Spaniard for St. Jago. What wonder that the Hadleyites thought him a
+divine messenger, and if with such a proof of God's favor to inspirit
+them, they sprang forward with dauntless hearts and drove their enemy
+before them. When the victory was won, the same clear voice bade
+them bow their heads in prayer, and when they raised them again the
+mysterious speaker was gone. None but the village preacher knew that it
+was Goffe, the regicide.
+
+A surprise and massacre have left their name to Bloody Brook.
+Springfield was burned. But at Hatfield Philip received a check, and
+having laid waste the western frontier of Massachusetts, turned his
+steps toward the land of the Narragansetts. For the success of the war
+depended mainly upon the decision of that still powerful tribe. In the
+beginning a doubtful treaty had been patched up between them and the
+English. But their hearts were with their own race, and when Philip
+came they resolved to cast in their fortunes with his. The colonists
+prepared themselves sternly for the contest. Fifteen hundred men were
+enlisted in Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut; a body of friendly
+Indians joined them, and though it was mid-winter, thinking only of
+the necessity of striking a decisive blow they began their march.
+Volunteers from Rhode Island joined them on the way, but Rhode Island
+as a colony was not consulted.
+
+The Narragansetts were on their own ground and had chosen the strongest
+point for their winter quarters. It was an island of between three and
+four acres in the midst of a vast swamp in the southwestern part of the
+State, three or four miles from the present village of Kingston. To the
+trees and other natural defences the Indian chief had added palisades
+and such appliances as his rude engineering suggested. Here he had
+built his wigwams and stored his provisions, and prepared to pass the
+winter.
+
+Towards this fated spot at the dawn of a December Sabbath the little
+army of Puritans took their way. The snow was falling fast and the
+wind dashed it in their faces, but bated not their speed. By one they
+were in front of the stronghold, and though weary with the long march
+and faint with hunger they pressed eagerly forward. The only entrance
+was over the trunk of a tree. The Indian guns and arrows covered every
+foot of the way. The colonists undaunted rushed on--officers in the
+van. First to feel the murderous Indian aim was Captain Johnson, of
+Roxbury. Captain Davenport, of Boston, fell next, but before he fell
+penetrated the enclosure. More than two hours the battle raged with
+unabated fury. At one time the English made their way into the fort,
+but the Indians rallied and forced them back again. But over-confident
+in the natural strength of their fortress they had neglected to secure
+with palisades a strip which they had thought sufficiently guarded by
+a sheet of water. The English discovered it, and crossing took the
+astonished natives in the rear. At the same time some one shouted,
+"Fire their wigwams." The fatal flame caught eagerly the light boughs
+and branches of which the frail tenements were made, and in a few
+moments the fort was all ablaze. Imagination shrinks appalled from the
+scene that followed. Night was coming on. The snow storm had set in
+with fresh violence. A thousand Indian warriors lay dead or wounded
+within the fort. Five hundred wigwams were burning within the same
+narrow compass--consuming alike the bodies of the wounded and the
+dead. The women and children, like their protectors, perished in the
+flames. Eighty of the English, too, were killed--a hundred and fifty
+were wounded. Had the wigwams been spared there would have been food
+and shelter for the victors. But victors and vanquished were driven
+out into the bleak night, weary and spent with long marching and
+fasting--the Indian to crouch in an open cedar swamp not far from the
+fort--the English to return to the spot from whence they had set out
+in the morning for this dreadful victory--Smith's plantation, near the
+present village of Wickford. Several of the wounded died by the way.
+
+Even after this blow Philip succeeded in arousing the Maine and New
+Hampshire tribes to his support, and the war still raged for a while
+through the New England settlements. Rhode Island suffered severely.
+Warwick was burned, and the cattle driven off. Tradition says that when
+the enemy approached Providence, Roger Williams, now a very old man,
+went out to meet them. "Massachusetts," he said, "can raise thousands
+of men at this moment, and if you kill them, the King of England will
+supply their places as fast as they fall." "Let them come," was the
+reply, "we are ready for them. But as for you, brother Williams, you
+are a good man; you have been kind to us many years; not a hair of your
+head shall be touched." Fifty-four houses in the northern part of the
+town were burned, but the fearless old man was not harmed.
+
+Many of the colonists took refuge on Aquidneck, where the inhabitants
+of Newport and Portsmouth received them with great kindness. To protect
+the island a little flotilla of four boats, manned each by five or six
+men, was kept sailing around it day and night. There was no rest for
+old or young. April opened a brighter prospect. Canonchet, chief of
+the Narragansetts was taken prisoner. A young Englishman attempted to
+examine him. "You much child; no understand matters of war. Let your
+brother or your chief come. Him I will answer," was his haughty reply.
+He was offered his life if his tribe would submit, but refused it.
+The offer was renewed and he calmly said, "Let me hear no more about
+it." He was sent to Stonington, where a council of war condemned him to
+death. "I like it well," said he; "I shall die before my heart is soft,
+or I have said anything unworthy of myself." That as many as possible
+of his own race should take part in his execution Pequots were employed
+to shoot him, Mohegans to cut off his head and quarter him, and the
+Niantics to burn his body. When all this had been done, his head was
+sent to the Commissioners at Hartford as "a taken of love and loyalty."
+
+Throughout the spring and early summer the war still raged with
+unabated violence. The Rhode Island Assembly was so hard pushed that
+it was compelled to repeal the law exempting Quakers from military
+service. A few days before the capture of Canonchet he had surprised
+a party of Plymouth men near Pawtuxet. A battle was fought in an open
+cedar swamp in Warwick. But at last fortune seemed to turn towards
+the English. Philip's allies began to fall from him. His wife and
+children were taken prisoners. Captain Church with a chosen band was
+on his trail. Hunted from lair to lair he sought refuge at Mount Hope.
+A few followers still clung to his fortunes. His mind was harassed by
+unpropitious dreams, and in his weariness his pursuers came upon him
+unawares. As he rose to flee he was shot down by a renegade Indian. The
+victors drew his body out of the swamp, cut off his head, and dividing
+the trunk and limbs into four parts hung them upon four trees. The head
+was sent to Plymouth where it was hung upon a gibbet. One hand was sent
+to Boston where it was welcomed as a trophy, and the other was given to
+the renegade who shot him, by whom it was exhibited for money. His son
+was sold into West India servitude.
+
+With the death of Philip the war ended, although there were occasional
+collisions and bloodshed. For two members of the New England
+confederacy it had been a war of desolation. Connecticut, the third,
+escaped unharmed. Rhode Island, which had never been a member of it
+and had never been consulted concerning the war, although some of its
+leading incidents occurred within her borders, suffered most. Her
+second town was burned, her plantations laid waste and the inhabitants
+of her main-land driven for shelter to the island.
+
+With the vanquished it went hard. Many were killed in battle, some were
+shot in cold blood by the sentence of an English court-martial. Many
+were sold into slavery--with this distinction in favor of Rhode Island,
+that while the other colonies sold their prisoners into unqualified
+servitude, she established for hers a system of apprenticeship by which
+the prospect of ultimate freedom was opened to all.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XI.
+
+ INDIANS STILL TROUBLESOME.--CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.--TROUBLES
+ CONCERNING THE BOUNDARY LINES.
+
+
+War was followed by pestilence, which moves so fatally in her train.
+Of this pestilence we only know that it ran its deadly course in two
+or three days, and left its traces in almost every family. Meanwhile
+the legislature was sedulously repairing the breaches of the war.
+Laws passed in order to meet an urgent want were repealed, and chief
+among them as most repugnant to the tolerant spirit of the Colony
+the law of military service. The farmers returned to their desolate
+fields--citizens to the ruins of their hamlets. "Give us peace," they
+may have said, "and we will efface the traces of these ruins."
+
+But it was long before real peace returned. The Indians though subdued
+were still turbulent. Active measures were required to prevent them
+from passing on and off the Island at will, and building their wigwams
+and mat-sheds on the commons and even on private lands. Rumsellers were
+found ready to sell them rum, and at Providence parties were sent out
+to scour the woods and guard against surprises. As an encouragement to
+the men engaged in these duties their wounded were nursed at public
+expense.
+
+There was more serious danger from another quarter. Connecticut had
+not renounced her designs against Rhode Island territory, nor was she
+slow in declaring her intentions. The first step was an order of the
+Council at Hartford forbidding every one, whether white man or Indian,
+to occupy any lands in Narragansett without its consent. The Assembly
+met this order by a counter prohibition. No jurisdiction was to be
+exercised there but that of Rhode Island.
+
+This declaration of claims was promptly followed by action. Three
+planters who had returned to their plantations in Warwick were
+seized by the Connecticut authorities and sent to Hartford. They
+appealed to their own Governor, Governor Clarke for protection. One
+of the most important measures of the Rhode Island government was
+the reëstablishment of King's Province. Full power of protection was
+conferred upon a court of justices to be held in Narragansett. No one
+was allowed to enter the Province without permission from the Assembly.
+Ten thousand acres of land were set apart for new settlers at the rate
+of a hundred acres to each man--the new settlers to be approved by the
+Assembly. Rhode Island threatened to appeal to the King. Connecticut
+declared that she was ready to meet the appeal. Attempts at compromise
+were made by both parties. Connecticut proposed to fix the line at
+Coweset, the modern East Greenwich. Rhode Island offered to allow
+Connecticut to dispose of half the unpurchased lands in the Province
+if the settlers would accept the jurisdiction of Rhode Island. The
+loss of King's Province would have imperilled the future independence
+of Rhode Island, and therewith the great principle on which it was
+founded. Connecticut could not renounce her last hope of securing a
+part of Narragansett Bay. Neither offer was accepted, and it soon
+became evident that no decision could be reached except by appeal to
+the King. Peleg Sandford and Richard Bailey were chosen agents, and two
+hundred and fifty pounds voted for their expenses. The money was to be
+raised by the sale of ten thousand acres of lands in Narragansett at
+the rate of a shilling an acre.
+
+Meanwhile the Assembly was very active. A party change took place at
+the election of 1677--Governor Arnold was chosen in place of Governor
+Clarke. This was equivalent to a triumph of the war party. The militia
+law was again revised, care still being taken to protect the rights
+of conscience. How jealously these were guarded appears also in the
+unwillingness to multiply oaths of office. Five years before an act had
+been passed requiring deputies to take an engagement on entering upon
+the duties of their office. This law met with great opposition at its
+original passage, and its repeal was hailed with general satisfaction.
+Every freeman, it was said, made an engagement of allegiance on
+receiving the rights of citizenship. An oath is too solemn a thing to
+be lightly taken--why should we use it? So reasoned those conscientious
+men. By another act, also, they showed how fast they held to this
+fundamental principle.
+
+Another sect, the Sabbatarians or Seventh-Day Baptists, had taken
+root and begun to flourish in the free air of Rhode Island. In 1667
+they were sufficiently numerous to justify them in asking that market
+day might be changed from Saturday, their Sabbath, to some other
+day. Without breaking in upon an old custom by changing the day, the
+Assembly added Thursday as another market day and thus quieted the
+scruples of honest and useful citizens.
+
+We have seen how promptly and firmly the Assembly met the encroachments
+of Connecticut. Their remonstrances were followed up by spirited and
+judicious action. The surest way to strengthen their hold upon the
+disputed territory was by peopling it. Among the coves and inlets
+which give such quiet beauty to Narragansett Bay there is none more
+beautiful than that broad sheet of navigable water which still retains
+in part its original name of Coweset. Here it was resolved to plant a
+colony and build a town. Five hundred acres were set apart in lots on
+the bay for house lots--four thousand five hundred in farms of ninety
+acres, which were distributed among fifty men on condition of building
+within a year and opening roads from the bay into the country. To
+guard against rash speculation no colonist was to sell his land within
+twenty-one years unless with the consent of the Assembly. Thus on the
+verdant hill-side at whose foot a ripple from the Atlantic mingles with
+the inland murmur of Mascachugh was built the pleasant hamlet of East
+Greenwich.
+
+Another bitter controversy arose concerning the limits and extent of
+the original Providence and Pawtuxet purchase--a question of great
+local interest, and which lost none of its heat from having for
+opposite leaders Roger Williams and William Harris. Several difficult
+questions were mixed up with it, greatly disturbing the harmony of
+the northern section of the Colony. Williams had shown himself to
+be an inaccurate conveyancer in the drafting of the original deed.
+This was purely a question of title. A still more difficult one arose
+when Warwick was colonized. Agents were sent to England to ask for
+the appointment of commissioners to decide the controversies which
+the local tribunals were unable to decide effectually. John Greene
+and Randall Holden were the agents for Warwick; William Harris for
+Pawtuxet. This William Harris, as we have already seen, was a bold
+thinker and an energetic actor. He made several voyages to England in
+defence of his party, and followed up with great energy every advantage
+that he gained before the tribunals at home. On his last voyage he fell
+into the hands of Barbary corsairs, and though ransomed after a year of
+captivity died soon after his redemption. The controversy did not cease
+with his death. Other voyages were made to England and other decisions
+obtained. But it was not till many years later that the unwise contest
+was settled. Then, in 1696, the line between Providence and Warwick
+was settled by the Assembly, with the Pawtuxet River for boundary.
+That between Providence and Pawtuxet was continued till 1712 and then
+settled by compromise.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XII.
+
+ DEATH OF SEVERAL OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEN.--CHANGES IN LEGISLATION.
+
+
+The woes of Rhode Island begin anew. Scarcely had the war ceased when
+Connecticut as we have already seen renewed her claim to Narragansett.
+Massachusetts soon followed in the name of the Atherton company.
+And presently Plymouth joined herself to the roll of Rhode Island's
+enemies by advancing a claim to Aquidneck itself. Connecticut sought to
+strengthen her pretensions by asserting that the disputed territory was
+now hers by right of conquest. Thus far the sturdy little colony had
+held its ground and grown and prospered in the midst of enemies. Would
+she continue to hold it? Humanity itself was concerned in the answer,
+for of all the powers and kingdoms of the earth she alone was founded
+upon the principle of perfect toleration. The contest was a long and a
+weary one, too long for the purpose of this volume, for it is a history
+of seventy years of discussion and aggression, of bitter attack and
+firm resistance, terminating at last in the triumph of the weak and
+single-handed. Rhode Island not only preserved her original territory
+but added to it from that of two of her enemies. I shall select a few
+incidents to illustrate the progress of the contest.
+
+It was to be waged for the most part by a new generation. The great
+men of the foundation were passing away. John Clarke, who had thrown
+the mild lustre of his purity over the first half of the life of the
+Colony, died in 1676, leaving a deep longing, or rather a sore need of
+his civil virtues and diplomatic skill. Samuel Gorton, whose tenacious
+convictions made him stern and intolerant in public life though gentle
+and attractive in private intercourse, and whose vigorous and subtle
+intellect led him to rejoice in the bitterness of controversy as the
+swift horse rejoices in the dust of the race-course, died the year
+after. Roger Williams was spared a few years longer--bold, ardent,
+disputatious, resolute, sincere and earnest to the last. But the young
+of his middle age were growing old, and the companions of his active
+years were falling around him. His colony had thriven and flourished.
+The five men who followed him from Salem had become "a thousand or
+twelve hundred men able to bear arms." In spite of the threatening of
+the political horizon his strong faith told him that the being in whom
+he had put his trust thus far would stand by him still. And thus he
+laid his head upon his last pillow, a satisfied and happy man.
+
+Another man of bold, original type--William Harris--had run his active
+career, and died with his hands and heart still full of unfinished
+work. We have seen to what length he carried his doctrine of individual
+right to free action. We have seen him wage a bitter controversy with
+Roger Williams. Time after time he crossed the Atlantic as agent of
+the great boundary questions which fill so large a space in the Rhode
+Island history of this period; the last time, and from which he was
+never to return, as agent for Connecticut. A deep presentiment of
+disaster seems to have filled his mind as he was preparing himself for
+this voyage, and not satisfied with making his will he presented it
+for probate with his own hands. The presentiment was well founded. On
+the outward passage he was taken by a Barbary corsair and sold into
+slavery. By the exertion of friends he was ransomed after a year's
+captivity and made his way through Spain and France to England. But
+the year of slavery had told hard upon him, and three days after his
+arrival he died. It has been remarked by a profound thinker that while
+Williams's more comprehensive mind could embrace both the practical
+and ideal in their mutual relations, the moment that Harris touched
+the ideal he became a radical. It does not seem to have struck his
+cotemporaries as it does us to see him accepting the agency of
+Connecticut in her controversy with Rhode Island. But he has a definite
+place in Rhode Island history and did her good service through his long
+and somewhat turbulent career.
+
+William Coddington, who had been an eminent man in Massachusetts before
+he became a very eminent man in Rhode Island, lived to take an active
+part in the controversy, and died in 1678, while holding for the time
+the office of Governor. His temporary usurpation had been forgiven and
+forgotten, and men remembered only that he had sincerely renounced his
+hostile designs and become a loyal and useful citizen.
+
+Such were some of the men who bore the largest part in moulding the
+original character of Rhode Island. Talent and character like theirs
+was required to guide the little Colony through the dangers that
+surrounded it. But before we return to the external history of these
+days we will gather from the acts of the Assembly a few records of the
+moral and intellectual life of the Colony and its progress to a higher
+civilization.
+
+The publicity of the laws is a question of deep interest in every stage
+of society, but particularly interesting in small communities. In the
+early days of Rhode Island they were published by beat of drum under
+the seal of the Colony. The violation of a law found no excuse in the
+plea of ignorance.
+
+The sessions of the Assembly were held in a tavern or sometimes in a
+private house, always beginning, as the Roman assemblies did, at a
+very early hour. We have already seen that early attempts were made to
+allure the members to their duty by payment. It was still some time
+before this became a fixed law. In 1679 a resolution was passed for
+paying the board and lodging of the members of the Assembly and of
+the Court of Trials. In the May session of 1680 a definite sum was
+fixed upon--seven shillings a week. The true nature of the reciprocal
+obligation of the citizen and the State was not yet fully understood.
+
+The frequent appeals to England which the aggressions of the other
+New England colonies made necessary, made it also necessary to keep
+resident agents at the English court. Thus the increased expenditure of
+the Colony kept pace with the increase of her resources.
+
+In 1678 a tax was laid which enables us to form a tolerably accurate
+idea of the financial condition of the Colony. Its full amount was
+three hundred pounds. "Of this sum Newport was assessed one hundred and
+thirty-six pounds, Portsmouth sixty-eight, New Shoreham and Jamestown
+twenty-nine each, Providence ten, Warwick eight, Kingston sixteen,
+afterwards reduced to eight, East Greenwich and Westerly two each." As
+the greater part of this tax was commutable, we are enabled to form a
+pretty accurate idea of the price of living just after the war. "Fresh
+pork was valued at twopence a pound, salted and well packed pork at
+fifty shillings a barrel, fresh beef at twelve shillings a hundred
+weight, packed beef in barrels thirty shillings a hundred, peas and
+barley malt two and sixpence a bushel, corn and barley, two shillings,
+washed wool sixpence a pound, and good firkin butter fivepence. The
+quarter part of this tax was paid in wool at the rate of fivepence a
+pound." If we compare these prices with those of 1670, we shall see
+that war had proved here as everywhere a great scourge.
+
+In the law by which this tax was levied we find a practical
+illustration of the principle which less than a century later became
+the fundamental principle of colonial resistance to the mother country.
+None but a complete representation of all the towns could levy a tax,
+or as it was formulated by James Otis--taxation without representation
+is tyranny.
+
+It is also worthy of observation that there was a tendency to extend
+the usage of election to direct choice by vote of the freemen. The
+office of major which at its first institution during Philip's war was
+filled by vote of the militia, passed, in 1678, to the whole body of
+freemen. The necessity of a distinction between martial and civil law
+seems, also, to have made itself more sensibly felt at the same period,
+and a permanent court-martial was formed for the trial of delinquent
+soldiers. As the commercial spirit of the Colony increased the
+necessity of a bankrupt law was felt, but on trial it was found to be
+premature and repealed. An attempt was also made to avoid the conflict
+of land titles in Narragansett, where the interest of townships as
+well as of private individuals was involved. To correct this evil
+which struck at the root of social organization the Assembly ordered
+that the disputed tracts should be surveyed and plats made of them. For
+the more efficacious protection of this fundamental interest it was
+ordered that all who held by Indian titles "should present their deeds
+to be passed on by the Assembly." Descending to minuter particulars,
+we find a law against fast riding--first, in "the compact parts of
+Newport," and not long after, of Providence, also. We find it also
+ordered that a bell be provided and set up in some convenient place
+for calling the Assembly and courts and council together. Of deeper
+interest was the act appointing a committee to make a digest of the
+laws, "that they may be putt in print." Only part, however, of this
+resolution was carried out, and it was not till 1719 that the laws were
+put into a permanent form.
+
+Not the laws only but the language in which they were expressed
+attracted attention. We now meet for the first time in the enacting
+clause of a law, "and by the authority thereof be it ordained, enacted
+and declared." Instead of executor administrator was written, "it being
+in that case the more proper and usual term in the law." In one act we
+find an instance of grim humor. The accounts of a general sergeant were
+found to be in inextricable confusion. The auditing committee resolved
+to call them square "and voted that by this act there is a full and
+fynal issue of all differences relative to said accounts from the
+beginninge of the world unto this present Assembly."
+
+In some instances the public mind was not made up concerning a law, and
+one Assembly would undo the work of its predecessor. One of the most
+important acts of this class was an act denying the revisory power of
+the Assembly over decisions of courts of trials. In the August session
+of 1680, after two years of experiment, the act was repealed.
+
+The existence of a law proves, also, the existence of an evil.
+In the May session of 1679, we find an act for the protection of
+servants, whom "sundry persons being evil-minded" were in the habit
+of overtasking at home, and then hiring others to let out for work
+on Sunday--thus infringing the law which practically made Sunday a
+holiday. This is not a pleasant picture, but the action of the Assembly
+forbidding the abuse shows that public opinion was sound. We find,
+also, that then as now sailors were more or less at the mercy of sailor
+landlords. The Assembly took up their defence. Those who trusted a
+sailor for more than five shillings without an order from his captain
+forfeited their claim. Another law bearing directly upon navigation
+was passed in the May session of 1679. "The master of every vessel of
+over twenty tons burthen was required to report himself to the head
+officer of the town upon arrival and departure, and if over ten days
+in port, then to set up notice in two public places in the town three
+days before sailing." In this last act we see the influence of the
+navigation act which was so long held to be the guardian genius of
+England's commercial prosperity, and which was communicated to all the
+colonies by royal edict in 1680.
+
+And here, as illustrative of border life when Rhode Island was a border
+colony, comes the story of John Clawson's curse. This John Clawson
+was a hired servant of Roger Williams, who, at the instigation of a
+desperate fellow by the name of Herendeen, was attacked in the night
+from behind a thicket of barberry bushes, near the old north burial
+ground by an Indian named Waumaion. The Indian, who was armed with a
+broad axe, split open Clawson's chin at the first blow. The wound was
+mortal, but the wounded man lived long enough to utter his curse--that
+"Herendeen and his posterity might be marked with split chins and
+haunted with barberry bushes" forever. The malediction, legend
+says, was fulfilled, and the descendants of the murderer were still
+distinguished in the last century by a furrowed chin, and fired up with
+indignation at the mention of a barberry bush.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIII.
+
+ COURTS AND ARMY STRENGTHENED.--COMMISSIONERS SENT FROM
+ ENGLAND.--CHARTER REVOKED.
+
+
+Disputes of title fill, as we have seen, a full but monotonous chapter
+in this part of our history. Among them was the dispute for Potowomut,
+a neck of land on Coweset Bay which had been purchased of the Indians
+by order of the Assembly as early as 1659. Bitter disputes soon
+followed, Warwick claiming it, and individuals both English and Indians
+disputing the claim. At last the question was disposed of, as was
+supposed, finally, at a town meeting in 1680, in which it was divided
+"into fifty equal lots or rights, and the names of the proprietors were
+inserted on the records." But the very next year we meet it again as a
+contest between Warwick and Kingston. At last the Assembly interposed,
+forbidding all occupancy of the land till further orders, warning
+off intruders, but permitting the Warwick men to mow and improve the
+meadows as heretofore.
+
+Among the questions brought before the Assembly in the time of these
+disputes, was the question of the power of the Town Council to reject
+or accept new citizens. The question was brought up by Providence and
+decided in the affirmative. The form of application for leave to reside
+has been preserved: "To y^e Towne mett this 15th of December 1680. My
+request to y^e Towne is; that they woold grant the liberty to reside in
+y^e Towne during the Townes Approbation, behaving myselfe as a civill
+man ought to doe, Desireing not to putt y^e Towne to any charge by my
+residing here; and for what y^e Towne shall cause farther to enquire of
+me, I shall see I hope to give them a true and sober Answer thereunto.
+Y^{or} friend and servant Tho. Waters."
+
+One of the lessons of the war had been the importance of cavalry, and
+in 1682 a company was raised in the main-land towns consisting of
+thirty-six men, exclusive of officers. To put them on the same footing
+with the infantry they were allowed the same privileges, and held to
+the same obligation of exercising six days in the year. Not long after
+the number of majors was doubled, and John Greene appointed for the
+main-land and John Coggeshall for the island. Measures were also taken
+to give greater efficiency to the courts, and it was decided that the
+October sessions should be held in Providence and Warwick annually.
+That there might be no delay in the execution of sentences, each of
+these towns was required to furnish a cage and stocks. Thus surely but
+gradually the resolute Colony went on in its work of organization. But
+perilous days were at hand.
+
+The appeals of the colonies to England had attracted her attention to
+these distant domains, which but for that might long have continued
+to grow and prosper in obscurity. But when called upon to grant
+privileges she naturally began to examine into the nature of her
+rights, and interpreted them not by the genius of the colonies, but by
+the commercial interests of the mother country. The act of navigation,
+which had its origin in English jealousy of Holland, bore hard from
+the beginning on the commercial industry of the colonies. Although
+first passed by the republican Parliament of 1651, it did not become
+an efficient act until the first Parliament of Charles II. in 1660,
+when it was formally proclaimed in all the colonies by beat of drum.
+Custom-houses with all their parapheranalia followed close in its
+track. The burthen was soon felt, and smuggling, the natural relief of
+overtaxed commerce, became general. The bays and inlets of New England
+afforded great facilities for illicit trade, and the public conscience
+could not long resist the temptation. We shall see before another
+century is over to what England's narrow policy led.
+
+Questions relating to the colonies were generally referred to the
+Board of Trade. In 1680 came a letter from the board containing
+twenty-seven queries concerning Rhode Island. The agents in England
+also went prepared to give all the information that was required for
+the understanding of the claims and condition of the Colony. As long
+as Charles, the grantor of the charter lived, there was nothing done to
+excite alarm. But no sooner did his bigoted brother ascend the throne,
+than it became evident that an entire change was to be made in colonial
+policy. Rhode Island was quick to feel the blow. A commission of nine
+was appointed to settle the vexed question of King's Province. Head of
+the commission was the notorious Cranfield, who had made himself a bad
+name by his tyrannical government of New Hampshire. Next came Randolph,
+detested in Massachusetts for his oppressive administration of the acts
+of trade. These names excited gloomy anticipations which were presently
+fulfilled.
+
+And here let us pause a moment to observe the exact situation of
+Rhode Island at this critical emergency. Having had her origin in a
+practical appeal from the intolerance of Massachusetts, she had never
+been admitted to the confederation which gave unity and strength to
+the other New England colonies. Her doctrine of soul-liberty was a
+stench in their nostrils, and her possession of the broad and beautiful
+Narragansett Bay so favorable for maritime and internal commerce,
+was, as we have seen, a constant subject of bickering and envy.
+Massachusetts laid claim to Pawtuxet and Warwick, and a Massachusetts
+company to part of Narragansett; Connecticut to a large portion of the
+remainder of Narragansett, Plymouth to Aquidneck and other islands
+of the Bay. Little was left to Rhode Island but the plantations on
+the Mooshausick. All of these claims were enforced by all the means
+and arts within the command of the stronger colonies except actual
+war, and resisted with admirable resolution and perseverance by the
+weaker colony. We have seen how agents were sent to plead her cause at
+the court of their common sovereign, how every attempt to establish
+jurisdiction had been promptly resisted and every intrusion instantly
+repelled. In the darkest hour she never lost heart nor bated one jot
+her rights. But the darkest hour of all was at hand.
+
+Cranfield and Randolph set themselves zealously to their congenial
+task. The Assembly met for theirs. The Commissioners refused to
+establish their position by showing their credentials. The Assembly
+refused to recognize them officially without credentials. The rupture
+was open and violent. The Assembly appointed new agents to repair to
+court and lay the evidence in behalf of the Colony before the King. A
+tax of four hundred pounds was imposed to meet their expenses. Much
+importance was attached to an address to the King drawn up by Randall
+Holden and John Greene. Meanwhile the Commissioners on their part were
+not idle. Cranfield wrote to the Board of Trade that the colonies were
+disloyal. "It never will be otherwise," he added, "till their charters
+are broke and the college at Cambridge utterly extirpated, for from
+thence these half-witted philosophers turn either Atheists or seditious
+preachers." He was right, for it was at Cambridge that Otis and Quincy
+and Warren and the two Adamses imbibed the principles which led to
+independence.
+
+It was in 1684, in the midst of these struggles, that a petition of the
+Jews for protection was presented to the Assembly and granted--Rhode
+Island remaining true to the last to the principle of her origin.
+
+The decision of the Royal Commissioners was unfavorable to Rhode
+Island, and it is hard to see how she could have escaped mutilation.
+But she was menaced by a still greater danger. In 1684 Charles the
+Second died, and his brother James ascended the throne, bringing with
+him a narrow mind and a bad heart. To establish an arbitrary government
+and restore the supremacy of the Romish Church were the cardinal points
+of his policy. The American colonies afforded a favorable field for the
+trial. It began by the revocation of their charters, and was speedily
+followed up by putting the government of the New England colonies under
+one head.
+
+Rhode Island found herself where she stood at the beginning, a
+government of towns. Her original four towns had united under one
+government for self-defence, and now that they were arbitrarily
+separated by a power too great to be resisted they naturally fell back
+upon their original municipal institutions. This closing scene is
+not without its dignity. The Assembly met at its accustomed time. The
+Governor, Walter Clarke, solemnly called upon the freemen for counsel.
+The whole question of dangers and difficulties was discussed, and
+wisely preferring petition to resistance, it was resolved to address
+a solemn appeal to the King for the preservation of their charter.
+Then all returned to its original order. The freemen met and discussed
+their town interests in their town meetings. Town officers elected
+by their townsmen performed their accustomed duties. The tradesman
+and the farmer went on in his chosen calling and the towns throve and
+prospered, still looking with unwavering trust to a day of redemption.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ CHANGES IN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.--SIR EDMOND ANDROS APPOINTED
+ GOVERNOR.--HE OPPRESSES THE COLONISTS AND IS FINALLY DEPOSED.
+
+
+Thus a provisional government took the place of the charter government
+under which New England had grown so rapidly. A great and successful
+experiment in political science was suddenly checked, and hopes which
+had led so many devout and earnest men to renounce the conveniences of
+home for the perils and discomforts of a wilderness were rudely crushed
+at the very moment when they seemed nearest their fulfillment. The
+same blow which fell upon Rhode Island fell with equal fatality upon
+Massachusetts and Connecticut. The government by charter ceased. The
+two most active agents of James in this remoulding of the government of
+the colonies were Dudley, President of the Council, and Randolph, the
+Secretary, whose despotic conduct in Boston has already been mentioned.
+Here was a broader and more congenial field.
+
+It was resolved as has been seen to address the King in behalf of the
+Colony, and John Greene, venerable by years and illustrious by public
+services, was appointed to carry the address to England and advocate
+it as agent for the Colony. He had watched over the cradle of the
+Colony--who so fit to stand by its grave.
+
+Unfortunately, party had lost none of its virulence even in this
+supreme hour, and a small minority of dissentients was found to the
+sober and judicious conduct of the Assembly. Among them were members
+of the Atherton company, and among their methods of attack were bitter
+aspersions upon the personal character of the colonial agent. The
+provisional government found enough to do in preparing the colonies
+for their new life, and one of their earliest measures was a final
+organization of King's Province. Among the changes that they made was
+the changing of the names of its three towns. Kingston, the largest,
+was called Rochester, Westerly, the next in size, became Haversham, and
+East Greenwich, the smallest, took the name of Dedford. The western
+boundary of Haversham was Pawcatuck River. Dedford was extended on the
+north to Warwick, and enlarged by the peninsula of Potowomut. Part of
+the actual settlers were living on land to which they had no legal
+claim. Preëmption rights were granted them and time given them to
+"arrange with the owners by rent or purchase."
+
+At last, on the 20th of December, 1686, the Royal Governor, Sir Edmond
+Andros, arrived in Boston. He came in a ship of the royal navy and
+brought with him two companies of the royal army, the first regular
+troops that had ever been seen in Massachusetts. He had already
+been in the colonies and knew the spirits with whom he would have to
+deal. Rhode Island, like her sisters, had everything to fear from his
+arbitrary will. But she had treated him with respectful consideration
+on his former visit, and was now treated by him with less than his
+usual harshness.
+
+He entered at once upon his welcome task, the transformation of a
+constitutional government into a despotism. Massachusetts came first in
+order, and the very first blow was a deadly one, an outrage upon her
+convictions and a deep humiliation to her pride. Her Puritan theocracy,
+which had penetrated every part of her civil polity, was overthrown,
+and the service of the church of England was openly celebrated. In this
+Rhode Island had no change to fear, for freedom of conscience was, till
+other ends were accomplished, the doctrine of the King himself. In all
+other things all the colonies fared alike.
+
+We have seen how watchful Rhode Island was of the taxing power, and how
+nearly she had reached the great fundamental principle that taxation
+and representation go together. Andros sent out his tax-gatherers
+without consulting the tax-payers. His object was to raise money,
+no matter how. Farming the revenue, always a favorite device of
+despotism, offered facilities which he promptly turned to account. The
+augmentation of fees was an abundant source. Those of probate were
+increased twenty-fold. Writs of intrusion opened another channel for
+organized robbery. No one could tell how soon he might be compelled to
+buy his farm over again. Even marriage afforded a field for the display
+of arbitrary power. Necessity at first compelled the government to
+recognize the validity of civil marriages. But as the transformation
+of laws and usages progressed, no marriages were recognized as valid
+which were not celebrated according to the rights of the Church of
+England. To feel the odious tyranny of this law it should be remembered
+that there was but one Episcopal clergyman in the Colony. Another
+oppressive act was the introduction of passports, whether for the fees
+they brought in or in order to throw obstacles in the way of a free
+communication among the colonies, it would be difficult to tell.
+
+Andros's commission gave him the power to appoint and remove his
+counselors at will. The council consisted of nineteen members, five of
+whom were from Rhode Island. One of them, John Greene, was absent on
+his agency in England. Their first meeting was held at Boston. In this
+the usual oaths of allegiance and office were taken, the two Quaker
+members from Rhode Island being allowed to make their affirmation. All
+officers in commission were continued in office during the Governor's
+pleasure, and all laws that did not clash with the laws of England,
+were retained. The first was the only full meeting of this impotent
+board, which only met to confirm the resolves of an arbitrary Governor.
+
+In substance Andros had his own way, though not without occasional
+opposition and now and then humiliation. In Rhode Island the charter
+was adroitly put out of his reach by Governor Clarke and not reproduced
+till he had left Newport. In Connecticut it was hidden in the hollow of
+an oak. The seal of Rhode Island was broken. The members of the council
+were constantly changing, and few of them, according to Randolph, cared
+for the King. "His Excellency has to do with a perverse people."
+
+We meet some of the questions of our own day. Licenses for the sale
+of liquor were granted in Newport, but no liquor could be sold in
+King's Province. How well the prohibition was obeyed it is impossible
+to say. Poor laws also appear in the guise of taxes for the support
+of that perplexing part of the population. It would be tedious and
+useless to follow the despotic Governor through all the changes of his
+administration of two years and four months. Suffice it to say that he
+had fully imbibed the spirit of his master, and did all that he could
+to reduce the colonies to servitude. A few provisions, however, may be
+mentioned as illustrating the condition of the country. With the growth
+of the towns fires became sources of danger. To enforce watchfulness
+the person in whose house a fire broke out was fined two and sixpence,
+and for still greater security every householder was required to set
+"a ladder reaching to the ridge pole, to every house that he owned."
+Attention was called to the fishing in Pettaquamscot pond and an order
+passed for encouraging it. A tax was laid for the extermination of
+wolves, which seem still to have been very numerous.
+
+In April, 1688, Andros's commission was enlarged so as to comprise New
+York and the Jerseys, all under the general appellation of New England.
+Enlarged powers and minute instructions accompanied the new commission,
+and among the former was the subjection of the press to the will of the
+Governor.
+
+But another change was drawing nigh. There was nothing in common
+between James the Second and the New England colonist, and Andros
+represented his master too faithfully not to be bitterly hated. Even
+Thanksgiving, that thoroughly New England festival, was neglected
+when announced by his proclamation. Some spoke out their detestation
+openly to his face. "I suppose," he said one morning to Dr. Hooker, the
+great clerical wit of Hartford, "all the good people of Connecticut
+are fasting and praying on my account." "Yes," replied the Doctor, "we
+read, 'This kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer.'"
+
+Rhode Island suffered less at his hands than any other colony. The
+enforced toleration which excited such strong feelings in Massachusetts
+met with no opposition in a territory where Baptists and Quakers
+and Puritans and Separatists worshipped according to their own
+convictions. John Greene soon became aware that there was no prospect
+of a return to the free life of the charter so long as James held the
+throne. Therefore, without renouncing the hope of a better future,
+he confined his negotiations for the present to questions of minor,
+though important bearing. Chief among them was the putting an end to
+the intrusions of the outside claimants to Narragansett. This brought
+up all the unsettled claims which had been so pertinaciously enforced
+and so firmly resisted. The Atherton claim was thrown out by the
+Commissioners as extorted from the Indians by fear. The Connecticut
+claim was repudiated upon grounds set forth in the Rhode Island
+charter. Several individual titles, both Indian and English, were
+considered, and after careful examination, the right of Rhode Island to
+King's Province was confirmed for the third time--"against Connecticut
+in point of jurisdiction, and against the so-called proprietors in
+point of ownership." This report was met in England by a petition of
+Lord Culpepper in behalf of the Atherton company for grants of land
+not already occupied and the bass ponds, upon such quit rents as might
+seem good to the King. The petition was granted in part and Andros
+was intrusted to "assign them such lands as had not already been
+occupied--at a quit rent of two and sixpence for every hundred acres."
+
+Thus far Rhode Island has come off with honor in her contests with her
+neighbors. There was one, however, in which she won no honor. A party
+of unfortunate Huguenots had established themselves in King's Province,
+forming a little settlement of their own and paying honestly for their
+lands. But the French name was not loved in the colonies and their
+Protestant neighbors persecuted them away. Traces of them may still be
+found in the neighborhood where they settled, which bears to this day
+the name of Frenchtown.
+
+Meanwhile great changes were taking place in England, where James
+was rapidly running his career of bigotry and oppression. Slow as
+the communications between the mother country and her colonies were
+there was still communication enough to enable the latter to form
+some conception of the state of public feeling in the former. The new
+government had never acquired any stability in New England. The Council
+was constantly changing, and after the first meeting never all met
+together again. The public mind was ripe for revolution, and when the
+first tidings of the fall of James reached New England she was prepared
+to accept them with all their consequences. Unfortunately for Andros he
+was in Boston at this critical moment, and Boston was ready to act with
+her wonted vigor. The Governor was summoned to surrender his authority,
+and refusing, was thrown into prison. Massachusetts made haste to
+reörganize her government, but her charter was gone.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XV.
+
+ CHARTER GOVERNMENT AGAIN RESUMED.--FRENCH WAR.--INTERNAL
+ IMPROVEMENTS.--CHARGES AGAINST THE COLONIES.
+
+
+Rhode Island had never hated Andros as bitterly as the other colonies
+had hated him, for the freedom of conscience which he endeavored to
+force upon them was in her a fundamental principle. But she loved her
+charter and rightly believed that it was the only sure pledge of her
+liberties. Therefore, when Dudley, the Chief-Justice, undertook to
+open his court, he was seized and put in jail. This was a bold casting
+off of the new government. The next step was a cautious return to the
+old. A letter from Newport came out calling upon the freemen of Rhode
+Island to meet there "before the day of usual election by charter,"
+to take counsel together concerning public affairs. When the day came
+the freemen met, and doubtless with all their usual freedom of debate,
+prepared a statement of their reasons for resuming their charter
+government. Party lines were already sharply drawn. On one side were
+the Royalists, led by the rich merchant, Francis Brinley, who opposed
+the resumption of the charter, and called for a general government by
+immediate appointment of the King. On the other were the Republicans,
+stronger both by number and by fervor of opinion. Their boldness
+secured the freedom of the Colony. In an address to "the present
+supreme power of England," they gave their reasons for returning to
+their charter, and asked to have their action approved. Deputy-Governor
+Coggeshall, with several assistants, resumed their functions, but
+Governor Clarke, whose characteristic trait was caution, declined and
+the Colony was ten months without a governor.
+
+Still, in May, all the old officers were reinstated and "all the laws
+superseded in 1686" resumed their place on the schedule. "The charter
+was produced in open Assembly" and then restored to Governor Clarke
+for safe keeping. When the question of the legality of the resumption
+of charter government came before the King, he approved it upon the
+written opinion of the law officers of the crown that "the charter,
+never having been revoked, but only suspended, still remained in full
+force and effect." Heartily must Rhode Island and Connecticut have
+rejoiced that theirs had been so successfully guarded. In May came
+the welcome tidings that William and Mary had been acknowledged in
+England. They were promptly and joyfully acknowledged in the colonies.
+Dr. Increase Mather, a great name in Massachusetts, was in London on
+behalf of the colonies when the revolution broke out. He obtained an
+early audience of William and pleaded for the recall of Andros. The
+recall was granted, and after ten months of confinement the crestfallen
+Governor was sent to England for trial. But his conduct was viewed in
+a different light in the mother country from what it had been in the
+colonies. "The charges against him were dismissed by the royal order,
+on the ground of insufficiency--and that he had done nothing which was
+not fully justified by his instructions." As a compensation for his
+long imprisonment, he was presently made Governor of Virginia.
+
+In February, 1689-90, the Assembly met for the first time in four years
+and entered upon the work of organization. Seventeen deputies, together
+with the officers chosen in May, were present. Absentees were summoned.
+Clarke refused to serve as Governor. Christopher Almy also declined.
+The bold but aged Henry Bull was chosen in his stead. After some
+hesitation Clarke gave up the charter and other official papers. Funds
+which had been appropriated to the building of a Colony House were held
+by Roger Goulding, who promptly paid them over. Andros had broken the
+original colonial seal. A new seal, Hope with her anchor, was procured.
+Rhode Island's exposed situation laid her open to attacks by sea, and
+thus imposed the necessity of new expenses. War had broken out between
+England and France, and the colonies were to come in for their share
+of war's sufferings. Some fear was felt of the colony in Frenchtown,
+and the few survivors of the unfortunate settlement were required to
+repair to the office of John Greene, in Warwick, and take the oath of
+allegiance to the King.
+
+Thus the government was regularly organized and public business began
+to move on in its accustomed track. At the May session of 1690 Governor
+Bull declined a reelection, and John Easton was chosen in his place.
+John Greene was chosen Deputy-Governor. One more was added to the list
+of assistants, who thus became ten. Here ends the probation of Rhode
+Island.
+
+Poor and weak, through toil and sacrifice, in spite of internal
+dissensions and external enmities, calumniated for the great truth
+on which she was founded, coveted for the beautiful territory which
+she had redeemed from the wilderness, she had solved the problem of
+self-government and proved that the religious virtues may flourish
+without the aid of civil authority. The struggle for existence is over.
+She now enters through industry upon the path to wealth and culture.
+
+The sessions of the Assembly had been held hitherto in taverns or
+private houses. But now a proper edifice, the town house, is built for
+public use and the public meetings are held in it. Thus far, also,
+the governor, the deputy-governor and the assistants have received no
+compensation for their services. They are henceforth exempted from the
+Colony tax. War with the French and Indians was raging all along the
+northern frontier. New York was the colony most exposed. Leister, her
+Governor, called on the other colonies for aid. Rhode Island, whose
+extensive water fronts left her open to attacks by sea, could not send
+men, and therefore taxed herself three hundred pounds to send money.
+The wisdom of this course was soon apparent. Seven French privateers
+made a descent upon the islands on the coast, committing horrible
+excesses. Bonfires were kindled at Pawcatuck to alarm the country,
+and a sloop well manned sent out from Newport to reconnoitre. A night
+attempt was made upon the town but failed. One upon New London was
+repulsed. Two sloops carrying ninety men were sent out under Thomas
+Paine and John Godfrey to fight the enemy. A bloody battle which lasted
+two hours and a half followed, and the French were driven off with
+the loss of half their crews and a valuable prize. Block Island was
+particularly exposed during this war. Four attacks were made upon it,
+the inhabitants ill treated and their cattle driven off. In the last
+invasion the privateersmen were defeated in "an open pitched battle."
+
+The war pressed so heavily on the commercial interests of the
+community that it was found necessary to lay a tonnage duty of a
+shilling a ton upon the vessels over ten tons burthen of other colonies
+that broke bulk in Newport harbor. The payment might be made in money
+or in powder, at the rate of a shilling a pound, and the products of
+the duty were employed in keeping up a powder magazine on the island.
+Rhode Islanders had not yet learnt to pay their taxes promptly, and
+more than once the Assembly was called together to devise the means of
+collecting sums already voted. The tonnage duty was a welcome, though a
+small contribution, to the scanty resources of the little Colony. A few
+years later a new source was opened by the levy of a duty upon foreign
+wines, liquors and molasses--that upon molasses being a half-penny a
+gallon. In the August session of 1698 an elaborate tax law in twelve
+sections was enacted, and a tax of eight hundred pounds currency was
+voted. By this act a poll tax of a shilling a head was imposed upon
+all males between sixteen and sixty. But this, also, was not easily
+collected, and years passed before an adequate method of taxation was
+devised and applied.
+
+Shortly after the return to the charter the small-pox broke out. "Rhode
+Island is almost destroyed by the small-pox," says a cotemporary
+letter. When the Assembly met they were unable to open the session
+with the prescribed formalities, for the only copy of the charter was
+in the keeping of the recorder, who was sick with the dreaded disease,
+and the reading of the charter was the first step towards organization.
+When the pestilence was passed, the attention of legislation was
+directed to the militia laws, which were revised and brought more into
+harmony with the material wants of the Colony. In this connection it
+may not be out of place to remember that the town house was enlarged
+and a belfry added to it. Government was gradually putting on the
+external forms of authority.
+
+In 1691 a change occurred on the eastern border which threatened
+her inter-colonial relations. Plymouth was merged in Massachusetts,
+which was thus brought into larger contact with Rhode Island. Sir
+William Phipps, a native of Massachusetts, was appointed Governor,
+with a commission which gave him command over all the forces of New
+England, by land and by sea--a flagrant violation of the charters
+of Rhode Island and Connecticut, and which was vigorously repelled.
+Older grievances were not entirely healed. Some Pawcatuck men asked to
+be placed under the laws of Connecticut. The leaven of the Atherton
+company dispute had not yet spent its force. But the change of tone in
+the language of the correspondence shows that the bitterness which had
+distinguished its early stages was gradually passing away.
+
+This (1692) was the time of the witchcraft trials in Massachusetts,
+a delusion in which Rhode Island did not share, for though she gave
+witchcraft a place on her statute books as a tribute to a superstition
+of the age, she never brought it into her courts. She was busied with
+more important questions.
+
+Phipps was urging his claim to command the New England forces.
+John Greene, now Deputy-Governor, went to Boston with one of the
+assistants to discuss the matter. They got no satisfaction from the
+aspiring governor, either upon the question of command or upon the
+equally important question of the boundary line. The whole matter was
+referred to the Board of Trade and by them to the Attorney-General,
+who decided in favor of Rhode Island. A distinction, however, was made
+between peace and war. In time of war the commander-in-chief might, in
+conjunction with the governor, call out the quota prescribed by the
+Board of Trade. Rhode Island's quota for service under the Governor
+of New York was forty-eight men. The eastern boundary question was
+referred to the New York Council as being disinterested and near
+the spot. The Narragansett dispute though so often decided in favor
+of Rhode Island, still reappeared from time to time. Several years
+were yet to pass before the boundaries both on the east and the west
+were definitively settled and the stout little Colony secured in the
+possession of her own territory. I shall no longer attempt to follow
+the story through its obscure ramifications. It has served thus far to
+illustrate colonial life, and show with what tenacity of purpose and
+devotion to a great principle Rhode Island followed up her labor of
+organization. It was the border war of our colonial history.
+
+The necessity of regular communication between the colonies began to
+be seriously felt, and part of John Greene's mission to Boston in
+1692 was to negotiate the establishment of a post office. Early in
+the following year Thomas Neale, acting under patent from the King,
+established a weekly mail from Boston to Virginia. Rhode Island came
+in for her share of the advantage. The rate of postage upon a single
+inland letter from Boston to Rhode Island was sixpence. And thus was
+woven one of the first links in the chain which, before another century
+was passed, had bound all the colonies in an indissoluble union.
+
+We have seen a gradual approach towards a just comprehension of the
+relations of the state to its officers. The decisive step was taken
+in 1695, when a salary of ten pounds was voted to the governor, six
+pounds to the deputy-governor, four pounds to the assistants and three
+shillings a day to the deputies while in session. Absentees forfeited
+twice their pay.
+
+In the following year an important change was made in the organization
+of the Assembly, the deputies becoming a separate house coordinate with
+the assistants, each house occupying a separate room and having a veto
+upon the action of the other. It will help to form a correct idea of
+daily life in the country if I add that a bounty of ten shillings was
+paid for killing old wolves, and of the seaports and sea coast that
+privateers were fitted out from them with very irregular commissions.
+Blackbirds fared hard in Portsmouth, where every householder was
+required to kill twelve before the tenth of May, under penalty of
+two shillings, and with a premium of a shilling a head for all over
+twelve. This was to serve as a protection for fields. But the serious
+danger was from the Indians, for the treaty of Ryswick gave for
+sometime but an imperfect peace to the colonies. Inroads of Indians
+were frequent and sudden. Never had the councils of war been more
+active or more constantly in session, and never had the men who were
+fit for service been more constantly under arms. Scouting parties of
+ten men were sent out every two days to serve beyond the limits of
+the plantations. Such were the trials of the second generation of
+colonizers.
+
+The violation of the acts of trade and lax dealing with privateers
+became so flagrant that the home government after many vain complaints
+resolved to establish courts of admiralty in all the colonies. The
+attorney-general was consulted and said there was nothing in their
+charters to prevent it. The colonial agents, exerted themselves
+earnestly to ward off the blow, but without success, and when the Rhode
+Island agent, Jahleel Brenton, returned in December, 1697-8, he brought
+a commission to Peleg Sandford as Judge, and to Nathaniel Coddington as
+Register. Governor Clarke opposed it and tried to induce the Assembly
+to join in the opposition. Brenton advised that he should be impeached,
+whereupon Clarke resigned in favor of his nephew, Samuel Cranston.
+
+The Colony was entering upon a new period of trial and danger. The
+enemies of her chartered rights were numerous and powerful, and
+unhappily for her were supported in their charges by a dangerous
+array of specious evidence. The rival interests were represented by
+men admirably fitted for their respective tasks. The Royal Governor of
+Massachusetts, Lord Bellemont, a man of singular ability and strength
+of character, represented the party that would have made New England a
+vice-royalty. Cranston, firm, resolute and self-possessed, held that
+Rhode Island under the protection of her charter had fully proved her
+capacity for self-government.
+
+The great interest at stake was the interest of trade. Domestic trade
+was fostered and protected. Peddling was prohibited as injurious to
+regular traffic. Pains were taken to secure uniformity of weights and
+measures. In all this no power was assumed which the spirit if not the
+letter of the charter did not fully grant. But the act of navigation
+had raised up an enemy to foreign trade which in time of war encouraged
+privateering and in time of peace led to piracy. The treaty of Ryswick
+left many hardy spirits afloat, greedy for gold and unscrupulous in
+their pursuit of it.
+
+The American coast offered great facilities for smuggling, and it was
+only as smugglers that pirates or privateersmen could convert their
+prizes into money. Much of this money it is said was buried in retired
+nooks of the inlets and bays along the coast. The royal revenues
+suffered greatly by this illicit trade, and the royal agents accused
+the colonists of openly favoring it. "The people of New York," wrote
+Lord Bellemont to the Board of Trade, "have such an appetite for
+piracy and unlawful trade that they are ready to rebel as often as the
+government puts the law in execution against them." Rhode Island was
+held to be a favorite resort of these bold adventurers. Both Cranston
+her Governor, and John Greene her Deputy-Governor were accused of
+favoring them. Greene, who had been elected ten years in succession,
+was dropped in 1700, but Cranston was reëlected from year to year,
+thirty years in succession.
+
+Meanwhile Bellemont, whose hostility was embittered by the instigations
+of Randolph, went on collecting document upon document, till the
+formidable list amounted to twenty-five heads of accusation--chief of
+which was connivance with pirates--and, as he wrote to the Board of
+Trade, "making Rhode Island their sanctuary." Should the Board of Trade
+accept these accusations, what could preserve the Colony from a quo
+warranto? Nothing did save her but the death of the Royal Governor.
+
+To this period belongs the story of Captain Kidd, long the subject of
+many a fearful tradition and all the more widely known from having
+exchanged an admiral's flag for the black flag of the corsair. After
+a wild and adventurous career in the Indian ocean he came to the
+American coast, and showing himself boldly in the streets of Boston was
+arrested, sent to England for trial and hanged.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ COLONIAL PROSPERITY.--DIFFICULTIES OCCASIONED BY THE WAR WITH THE
+ FRENCH.--DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE COLONY.
+
+
+If we may judge the prosperity of the Colony by the increase of
+taxation--and taxes it must be remembered were self-imposed--we shall
+find that Rhode Island at the beginning of the new century had made
+real if not rapid progress in all the branches of national prosperity.
+Her population in 1702 was estimated at ten thousand, exclusive of
+Indians. She drew supplies from foreign ports in bottoms of her own,
+and raised the staples of life on her own farms. Her citizens were
+merchants, farmers, fishermen and sailors. There was a beginning, also,
+of manufactures--to the sore displeasure of the Board of Trade.
+
+We perceive, also, by the same test that Providence had regained the
+relative position which she had lost during Philip's war, and was once
+more the second town of the Colony.
+
+The soul liberty of which I have spoken so often had borne rich
+fruits. Baptists, Quakers, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Puritans
+and Sabbatarians had their respective places of worship and their
+independent pastors. Among the Baptist pastors we find John Clarke.
+Among the Congregationalists Samuel Niles, a native of Block Island,
+and the first Rhode Islander that graduated at Harvard. In 1704 the
+Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts sent out
+James Honeyman to build up an Episcopal church in the southern part of
+the Colony. He found much to do as rector of Trinity, in Newport, and
+missionary to Freetown, Tiverton and Little Compton on the main. His
+memory is still preserved in Episcopal traditions and Honeyman's Hill,
+the highest land in the southern extremity of the island, is a familiar
+name to the inhabitants of Newport. In 1706 an Episcopal society was
+founded in Kingston, with Rev. Christopher Bridge for rector. So well
+was the work on the church done, that after remaining where it was
+built ninety-three years, it was removed to Wickford, where it is
+still used under the name of the Church of St. Paul. One of the most
+interesting of these denominations was that of the Sabbatarians, or
+Seventh-day Baptists, who had also a flourishing church in Westerly. To
+meet their peculiar views two weekly market days were, set apart for
+them.
+
+The meetings and acts of the Assembly still continue to form the
+principal record of our history. The Assembly itself claimed equal
+rights with those exercised by Parliament over its own members, and
+at a special session in 1701, suspended an assistant who had married
+a couple illegally and refused to acknowledge his error. The Board
+of Trade had more than once called for a printed copy of the laws
+of the Colony, and as a proof that they were regularly administered
+Governor Cranston sent a full statement of the mode of procedure in
+all the courts. I have already spoken of Lord Bellemont's plan for the
+formation of a great vice-royalty over all the colonies, including the
+Bahama Islands. After his death this wild scheme, fatal to the freedom
+and prosperity of British America, was revived by Dudley. The irregular
+administration of the navigation laws was the chief pretext, and it
+probably was held to be a sufficient concession to freedom that the
+local government was left in the hands of the colonial assemblies. A
+bill for this purpose was drawn up near the close of William's reign
+and brought forward early in that of Anne.
+
+But the rights of the colonies were boldly and ably defended by Sir
+Henry Ashurst, the agent of Connecticut, and the fatal bill rejected
+after a full discussion. Dudley himself, however, was in high favor.
+He was appointed Governor and Vice-Admiral of Massachusetts and New
+Hampshire, and what was still more objectionable Vice-Admiral of
+Rhode Island and King's Province, a fruitful source of jealousies and
+bickerings.
+
+Meanwhile the Assembly went on in its work of legislation, taking
+advantage of its experience to correct old errors, and gradually
+adapting the laws to the increasing wants of society. At the May
+session of 1701 we find justices of the peace first mentioned in
+connection with a general election. Thirteen were then appointed. In
+the same session a resolution for the reörganization of the militia
+law was again brought forward and the law of marriage revised and made
+more stringent. New powers were given the governor for enforcing the
+navigation act. Progress had been made towards a correct estimate of
+the obligations of society to its officers. The governor's salary was
+raised to forty pounds--a sum much increased during the year by special
+gratuities. The recorder was forbidden to practice at the bar except
+in cases which concerned himself or the town or Colony. Protection
+against vagrants was sought in a rigid vagrant act, extending to comers
+from other colonies, deserters from the King's service and "passengers
+brought in by sea and landed without consent of the authorities."
+
+The short lived treaty of Ryswick was broken, and in the May session
+of 1702 preparations were made for the defence of Newport harbor by
+building a fort on Goat Island. In the town itself a battery was
+erected near the ground now occupied by the Union Bank. The funds for
+these defences were to be drawn from "forfeitures to the treasury and
+the gold plate and money taken from convicted pirates." The pay of the
+garrison at the fort was fixed at twelve pounds a year, with rations.
+Scouts, that essential element of every good army, but especially
+necessary where the enemy were part Indians, received three shillings
+a day while in active service. The spirit of adventure was awakened.
+Captain William Wanton, of Portsmouth, took out a commission as
+privateersman and brought in several valuable prizes.
+
+In September Dudley undertook to take command of the Rhode Island
+troops--about two thousand men in all, and coming to Newport directed
+that they should be called out in his name. The calm but firm
+resistance of Governor Cranston and Major Martindale thwarted his
+usurpation, and he left the town in disgust.
+
+In 1703 the long boundary line contest between Rhode Island and
+Connecticut was brought to a close, and Rhode Island confirmed in
+the jurisdiction over Narragansett which had been assigned to her in
+the arbitration of Clarke and Winthrop. Much of this was owing to
+the staunch loyalty of the men of Westerly, where its good effects
+were immediately felt. Yet so little were the true interests of the
+colonies understood by their transatlantic rulers, that it was not till
+twenty-three years later that the decision of the Commissioners was
+formally approved by the King.
+
+This failure to comprehend the character and interest of the colonies
+showed itself in various ways, but in none more offensively than in the
+attempt of the Board of Trade to make Dudley Governor of Rhode Island
+by royal appointment. But fortunately for Rhode Island, the powerful
+William Penn had been enlisted on her side, and the Queen's Council
+refused to accept the recommendation of the Board of Trade.
+
+Another question which menaced serious danger to the Colony by placing
+it in a false position towards the mother country arose from the war.
+How far was she bound to send troops to the support of her sister
+colonies? Dudley claimed them for the defence of the Massachusetts
+frontier, Lord Cornberry for that of New York. Rhode Island pointed to
+her long water front, broken by bays and coves and constantly exposed
+to the fleets and privateers of the enemy, and claimed that she needed
+her men for her own protection. As a proof, however, of her willingness
+to do all that could justly be asked of her, she appealed to her past
+conduct and to the fact that during the last seven years she had spent
+nearly a thousand pounds a year for military purposes.
+
+The war bore hardly upon the resources of the Colony. A French fleet
+was expected on the coast. Scouts were constantly on the look-out.
+Block Island was garrisoned. The fleet did not come, but one incident
+occurred which, though upon a small scale, brought out in strong colors
+the maritime spirit of the Colony. A French privateer in a cruise off
+Block Island took a sloop laden with provisions. The news reached the
+Governor the next day. In two hours two sloops, manned by one hundred
+and twenty volunteers, and commanded by Captain John Wanton, were on
+their way in pursuit of the enemy, and in less than three hours more
+took her, recaptured her prize and brought both safe into Newport.
+
+The current of our history still continues to flow in a narrow channel.
+Each new session of the Assembly added to the body of the laws and
+met new wants. Newport had no charter. One was granted her by special
+statute. The other towns held theirs by grants of the Assembly. The
+subject of a court of chancery began to attract attention in 1705,
+but was held to be premature, and its duties were still left for the
+present with the Assembly.
+
+Boundary questions still continued to occupy the Assembly and annoy the
+inhabitants of the border. The northern boundary brought Rhode Island
+into direct collision with Massachusetts, which was now the heiress
+of the claims of Plymouth. Commissioners were appointed who made no
+report, and it was only by slow steps that the Colony assumed its
+permanent form and dimensions.
+
+Among the laws which were brought every day to every door was the law
+which made the price of wheat the standard of the price of bread. Every
+baker was required to have his trade mark and make every loaf of a
+specified weight. The bread that fell short was forfeited to the poor.
+
+As an aid to commerce the Colony granted the control of the shores of
+all the waters comprised within a township to the town itself. This led
+to the building of wharves and store houses, and added to the wealth of
+the town.
+
+In the midst of the progressing civilization we find occasional traces
+of barbarism. A slave had murdered his mistress with circumstances
+which aggravated the crime, and despairing of escape drowned himself.
+A fortnight after his body came ashore at Little Compton, and "the
+Assembly ordered that his head, legs and arms should be hung up in some
+public place near Newport, and his body be burnt to ashes."
+
+We now meet the odious slave-trade, carefully watched over and
+protected by England as a source of wealth, but generally disliked
+by planters for "the turbulent and unruly tempers" of its miserable
+victims. Rhode Island drew most of her slaves from Barbadoes at the
+rate of twenty or thirty a year, and sold them at the average price of
+from thirty to forty pounds each. The moral question had not yet come
+up, but according to the old record the trade did not flourish because
+the people "in general" preferred white servants to black.
+
+In 1708 the first census was taken by order of the Board of Trade,
+giving for result seven thousand one hundred and eighty-one
+inhabitants, of whom one thousand and fifteen were freemen. The militia
+amounted to one thousand three hundred and sixty-two. There were
+fifty-six white servants and four hundred and twenty-six black.
+
+In the same year we meet for the first time, "vendue masters" and
+public auctions. The subject of "a uniform value for foreign coins
+in the colonies" was discussed in Parliament, and made the subject
+of a circular letter from the Board of Trade. The increase of the
+settlements made it necessary to provide for the Indians. A committee
+was appointed to confer with Ninigret about lands for his tribe, the
+Niantics, and choose the site of a new town in Narragansett.
+
+I have already spoken of the judicial functions of the Assembly. They
+had increased so much that it was deemed necessary to impose a tax of
+two pounds upon every appellant before his case could be taken up.
+
+The reports to the Board of Trade and the commutation table of taxation
+throw much light upon the commercial and agricultural progress of the
+Colony. In the commutation roll Indian coin was rated at "two shillings
+a bushel, barley at one and eightpence, rye at two and sixpence, oats
+at fourteen pence, wheat at three shillings, and wool at ninepence a
+pound." From the statistical reports to the Board of Trade, we learn
+that the annual "exports sent to England by way of Boston amounted to
+twenty thousand pounds; that the principal direct trade was by the West
+Indies; and that within the past twenty years the amount of shipping
+had increased six-fold." This increase it was said was owing to the
+superiority of the colonial shipwrights.
+
+Eighty-four vessels of all sizes had been built in the Colony within
+eleven years. The population was divided. Aquidneck "was taken up in
+small farms," and the young men took to the sea.
+
+In 1709 a printing press was set up in Newport and a public printer
+appointed. This pioneer printer was the son of a New York printer named
+Bradford, who offered to do the public printing of the Colony for fifty
+pounds a year. The offer was accepted for one year.
+
+The war dragged heavily on, eating into the resources of the Colony and
+driving her to that most fatal of all expedients, the issue of paper
+money. A great expedition against Canada was planned, and failed. Rhode
+Island, which had been very active in raising men and supplies and had
+taxed herself liberally, shared the common disappointment.
+
+The next attempt was more successful. A fleet of twelve ships of war
+and twenty-four transports sailed from Nantasket roads on the 18th
+of September, reached Port Royal in six days and took it after a
+short siege. The colonists were very happy. The name of Port Royal
+was changed to Annapolis, the city of Anna. The martial spirit of the
+colonies was roused and in the following year, 1711, they eagerly
+entered into the plans of the English ministry for the invasion of
+Canada. But although the greatest exertions were made the expedition
+failed.
+
+Meanwhile the Assembly still continued its labor of legislation. The
+Court of Trials adopted the course which had been established two
+years before by the Court of Appeals, and began to charge a fee before
+entering a case upon the docket. Education was a subject of legislative
+interest. In Newport the public school was placed in charge of the
+town council, and provision made for opening a Latin school under
+Mr. Galloway. Various other minor incidents show the progress of the
+Colony. Public highways were a subject of general attention in Newport.
+Providence, which lay on the bank of a navigable river, was more
+directly interested in bridges. Names were given to the streets and
+alleys, and, as an element in the growth of the Colony, it may not be
+uninteresting to know that the first town crier was appointed in 1711.
+As an encouragement to commerce all "river craft trading as far as
+Connecticut" were exempted from custom dues, and no fees were exacted
+for free goods. The profits of the navigation act, as has already been
+stated, had been seriously affected by clandestine traders. To guard
+against this evil a law was passed requiring "all persons resident for
+three months in the Colony and intending to leave, to advertise their
+intention ten days before hand, so that their creditors might have due
+notice."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ PAPER MONEY TROUBLES.--ESTABLISHMENT OF BANKS.--PROTECTION OF HOME
+ INDUSTRIES.--PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUFFRAGE.
+
+
+The treaty of Utrecht gave peace to England and her dependencies,
+leaving them free to follow out the peaceful development of commerce
+and manufactures. War had brought on paper money, which was first
+issued to meet the expenses of the second expedition against Port
+Royal. This first issue was of five thousand pounds in bills of from
+five pounds to two shillings, equal in value as far as legislation
+could make them so, "to current silver of New England, eight shillings
+to the ounce. They were to be received in all payments due the
+treasury, to be redeemed in specie at the end of five years," and
+meanwhile were secured by an "annual tax of a thousand pounds." To
+counterfeit or deface them was felony. Further issues of eight thousand
+pounds were made by the end of the war, and secured by new taxes. Thus
+was opened the great gulf which was to swallow the fruits of much
+laborious industry.
+
+The Assembly made another step towards its present form by electing a
+clerk outside the house. The pay of this first clerk was six shillings
+a day.
+
+The military stores which had been collected during the war were
+divided into two classes. Those of a perishable nature were sold. The
+rest were carefully stored away to be ready for the chances of another
+war. "The cannon were tarred and laid on logs on the governor's wharf."
+The garrison of Fort Anne was dismissed. The labors of peace began.
+Increased attention was given to public highways. The old road which
+ran through the Colony from Pawtucket to Pawcatuck was repaired, and a
+new one opened to Plainfield through Warwick and West Greenwich. But in
+this the enterprise of the Colony outran its wants, and the new road
+was soon abandoned.
+
+As we follow the sessions of the Assembly we find acts for the
+repression of litigation renewed three times in five years. The
+provision of the charter by which commissioned militia officers were
+to be elected by the Assembly had been neglected for more than a
+generation, and the elections made by the towns. While the population
+was small and most of the inhabitants freemen this mode of election
+proved good. But with the increase of population disputes and
+difficulties arose, and in 1713 a new law was passed in accordance with
+the provisions of the charter. But after a short trial and in spite
+of the protest of the governor and four assistants, the old law was
+revised.
+
+One of the difficult questions of legislation came before the Assembly
+of 1713. Merchants had exported grain too freely and the home market
+began to feel the drain. The Assembly interfered, and not only forbade
+further exportation but set a tariff of prices for the markets of the
+Colony. An account of the stock of provisions in Newport was taken. The
+price of wheat was ten shillings and sixpence a bushel, of rye five
+shillings, of corn and barley four shillings, and of flour and biscuit
+thirty shillings a hundred.
+
+Among the laws of trade which were passed at this time was a stringent
+law against peddlers, prohibiting them from selling dry goods under
+heavy penalties. But the apple of discord which divided the whole
+community was paper money. All New England was disturbed by it. In
+Massachusetts there were three parties, each very bitter against
+the other. Smallest of the three was the hard money party, which
+insisted upon withdrawing the bills of credit and putting all business
+transactions upon a metallic basis. The other two were in favor of
+banks, but of banks founded upon very different principles. One
+advocating a private, the other a public bank system. By the former
+bills of credit secured upon real estate were to be issued by the
+company and received by its members as money, but without any fixed
+relation to gold and silver. The other advocated a public bank, with
+bills to be loaned by government on mortgage of real estate and
+paying an annual interest for the support of government. Each party
+represented a distinct class. The hard money party was composed of men
+for the most part free from debt and ready to pay their way in cash.
+The private bank party were owners of real estate who were unable to
+use it to advantage for meeting their engagements. The hard money party
+after a severe struggle coalesced with these, and a "bank or loan of
+fifty thousand pounds" was established for five years.
+
+In Rhode Island there were but two parties--the hard money party and
+the paper money party. The struggle was long and bitter, and ended by
+the adoption of the public bank system of Massachusetts. The contest
+was felt in the elections, each party striving to secure an Assembly
+favorable to itself. In the May election of 1714 "the specie party
+triumphed." Twenty-two deputies out of twenty-eight lost their seats.
+An act had been passed requiring the treasurer to burn two thousand
+bills of credit. He disobeyed and lost his place. Bills to the amount
+of one thousand one hundred and two pounds eight shillings and sixpence
+were collected and burnt.
+
+In the new election the paper money question still agitated the public
+mind. Only five out of the old members were returned to the Assembly.
+Of the assistants only one. Joseph Jenckes was chosen Deputy-Governor
+in the place of Henry Tew. So complete was the change that it was
+called "the great revolution." Yet amid all these changes Governor
+Cranston held his place.
+
+The death of Queen Anne and accession of George I. excited little
+attention in the colonies. South Carolina was suffering from the
+Yemassee war, which brought new emigrants to Rhode Island, and among
+them some females of Huguenot origin who had their Indian slaves with
+them. Their coming seems to have been acceptable, for the Assembly upon
+petition remitted to them the importation tax. The population was not
+yet sufficient to protect farmers from wolves and foxes. The old bounty
+was increased, and rewards were offered by Portsmouth for blackbirds
+and crows, and by Providence for gray squirrels and rats. A few years
+later still higher bounties were offered for wild-cats and bears.
+
+The great public question was still the question of the bank, and we
+have already seen that the form adopted was that of public banks. In
+the July session of 1715 a bank or loan of thirty thousand pounds was
+established, which in a later session was raised to forty thousand.
+"Bills from five pounds to one shilling were issued and proportioned
+among the towns." Whoever could give good mortgage security could
+claim a loan. But the interest instead of being secured by bond and
+mortgage was secured by bond alone, and thus the greater part of it
+was eventually lost, a very serious defect in the system, for it was
+from this interest that the bills were to be redeemed and the expenses
+of government paid. We shall meet this subject again, but never in a
+pleasant form.
+
+It is interesting to see by what devices the increasing wants of the
+Colony was met. Newport had wants of her own as "the metropolitan town
+of the Colony." The street leading to the Colony House needed paving,
+and to meet the expenses a grant was made of funds drawn from the duty
+on imported slaves. Other streets were paved and a bridge built over
+Potowomut River by funds drawn from the same source.
+
+The criminal code also, grows with the Colony. Fraudulent voting is
+punished with fine, whipping or imprisonment. To facilitate detection
+every voter was required to endorse his name in full on his ballot.
+A large proportion of the crimes in the Colony were committed by
+Indian slaves. The fear of punishment was an insufficient protection
+against this class of criminals, and a law was passed prohibiting their
+introduction into the Colony.
+
+We have seen that Newport and Providence made early provision for
+schools. Portsmouth followed their example, and "having considered
+how excellent an ornament learning is to mankind," made in 1716
+an appropriation for building a school-house. The experiment was
+successful, and six years later two others were built--one of them
+sixteen feet square, the other thirty by twenty-five.
+
+It is deserving of remark that in this young society slander was
+not suffered to go unpunished. A Gabriel Bernon had brought a false
+accusation against one of the assistants. He was compelled to make "a
+written acknowledgment to the injured party," and ask pardon in writing
+of the Assembly which he had treated with disrespect on his examination.
+
+The condition of the Indians called for legislative interference. On
+the petition of Ninigret their lands were taken under the protection
+of the Colony, and overseers appointed to lease them for the benefit
+of the tribe and remove trespassers. The following year an attempt was
+made to enforce temperance among them by increasing the difficulty of
+their obtaining liquor on credit.
+
+The militia law was revised from time to time and various changes
+introduced. In that of 1718 the governor was styled "Captain-General
+and Commander-in-Chief," and the deputy-governor "Lieutenant-General."
+
+It will be remembered that colonial laws were required to conform
+as far as possible to English laws. The colonial legislatures put a
+large interpretation upon this provision, and in providing for the
+estates of intestates modified materially the law of primogeniture.
+The eldest son, instead of the whole estate, received only a double
+share--one-third being given to the widow and the remainder divided
+among the children.
+
+The Board of Trade had repeatedly called for a complete copy of the
+laws, and the Assembly had appointed more than one committee to revise
+and print them. It was not, however, till 1719 that the work was taken
+seriously in hand. That it should have been printed in Boston shows how
+old prejudices were passing away. This first edition was distributed
+among the towns and the Assembly.
+
+Boundary questions revive from time to time. The northern boundary gave
+rise to bitter discussions, and though often on the point of being
+decided, was not really brought to a decision for several years. The
+western boundary, also, had been practically decided in favor of Rhode
+Island. But this question, too, was reöpened, and the uncertainties and
+inconveniences which such disputes engender idly prolonged to the sore
+annoyance of the inhabitants of the border. How imperfectly the serious
+nature of the question was understood in England may be seen by the
+proposition of the Privy Council that both Rhode Island and Connecticut
+should surrender their charters and be annexed to New Hampshire. It was
+not till 1727 that Westerly knew whether she belonged to Connecticut or
+to Rhode Island.
+
+Protection begins about this time to manifest itself as essential
+to the success of domestic industry. Acts also were passed for the
+protection of river fisheries. The manufacture of nails and hemp
+duck were encouraged--nails by a loan and duck by a bounty. With
+the increase of population new guarantees were required to secure
+purity of suffrage. In the winter of 1724 the freehold act was passed
+"requiring a freehold qualification of the value of one hundred pounds,
+or an annual income of two pounds derived from real estate to enable
+any man to become a freeman." With modification of detail but none of
+principle, this law held its place on the statute book for a hundred
+and twenty years. "Freemen of the towns who were not freemen of the
+Colony were allowed to vote for deputies."
+
+In 1721 a new bank or loan for forty thousand pounds was established
+upon the same principle as the first. Hemp and flax were received
+in payment of interest. Specie had become so scarce that an English
+half-penny passed for three half-pence, and it was soon manifest that
+the introduction of paper money had raised prices and encouraged
+speculation in land.
+
+But nothing occurred to break the monotony of colonial life so
+important as the capture in 1723 of a pirate schooner and the trial
+of her crew by a court of admiralty. Twenty-six of the prisoners were
+condemned to death, hanged at Gravelly or Bull's Point, and buried on
+Goat Island between high and low water mark.
+
+One of the important events of 1722-3, and which must be considered as
+a favorable indication of the increase of population was the division
+of Kingston into two towns. In 1724 the failure of the crops led
+again to the prohibition of the exportation of grain. Two thousand
+bushels of Indian corn were bought on public account and sold to the
+people at low prices. In Newport no one was allowed to have more than
+four bushels at a time--in the other towns not more than eight. The
+temperance question, also, began to attract attention at an early
+day, and various efforts were made to check drunkenness. Among them
+was an act prohibiting the selling of liquor to common drunkards, and
+to ensure the carrying out of the act town councils were required
+to post in their own and the neighboring towns those who came under
+it. In nothing, however, was the progress of the Colony more evident
+than in the growth of the religious sentiments. The soul liberty of
+its founder had been mistaken for license. Towards the close of the
+seventeenth century Cotton Mather had written: "Rhode Island is a
+colluvies of Antinomians, Familists, Anabaptists, Anti-Sabbatarians,
+Arminians, Socinians, Quakers, Ranters, everything in the world but
+Roman Catholics and true Christians." A quarter of a century later he
+wrote: "Calvinists with Lutherans, Presbyterians with Episcopalians,
+Pedobaptists with Anabaptists, beholding one another to fear God and
+work righteousness, do with delight sit down together at the same table
+of the Lord." In strict accordance with the fundamental principle of
+the Colony the pay of the clergy was made by voluntary contribution of
+their parishioners.
+
+We have recorded the deaths of Williams and Clarke. In April, 1727,
+Governor Samuel Cranston followed them to the grave, leaving no public
+man so universally loved behind.
+
+It is a proof of the progress of the Colony that vagrants and "mad
+persons" began to be provided for by law. Among the laws adopted from
+England at this period was the act of limitations for personal actions.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+ CHANGE OF THE EXECUTIVE.--ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY.--JOHN BERKELY'S
+ RESIDENCE IN NEWPORT.--FRIENDLY FEELING BETWEEN THE COLONISTS
+ AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY.
+
+
+Nearly a generation had passed since a new governor had been chosen,
+but the place made vacant by death was now to be filled. The choice
+fell upon Joseph Jenckes, (May, 1727.) He was a resident of Pawtucket,
+and in those days of irregular communication Pawtucket was too far from
+the seat of government for the prompt transaction of public business.
+It was voted, therefore, that it was "highly necessary for the Governor
+of this Colony to live at Newport, the metropolis of the government,"
+and a hundred pounds was appropriated for the expense of his removal.
+While the Colony was passing into the hands of a new executive a
+similar change was taking place in the mother country. George I. died
+suddenly, and George II. succeeded to the throne.
+
+But the change of sovereign brought no change with it in the policy of
+the mother country. The act of navigation was still the rule by which
+she measured her relations to the colonies. They were still to supply
+the raw material and she the profitable manufacture.
+
+The first eight years of George II.'s reign were years of peace. Party
+spirit in England ran high under the names of court and country, the
+first as supporters of the ministry, the second of parliamentary
+opposition. But Sir Robert Walpole did not love war, and in the cabinet
+his voice was supreme.
+
+In the Colony we find the same indications of growth and development.
+The records of the Assembly are still our principal guide. The criminal
+code, the surest indication of the moral condition of the community,
+was revised. Intemperance, in spite of repeated attempts to suppress it
+by legislation still seems to prevail, and in 1728 a new license law
+was passed. Unforeseen crimes, also, sometimes call for special action.
+An Indian lad attempted to kill his master, a crime unforeseen in the
+code, and was branded on the forehead with the letter R., whipped at
+the cart tail at every street corner in Newport, and ordered to be sold
+out of the Colony for his unexpired term. A slanderous pamphlet was
+publicly burned by the town sergeant in front of the Colony House and
+the author compelled to make a written confession of his fault.
+
+The unsettled boundary lines though still causes of uneasiness and
+vexatious delays, are gradually approaching final decision. The
+controversy concerning the western boundary had lasted sixty-five
+years. More effectual means are employed to enforce the registry of
+births, marriages and deaths. Peddlers, the field of whose industry
+had already been reduced by previous statutes, were forbidden to sell
+any kind of goods under pain of forfeiture. Early attention is paid to
+the preservation of deer and the protection of fish. The planting of
+hemp and flax, and the manufacture of duck are again the subject of
+legislation, and receive increased bounties. James Franklin sets up a
+printing press in Newport after having failed to establish a newspaper
+in Boston. Not discouraged by his failure, he made a similar attempt at
+Newport with a similar result. He was in advance of his time. Important
+laws were enacted for the encouragement and regulation of trade.
+Special officers were appointed for special departments. Lumber of
+every kind was placed under the protection of surveyors. Packed meats
+and fish were examined by viewers. Casks were measured by official
+surveyors. The whale and cod fisheries were encouraged by bounties.
+And to incite the efforts of honest but unfortunate men, bankrupt laws
+equally useful to creditor and debtor were established.
+
+Roads and bridges continue to call for legislation. The Pawtuxet bridge
+had fallen to decay, and Rhode Island and Massachusetts united, first
+in pulling it down and soon after in building it up again. A new ferry
+was established between Portsmouth and Bristol. Lands in Westerly were
+set apart for an Indian house of worship.
+
+The fortifications of the Colony were not neglected. "A regular and
+beautiful fortification of stone" was built at Newport and the new King
+petitioned to give forty cannon for its armament.
+
+The records of the time tell of an earthquake which in October, 1727,
+was felt through New England, exciting much alarm but doing little
+damage--far less indeed than the attempt to build up commerce upon
+public loans and paper money. To this period also belongs the first
+appearance of the Palatine Light, a curious electric phenomenon
+according to some, produced according to others by hydrogeneous gas,
+but believed by local superstition to be the phantom of a wrecked
+emigrant ship whose passengers had fallen prey to the avarice of her
+captain and crew.
+
+The Legislature continues its labor of law-making, and among its
+provisions is one prohibiting the manumission of slaves without bonds
+from the owner to prevent them from coming upon the town. Another
+act sets bounds to the authority of moderators in town meetings, and
+requires that any motion supported by seven freeholders shall be put to
+vote. Another requires that all money questions shall be announced in
+the call for the meeting.
+
+Among public annoyances we find Indian dances especially mentioned and
+the regulation of them referred to the town councils, and the selling
+or giving of intoxicating drinks upon the dancing ground strictly
+forbidden.
+
+To meet the growth of the Colony a new division of it into three
+counties was made, and the judicial system altered to meet the change.
+"Each county was to have its court house and jail." The responsibility
+of public officers increases with the increase of the Colony in wealth.
+The public treasurer was required to give bonds to the amount of twenty
+thousand pounds and his salary raised first to one, and two years later
+to two hundred pounds. A distrust of lawyers found expression in the
+October session of 1729 in an act forbidding them to serve as deputies.
+At the next session it was repealed and though never reënacted was more
+than once brought up for discussion.
+
+Among the eminent Englishmen of the first half of this century was
+George Berkeley, Dean of Derry, better known by his later title of
+Bishop of Cloyne, and still better by Pope's line:
+
+ "To Berkeley every virtue under Heaven."
+
+He had taken high rank among the philosophers of his age by his new
+theory of vision and other writings in which he denied the existence of
+matter. Advancement in the church made him master of a large income,
+which he resolved to employ in the service of religion by founding a
+college in the Bermudas for the training of pastors for the colonial
+churches and missionaries to the Indians. The benevolent object
+failed through the failure of Lord Carteret to give him the aid of
+government. Instead, therefore, of establishing himself in Bermuda, he
+purchased a farm near Newport and built a house on it, which is still
+known by the name of Whitehall. He brought with him a choice library, a
+collection of pictures and a corps of literary men and artists, among
+them the painter Smibert, who thus became the teacher of Copley and
+West.
+
+The influence of such a man is quickly felt in a young community,
+and Berkeley soon gathered around him a body of cultivated men, who
+joined with him in the discussion of questions of philosophy and the
+collection of books. These books became the basis of the Redwood
+Library. Not far from his house among what the modern tourist knows
+as the hanging rocks is a natural alcove, which opening to the south
+and roofed with stone commands an extensive view of the ocean. Here,
+tradition says, Berkeley wrote his Alciphron or Minute Philosopher,
+which was printed in Newport by James Franklin. But Berkeley had lived
+too long among men of letters and in large cities to be contented with
+the limited resources of a colonial town, and after a residence in
+Newport of two years and a half, he returned to Europe and a broader
+field of usefulness and honor. His library of eight hundred and eighty
+volumes he left to Yale. Brown University was not yet established.
+
+Legislation begins to take notice of charitable institutions. Attention
+had already been called to the condition of the insane, and now a
+fund was formed for the relief of disabled sailors and their families
+by deducting sixpence a month from the wages of every seaman in active
+service. This money was paid over to the town in which he lived and
+which was bound to support him.
+
+The respect for the rights of conscience which forms the fundamental
+principle of the colonial polity, still meets us from time to time in
+some new application. In 1730 the militia law was modified for the
+protection of the Quakers. Provision was also made for the protection
+of the Indians by an act requiring the assent of two justices of the
+peace to give validity to any bond of apprenticeship in which they were
+concerned.
+
+In 1730 the Board of Trade called for a census. The population was
+found to have increased six thousand in ten years--numbering fifteen
+thousand three hundred whites, sixteen hundred and fifty blacks, and
+nine hundred and eighty Indians--nearly eighteen thousand in all,
+almost equally divided between the three counties. Of these eighteen
+thousand nearly nine hundred were enrolled in the militia. Providence
+was divided into four towns.
+
+The question of paper money still excited the Colony. Governor Jenckes
+was against it, but it was upheld by a majority of the Assembly. By
+September, 1731, one hundred and ninety-five thousand three hundred
+pounds had been issued in bills of credit, of which one hundred and
+twenty thousand pounds were still outstanding. Silver had risen
+from eight to twenty shillings an ounce. Yet such was the general
+infatuation that in this very year a new bank was voted of sixty
+thousand pounds.
+
+Yet trade increased and the Colony prospered. The shipping had risen
+in ten years from thirty-five hundred tons to five thousand, manned
+by four hundred men. Boston was the principal mart for supplies,
+but two ships came annually from England, two from Holland and the
+Mediterranean, and ten or twelve from the West Indies. The exports
+which comprised live stock, logwood, lumber, fish and the products
+of the field and dairy, amounted to ten thousand pounds a year. The
+ordinary expenses of the government amounted to two thousand, the
+extraordinary to twenty-five hundred pounds a year, colonial currency.
+
+The paper money controversy had raised a question as to the governor's
+power of veto. The law officers of the crown were consulted by the
+Board of Trade and declared that he had none. They decided also that
+the King himself had none.
+
+The publication of the laws had met a public want. The first edition
+was soon exhausted and a new one called for. For many years small pains
+were taken to secure accuracy in the text, the preparation of it being
+left to the clerk. A wide door was thus left open for interpolation,
+and it was through this door that the clause against Roman Catholics,
+so contrary to the spirit and policy of the Colony crept into the
+statute--to be silently dropped as soon as attention was called to it.
+
+We have already seen that provision had been made for the defence
+of the Colony by building a fort in Newport harbor. Additional
+provisions were made at the October session of 1732, by imposing a
+duty of sixpence a ton upon all vessels that entered the harbor except
+fishermen. We have already seen that several attempts had been made for
+the suppression of intemperance, and apparently with little success. In
+1732 another moral principle was made the subject of legislation, and
+"these unlawful games called lotteries" suppressed by statute. We shall
+soon find them legalized and in some instances doing the office of
+insurance companies. A more legitimate source of gain was found in the
+whale fishery, which was successfully encouraged by a premium. Whales
+were often taken in Narragansett Bay. But the first regular whaler that
+entered Newport harbor was owned by Benjamin Thurston, and brought a
+hundred and fourteen barrels of oil and two hundred pounds of bone.
+
+It was not till many trials had been made that a satisfactory
+regulation of the tenure of office was reached. On revising the
+statutes good behavior was made the term of tenure for the judges and
+clerks of common pleas. But the democratic element was too strong
+to allow this prolongation to gain a footing of authority, and a
+semi-annual election was soon substituted to the more conservative
+system. The deputies had been chosen semi-annually. In 1733 this also
+was changed to the whole year, but after a short trial changed back
+again to the half year. The first printed schedules were distributed in
+the summer of 1733. The October sessions were to be held alternately
+at Providence and South Kingstown. The certificates of election were
+carefully scrutinized and irregular proxies rejected. In 1734 the House
+consisted of thirty-six deputies, ten assistants and three general
+officers, a secretary, attorney and treasurer.
+
+We have seen that vessels engaged in fishing were exempted from the
+harbor duty. As a further encouragement the first year's interest on
+the new loan was set apart for building a pier or harbor on Block
+Island. Westerly harbor was repaired. The river fisheries also came
+in for their share of protection, and dams or weirs were prohibited
+and no fishing except by hook and line permitted during three days
+in the week. The first session of the Assembly at East Greenwich was
+distinguished by an act for the preservation of oysters, which the
+thoughtless inhabitants were burning in large quantities for lime.
+Important acts were passed for the regulation of mills. An attempt to
+cut through the beach on Block Island failed, and the old pier was
+enlarged.
+
+The close of Governor Jenckes's term of office was embarrassed by
+disputes arising from the paper money controversy. He declined a
+reëlection, and William Wanton, brother of the Deputy, was chosen in
+his stead. This was the only instance of brothers holding the two
+principal offices of the Colony at the same time. The dispute between
+Massachusetts and Rhode Island was referred to Commissioners from
+New York and Connecticut. No decision was reached, but the Assembly
+in acknowledgment of their services voted them three silver tankards
+of the value of fifty pounds each, with "the arms of Rhode Island
+handsomely engraved on them."
+
+We have seen that Massachusetts like Rhode Island had sought a
+temporary relief in the issue of paper money. The King interfered and
+the Massachusetts bills were withdrawn. This was a severe blow to
+Rhode Island, and hardly a less one to the tradesmen of Boston, whose
+relations with Rhode Island were very intimate. Various devices were
+recurred to for their protection, among them a combination to refuse
+to take Rhode Island bills in payment for goods. But the necessities
+of trade were too great. The combination gave way. Silver rose to
+twenty-seven shillings an ounce. Debts were paid at a loss to the
+creditor of thirty-three per cent. The future looked very dark.
+
+Attention was called to the security of marriage. Till 1733 none but
+Quakers or clergymen of the Church of England could perform the
+ceremony. In 1733 authority to perform it was extended by the Assembly
+to clergymen of every denomination.
+
+The death of Governor William Wanton, which occurred in 1733, produced
+a deep sensation throughout the Colony, where he was greatly respected
+for his civil and military services. Few colonists stood higher with
+the King. On a visit to England with his brother John, he was presented
+by the Queen with a silver punch-bowl and salver and permitted to add
+a game-cock lighting on a hawk to his arms. On his death his brother,
+John Wanton, the Deputy-Governor, was chosen to fill his place.
+
+Education still forced its claims, and we find George Taylor
+successfully petitioning for leave to open a school in a chamber of
+the county house of Providence. Fifty years before the first school in
+Providence had been taught by William Turpin--of whom, unfortunately,
+we know only the name.
+
+From time to time come questions from the Board of Trade showing how
+carefully England watched over her revenues. In one the Colony was
+asked what revenue duties were laid upon British commerce. The impost
+on slaves brought from the West Indies had been removed by the King's
+orders, and Governor Wanton could answer that there were no duties
+affecting the direct commerce with England. Yet a consciousness of
+rights appears in more than one act of the Assembly. The Court of
+Vice-Admiralty sometimes exceeded its legitimate authority and tried
+causes over which it had no jurisdiction. This was a delicate matter
+for the colonial legislature to interfere in, for the court was
+appointed by the King. But without heeding this the Assembly conferred
+upon the Supreme Court the power of injunction.
+
+The small-pox was a frequent cause of alarm. In 1735-6 another fearful
+disease desolated New England. It was called the throat distemper, and
+is described as "a swelled throat, with white or ash-colored specks,
+an efflorescence on the skin, great debility of the whole system and a
+strong tendency to putrefaction." No age was exempt from it, but it was
+most fatal among children.
+
+Roads and bridges as we have already seen had received early attention.
+Communication between the different parts of the Colony increased with
+the increase of population. In 1736 a line of stages with special
+privileges for seven years was established between Newport and Boston.
+The natural development of trade was preparing the way for a closer
+union among the colonies. Increased attention was given to the duties
+and privileges of citizenship. It is sad to find that laws against
+bribery at elections were called for at an early day. By those of
+1736 both briber and bribed were fined double the sum offered or
+received and deprived for three years of the right to vote. Illegal
+voting was forbidden under the penalty of a fine of two pounds and
+disfranchisement for three years.
+
+The kindly feeling which the colonists cherished for the mother country
+sometimes received a practical illustration. In the spring of 1737 His
+Majesty's ship Tartar lay in Newport harbor, and that she was a welcome
+visitor the Assembly proved by ordering that "a score of the best sheep
+that may be got be presented to her commander, Mathew Norris, for the
+use of the crew." None foresaw that the day would come when a British
+press gang would seize free citizens in this same harbor.
+
+The expenses of local government increased. To provide for this
+increase authority was given the towns to assess traders from abroad
+for a fair proportion of the outlays of the town. Changes were also
+made in the mode of paying jurors. Hitherto they had been paid out
+of the treasury--a mode liable to abuses and attended with great
+inconvenience. It was voted that they should receive a fixed pay of six
+shillings a day and pay their own expenses. Public attention had been
+called early to protection from fires. As the population of the larger
+towns grew, better protection was required. In Newport two companies of
+firemen were organized, and to compensate them for their services they
+were exempted from serving on juries or in the militia.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XIX.
+
+ WAR WITH SPAIN.--NEW TAXES LEVIED BY ENGLAND.--RELIGIOUS AWAKENING
+ AMONG THE BAPTISTS.
+
+
+Events were preparing a closer union of the colonies. England declared
+war against Spain--a war of commercial rivalry, for Spain was a
+maritime power of the first class, and claimed the right of search.
+England sent out her ships of war and privateers, and carried on a
+lucrative contraband trade among the Spanish islands and on the Spanish
+main. The colonies were called upon to furnish their part of men and
+munitions of war. Rhode Island sent out privateers and prepared to
+defend her harbors and coast. Fort George was put in fighting order
+and a garrison of fifty two men stationed there under Colonel John
+Cranston. New Shoreham was garrisoned and Block Island provided with
+six heavy guns. For the protection of the coast and shores of the bay
+seven watch-towers were erected and constant guard kept in them by
+night and by day. Five beacons were stationed between Block Island and
+Portsmouth to give warning of the first approach of danger, and the
+Colony's war sloop, the Tartar, of a hundred and fifteen tons burthen
+held in readiness for instant service. Newport merchants also entered
+actively into the game and sent out in the second year of the war five
+privateers manned by five hundred men.
+
+A great expedition was preparing against the Spanish West Indies.
+Rhode Island's contingent was two companies of a hundred men each.
+The Newport company was commanded by Captain Joseph Sheffield, the
+Providence company by Captain William Hopkins. The Colony was proud
+of its work and feasted both officers and men before they set sail
+to join the British squadron at New York and bear their part in the
+disastrous attempt upon Carthagena. Meanwhile it had proved its mettle
+by taking a French contraband schooner and carrying her into Newport
+for adjudication.
+
+Rhode Island was loyal, loving the king and accepting the supremacy of
+Parliament. But she was quick to discriminate between usurpation, and
+legal authority. The northern colonies carried on a lucrative commerce
+with the West Indies and particularly with the French Islands. Upon
+this trade England had imposed a heavy tax under the title of molasses
+act and was preparing to increase it. The colonies protested. Newport
+dealt largely in the distilling of rum and was thus a great consumer
+of molasses. All looked alike to the trade with the islands for the
+means of paying for their importations from the mother country. But
+the objection did not stop here. Colonial development had reached the
+underlying principle of the revolution. Parliament taxed Englishmen as
+their representative. But by what right could an English Parliament tax
+Americans?
+
+Richard Partridge, the colonial agent, and a Quaker in faith, acting
+in the name of Rhode Island and other northern colonies, "strenuously
+opposed" the new restrictions, and the Assembly requested the Governor
+"to write to the neighboring governments, inviting them" to join in the
+opposition. Thus concerted action and the right of self-taxation begin
+to claim their legitimate place in colonial polity, and prepare the
+way for independence. In the midst of these agitations Governor John
+Wanton died. I have already spoken of him as of one of the great names
+of colonial history and happy as few public men are in the recognition
+of his deserts. He was elected Deputy-Governor five times in succession
+and Governor seven. Deputy-Governor Richard Ward was chosen to fill his
+place, and William Greene was promoted to the place of Deputy-Governor
+made vacant by the promotion of Richard Ward. Henceforth these two
+names become prominent in Rhode Island history.
+
+Disease came with war. The small-pox broke out again. Portsmouth and
+Jamestown were compelled to call on the Assembly for aid and Dutch
+Island was used as quarantine ground. While the minds of the colonists
+were thus prepared for thoughts of suffering and death, George
+Whitefield came among them calling them to repentance and prayer.
+Crowds gathered round him to listen to his burning words, and all New
+England was filled with the fame of his eloquence. His disciples joined
+the Baptists who increased greatly in numbers and influence. Samuel
+Fothergill, also, the calm and persuasive Quaker, passed at this time
+a half year in Newport in the house of his brother-in-law, John Proud,
+and Quakerism throve under his gentle teaching as the Baptists throve
+under the fervid exhortations of Whitefield.
+
+The war continued. Spain against whom it had been first directed
+formed an alliance with France, and the colonies were called upon for
+new exertions. Ten more cannon were mounted in Fort George which was
+enlarged to receive them. Ten new field-pieces were ordered. A brick
+magazine was built for the safe keeping of powder and the supply of
+military stores was increased in every county. To secure promptness
+of action the Governor and Council together with the field officers
+and captains were formed into a permanent council of war. By a former
+act of the Assembly the men were allowed to choose their own officers.
+This act was repealed and the right of choice vested in the Legislature
+where the charter placed it. The drill system was incomplete. A more
+thorough one was established and two more companies were raised in
+Newport. In the midst of these warlike preparations the rights of
+conscience were respected and those who were scrupulous about the
+shedding of blood were employed as scouts and guards, or required to
+furnish horses in case of sudden alarm, or do any other duty consistent
+with their religious scruples.
+
+The House of Commons ever watchful over the interests of British
+commerce, began to look with suspicion on the frequent "emissions of
+paper currency in His Majesty's colonies in America, in which Rhode
+Island has too large a share." An address to the King was followed
+by instructions to the colonial governors from the Board of Trade to
+transmit to the home government "an account of the tenor and amount of
+the bills of credit" issued by each colony, the times when they fell
+due, the number actually outstanding and their value in "money of Great
+Britain, both at the time such bills were issued and at the time of
+preparing the account." The Governor's opinion was also required upon
+the still more difficult subject of "sinking and discharging all such
+bills of credit."
+
+Governor Ward replied on the part of Rhode Island by an elaborate
+history of the colonial currency and an able exposition of the causes
+and necessities from which it arose. Unfortunately these necessities
+still existed, and without heeding the warning implied by the action
+of the House of Commons the Assembly "created a new bank of twenty
+thousand pounds for ten years at four per cent." The paper issued
+under this act was called the new tenor, because unlike the earlier
+issues the bills bore on their faces the exact amount of gold and
+silver they were supposed to represent. Silver on the new tenor notes
+was rated at six shillings and ninepence sterling, gold at five pounds
+an ounce, and thus the value of a new tenor bill was four times that of
+an old tenor bill. The seeds of bankruptcy were thickly sown in both.
+
+The question of the eastern boundary line, one of the bitterest of
+the many disputes with Massachusetts, had after several vain attempts
+to come to an amicable agreement, been referred, in 1741, to a royal
+commission. With the decision of this commission neither party was
+altogether satisfied, Massachusetts claiming a great deal and Rhode
+Island something more than it awarded them. Both parties appealed.
+But the commission adhered to its decision, and the line fixed by it
+continued to be the boundary between the two colonies till after the
+adoption of the Federal constitution.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XX.
+
+ PROGRESS OF THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.--CHANGE IN THE JURISDICTION
+ OF THE COURTS.--SENSE OF COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPING AMONG THE
+ COLONISTS.--LOUISBURG CAPTURED.
+
+
+War still continued to give its stern coloring to legislation. The
+Tartar was held ready for instant service. The Governor and his council
+were vested with the power of laying an embargo upon outward bound
+vessels. Speculation turned seaward, and the money which in peace would
+have been employed in building up commerce and manufactures was spent
+upon privateers.
+
+Still the interests of peace were not altogether neglected. The
+productive enterprise which was to raise Rhode Island so high in the
+list of manufacturing states, was already awakened, and as early as
+1741 James Greene and his associates petitioned the Assembly for
+permission to build a dam across the south branch of Pawtuxet river
+and lay the foundation of those iron works which in the sequel became
+so celebrated throughout the colonies. Population was increasing. The
+large townships became too large for the demands of local government
+and were divided. Thus Greenwich, carrying out the suggestions of its
+position, was divided into East and West. About the same time Warwick
+was divided and a new township set out under the name of Coventry.
+In the next year North Kingstown was divided and the Town of Exeter
+incorporated, and a year later the country district of Newport, which
+was separated from the town by thick woods, was incorporated as
+Middletown. The territorial struggle was nearly over and Rhode Island
+was settling down into its permanent proportions. The schedules still
+continue to record the progress of organization as experience called
+for new changes. The office of attorney-general was abolished and a
+King's attorney for every county appointed instead. A Court of Equity
+composed of five judges, annually elected by the Assembly, was formed
+to try all causes of appeal in personal actions from the Superior
+Court to the General Assembly--a course which "by long experience had
+been found prejudicial." To draw closer the ties of loyalty a form of
+prayer for the royal family was sent from England to be read in every
+religious assembly throughout the colonies as a part of public worship.
+
+The dissensions with Connecticut concerning the western boundary had
+taken a new form. The line, as the reader will remember, had been drawn
+and marked by competent authority. A committee appointed by Connecticut
+displaced the bound at the southwest corner of Warwick. The Rhode
+Island Assembly sent surveyors to examine the ground and restore the
+line. This outrage was repeated twice.
+
+The history of the war does not belong to the history of Rhode Island,
+although the spirit engendered by it led to the formation of some
+military institutions. Among these was the Newport Artillery, which was
+chartered in 1741, and is still one of the best disciplined corps in
+the State.
+
+I have spoken of the substitution of King's attorneys to
+attorneys-general. It was made in the hope of enforcing the payment of
+interest bonds. But after a short trial the original form was resumed.
+The root of the evil was too deep. Another of the chronic evils of
+paper money vexed the Colony sorely. Counterfeit bills followed close
+upon the issue of genuine bills, and the Colony was flooded with bad
+money.
+
+The Court of Equity was not continued long, and many other changes of
+brief duration were made in various branches of government. But what
+deserves especial mention is the instinctive perception with which
+Rhode Island detected the slightest invasion of her chartered rights
+and the courage with which she defended them. The clerkship of the
+naval office in Newport was claimed by one Leonard Lockman in virtue
+of a royal commission. The claim was referred to a committee which
+reported "that His Majesty was mistaken in said grant" which belonged
+to the Governor, who alone was responsible for the conduct of that
+officer. The question of custom fees and vice-admiralty fees was
+brought forward about the same time, and "the undoubted right of the
+General Assembly to state the fees of all officers and courts within
+the Colony" boldly asserted.
+
+The expenses of the war still increased, straining the resources of the
+Colony to the utmost. Questions of organization were still rising, but
+the question of finance was the most difficult of all. New bills were
+issued with reckless profusion, and various devices adopted for the
+relief of the exchequer. Several bounties, and among them the bounties
+on hemp and oil, were withdrawn. The tonnage duty upon all vessels
+entering the Colony was revived. The lottery so wisely condemned in
+1733 was legalized in 1744. Weybosset bridge was built by lottery.
+
+The great military event of the campaign of 1745 was the capture of
+Louisburg by colonial troops. In this gallant feat of arms which
+fills so bright a page of colonial annals Rhode Island bore her
+part--especially through the Tartar, which, supported by two other war
+sloops, defeated at Famme Goose Bay a flotilla which was advancing with
+large reinforcements to the relief of the enemy. Captain Fones, who
+commanded the Tartar in this memorable campaign, has not received the
+honorable mention to which he was entitled for his gallantry and skill.
+
+New exertions were required for securing Louisburg, and the colonies
+were again called upon to furnish men and supplies. In this also Rhode
+Island bore her part, propping as best she might her tottering treasury
+and using impressment for raising men. When the war was over England
+acknowledged her services by special grants.
+
+In this year Rhode Island lost one of her faithful sons, Colonel John
+Cranston, son of the popular Governor, and commander of her forces at
+the capture of Port Royal. Towards the close of the year another great
+loss, though of another kind, fell upon the Colony. Two new privateers,
+mounting twenty-two guns each, with crews of over two hundred men went
+to sea the day before Christmas in a gale of wind and were never heard
+of again. Privateers held a place in war then which they do not hold
+now, and there was bitter sorrowing in more than two hundred households
+when the months passed away and no tidings of husband or father or
+brother came.
+
+The success of the expedition against Louisburg increased the desire
+to carry the war into Canada. Commissioners from the colonies were
+invited to meet and take council together concerning the common
+interest. Here we meet for the first time the names of Stephen Hopkins
+and William Ellery, whose names stand side by side on the Declaration
+of Independence, which is already drawing nigh. The sense of common
+interest and mutual dependence gradually gains ground. Every exertion
+was made to call out the strength of the Colony. Popular feeling went
+with government and strengthened its hand for the great contest.
+Canada and Indian warfare were inseparably connected in the minds of
+the people, who, to rid themselves of the dreaded enemy submitted
+cheerfully to what they would otherwise have resisted as tyranny.
+Impressment was authorized by the Assembly.
+
+In the midst of these efforts depreciation was undermining the strength
+and corrupting the moral sense of the community. The property tax of
+freemen had doubled. Bribery and fraudulent voting gained ground, and
+an attempt was again made to meet them by increasing the severity of
+the law. Every voter and every officer was required to declare under
+oath that he had neither taken nor offered a bribe; and a single
+fraudulent vote was sufficient to invalidate an election. The evidence
+of the briber held good against the bribed; and that the law might
+not be forgotten it was ordered to be "read in town meeting at every
+semi-annual election for five years and the name of every transgressor
+stricken from the roll of freemen."
+
+Again, the vacillation of the ministry defeated the expedition against
+Canada. Then came tidings of a great French armada which was coming
+to the conquest of New England. Great was the alarm of the colonies.
+But help came from another quarter. Disease and tempest scattered and
+infected the hostile fleet. One commander died. His successor committed
+suicide, and the shattered remnants of the unfortunate armada had hard
+work to make their way back to the French coast.
+
+Before the tidings of this disaster could reach New England it had
+been resolved to send reinforcements to the succor of Annapolis Royal,
+the supposed point of attack. The Rhode Island troops sailed early in
+November. The Massachusetts troops soon followed. Both were overtaken
+by heavy gales which cast some of them ashore at Mt. Desert. Some, like
+their adversaries, the French, were crippled by disease and a few made
+their way to the nearest port. Winter set in and the campaign of 1746
+closed in gloom.
+
+This was the year in which the royal decree concerning the eastern
+boundary was enforced. Rhode Island gained by it a large accession of
+territory--the towns of Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Warren and
+Cumberland, which were incorporated and brought under the control of
+Rhode Island laws. Thus ten new deputies were added to the colonial
+representation. Thus, also, a revision of the judicial and military
+system of the Colony became necessary, and a new court was established
+under the title of Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and
+General Jail Delivery, and consisting of a chief-justice and four
+associate justices annually chosen by the Assembly. The judicial powers
+of the assistants or upper House of Assembly ceased, though they still
+continued to act as a court of probate. Two militia companies were
+formed in Tiverton and one in each of the other new towns.
+
+The previous history of the new towns belongs to Massachusetts and
+Plymouth. Their annexation to Rhode Island brought her an increase
+of about four thousand inhabitants, well trained most of them in the
+tenets of religious freedom.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXI.
+
+ ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENTS.--CHANGES IN THE REQUIREMENTS
+ OF CITIZENSHIP.--NEW COUNTIES AND TOWNS FORMED.--FRENCH AND
+ INDIAN WAR.--WARD AND HOPKINS CONTEST.--ESTABLISHMENT OF
+ NEWSPAPERS.
+
+
+The war was almost over, although privateers still endangered maritime
+commerce. First an armistice was agreed upon for four months and then
+peace was signed at Aix la Chapelle, on the 30th of April, 1748. It
+was a welcome peace although the war had brought lessons with it which
+were never forgotten. The men who had fought at Louisburg were looked
+upon as veterans, and when the final struggle came brought experience
+to the service of the revolting colonies. Parliament, well aware of
+the readiness with which the colonies had contributed to the support
+of the war both by men and by money, made them a grant of eight
+hundred thousand pounds as an indemnity. Rhode Island's share for the
+expedition against Cape Breton was six thousand three hundred and
+twenty-two pounds twelve shillings and tenpence; for the expedition
+against Canada, ten thousand one hundred and forty-four pounds nine
+shillings and sixpence. But deductions were afterwards made in a
+caviling spirit which excited bitter feelings. Still more irritating
+to colonial pride was the article restoring to France her conquered
+territories, for among them was Louisburg. Of the right of search,
+the original cause of the war, no mention was made, a precedent not
+forgotten in the war of 1812. Now was the time to heal the wound which
+paper money had inflicted upon the commerce of the country. Hutchinson,
+an aspiring young statesman of Massachusetts, formed a plan for sinking
+the paper money and restoring specie payment by means of this grant.
+Massachusetts after a long discussion, wisely adopted Hutchinson's
+plan. Rhode Island and Connecticut rejected it. Rhode Island presently
+felt the consequences of her error by the loss of her West India trade.
+
+The records of the labors of peace again fill the schedules.
+Charlestown was divided into two towns and the name of Richmond given
+to the portion north of Pawcatuck river. The communications between the
+different parts of the Colony were carefully watched over. There were
+already nineteen ferries when peace returned, and of these thirteen
+served to keep up the connection with the seat of government.
+
+The year before the peace the first public library in the Colony, the
+Redwood Library, was founded. It was fruit of the good tree planted by
+Berkeley. In 1754 Providence followed the noble example and founded
+the Providence Library Association. In the following year we find
+another attempt to enforce a moral law by legislative enactment. The
+act against swearing was revised, and a fine of five shillings or three
+hours in the stocks imposed as a penalty for every offence.
+
+The increase of population called for a revision of the statute of
+legal residence. "New comers were required to give a month's notice of
+intention to become residents, after which if they remained one year
+without being warned to leave they were admitted as lawful inhabitants
+of the town." A freehold estate of thirty pounds sterling also gave a
+legal residence. "Apprentices having served their time in any town,
+might elect their residence there, or return to the place of their
+birth. Paupers not having acquired a legal settlement might be removed
+by the councils on complaint of the overseer of the poor, to the place
+of their last legal residence or to that of their birth." So careful
+was the watch kept over the conditions and privileges of citizenship.
+The Board of Trade called for a new census. "The population was found
+to consist of thirty-four thousand one hundred and twenty-eight souls,
+of whom twenty-nine thousand seven hundred and fifty were whites, the
+remainder blacks and Indians. Newport contained forty-six hundred and
+forty souls, Providence thirty-four hundred and fifty-two."
+
+The lottery had taken a strong hold upon the innate love of chance.
+The two first lotteries had been applied to public improvements. The
+third was formed for the relief of an insolvent debtor. Henceforth
+we meet it as a common relief in business misfortunes and a natural
+assistant in new enterprises.
+
+The winter of 1748-49 was made memorable in Rhode Island annals by the
+death of John Callender, her first historian and pastor of the First
+Baptist Church in Newport. Among the public works of the year which the
+growing commerce of the Colony called for, was a light-house at the
+south end of Conanicut, still known as Beaver Tail Light.
+
+Depreciation began to make itself deeply felt as the interests of
+English commerce became more and more interwoven with those of colonial
+commerce. Their raw products were the only articles that the colonies
+could give in exchange for English manufactures. Their West India trade
+was their only source of coin. Colonial bills out of the colonies
+were worthless. The subject was brought before the House of Commons,
+which called for a full and accurate statement of the condition of the
+currency. A committee was appointed by the Assembly to prepare the
+statement, and Partridge the colonial agent directed to present and
+support it. By this report it was shown that three hundred and twelve
+thousand three hundred pounds in bills of credit, emitted to supply
+the treasury since May, 1710, of which one hundred and seventy-seven
+thousand had been burned at various times and one hundred and
+thirty-five thousand pounds were still outstanding, amounting in all in
+sterling money to about thirty-six thousand pounds.
+
+An interesting incident of this year was the organization of a Moravian
+mission.
+
+The statute book records several new criminal statutes. It is an
+illustration of domestic relations that the first divorce was granted
+by the Assembly in 1754--more than a hundred years after the foundation
+of the Colony. And it may be taken as proof of the feelings of the
+Colony towards England, that a large number of English statutes were
+transferred to the colonial statute book. New precautions against
+fire were taken in Newport by the formation of firewards, and a fire
+engine was sent for from England. Providence soon followed the example.
+Another step was taken towards a satisfactory distribution of the
+territory by forming East and West Greenwich, Coventry and Warwick into
+a new county under the name of Kent County, with East Greenwich for its
+county town. The new county was required to build a court house at its
+own expense, which was partly done by lottery. Four years later another
+town was formed from Providence County and incorporated under the name
+of Cranston. In spite of the increased depreciation of the currency the
+Colony continued to grow in numbers and strength. Seventeen hundred
+and fifty-two was made memorable both in England and her colonies by
+the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. Henceforth the new year begins
+on the first of January instead of the twenty-fifth of March.
+
+But the great event of the year was the decision of the lawsuit for the
+possession of the glebe lands in Narragansett, a suit of nearly thirty
+years standing, and which after passing through many phases was decided
+in favor of the Congregationalists against the Episcopalians, upon
+the ground that "by the Rhode Island charter all denominations were
+orthodox, and that a majority of the grantors when the deed took effect
+were Presbyterians or Congregationalists."
+
+Meanwhile paper money was doing its bad work. The calendar of private
+petitions bears sad witness to the evil. Bankruptcy became frequent,
+and among the bankrupts of those days of gloom was Joseph Whipple, the
+Deputy-Governor, who, surrendering all his property to his creditors
+was relieved by a special act of insolvency. The spirit of enterprise
+though dulled, was not crushed.
+
+The first recorded patent was granted in 1753. Parliament had passed
+an act to encourage the making of potash in the colonies, and Moses
+Lopez took out a patent for making it for ten years by a process known
+only to himself. The next year a similar patent was granted to James
+Rogers for the manufacture of pearl-ash. The industrial instinct
+which was to receive in the sequel so great a development, was already
+girding itself up for the trial. The spirit of association, also,
+was awakening. A society of sea-captains was incorporated for mutual
+assistance under the name of the Fellowship Club. From this grew the
+Newport Marine Society.
+
+A new war was at hand, a war known to our childhood as the old French
+war, and the last waged by France and England for the dominion of North
+America. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle had left the door wide open for
+new claims, and these soon led to a new war. Here again Rhode Island
+displayed great energy, sending Stephen Hopkins and Martin Howard,
+Jr., to represent her as Commissioners at the Albany Congress of 1754,
+in which Franklin brought forward his plan for developing by union
+the resources of the colonies, she took promptly the steps necessary
+for her own defence and complied cheerfully with the requisitions of
+the English commanders. In this as in former wars she sent out her
+privateers to harass the enemy's commerce. But her part in the contest
+was a limited one. Her troops went as contingents not as armies. She
+had no generals to give their names to great victories, and when peace
+returned her soldiers and sailors returned cheerfully to the duties and
+avocations of common life.
+
+The annexation of the eastern towns in 1757 marks an important period
+in the history of Rhode Island. With two unfriendly neighbors on each
+side she had been compelled to contend inch by inch for her territory.
+All the obstacles which impede development had accumulated in her path.
+All the dangers which menace the existence of feeble colonies had
+beset her. She had faced them all, she had overcome them all. A great
+principle lay at the root of her civilization, and humanity itself was
+inseparably connected with her success.
+
+From the annexation of the eastern towns in 1757 to the peace of Paris
+in 1763, all the leading events were more or less connected with the
+war. Privateering took the place of commerce. Taxes were levied to
+build and arm forts and raise and equip soldiers, not to erect churches
+and court houses and libraries and schools.
+
+The war was lingering but decisive. It gave England one brilliant
+victory and one illustrious name--the Heights of Abraham, and Wolf--to
+the colonies the lesson so valuable a few years later that English
+troops might be driven where colonists held their ground, and the name
+of Washington. Recorded in European history as the seven years war, for
+the colonies it was a war of nine years, hostilities having begun two
+years before war was declared. Nowhere is man's place in history more
+distinctly marked than in this war, which till the right man came was a
+succession of blunders and defeats. With William Pitt came victory.
+
+While the war was still confined to the colonies a large number of
+French residents had been thrown into jail as prisoners of war. What
+was their legal position? The question was brought before the Assembly
+by a petition for release, which was so far granted as to authorize
+their transportation to some neutral port, and so far rejected as to
+still subject them to the laws of war.
+
+We have seen how watchful the home government was to enforce the laws
+of trade. But with all its watchfulness smuggling still prevailed in
+every colony. New orders came from the King directing the Assembly to
+"pass effectual laws for prohibiting all trade and commerce with the
+French, and for preventing the exportation of provisions of all kinds
+to any of their islands or colonies." The Assembly passed the necessary
+acts. But too many and too powerful interests were involved to admit of
+their rigorous execution.
+
+To this period belongs the bitterest party contest in the annals of
+Rhode Island, generally known as the Ward and Hopkins contest. Samuel
+Ward and Stephen Hopkins were the foremost Rhode Islanders of their
+time; both men of self-acquired culture and both illustrious by public
+services. Hopkins was the elder of the two, being born at Scituate on
+the 7th of March, 1717. Ward was his junior by eighteen years. Both
+were farmers and merchants, and both sincerely devoted to the interests
+of their native Colony. But as to what those interests were they
+differed widely, and their difference soon took the form of town and
+country parties. Newport was the leading town of the Colony, not only
+in commercial enterprise but in intellectual culture. Berkeley had not
+left his foot-prints there in vain. This seat of Rhode Island culture
+was best represented by Samuel Ward. The name of Hopkins stood for the
+country. The distribution of taxes was one of the questions at issue.
+Paper money was another. By degrees all questions of public policy were
+classed under the one or the other of these two leading names. There
+were sharp contests at the polls, painful severings of social ties and
+all the bitterness which partisanship gives to political discussion. At
+last the aid of the law was invoked and Hopkins sued Ward for slander.
+It is a singular illustration of the altered relations between Rhode
+Island and Massachusetts that in order to obtain an impartial jury the
+trial should have taken place at Worcester. Ward was acquitted and
+Hopkins condemned to pay the costs. In a few years the party contest
+gave way to the graver contest of the Revolution wherein the two
+leaders took their seats side by side in Congress Hall.
+
+Among the events of domestic interest which belong to this period was
+the burning of the Providence Court House--not so much for the loss of
+the building as for that of the Providence Library which was kept in
+one of its rooms. The want of a public library was keenly felt, and
+when a lottery was granted for rebuilding the court house, half of its
+proceeds were set apart for the library. Rhode Island already felt the
+importance of libraries and schools. She will persevere in this course
+till it secures her a comprehensive school system and an admirable
+university.
+
+The theatre found less favor, although its founder, David Douglass,
+brought with him the recommendation of the Governor and Council of
+Virginia. His first application for a licence in Newport failed; a
+second was more successful; and this pioneer of the American stage drew
+for a while good houses. He moved to Providence and built a permanent
+theatre. Many came from Boston to seek an enjoyment which they could
+not find at home. But the current soon turned. The Bostonians met with
+a cold reception, and the short-lived pleasure was condemned as a
+nuisance.
+
+A newspaper was a want more generally acknowledged. Hitherto there
+had been none in the Colony. But in the summer of 1758 the _Newport
+Mercury_ was established, and has held its ground with varying fortunes
+to our own day. Four years later William Goddard established in
+Providence the _Providence Gazette and Country Journal_. Among its
+first contributors was Governor Hopkins, who began for it his "Account
+of Providence," but called to other subjects by the excitement of the
+times he never went beyond the first chapter. Enough, however, was
+published to call out several insulting letters from Massachusetts.
+
+Times were daily becoming more and more critical. The Board of Trade
+insisted upon the rigorous enforcement of the navigation act. The
+colonial governments passed the necessary laws but could not enforce
+them. It was then that writs of assistance were first called for, and
+from this call arose that trial so celebrated in colonial annals, the
+first mutterings of the tempest which was at hand. James Otis became a
+familiar name throughout the colonies.
+
+For thirty-four years the Quaker diplomatist, Richard Partridge, had
+faithfully and skillfully served Rhode Island as her agent in London.
+In 1759 mindful to the last of the interests of the Colony, he wrote on
+his death bed to recommend a brother Quaker, Joseph Sherwood, for his
+successor.
+
+In this same year freemasonry was introduced, a charter was granted by
+the Assembly with permission to raise twenty-four hundred dollars by
+lottery for building a hall in Newport.
+
+We have seen how early attention was called to the subject of fires. In
+1759 the immediate action at fires was placed under the direction of
+five presidents of firewards, three of whom were elected at annual town
+meetings with authority to blow up buildings if necessary in order "to
+stop the progress of the flames." These details though minute, serve to
+show how far our fathers carried their ideas of the powers and duties
+of government.
+
+The increase of population called for a new division of territory.
+In 1757 Westerly was divided and its northern portion incorporated
+under the name of Hopkinton, a choice of name which shows that in that
+legislature the Hopkins party was in the majority. Two years later the
+new town of Johnston was formed out of Providence and named after the
+attorney-general.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXII.
+
+ RETROSPECT.--ENCROACHMENTS OF ENGLAND.--RESISTANCE TO THE REVENUE
+ LAWS.--STAMP ACT.--SECOND CONGRESS OF COLONIES MET IN NEW
+ YORK.--EDUCATIONAL INTEREST.
+
+
+Thus far we have traced the progress of Rhode Island, step by step
+from the first small settlement on the banks of the Mooshausick to
+the flourishing Colony, which, by its firmness and perseverance had
+made it mistress of the shores and islands of Narragansett Bay. We
+have seen it taking for its corner stone a vital principle of human
+society, unrecognized as yet by the most advanced civilization. We
+have seen this principle and society with it constantly endangered by
+misinterpretations, and the little Colony brought more than once to
+the brink of the precipice by the malignity of implacable enemies. We
+have seen it gradually growing in strength and enlightenment, drawing
+abundant harvests from a niggard soil, spreading its ships of commerce
+over distant seas and protecting its coasts by its own ships of war. We
+have seen it working out its civil organization by patient experiment,
+making laws and unmaking them as they met or failed to meet the want
+for which they were made. And now we shall see her strong by virtue,
+resolute by conviction and rich by intelligent industry, gird herself
+up for the contest which was to decide forever the relations of the
+British colonies of North America to their mother country. But before
+we enter upon this part of our subject let us pause a moment and
+consider somewhat more closely our new starting point.
+
+The society which Roger Williams brought with him to the banks of
+the Mooshausick was a morally constituted society, in which all the
+questions of moral law had been studied and discussed as revealed in
+the Scriptures. It was not till their numbers increased and their wants
+with them that the idea of law took root amongst them and they became
+a legally constituted society. Their laws arose from their necessities
+and followed the development of their legal sense. They felt the
+want and strove by experiment to discover the remedy. Successful
+experiment became law and the statute book the record of the progress
+of civilization.
+
+To this statute book, therefore, we must go for our knowledge of
+colonial life in all its relations. It defines the condition of the
+individual and the qualifications, the rights and the duties of the
+citizen. It defines the powers and prerogatives of government, and
+assigns to each department its limits and its sphere. Its enumeration
+of crime is the key to the moral sense of the community, and its
+provisions for the moral and intellectual training of the citizen show
+how far it has comprehended the reciprocal obligations and true nature
+of the ties which bind the citizen to his commonwealth.
+
+Following this guide we find that Rhode Island has worked out her
+problem of self-government and soul liberty, framing for herself a
+pure democracy and surrounding it with all the provisions required for
+protection against foreign violence and internal dissension. After many
+trials she has organized a judiciary system adequate to the protection
+of person and property and the prompt administration of justice. She
+has cultivated the sense of right and wrong and made careful provision
+for the enforcement of contracts and the punishment of crimes. She
+has opened highways, established ferries and built bridges. She has
+favored navigation by the institution of judicious harbor laws. She
+has provided for the extermination of wolves and foxes by the offer of
+liberal bounties, and for the protection of fish and deer by stringent
+laws. She has broached the difficult subject of public charities and
+made a beginning of provision for the poor and the insane. She has
+initiated a system of public schools and founded a college which in the
+course of half a century becomes a university. She has opened her doors
+wide for different creeds, and required only that they all should be
+equally free.
+
+Her relations with the mother country had taken their coloring from
+the attitude of self-defence which she was compelled to maintain
+towards the adjacent colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut, which
+were eager to divide her territory between them. Against their long
+persecutions her last appeal was to the King, and she made it without
+humbling herself, for her enemy was at her own door and of her own
+household.
+
+From the beginning of her civil life she had been contemptuously
+refused admission to the league from which Massachusetts and
+Connecticut derived the strength that made them bold both for
+aggression and for defence. More than once she seemed to be upon the
+point of being crushed, but of yielding--never. Hence in her relations
+with the mother country she never assumed the defiant attitude which
+her stronger sisters assumed and which at an early day awakened
+suspicions of their loyalty. Rhode Island was loyal as it behooved
+her to be; but she never carried her loyalty so far as to imperil the
+rights guaranteed to her by her charter.
+
+We enter upon a new period of colonial history. The contest with France
+was over. The contest with England was beginning. For England, not
+satisfied with the advantage which she had derived from her colonies
+by constitutional means, resolved to deprive them of the protection
+which the constitution accorded to the humblest subject of the crown.
+They would gladly have contributed their portion to the expenses of
+the war and taxed themselves to pay it. But English constitutional law
+had prescribed the forms and conditions with which taxes could be
+raised, and colonial constitutional law taught that representation was
+an essential condition of taxation. This led to the stamp act and that
+train of disasters so fatal to English supremacy.
+
+Equally fatal was the ill-timed jealousy with which she sought
+to fetter the commerce and check the manufacturing spirit of the
+colonists. It was from their commerce with the French islands that they
+drew not only many articles which habit had made essential to their
+comfort, but the greater part of their hard money. To England they sent
+their raw material, and receiving it back in the shape of manufactured
+goods paid liberally for the English labor and skill. England's best
+customers were her colonies.
+
+War had been a severe school in which much needed lessons had been
+learned. Farmers and mechanics had learned to be soldiers and bear the
+hardships of a soldier's life. Taxes had increased and legislation
+had been compelled to busy itself largely with questions of military
+organization, with the building of forts, the raising of recruits,
+the providing of supplies. Maritime enterprise had lost none of its
+ardor, but had encountered sore rebuffs. From the port of Providence
+alone forty nine vessels richly laden had fallen into the hands of the
+enemy. On the land, also, many valuable lives had been lost and many
+industrious hands taken from the tilling of the soil to waste their
+strength in the barren offices of war. The time when these lessons
+would be turned to account was drawing nigh.
+
+Meanwhile internal improvements continued to receive the attention of
+the legislature. Church's Harbor was made safer for fishermen by the
+erection of a breakwater. Providence Cove was the seat of a prosperous
+trade, and especially of shipbuilding. To facilitate the communication
+with the water below a draw was opened in Weybosset bridge.
+
+The cancer of paper money was still eating into the vitals of the
+community, in spite of the legislative palliatives which were from time
+to time fruitlessly applied to it. Party spirit also had reached its
+fullest development, and the two rival factions of Ward and Hopkins
+continued to hate each other bitterly and fight each other obstinately
+at the polls. These were minor evils. But in the great northwest new
+war clouds were gathering under the influence of the mighty Pontiac,
+its king and lord. Parliament prepared for the outbreak, and voted an
+appropriation of a hundred and thirty-three thousand pounds and an
+army of ten thousand men for the defence of the American colonies. The
+regulars were sent against the Indians and parts of the provincials
+were distributed through the frontier garrisons. The Rhode Islanders
+were stationed at Fort Stanwix. We are spared the story of the war of
+Pontiac. It belongs to the frontier and is in no way connected with
+Rhode Island history. Another contest on which hung the fate of all
+the colonies is already begun.
+
+I have often spoken of the Board of Trade and the jealous scrutiny
+with which it watched the growth of the colonies. Too short-sighted to
+see that their prosperity was intimately connected with the prosperity
+of the mother country, the ministry by advice of the Board of Trade
+drew tight the bands of commerce and encumbered the communications of
+the two countries with dangerous restraints. Trade had increased, but
+the revenue had not increased in its natural proportion. The form of
+the evil was smuggling, but its root was the imposition of oppressive
+duties. Walpole alone had seen forty years before that the surest way
+to enlarge the revenue was to make the importation of the raw material
+and the exportation of the manufactured goods as easy as possible. But
+Walpole stood alone in his wisdom. An attempt was made to enforce the
+acts of trade. New officers were appointed, a ship of war was stationed
+in Newport harbor during the winter of 1763 and the noisome tribe of
+revenue officers stimulated to zealous exertion.
+
+In 1739 a heavy blow had been dealt the commercial and manufacturing
+industry of the colonies by the molasses and sugar act, imposing a
+duty on those articles which looked very much like taxation. The
+colonists looked anxiously to 1764 when the odious act would expire
+by limitation. But when the time came it was promptly renewed and
+extended to other articles of domestic consumption. And now was first
+heard the ominous words stamp act and committees of correspondence.
+By the stamp act no legal or commercial act was valid unless it
+was written on stamped paper. The price of this paper was fixed by
+government and a body of agents appointed to carry on the sale. Thus
+every transaction in which there was a legal form became tributary
+to government. In what does this differ from taxation without
+representation? asked the colonists. But so little did government
+comprehend the real nature of what it was doing that instead of
+foreseeing the collision of the two constitutions Parliament assumed
+by a formal vote the right to tax the colonies. All that remonstrance
+could gain was a postponement of the stamp act till some more
+acceptable form of impost could be devised. Even the colonial agents in
+London failed to see that a radical change in the relations of the two
+countries was at hand. "The sun of liberty is set," wrote Franklin from
+London to Charles Thompson at Philadelphia. "The Americans must light
+the candles of industry and economy."
+
+"They will light a very different kind of candle," was the reply.
+
+The spirit of resistance gained strength daily. Massachusetts took the
+lead in recommending the call of a Congress of Delegates to meet at
+New York and take counsel concerning the condition of the country.
+Rhode Island followed close in her footsteps. In Virginia Patrick
+Henry brought forward a series of resolutions which going directly to
+the fundamental principles of constitutional taxation found adherents
+everywhere. In Providence the _Gazette_ reappeared in an extra number
+with "_vox populi vox Dei_" for superscription, and "where the Spirit
+of the Lord is there is Liberty," for motto. Augustus Johnston, the
+attorney-general, was appointed stamp distributor, but refused to
+"execute his office against the will of our sovereign Lord the People."
+
+In Newport riots took place and popular feeling manifested itself with
+extreme violence. The effigies of three obnoxious citizens were kept
+hanging on a gallows in front of the court house through the day, and
+in the evening cut down and burned in the presence of a great crowd.
+Next morning the violence of the mob increased, the obnoxious three and
+equally obnoxious revenue officers were compelled to take refuge on
+board the Cygnet sloop-of-war that was lying in the harbor.
+
+Meanwhile a calm, firm voice came from the soberer and more thoughtful
+citizens assembled in town meeting, instructing their deputies to
+give their "utmost attention to those important objects, the court
+of admiralty and the act for levying stamp duties." ... "It is for
+liberty, that liberty for which our fathers fought, that liberty which
+is dearer to a generous mind than life itself that we now contend."
+
+The day for the enforcement of the stamp act came. But the Congress
+at New York and the town meetings and assemblies of the different
+colonies had done their work thoroughly. In a session of the Assembly
+held at East Greenwich, Rhode Island declared her intention to assert
+her "rights and privileges with becoming freedom and spirit, ... and
+to express these sentiments in the strongest manner." Six energetic
+resolutions were passed pointing unequivocally at independence if
+grievances were not redressed. The grave duty of representing her in
+the New York Congress was entrusted to Henry Ward, colonial secretary,
+and Metcalf Bowler. Governor Ward, Governor Fitch, of Connecticut,
+and the Royal Governors were called upon to make oath that they would
+support the obnoxious act. Samuel Ward alone refused.
+
+The fatal day came, and with its inauspicious dawn legal life ceased.
+Ships lay idle at the wharves for want of clearance. Merchants could
+not fill an invoice, the officers of the law could not enforce its
+decrees. Men and women could not marry or be given in marriage. Civil
+life was paralyzed in all its functions. Whither will this lead us?
+was the question that rose to every lip. It was soon evident that
+the colonies were terribly in earnest. They would rely upon personal
+honesty and do without stamps. Mobs and riots showed to what lengths
+the heated popular mind was prepared to go. Engagements to suspend all
+commercial intercourse with England and employ their means in fostering
+their own manufactures and productions manifested an intelligent union
+of purpose which could not be mistaken. Of the stamp distributors some
+resigned, some refused to act. Throughout the whole country, in town
+and village not a stamp was to be found, not an agent dared to receive
+or sell the hateful ware. England bowed to the blast and repealed the
+act, but as if to leave the way open for future taxation coupled the
+appeal with an act declaring that Parliament had a right "to bind the
+colonies in all cases whatsoever." The wound was salved over, not
+healed.
+
+There were other subjects of collision. We have seen that British ships
+of war visiting Newport harbor were sometimes welcomed. Sometimes,
+however, they were held to strict account for their conduct. Lieutenant
+Hill, of the schooner St. John, was fired into from Fort George for
+some unrecorded offence. In the following year the Maidstone roused
+the indignation of the inhabitants by impressing seamen openly in the
+harbor. Even market boats were stopped and their men taken violently
+from them. A ship from the coast was boarded as she entered the harbor
+and her crew impressed. Popular forbearance could go no further. In
+the evening a mob of sailors five hundred strong seized one of the
+Maidstone's boats and burned it on the common. The way was opening for
+the burning of the Gaspee.
+
+Meanwhile there were great rejoicings over the repeal of the stamp act.
+Very soon men will begin to look closely to the act that was tacked to
+it--the declaratory act.
+
+The great step towards securing the concurrent action of the colonies
+in their resistance was taken. On the 7th of October, 1765, the
+second colonial Congress met in New York, and after a three weeks
+earnest discussion sent forth an address to the King, an address to
+the people, and a memorial to both houses of Parliament, claiming
+that as Englishmen they could not be taxed without their own consent
+or deprived of the right of trial by jury. It was soon made evident
+that the country would stand by them. Associations were formed under
+the name of "Sons of Liberty." Rhode Island went a step further,
+and formed associations of the "Daughters of Liberty." Hitherto the
+correspondence with the colonies had been conducted by the Board of
+Trade. But as the dispute assumed a more definite shape, the infatuated
+King, who was resolutely persisting in his unconstitutional scheme of
+personal government, gave orders that the colonial dispatches should be
+addressed to him.
+
+It has been seen that Parliament had resolved to indemnify the colonies
+for their expenses during the late war. Several payments for this
+purpose had already been made. But after the stamp act riots the
+balance though voted was withheld under the pretext that the sufferers
+by those riots should first be indemnified for their losses. As the
+Colony had exerted itself beyond its strength to bear its part in the
+war, this withholding of its just compensation was felt to be a great
+wrong. When the day for summing up her share in the common grievances
+came, Rhode Island did not forget this wrong.
+
+Taxes continued to excite bitter complaints, and though called for
+to meet the daily wants of government, were not collected without
+great difficulty. In 1767 this dissatisfaction reached its height,
+unseating Governor Ward and working a complete political revolution. A
+new valuation of ratable property was made to serve as the basis of a
+just taxation, but was opposed as favoring trade at the expense of the
+landholders.
+
+Among the laws demanded by the growing trade was an act fixing interest
+at six per cent., and making contracts for higher rates usury to be
+punished by the forfeiture of principal and interest. The true nature
+of money loans was not yet understood. Among the important civil acts
+of this period was the completion of an elaborate digest of the laws,
+two hundred copies of which were printed and distributed among the
+people.
+
+We have seen that early attention was given to education, and schools
+opened in Newport, Portsmouth and Providence. In 1766 a grammar school
+was founded in Exeter upon a gift of five hundred acres of land made
+seventy years before by Samuel Sewall, of Boston, one of the original
+purchasers of Pettaquamscot. But more important still was the effort
+that was made about the same time for the establishment of free schools
+in Providence to be supported by taxation. Like all such movements it
+met with most opposition where such schools were most needed, among the
+poor. In part, however, it was successful, a brick school-house was
+built and the supervision of all the schools given to a committee of
+nine, composed in part of the town council.
+
+The foundation of a university, chiefly in order to secure for
+Baptists the same educational advantages that were enjoyed by other
+denominations, also belongs to this period. Foremost among its founders
+was the Rev. Morgan Edwards, and among its benefactors John Brown, of
+Providence, in record of whose liberality it was removed from Warren,
+its first seat, to Providence, and its name changed from Rhode Island
+College to Brown University. Four denominations were represented in
+its corporation, but a large majority reserved to its founders, the
+Baptists. Religious tests were forbidden by charter, but the president
+was required to be a Baptist. Its property and all those connected
+officially with it were exempted from taxation.
+
+To the ecclesiastical history of this period belongs the Warren
+Association of Baptist Churches. The pen also claims its part in the
+discussion of rights, and among the causes of the rupture we must
+count the "Farmer's Letters," among its instruments committees of
+correspondence.
+
+Among the things effecting the material interests of the Colony was the
+discovery of a new bed of iron ore on the Pawtuxet River, in Cranston.
+In the preparations which were immediately made for working it, the
+rights of the fish, which had so often been the subject of legislation,
+were not forgotten.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+ TRANSIT OF VENUS.--A STRONG DISLIKE TO ENGLAND MORE OPENLY
+ EXPRESSED.--NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT.--INTRODUCTION OF SLAVES
+ PROHIBITED.--CAPTURE OF THE GASPEE.
+
+
+The feud of the two parties which had so long divided the Colony ceased
+at the approach of danger from abroad. A new Governor was elected,
+Josias Lyndon, and a new Deputy-Governor, Nicholas Cooke, whose name
+meets us so honorably during the first years of the war, now close at
+hand. For Ward and Hopkins a broader field of honorable rivalry was
+opening, and we shall soon see them working earnestly together in the
+Congress of the Declaration.
+
+England had grown very angry over the attempts of the colonies to
+organize a system of concerted action. But the times were full of
+lessons, and the chiefest and most heeded among them was the lesson
+of union. The Parliament of 1761 was as blind as its predecessors had
+been, and came together firmly resolved to chastise the Americans
+into obedience. Where both sides were equally suspicious and equally
+embittered positive collision could not long be avoided. The first
+occurred in Newport harbor between three midshipmen of the Senegal
+man-of-war which was lying in the harbor, and some of the citizens. A
+citizen, Henry Sparker, was run through the body by an officer named
+Thomas Careless. Careless was indicted for murder, but acquitted on
+trial by the Superior Court on the plea of self-defence. Collisions
+occurred at Boston, all of which served to fan the flame of discontent.
+To hasten the crisis a regiment supported by a naval force was sent to
+overawe the rebellious town.
+
+At the June session of the General Assembly (1758) an address was
+voted to John Dickinson for his "Letters of a Farmer." In closing it
+they "hope that the conduct of the colonies on this occasion will be
+peaceable, prudent, firm and joint." Resistance was becoming a familiar
+idea, and one of the most significant ways of expressing it was by
+liberty trees. A large elm in front of Olney's tavern, in Providence,
+was dedicated in the presence of an enthusiastic crowd, and an oration
+embodying the popular sentiment pronounced by Silas Downer.
+
+In the September session several important State papers were prepared,
+and the withholding of the war money complained of as a great
+injustice. Still in the midst of this growing disloyalty the King was
+always spoken of with affection and respect.
+
+While attention was thus anxiously directed to England, purely domestic
+interests were not forgotten. The deputy-governor's salary was fixed
+at fifteen pounds, half that of the governor. An educational society
+was incorporated at Providence under the name of Whipple Hall. Laws
+relative to real estate were passed, making it liable for debt after
+the death of the holder. School and church lands were exempted from
+taxation, and Trinity Church, in Newport, was incorporated, the first
+incorporation of a church in Rhode Island. An act was passed, also,
+wherein the old policy of protecting the river fish was changed, and
+the Scituate Furnace Company allowed to keep up the dam in the spring.
+In a previous year a general estimate of ratable estates had been
+ordered. In 1769 it was reported and found to amount to two million
+one hundred and eleven thousand two hundred and ninety-five pounds ten
+shillings and sevenpence, or seven million thirty-seven thousand six
+hundred and fifty-two dollars, at the current value of lawful money,
+six shillings to a dollar, which was made by statute the basis of
+taxation.
+
+This was the year of the transit of Venus, to which astronomers were
+looking forward with deep interest. In this band of observers Rhode
+Island was represented by Governor Hopkins and other unprofessional
+scientists in Providence, and by Ezra Stiles of Newport--and here we
+again meet the name of Abraham Redwood, who was never either governor
+or deputy-governor, but still lives in fresh remembrance as founder
+of the Redwood Library. He furnished the instruments for the Newport
+observation. The local memory of this event is still preserved in
+Providence by the name of the street in which the observatory stood.
+The latitude of Providence was found to be 41°, 50', 41"; its longitude
+71°, 16' west from Greenwich.
+
+Meanwhile the current was daily sitting more decidedly towards armed
+resistance. Opinions which four years before had been cautiously
+whispered in corners, now formed the chief topic of declamation in
+every private and public gathering. Virginia passed unanimously another
+series of resolutions more decided than the first, and sent copies
+of them to every colonial assembly. Rhode Island thanked her through
+the Governor. The Wilkes riots in London strengthened the hands of
+the opposition, and Lord Hillsborough gave assurance at a meeting of
+several colonial agents that the idea of drawing a revenue from America
+had been given up, and the offensive revenue act would in all but the
+tax on tea be repealed. Ministers failed to see that it was an inherent
+right, not a sum of money for which the colonists were contending. And
+in this contention they were prepared to go all lengths.
+
+There was smuggling it was true, and thereby a constant loss to the
+revenue, but the method of enforcing the revenue laws was vexatious
+and intolerable to a free people. The officers employed in collecting
+the revenue belonged to a class immemoriably odious, and even where
+the collection was entrusted to officers of the Royal Navy it was
+conducted with an insolence and disregard of the rights and feelings of
+the colonists which made it doubly odious. Things had already reached
+the pass at which compromises become impossible. Either the King or the
+people must yield. Fortunately for mankind victory was where the young
+fresh life lay, with the colonists.
+
+Among those who had made themselves most offensive in their endeavors
+to suppress the contraband trade was Captain William Reid, of the armed
+sloop Liberty, which was cruising in quest of smugglers in Long Island
+Sound and Narragansett Bay. Under the pretext of putting down illicit
+trade he had sorely annoyed legitimate commerce. After bearing with his
+annoyances till they could be borne no longer, the people of Newport
+seized his vessel, scuttled and sank her, cut down her mast and burnt
+her boat. This was the first overt act of the War of Independence.
+Proclamations were issued and rewards offered, but the offenders were
+never detected. Another wrong inflicted by the revenue officers was in
+claiming higher fees than were allowed by law. After bearing this also
+till their patience gave out, the merchants of Newport banded together
+to resist the imposition.
+
+The question of renewing the non-importation agreement came up for
+decision. New York, which on this occasion had taken the lead, was
+for extending them "indefinitely until every portion of the revenue
+act shall be repealed." Boston followed the example. In Providence
+and throughout the country opinion was divided, but after much
+discussion nearly all concurred in admitting everything but tea, and
+Newport brought down the indignation of the other colonies upon her by
+admitting prohibited articles.
+
+In these same days the chronicle records a murrain among the cattle
+and hydrophobia among the dogs. From the first, relief was sought by
+forbidding the exportation of cattle from the island, from the last by
+giving general leave to kill all dogs running at large. These acts were
+to hold good for four months.
+
+This was the period of Newport's greatest prosperity. Her population
+was over eleven thousand. She had seventeen manufactories of sperm oil
+and candles, five rope-walks, three sugar refineries, one brewery and
+twenty-two distilleries of rum, an article which in those days was
+deemed essential to the health of the sailor and the soldier, and all
+hard working men. Her foreign commerce found employment for nearly two
+hundred ships, her domestic trade for between three and four hundred
+coasting craft. A regular line of packets kept open her communications
+with London for passengers and mails. Her society had never lost the
+intellectual impulse given it by Berkeley. Ezra Stiles, the most
+learned American of his day, filled one of her pulpits, Samuel
+Hopkins, the founder of a new school of theology, another. A public
+library, which still bears the name of its founder, furnished the means
+of literary recreation and research. She would gladly have drawn Rhode
+Island College to herself also, but though great efforts were made to
+bring this about Providence made the better offer and obtained the
+preference.
+
+While this question was still under discussion the first Commencement
+came round. Seven young men, clad like their officers in the products
+of American looms, presented themselves for graduation. It was a
+holiday in which all citizens could heartily unite, for it was the only
+one which brought them together in the gratification of a common pride.
+Commencement Day and Election Day continued to be the gathering days of
+the Colony long after the Colony had become a State.
+
+The greater part of the slaves of the Colony were in Newport, and
+special laws were enacted concerning their general treatment and their
+manumission. In the autumn session of 1770 these laws were revised, and
+a bill introduced prohibiting their further importation. Unfortunately
+this movement went no farther. The evil had struck too deep.
+
+There was a lull in the storm. Even men not used to indulge vain hopes
+began to think that the cloud which had so long darkened the horizon
+might pass away. The revenue acts were still the chief obstacles to
+harmony. Smugglers were as bold and as successful as ever. But nothing
+occurred in 1771 to show that the final rupture was so near. Rhode
+Island's peculiar grievance was the old war debt. To make one more
+effort, Henry Marchant, the new attorney-general, was directed to join
+Sherwood in enforcing the claim. Another old question was also revived,
+that of the northern boundary. Among the acts of the Assembly was a new
+bankrupt law. The evils of a paper currency still continued to bear
+their fruit.
+
+But one of the most dangerous movements of this year was a claim
+advanced by Governor Hutchinson to the command of the Rhode Island
+forts and militia. This claim Rhode Island had contested when advanced
+by former governors, nor was she disposed to yield to it now. Still
+less was she disposed to accept a proposal which at this time came from
+Bristol under the signature, "A Friend to Property," to divide Rhode
+Island between Massachusetts and Connecticut, or ask that she should be
+made a royal government upon the ground that "an elective legislature
+must always be a source of disorder and corruption" in a small state.
+
+That Rhode Island was not disorderly nor corrupt was proved by the
+conduct of her courts. A merchant of Wrentham named David Hill was
+detected by the New York Committee of Inspection "in selling goods
+included in the non-importation agreements." By the persuasion of the
+committee he was prevailed upon "to deposit his goods with a merchant
+till the revenue acts should be repealed." But the suspicions of the
+people were excited, and they seized the goods and destroyed them. Hill
+finding in Rhode Island "property belonging to some of the committee,"
+sued them in the Rhode Island courts, asserting that in giving up his
+goods he had acted upon compulsion. The sympathies of the courts and
+the people were against him. But, guided by the law and the evidence
+the Court of Common Pleas awarded him heavy damages and the Superior
+Court confirmed the award. In the next year when a new election came
+round and the voice of the people was heard, they also confirmed it by
+reëlecting the same men for judges. These righteous judges were Stephen
+Hopkins, James Helme, Benoni Hall, Metcalf Bowler and Stephen Potter.
+
+While these things were a doing the insolence of the officials
+employed in enforcing the revenue laws reached its highest point.
+The suppression of smuggling in Narragansett Bay was entrusted to
+Lieutenant Duddingston, of the Royal Navy, with two armed vessels--the
+Gaspee, a schooner of eight guns, and the Beaver. Not contented
+with performing the duties of his office, still vexatious even when
+considerately executed, he multiplied its annoyances by a thousand
+acts of petty tyranny. He stopped vessels of every kind without
+discrimination--ships just from sea, and market boats on their way to
+Providence and Newport with their perishable freights, and to increase
+the indignity refused to show his commission or the authority by which
+he acted. Admiral Montague, who commanded on the station, justified
+him in his oppression. Complaints were sent to England, but the day of
+complaint was past.
+
+On the 8th of June the sloop Hannah, Benjamin Lindsey, master, arrived
+at Newport from New York, and having reported at the custom house set
+sail the next day for Providence. No sooner was she seen from the deck
+of the Gaspee than the watchful servant of the King gave chase, and
+venturing too near a point which ran out from the right bank of the
+river took ground. Captain Lindsey kept on his course with the welcome
+tidings that the common enemy was at bay. At the beat of the drum
+the exasperated citizens came crowding to the gathering place, James
+Sabin's house in South Main Street. Eight long boats with five oars
+each were manned. Powder was prepared and bullets run, and when night
+set in with its friendly shades the resolute band set forth on its
+mission of vengeance.
+
+It was long after midnight when they came within sight of the doomed
+vessel hard set in the sand, and heard the first hoarse challenge of
+the guard. Without heeding it they dashed forward and as a second
+challenge came were at her side. Duddingston sprang upon the
+gunwale--he had no time to dress, no time to arm himself or call his
+men to quarters--but as he stood full in view his figure caught the
+eye of Joseph Bucklin who was standing on one of the main thwarts.
+"Eph.," said Bucklin to Ephraim Bowen, who was sitting on the thwart
+on which Bucklin was standing and who lived to tell the story in his
+eighty-sixth year, "reach me your gun, I can kill that fellow." As Eph.
+was reaching him the gun, Whipple, one of the leaders was beginning
+to answer Duddingston's hail:--"I am the sheriff of the County of
+Kent, God damn you,"--but while he was yet speaking Bucklin fired and
+Duddingston fell, wounded in the stomach. The surprise was complete.
+The crew with their wounded commander were sent ashore and the vessel
+burned to the water's edge.
+
+Who were these bold men? Everybody in Providence knew; but although
+large rewards were offered for their detection and a special tribunal
+formed to try them, nobody was ever found to bear witness against them.
+So deep were the feelings that prepared the way for the separation from
+England.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+ PROPOSITION FOR THE UNION OF THE COLONIES.--ACTIVE MEASURES
+ TAKEN LOOKING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.--DELEGATES ELECTED
+ TO CONGRESS.--DESTRUCTION OF TEA AT PROVIDENCE.--TROOPS
+ RAISED.--POSTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED.--DEPREDATIONS OF THE
+ BRITISH.--"GOD SAVE THE UNITED COLONIES."
+
+
+The 22d of June, 1772, was memorable in the history of humanity,
+for it was on that day that Mansfield solemnly declared as Lord
+Chief-Justice of England that slavery could not exist on English soil.
+This declaration met with a hearty response in Rhode Island. On the
+17th of May, 1774, the citizens of Providence met in town meeting to
+take counsel together upon the questions of the day. Two resolves of
+this meeting stand fitly side by side. An intestate estate comprising
+six slaves had fallen to the town. In the meeting it was voted that it
+was "unbecoming the character of freemen to enslave the said negroes,
+that personal liberty was an essential part of the natural rights of
+mankind, and that the Assembly should be petitioned to prohibit the
+further importation of slaves, and to declare that all negroes born in
+the Colony should be free after a certain age."
+
+In the June session of 1774 the question was brought before the
+Assembly. "Those" says the preamble, "who are desirous of enjoying
+all the advantages of liberty themselves, should be willing to extend
+personal liberty to others."... Therefore, says the bill, "for the
+future no negro or mulatto slave shall be brought into this Colony." To
+perfect the act clauses were added defining the condition of slaves in
+transit with their masters, and protecting the Colony against pauper
+freedmen.
+
+Having taken this high ground concerning the individual, they took
+ground equally noble concerning the Colony, "resolving that the
+deputies of this town be requested to use their influence at the
+approaching session of the General Assembly of this Colony for
+promoting a Congress, as soon as may be, of the representatives of
+the general assemblies of the several colonies and provinces of North
+America for establishing the firmest union, and adopting such measures,
+as to them shall appear the most effectual to answer that important
+purpose, and to agree upon proper methods for executing the same." Thus
+in Rhode Island the condemnation of slavery and the call for union went
+hand in hand.
+
+The time for hesitation was past. Event came crowding upon event.
+Virginia, also, called for a Congress. But it was on Boston chiefly
+that all eyes were fixed. Her example had strengthened the hands of
+the discontented, and both the King and his Parliament had resolved
+to make her a warning example of royal indignation. For this the bill
+closing her port and cutting off her commerce and known in history as
+the Boston Port Bill was passed. It was to go into operation the 1st of
+June, 1774. Never did a great wrong awaken a more universal resentment.
+Old jealousies and rivalries were forgotten in the sense of a common
+danger. On the 1st of June the voice of mourning and commiseration was
+heard throughout the land. Virginia set it apart as a day of fasting
+and prayers. From every Colony came contributions in sheep and oxen
+and money. Rhode Island sent eight hundred and sixty sheep, thirteen
+oxen, four hundred and seventeen pounds in money. Boston in this day of
+suffering was for her no longer the Boston of the Atherton Company and
+disputed boundary lines.
+
+But intelligent as Rhode Island had proved herself in her political
+measures, she could not altogether raise herself above the ignorance
+of her age in sanitary measures. The small-pox was in Newport, and
+inoculation was still an undecided question. Should the legislature be
+asked to declare for it or against it? After four days of discussion it
+was decided in the negative by a close vote.
+
+We have already seen that a special tribunal had been organized to
+follow up the question of the Gaspee. In its instructions directions
+were given to send their prisoners to England for trial. Hutchinson,
+the renegade Governor of Massachusetts, proposed to annul the charter
+of Rhode Island. The committee applied to Samuel Adams for counsel. "An
+attack upon the liberties of one colony," was his answer, "is an attack
+upon the liberties of all."
+
+The new year, the eventful 1773, began amid anxious doubts and firm
+resolves. The Assembly was sitting at East Greenwich, the Gaspee
+court at Newport. "What shall I do?" asked Chief-Justice Hopkins. The
+Assembly bade him follow his own judgment. "Then for the purpose of
+transportation for trial," said the brave old man, "I will neither
+apprehend any person by my own order nor suffer any executive officers
+in the Colony to do it." The question fortunately never rose, but
+questions equally important were at hand.
+
+The burning of the Gaspee was a sudden outbreak of popular indignation.
+To thoughtful minds it was a still more alarming indication of popular
+feeling that the senior officer on the station, Captain Keeler, of the
+Mercury, should have been seized and verdicts of trespass and trover
+found against him in the colonial courts. But England did not heed the
+warning.
+
+But the great work was done by the Committee of Correspondence, already
+formed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1764, but more effectively
+organized in Virginia in 1775--the railroads and telegraphs of those
+days. They bound the colonies in a union which doubled their strength
+and fanned their zeal into a flame. Through them the earliest and
+"most authentic intelligence of all such acts and resolutions of
+the British Parliament, and measures of the ministry as may relate
+to or affect the British colonies in America" was obtained, and a
+correspondence concerning them kept up with the other colonies. In all
+these preparations for the struggle, now so near at hand, Rhode Island
+bore her part. And while they were going on, and as if his part had
+been done, her faithful agent, proved by fourteen years of assiduous
+service, Joseph Sherwood, died.
+
+In October, 1773, the tea act went into operation, leading the
+discontent still more directly to action. But as no tea was sent to
+Rhode Island, and the story is well known I shall not repeat it here,
+only saying that public meetings were held in all of which it was
+resolved to confirm the Philadelphia resolutions. Rhode Island had
+another grievance to complain of.
+
+The story of the Hutchinson letters is well known to every reader of
+American history. Some unknown friend of the colonies had put them in
+the hands of Franklin, and Franklin had sent them to America. "Among
+them was a letter of George Rome, written six years before, denouncing
+the governments and courts of Rhode Island." It was immediately
+published in newspapers and on broadsides, and in every form which
+could give it circulation. Everywhere it was read with the strongest
+expressions of condemnation. The author was brought to the bar of
+the house of deputies, and refusing to plead, sent to jail for the
+remainder of the session.
+
+Among the acts of revenge which disgrace the English legislation of
+this period, was the removal of Franklin from the responsible office
+of superintendent of the American post-office. In his hands the
+post-office had become a trustworthy institution, paying its way and
+meeting the wants and commanding the confidence of the country. As a
+means of communication it had become a bond of union. To suppress it
+would be a serious blow to the social and commercial relations of all
+the colonies. The blow fell, but not according to its aim. We have
+already recorded the name of William Goddard as founder and editor of
+the _Providence Gazette_. When Franklin was removed Goddard conceived
+the idea of a colonial post-office adapted to the new relations between
+England and the colonies. To secure the concurrence of all the colonies
+he visited them all, explaining his plans and awakening everywhere that
+confidence without which all his efforts would have been vain. It was
+another step towards union.
+
+On the eve of such a contest it was wise to count heads. A census
+was ordered and gave as its result fifty-nine thousand six hundred
+and seventy-eight, of whom fifty-four thousand four hundred and
+thirty-five were whites, three thousand seven hundred and sixty-one
+blacks, and one thousand four hundred and eighty-two Indians.
+
+Two events of grave significance mark the month of May, 1774. General
+Gage entered Boston as Governor, and a town meeting was held at
+Providence wherein it was resolved, "that the deputies of this town
+be requested to use their influence at the approaching session of the
+General Assembly of this Colony, for promoting a Congress as soon as
+may be, of the Representatives of the General Assemblies of the several
+colonies and provinces of North America for establishing the firmest
+Union, and adopting such measures as to them shall appear the most
+effectual to answer that important purpose; and to agree upon proper
+methods for executing the same."
+
+In the same meeting it was recommended to break off all trade with
+Great Britain, Ireland, Africa and the West Indies till the Boston
+Port Bill should be repealed. Everywhere the warmest sympathy with
+Boston was expressed and effective measures taken to assist her by
+contributions of provisions and money. East Greenwich was the first
+to open a subscription for her. The example was promptly followed by
+Newport, Westerly and other towns in which her name had never awakened
+kindly feelings before. Some of the poor sought refuge in neighboring
+colonies, and found work and sympathy. Some Tories, alarmed at the
+prospect of a siege, removed to Providence, but found it a dangerous
+residence for men of their political creed. One of these, a hardware
+dealer named Joseph Simpson, seems to have been particularly obnoxious
+to the Whigs, who of a Saturday night covered his doors and windows
+with tar and feathers. A public meeting was called to protest against
+allowing the town to be made a receptacle of the enemies of the
+country and request the council to have such persons legally removed.
+Some indications of disorder appearing, another meeting was called to
+"insist upon the supremacy of the laws."
+
+Measures of defence, also, began now to attract the attention of the
+Assembly. The stores at Fort George were examined. Some thirty years
+before an independent company had been chartered under the name of the
+Providence County Artillery. This name was now changed to Cadet Company
+and the corps formed upon a regimental basis, taking its position
+field days on the right. The Light Infantry Company, of Providence,
+was chartered at the same session. It was to consist of a hundred men
+and be stationed "in front of the left wing of the regiment." A day
+of fasting and prayer was appointed and religiously observed. But the
+most important step of all was the election of Stephen Hopkins and
+Samuel Ward for delegates to that Congress towards which all eyes were
+anxiously directed. Thus Rhode Island had been the first to propose a
+Congress and the first to take action upon the proposal. In the same
+session six resolutions were passed "counseling Union and an immediate
+meeting of Congress to petition for redress, and to devise measures to
+secure their rights." And as if they foresaw how entirely government
+was passing away from the King and Parliament, they recommended also
+that Congress should meet annually. Copies of these resolves were sent
+to all the colonies.
+
+On the 5th of September, 1774, Congress met in Philadelphia, and after
+careful deliberation adopted a Declaration of Rights, and recommended
+the formation of an "American Association," the chief articles of which
+were "non-intercourse with Great Britain till their grievances should
+be redressed, abolition of the slave trade, encouragement of home
+industry, and the appointment of committees of inspection in every town
+and district to see that its terms were kept inviolate." To these were
+added "a petition to the King, letters to the other British colonies,
+addresses to the Canadians and to the people of Great Britain, and
+votes of thanks to the friends of America in Parliament." The tone
+through all was decent, earnest and resolute. As they circulated
+through the country the people felt that their convictions had been
+faithfully represented.
+
+In this agitated state of the popular mind a riot was stirred up in
+Providence by the license question, and in East Greenwich by the Tory
+question. The first was put down by the citizens, but the second called
+for the intervention of the military.
+
+The attention of the General Assembly was largely given to measures
+of defence. The colonial fire-arms at Newport were distributed by
+counties in proportion to their tax rate. Simeon Potter, of Bristol,
+was chosen major-general, a new office created for the occasion and
+subject to annual election. The militia law was carefully revised, and
+provision made for the "manner in which the forces within this Colony
+shall march to the assistance of any of our sister colonies if invaded
+or attacked." The cannon and powder at Fort George were removed to
+Providence for greater security and more convenient use. Independent
+companies were formed and carefully trained. Among the Kentish Guards
+were Nathanael Greene, the future liberator of the South; Christopher
+Greene, the future hero of Red Bank; James M. Varnum, a future
+brigadier, and others whose names reappear in higher grades as the
+progress of the war brought superior merit to view. In Providence
+County the militia was divided into three regiments under the command
+of a brigadier.
+
+Among the recommendations addressed by Congress to the people, was a
+recommendation to stop the exportation of sheep to the West Indies,
+for domestic manufactures were growing daily in importance and wool was
+wanted for colonial looms. The recommendation was promptly acted upon,
+and a temporary committee of inspection appointed to see it carried
+out. The manufacture of fire-arms was successfully begun.
+
+In February, 1773, the day for suspending the use of tea came. In
+Providence three hundred pounds of it were publicly burned, the fire
+being lighted with ministerial documents and other obnoxious papers.
+While this was a doing by the "sons of liberty" in Market Square, some
+other sons of liberty went round from store to store, effacing with
+lamp-black the word tea on the signs.
+
+In April there was a general muster of the militia, when it was found
+that Providence County had two thousand infantry and a troop of horse
+under arms, and Kent County nearly fifteen hundred. The returns of the
+other counties have not been preserved.
+
+The day of decision came. The battle of Lexington was fought. The
+tidings reached Providence in the night. By the next day a thousand
+armed men were on the road to Boston. But before they could reach it
+expresses met them announcing the retreat Of the British.
+
+The Assembly met. They voted to raise an Army of Observation of
+fifteen hundred men, in spite of the protests of the Governor, the
+Deputy-Governor and two assistants. Nathanael Greene and William
+Bradford were appointed a committee to confer with the Assembly of
+Connecticut about this raising of arms. The public ammunition was
+distributed--to each town its proportion. For greater security it was
+voted to hold the election session of the Assembly at Providence. A day
+was set apart for fasting and prayer.
+
+The May session for the election of officers came. The dividing line
+between Whig and Tory was more sharply drawn. Several changes were
+made in the board of assistants. Deputy-Governor Sessions gave place
+to Nicholas Cooke. Governor Wanton himself was suspended for having in
+various ways "manifested his intentions to defeat the good people of
+these colonies in their present glorious struggle to transmit inviolate
+to posterity those sacred rights they have received from their
+ancestors." A Committee of Safety was appointed, which, with the two
+highest military officers, was to superintend the paying and furnishing
+the troops and direct their movements when called out of the Colony.
+The public offices were removed to Providence.
+
+"The army was formed into one brigade of three regiments, each regiment
+consisting of eight companies, with a train of artillery." Of this
+little army, called Army of Observation, Nathanael Greene, who had
+never held military rank before, was placed in command with the rank of
+brigadier-general. To anticipate jealousies of rank and position it
+was provided that "each regiment should occupy the flanks in rotation."
+
+Paper money with all its evils now became a necessity, and bills of
+credit were issued to the amount of twenty thousand pounds. To give
+them the character of an investment they were to bear an interest of
+two and a half per cent., and be "redeemable by taxation at the end of
+two and five years." An embargo was laid on provisions.
+
+Another battle, the battle of Bunker Hill, was at hand. Collisions
+between the King's troops and the people were frequent. By the 1st of
+June nearly a thousand men of the Rhode Island Army of Observation
+with their artillery were encamped on Jamaica Plains. The committees
+of inspection for enforcing the American Association were very active.
+Articles of war were framed. Tories were jealously watched. The
+suspension of Governor Wanton was a bold step resolutely persevered in.
+He attempted to explain and defend his conduct, but his explanations
+were not accepted.
+
+The persecutions of the Gaspee were renewed by Sir James Wallace,
+Captain of the Rose frigate, and brought on an action between a tender
+of the frigate and a colonial sloop commanded by Captain Abraham
+Whipple. After some sharp firing on both sides, the tender was driven
+ashore under Conanicut and captured. Wallace already owed Whipple
+a grudge for his part in the burning of the Gaspee, and wrote him:
+"You, Abraham Whipple, on the 10th of June, 1772, burned His Majesty's
+vessel, the Gaspee, and I will hang you at the yard-arm. James
+Wallace." To which Whipple replied: "To Sir James Wallace, Sir: Always
+catch a man before you hang him. Abraham Whipple."
+
+This was no longer a sudden uprising of popular indignation against
+insufferable wrong, but a conflict between two regular armed
+vessels--the first naval battle of the War of Independence. It led
+directly to the equipping of two vessels, the Washington and the Katy,
+for the defence of the Colony--the largest carrying ten four-pounders
+and fourteen swivels, with a crew of eighty men--the smallest with
+thirty men.
+
+In this June session in which the foundations of the navy were laid,
+William Goddard's postal system went into operation six weeks before
+its adoption for all the colonies by Congress.
+
+During this same eventful month of June the waters of Narragansett
+Bay were the scene of another bold enterprise. The Rose frigate, Swan
+sloop-of-war, and a tender were lying with five prizes in Newport
+harbor. Other vessels came in sight and the royal squadron set out in
+pursuit of them, following them up the bay and leaving the five prizes
+unprotected. No sooner did the people of Newport see the opportunity
+than they seized it, boarded the prizes and carried them off in
+triumph.
+
+The next event of general interest was the battle of Bunker Hill. An
+extra session of the Assembly was called. Committees were appointed to
+take account of the arms and ammunition in the Colony and report it
+to Congress. Saltpetre and brimstone were sent to the powder mills of
+New York. Fort George was dismantled. A signal post was established
+on Tower Hill, and a beacon at Providence, on Prospect Hill. The
+Colony was put upon a war footing, every man able to bear arms being
+required to hold himself in readiness for active service. A fourth
+of the militia were held for minute men and drilled half a day every
+fortnight. The independent companies were drilled with them. The Army
+of Observation, which now numbered about seventeen hundred men, was
+placed under the command of Washington. Everywhere were sights and
+sounds of war.
+
+The national fast day came, July 20th. From every pulpit, from
+every family altar, rose fervent prayers for Almighty guidance and
+protection. For Newport it was a day of terror, for Wallace, enraged at
+the desertion of some of his men, threatened to bombard the town. Two
+days he lay in position before it. On the third he sailed away.
+
+Providence harbor was now fortified between Field and Sassafras Points,
+and a battery of six eighteen-pounders erected on Fox Point. The Beacon
+was proved and found to shed its light over an area extending from
+Cambridge to New London and Norwich, and from Newport to Pomfret. All
+through August the preparations for war continued. The live stock was
+removed from Block Island and the islands of the bay. The incipient
+navy was enlarged and the Rhode Island delegates in Congress instructed
+"to use their whole influence for building at the Continental expense,
+a fleet of sufficient force for the protection of these colonies, and
+for employing them in such manner and places as will most effectually
+annoy our enemies, and contribute to the common defence of these
+colonies." This recommendation led to the appointment of a committee of
+which Governor Hopkins and John Adams were members, and which presently
+laid the foundation of the Continental Navy.
+
+From time to time there were sudden alarms. Once it was given out that
+Providence was to be attacked, and the works in the harbor were manned
+and the troops called out. But Wallace, contenting himself with taking
+a brig from the West Indies and plundering the shores, retired down
+the bay. In October he was reinforced, and after holding Newport in
+suspense bombarded Bristol. Domestic enemies also were to be guarded
+against. George Rome reappears and is sent to Providence "to be dealt
+with according to his demerits." Furnishing supplies to the enemy or
+holding correspondence with them was made punishable with death and
+forfeiture. Exception was made in favor of Newport on account of her
+exposed situation. The sufferings of the poor both in Newport and on
+the islands were so great that the Assembly found it necessary to come
+to their assistance, helping some to move away and supplying others
+with provisions. How business suffered may be seen by the repeal of
+the statute of limitations. In November Governor Wanton was formally
+removed from office and Nicholas Cooke elected in his stead. With the
+burning of the Gaspee the sword was drawn, with the deposition of
+Governor Wanton the scabbard was thrown away.
+
+Meanwhile new emissions of bills of credit were made and the
+overwhelming debt overwhelmingly increased. But it was no longer the
+debt of a single colony but a part of the war debt of all the colonies,
+and therefore Congress assumed forty-five thousand pounds of it as
+such. Of this forty-five thousand pounds a hundred and twenty thousand
+dollars were presently paid. One more battle was fought in Narragansett
+Bay, and one more day set apart for fasting and prayer.
+
+We have seen that Rhode Island had called for a navy. In November
+Congress took the subject up, appointed a marine committee and voted
+to arm and equip four vessels. Esek, brother of the Governor, was put
+in command of them with the title of commodore. Two hundred and fifty
+Rhode Islanders followed Arnold through the wilderness, and none of all
+the invading army bore with greater fortitude the privations of the
+weary march or fought more gallantly under the walls of Quebec than
+Christopher Greene, Samuel Ward and Simeon Thayer, all of whom we shall
+meet again on the ramparts of Red Bank. Over a hundred were sent to
+Philadelphia under Captain Whipple, to serve in the new navy.
+
+Meanwhile at Newport and on the islands the presence of the British
+squadron held men in constant alarm. A considerable force was encamped
+at Middletown, and a constant watch kept up to guard against the secret
+machinations of the disaffected. Row gallies patrolled the bay and a
+night guard was established. But in spite of every precaution the trees
+were cut down on Hope Island, twelve dwelling houses were burned and
+their occupants plundered on Conanicut, and the live stock carried
+off wherever a secure landing could be effected. General Lee, who
+had been sent from Cambridge to direct the fortifying of the island,
+made his entrance into Newport at the head of eight hundred men, and
+after imposing upon the suspected a comprehensive oath and giving
+instructions for the erection of fortifications, returned to the army.
+To express their sense of his services the Recess Committee voted "that
+one of the best beds, with the furniture taken from Charles Dudley, be
+presented to General Lee."
+
+In the last days of December there was a riot in West Greenwich to
+prevent the enlistment of minute men. In the middle of January there
+was some sharp fighting on Prudence Island. In the course of the first
+day the British, who had come up in twelve vessels, landed two hundred
+and fifty men, drove off a body of a hundred minute men, burned seven
+houses and carried away a hundred sheep. Next day reinforcements
+arrived from Bristol and Warren and the fighting was renewed. This time
+the victory was with the Americans, and after a battle of three hours
+the enemy were driven to their ships with a loss of fourteen killed
+and many wounded. War in one of its worst forms raged at all the most
+vulnerable points of Narragansett Bay.
+
+And thus the gloomy days went by, slowly but surely bringing nearer and
+nearer the now inevitable problem of independence. Rhode Island, with
+her hundred and thirty miles of coast line, her two navigable rivers,
+and triple passage from the ocean, was in constant exposure. We have
+seen how she was harassed by Wallace in January, 1776. In February
+more houses and a windmill were burned and more stock plundered on
+Prudence, and a descent for plunder made on Point Judith. With this
+last the names of several persons suspected of being Tories were mixed
+up, giving the Committee of Safety much to do. Difficulties between
+the citizens of Newport and the soldiers under General West, encamped
+on the island, arose in a measure from the same cause. West resigned
+because men whom he had arrested as Tories had been set at liberty by
+the Assembly. Among them was Governor Wanton.
+
+The first act of the eventful drama closes with the evacuation of
+Boston, on the 17th of March. For a day it was believed that the
+British fleet was entering the bay, but the alarm proved false. The
+American army went to New York, passing through Rhode Island on its
+march.
+
+While these events, so grievous in the present, so full of a glorious
+future, were passing, Samuel Ward, who had so nobly represented the
+highest conscience and culture of Rhode Island in the Continental
+Congress, was dying of small-pox in Philadelphia--the advanced post of
+civil heroism. An upright and conscientious man, who had drawn from
+books and men those lessons which make men wise in judgment and firm in
+principle and bold in action. Had he lived a few weeks longer his name
+would have been foremost among the signers. A marble monument was voted
+him by Congress, "in testimony of the respect due to his memory, and in
+grateful remembrance of his public services."
+
+The last Colonial Assembly of Rhode Island met on the 1st of May.
+On the 4th, two months before the Congressional Declaration of
+Independence, it solemnly renounced its allegiance to the British
+crown, no longer closing its session with "God save the King," but
+taking in its stead as expressive of their new relations, "God save the
+United Colonies."
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXV.
+
+ RHODE ISLAND BLOCKADED.--DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
+ INDORSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.--NEW TROOPS RAISED.--FRENCH
+ ALLIANCE.--UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE BRITISH FROM RHODE
+ ISLAND.
+
+
+From the 4th of May, 1776, the Declaration of Independence of Rhode
+Island, to the battle of Tiverton Heights, on the 29th of August, 1778,
+she lived with the enemy at her door, constantly subject to invasion
+by land and by water, and seldom giving her watch-worn inhabitants
+the luxury of a quiet pillow. For months, as we already have seen,
+British ships of war had infested her shores, driving off the stock,
+plundering the inhabitants and burning their houses and barns. In
+November a still greater calamity befell her, a British fleet took
+possession of her waters, a British army of her principal island. The
+seat of government was removed to Providence. The points most exposed
+had already been fortified as well as the means and military science
+of the Colony permitted. These were strengthened and other points
+fortified. A battery was erected on the southern projection of Warwick
+Neck, commanding the entrance of Coweset Bay. The women and children
+of the seaboard towns were advised to take refuge in the interior.
+The militia were called out. The troops on the island, about seven
+hundred in number, were removed to the main land, part under Colonel
+Cook taking post at Tiverton, part under General West at Bristol.
+Massachusetts and Connecticut sent immediate aid to their imperilled
+sister. And thus Rhode Island entered upon the humiliating life of a
+district held by its enemy.
+
+The story of these three years should either be told in detail, or told
+very briefly. In detail it presents some striking pictures and some
+important lessons. The pictures are for the chief part marine views,
+most of the fighting having taken place on the water. The lessons
+are to be found in the skill or want of skill with which legislation
+adapted itself to new wants and new means. Our limits do not admit of
+detail. We shall glean sparingly from the statute book.
+
+The first duty of the Assembly was to draw out the resources of the
+State and give them efficiency. The census of Providence in February
+gave a return of four thousand three hundred and fifty-five souls,
+with about five hundred stand of arms. Of this population one-sixth
+were effective men. The other towns furnished their proportion, and
+the distribution and equipment of them received the constant attention
+of the Assembly and fills a large space in the schedules. In the new
+arrangement of the Continental Army the three Rhode Island regiments
+were formed into two battalions. We shall not attempt to follow
+the schedule through the various changes which were made in the
+quota furnished by Rhode Island to the main army. The fuller page of
+history gives it a noble record, and the names of Christopher Greene,
+of Angell, of Thayer, of the two Olneys, of Samuel Ward and their
+companions, stand very high in the regimental history of the war.
+
+Another subject which occupied from time to time the anxious attention
+of the Assembly was the treatment of the small-pox. How could its
+ravages be staid? How could the prejudice against inoculation, which
+still prevailed so widely even among the intelligent and well informed,
+be overcome? The question was brought before the Assembly in June,
+when it was resolved, though not without opposition, to establish an
+hospital for inoculation in each county. It was resolved also to ask
+Congress to establish a uniform system of inoculation in the army and
+navy.
+
+There could no longer be any doubt as to the treatment of Tories.
+Rhode Island was an independent state, and justifiable in employing,
+to protect herself against treason, the same means which other
+independent states employed. A test oath was framed, which all who were
+suspected of Toryism were required to subscribe. Yet, even in this
+dark day of trial she did not forget her fundamental principle, and
+the conscientious scruples of the Quakers were respected. Commerce
+was permitted with all parts of the world except England and her
+dependencies.
+
+The Declaration of Independence by Congress was received with general
+satisfaction, and proclaimed with a national salute and military
+display. At Providence the King's arms were burned, and the Legislature
+assumed its legal title, "The State of Rhode Island and Providence
+Plantations," and voted that "we do approve the said resolution, and
+do most solemnly engage that we will support the said General Congress
+with our lives and fortunes."
+
+Congress, as we have seen, had voted to build a navy at the original
+suggestion of Rhode Island, and directed that two of the thirteen
+frigates that were to compose it should be built there. Ship building
+was one of the arts to which the Colony had directed its attention
+on its first planting, and Rhode Island workmen had grown skillful
+therein. The direction first taken by her maritime enterprise was
+privateering, which not only made the fortunes of individuals, but met
+many wants which the regular commerce of the country was unable to
+meet. To this great fleet Rhode Island contributed sixteen vessels,
+manned by men in the prime of life, and animated by love of adventure,
+love of country, and love of gain. Sometimes their numbers were kept
+full at the expense of the army, and it was found necessary to lay a
+general embargo till the Continental quotas were filled.
+
+In December the Assembly met at Greenwich, but finding that place too
+exposed, adjourned to Providence. The chief subject of discussion
+was how to raise an army, and the New England States were invited to
+send committees to Providence to concert some general plan of action.
+The Recess Committee gave place to a Council of War, composed of ten
+members. The dangerous system of short enlistments still prevailed and
+a brigade of three regiments, two of infantry, each composed of seven
+hundred and fifty men in eight companies, and one of artillery composed
+of three hundred men in five companies, were voted for fifteen months.
+The command was given to General Varnum, and Malmedy, a French officer,
+recommended by General Lee, was appointed "Chief Engineer and Director
+of the works of defence in this State, with the rank of Brigadier."
+When brought to the test of enlistment its roll filled up very slowly.
+
+The Convention of the Eastern States met in Providence. Each state was
+represented by three delegates. Stephen Hopkins was chosen President.
+After long and frequent consultations with the Assembly, it was
+recommended that an army of six thousand men should be concentrated in
+Rhode Island, of which Massachusetts was to furnish nineteen hundred
+men, Connecticut eleven hundred, New Hampshire three hundred, and Rhode
+Island eighteen hundred and a thousand Continental troops.
+
+Other questions called for equal attention. Men no longer dared to
+look to paper and a printing-press for their money, but to taxing
+and borrowing. A loan of forty thousand pounds at five per cent.
+was voted. But the borrowers were many, the lenders few, and taxes
+hard to collect. With less wisdom it was voted to prevent monopolies
+and regulate prices. All of these questions recur from time to time
+till men grow weary of contending with the natural laws of trade.
+Meanwhile the army was almost naked, and more than once on the brink of
+starvation and mutiny. The plans of the convention for concentrating a
+large force were never wholly carried out, and the army of the State,
+like the army of Congress, was too often an army on paper.
+
+Yet one great step was taken at the suggestion of General Varnum.
+Colonel Christopher Greene, Lieutenant-Colonel Olney and Major Ward
+were sent home to enlist a battalion of negroes for the Continental
+service. When the question came before the Assembly in the form of a
+resolution to enroll slaves, compensate their masters and give them
+their freedom, it met with some opposition upon the ground that it
+would be disapproved of in other states, that the masters would not be
+satisfied with the compensation, and that there were not slaves enough
+to make a regiment. But the wiser opinion prevailed, the regiment was
+raised, and when the day of trial came the freedman proved himself an
+excellent soldier.
+
+In February, 1778, the Articles of Confederation were adopted, not as
+perfectly satisfactory, but as the best that could be had. Certain
+modifications were proposed. "Obtain them if you can," were the
+instructions to the Rhode Island delegates, "but in all events sign the
+articles."
+
+In April came the happy tidings of the French alliance, joyfully
+received everywhere with ringing of bells and firing of salutes and
+military display. The 22d of April had been appointed for a fast day.
+It was changed to a thanksgiving. The hopes of the country were raised
+very high. "Surely," men said to one another, "now that France has
+declared for us, the end must be near."
+
+In May Governor Cooke, who had served diligently since the beginning of
+the war, withdrew from his laborious office, and William Greene, son
+of the late Governor Greene, was elected in his stead, and with such
+general acceptance that he continued to be reëlected eight years in
+succession. Four delegates instead of two were sent to Congress.
+
+We have seen how the islands of the bay had suffered. In the same month
+of May an expedition was sent by the British commander at Newport
+against Warren and Bristol on the main. Three churches and several
+private houses were burnt, and seventy flat-boats, together with the
+galley Washington and a grist-mill, were destroyed. There was loss of
+life and destruction of property, but not a step made towards the
+decision of the contest. Soon after an attempt was made on Fall River,
+but repulsed by the judicious choice of position and gallantry of
+Colonel Joseph Durfee.
+
+The presence of the enemy in Narragansett Bay was a constant menace to
+the Eastern States, and to drive them out was the constant aim of the
+commander of that department. Under General Spencer great preparations
+had been made and great hopes entertained of success. But one of the
+brigades failed to be up with their boats in time, and a second attempt
+was prevented by the weather.
+
+At last the favorable moment came. Sullivan, an active and intelligent
+officer, was in command of the Continental forces, and the coöperation
+of D'Estaing with the French fleet was secured. On the 29th of July
+twelve French ships of the line and four frigates arrived off Newport.
+The English were effectually blockaded, driven from their outposts, and
+compelled to destroy their vessels.
+
+Preparations were made for an immediate advance. At no period of the
+war had greater enthusiasm prevailed. Volunteers came pouring in from
+Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Portsmouth--not merely those whom pay or
+bounty could call out, but men of wealth and position. John Hancock
+led the militia of Massachusetts. Greene and Lafayette came on from
+the main army. By the 8th of August Sullivan found himself at the
+head of ten thousand men. The right wing took post at Tiverton. The
+French fleet under D'Estaing held the outer harbor. The morning of the
+10th was fixed upon for the attack. On the 8th the fleet ran up the
+middle passage in face of a heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, and
+secured the command of the bay. Sir Robert Pigot drew in his forces and
+stationed them in strong positions near the town. They numbered about
+six thousand in all.
+
+Sullivan seeing that the British commander had abandoned his strong
+works at the head of the island, thought that no time was to be lost
+in securing them, and without waiting for the day agreed upon with
+the French admiral, set his right wing under Greene, in motion on the
+morning of the 9th and began to cross over to the island. D'Estaing
+felt the breach of etiquette, but had little time to dwell upon it.
+For about two in the afternoon a fleet of nearly twenty-five sail came
+in sight, standing in for Newport. It was the fleet of Lord Howe. He
+lay to off Point Judith for the night, and next morning began a trial
+of seamanship with D'Estaing for the weather-gage. The Englishman
+stood out to sea; a sudden change of wind enabled the Frenchman to
+follow him, and the whole of the first day and part of the second
+were passed in manoeuvring. Meanwhile the wind kept rising, and
+in a few hours it blew a gale. Soon it was no longer a question of
+victory, but of life. The work of destruction by mortal hands ceased.
+The big ships were tossed helplessly about by the yawning billows. The
+invisible winds snapped the strong masts--once the pride of centennial
+forests--asunder. The Languedoc, with her ninety guns, the French
+admiral's own ship, lost masts and rudder. The shattered fleets made
+their way to port as best they might, the English to New York, the
+French to Newport, with occasional encounters on their way.
+
+The tempest had raged with as much violence on shore as at sea. Nothing
+could withstand its rage. Trees were torn up by the roots. Tent poles
+were snapped asunder like reeds. Marquees were torn and dashed to
+the ground. The rain fell in torrents, swelling the brooks till they
+overflowed their banks and spread over the fields in ponds and pools.
+Men crouched under the stone walls. When the tempest ceased, horses and
+men were found dead together. Then was the time for Pigot to draw out
+his men from their snug quarters in the town and lead them against the
+exhausted Americans. The American general feared this, and anxiously
+watched the dangerous hours go by. But the Englishman let slip the
+golden occasion and it never returned.
+
+It was not without many misgivings that Sullivan had seen the French
+fleet make sail and stand out to sea. But D'Estaing had pledged
+himself to return, and when on the 20th a swift frigate, and soon the
+Languedoc herself, hove in sight, he dispatched Greene and Lafayette
+to confer with the French admiral and his officers and secure their
+coöperation. But whatever D'Estaing's own wishes may have been, his
+officers, who were jealous of him as a landsman, pointed to his
+instructions and called upon him to repair to Boston. The Americans
+felt themselves deserted, for it was only by the aid of the fleet that
+the town could be taken. "There never," they said, "was a prospect so
+favorable blasted by such a shameful desertion."
+
+Still Sullivan resolved to persevere in his attempt, and giving partial
+vent to his indignation in the order of the day, took up a position
+within three miles of the town and began to erect batteries. It was
+soon evident that it would be hazardous to attempt to hold it. On the
+28th it was resolved to fall back and establish a fortified camp at the
+north end of the island. But already the army was melting away. Three
+thousand militiamen and volunteers went off in twenty-four hours, and
+presently the assailants scarcely outnumbered the assailed. The British
+fleet also would soon be back, while the French fleet could no longer
+be counted upon. D'Estaing indeed gallantly offered to bring up his
+land forces to the support of his allies. But now the only question was
+how to retreat without loss. A sharp battle was fought on the 29th, in
+which both sides contended obstinately for the victory. Then in the
+night, men, baggage, artillery and stores, were transported across the
+ferry without the loss of a man or beast, or a single munition of war.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+ ACTS OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.--DISTRESS IN RHODE ISLAND.--EVACUATION
+ OF NEWPORT.--REPUDIATION.--END OF THE WAR.
+
+
+The Americans were sorely disappointed. They had taken up their arms
+with such confidence of success that they could not bear to lay them
+down with so little done. Their murmurs were loud and deep. Some were
+ready to lay all the blame upon their allies. Nothing but the good
+sense of Greene and the good feeling and generous nature of Lafayette
+could have prevented an outbreak. The old leaven of English animosity
+toward France still lay deeply rooted in the colonial heart. It was an
+unfortunate beginning of the alliance that was to give them victory.
+
+For still another year the principal island of Narragansett Bay was to
+remain in the hands of British soldiers, and its other islands and the
+shores of its mainland lie exposed to the ravages of British cruisers.
+It was a year of suffering. There was no more fighting in regular
+battles, no more laying siege by regular advances, but many plundering
+excursions for the wanton waste of property and the wicked waste of
+life. Houses were burnt from mere wantonness; woods and orchards cut
+down to serve for fire-wood, and for this the cold winter furnished a
+good excuse; but when at last the enemy withdrew, little was left of
+the sylvan beauty of Narragansett Bay.
+
+The adventurous fighting was chiefly done on the water, and the hero of
+it was Silas Talbot, of Providence. Talbot had already distinguished
+himself early in the war, both on land and on the water. Nothing suited
+his adventurous spirit so well as the leadership in enterprises which
+to other men seemed hopeless, and his judgment and skill equaled his
+daring. Of these bold exploits one of the boldest was the capture
+of the Pigot galley, a vessel of three hundred tons, mounting eight
+twelve-pounders, protected by strong boarding nettings and manned by
+forty-five men. The force with which Talbot took her was a small sloop
+carrying two three-pounders and manned for the occasion by sixty men.
+As a recognition of his gallantry Congress sent him a commission of
+lieutenant-colonel, and not long after that of captain in the navy.
+
+Among the miseries of these years was a scarcity of food, almost
+amounting to a famine. Speculation was active and remorseless,
+getting control of the market and growing rich on human suffering.
+An appeal was made to Connecticut for a suspension of her embargo on
+provisions in favor of Rhode Island. The question how to counteract
+"engrossers and forestallers," was one of the most difficult questions
+which Congress and state legislatures and special conventions were
+called upon to meet. Two thousand helpless poor were scattered
+through the State, dependent upon public and private charity for
+bread. Five hundred pounds were voted for the relief of the poor of
+Newport. The appeal to Connecticut for a relaxation of her embargo
+was met by permission to export seven thousand bushels of grain,
+and a recommendation of a general contribution by her citizens. The
+recommendation called forth gifts of four thousand three hundred
+pounds in money, and five hundred bushels of grain. The recommendation
+was extended through Congress to other states, and South Carolina
+assumed through her delegates fifty thousand dollars of Rhode Island's
+Continental quota.
+
+It was in this year also that the storm, long known as the Hessian
+storm, from the number of those wretched mercenaries who perished in
+it, occurred. Sentinels froze at their posts--some were suffocated by
+the whirling snow. The roads were blocked up by it. Never had such a
+storm been known.
+
+New taxes were regularly called for and voted, both for Continental
+and State expenses. But the currency was deranged and the sources from
+whence taxes were drawn well nigh exhausted. The treasury was empty. To
+enlist a new brigade,--the term of the old one having run out,--it was
+found necessary to borrow twelve thousand pounds from Connecticut for
+a month. There was not time yet for constitutional reforms, although
+attention was frequently called to the inequality of representation.
+But the more important reforms were the reforms of the army, and the
+great event of 1779 was the introduction of Steuben's Tactics.
+
+The derangement of the currency made itself felt everywhere. Colonel
+Crary, of the First State Infantry, an excellent officer, was compelled
+to throw up his commission because he could not support his family on
+his pay. With many others it was merely a question of time--whether
+they should resign at once or wait a little longer till they were
+ruined utterly. As paper depreciated taxes were increased. Confidence,
+the basis of national prosperity, was gone. In June, 1778, two heavy
+taxes were levied, one of two hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds
+for Congress, and one of sixty thousand pounds for the State. Almost
+the only channel through which goods and money still continued to come
+was through privateers.
+
+The vital question was the question of finance. Congress appealed
+to the states and the states to the towns. A convention met at East
+Greenwich and attempted to fix upon a maximum scale of prices for
+articles of consumption. The establishment of rates for labor and board
+and manufactures, was left with the towns. The fatal effects of a false
+system of political economy fell heavily upon both town and country.
+Trading in gold and silver was discouraged and desperate efforts made
+to relieve the country from the pressure of present debt; but the root
+of the evil lay too deep, and bankruptcy was already at the door.
+
+One act, however, of these days of trial, we can still dwell upon with
+satisfaction. In spite of the manumission act an attempt was made
+to sell some slaves to the South. The Assembly interfered for their
+protection and forbade the sale.
+
+The Greenwich Convention had left its work unfinished. A new convention
+was called in September to finish it, and every effort was made
+to raise the loan recommended by Congress. At the suggestion of
+Massachusetts a convention of the five Eastern States was called to
+meet at Hartford and take these difficult questions into consideration.
+And thus the days and months passed away, monotonously sad, with
+little of present enjoyment and still less of promise for the future.
+Men lived like those who carry their lives in their hands and have no
+hold on the morrow. At last the long looked for day came. Fifty-two
+transports entered Newport harbor and immediately the work of
+embarkation began. Six thousand men with their baggage and military
+stores and a melancholy train of Tories were to bid goodbye to their
+pleasant quarters. When all was ready the inhabitants were forbidden to
+venture into the streets on pain of death, and the march to the place
+of embarkation at Brenton's Point began. Then was heard for the last
+time in the streets of Newport the British drum and the measured tread
+of an enemy's march. All day long the boats were plying to and fro, and
+at sunset the fleet set sail. Forty-six Tories, with such property as
+they could carry, and a large band of liberated slaves went with it.
+The last act of the troops was to burn the barracks at Brenton's Point
+and the light-house at Beaver Tail. When the inhabitants began to look
+about them and count their losses, they found that over five hundred
+houses had been destroyed and property to the value of nearly one
+hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds ruined in the Town of Newport
+alone. The population had been reduced by more than half, and among the
+emigrants were the Lopez, and Hays, and Riveiras, and Touros, rich and
+enterprising Jews. One outrage it is difficult to explain, the robbery
+of the town records, which were put on board one of the transports
+and sent to New York. This alone would have been a great injury, for
+they contained the history of the Colony from its foundation, and as
+parts of that history the record of sales and grants of land. But to
+complete the loss the vessel on board which they had been put sunk in
+the passage of Hell Gate, and it was not till they had lain three years
+in the water that they were recovered. Parts only were legible.
+
+The Assembly which met on the very day of the evacuation, found much to
+do. Many expenses which the presence of the enemy had made necessary,
+ceased. The coast-guard was dismissed. The ferries from Newport to
+South Kingstown were reöpened. The four island towns resumed their
+charter administration. The non-intercourse act was repealed, and New
+Shoreham restored to the exercise of her corporate rights. To meet the
+embargos laid by the neighboring states, an embargo was laid upon all
+articles of exportation. The militia was reörganized. In August acts
+had been brought in confiscating the property of Tories, and forbidding
+the sale of slaves out of the State against their will. They were
+passed in October.
+
+We come now, and reluctantly, to a disgraceful page of our annals,
+the Revolutionary debt of Rhode Island. In the December session of
+1779, the State acknowledging "the proved fidelity, firmness and
+intrepidity in service, of its soldiers," pledged itself through its
+constitutionally elected representatives, to make good at the close of
+the war, "to them or their legal representatives, the wages of the
+establishment of Congress, wherever they engaged." Upon the strength of
+this solemn engagement many of the men and officers of the three Rhode
+Island regiments of the line, whose terms of service were about to
+expire, reënlisted for the war.
+
+This pledge was broken, leaving an ineffaceable stain upon the shield
+of Rhode Island. Nor does it lighten the disgrace to say that other
+states also were untrue to their pledges. Other states persecuted for
+opinion, but in this Rhode Island did not follow their example.
+
+A bitter winter followed the evacuation. The bay was blocked up with
+ice. Seaward the ice extended as far as eye could reach. Government had
+to come to the relief of the starving and freezing poor. Corn cost four
+dollars a bushel, potatoes two--famine prices, as prices ordinarily
+ruled.
+
+We have marked the first appearance of the _Newport Mercury_. During
+the three years of British occupation it was published at Rehoboth, but
+at the evacuation was brought back to Newport, and resumed its original
+influence under the editorship of Henry Barber.
+
+As time wore on things gradually assumed a more hopeful aspect. In
+April, 1779, Lafayette returned from France with the cheering assurance
+that a French fleet would soon follow him. Preparations for effective
+coöperation immediately began. The militia was called out for three
+months. Rhode Island's quota of men was one regiment of six hundred
+and thirty men; of supplies, seventy one thousand six hundred and
+seventy-five pounds of beef, thirty hogsheads of rum, and twenty-two
+hundred and eighty-five bushels of forage grain; of transportation, two
+hundred draft horses.
+
+The promptness with which the little State met the heavy calls upon her
+limited resources was warmly acknowledged by Washington in a letter to
+Governor Greene. And at the same time one of her regiments was winning
+high honor at Springfield, under the guidance of one of her best
+officers, Israel Angell.
+
+The arrival of the French fleet and army under Ternay and Rochambeau
+was the signal for universal rejoicing. The hopes and confidence of the
+first year of the alliance were revived. But this time the efforts of
+the combined forces were to be directed against the enemy's strongest
+post--New York itself. Some apprehensions were still felt from the
+secret machinations of the Tories, and an act was passed banishing them.
+
+Meanwhile preparations were made for quartering and feeding the troops.
+In Providence, University Hall was set apart for a hospital. The
+barracks at Tiverton and a farm near Bristol were assigned to them for
+the same purpose, and Pappoosquash Point was given to them for a burial
+place.
+
+To meet the expenses imposed by these preparations new taxes were
+assessed, founded upon a new estimate of taxable property, and designed
+to sink the remaining portion of the State's quota of old Continental
+bills and meet present and future expenses. Taken altogether the taxes
+voted in the July session of 1780, reduced to a specie standard,
+amounted to one hundred and twenty-six thousand three hundred and
+sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents. It was a heavy burden, and the good
+spirit with which the people bore it showed how thoroughly their hearts
+were enlisted in the cause of their country.
+
+But suddenly there was a new alarm. An English fleet of sixteen ships
+of war appeared in the offing, staid just long enough to spread a
+general apprehension of invasion, and after a second alarm took up its
+station in Long Island Sound and blockaded the French from the sure
+position of Gardiner's Island. Thus for a time French coöperation once
+more failed.
+
+In September the Assembly met in Newport, the first time in four years.
+The State House had been used by the British for a hospital, and
+all the churches except Trinity for barracks. The Assembly held its
+sessions in the Redwood Library.
+
+Money was still the primary object of attention. Congress called on the
+states for three millions of dollars. For the first time Rhode Island
+was unable to meet her portion. She had also a large proportion of the
+French troops to provide for, whose headquarters were at Newport, where
+Rochambeau established himself in the Vernon House, which still bears
+his name. But the French brought hard money with them, and spent it
+freely.
+
+In December Ternay, the French admiral, died, without having had an
+opportunity of doing any thing important for his allies. His tomb is
+still seen in Trinity church-yard.
+
+We enter upon 1781, the decisive year of the war--and decisive also
+by its political significance. Connecticut and Virginia ceded their
+western lands to the Union, and Greene's successes in the South, and
+Washington's capture of Yorktown, virtually put an end to the war.
+In the same year the confederation was completed by the accession of
+Maryland. Rhode Island could not perform all her federate duties as
+heretofore, but the presence of the French fleet made her for a while
+an object of especial interest. Her daily quota of supplies was two
+thousand rations of fresh beef, besides rum and other stores.
+
+In the same year she lost by surprise two of her best soldiers, Colonel
+Christopher Greene and Major Ebenezer Flagg, both distinguished by
+their part in the defence of Red Bank, in 1777. Peace was at hand, and
+with peace a new experiment in political life. The confederation had
+been tried in war and found wanting. How would it meet the requirements
+of peace?
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+ ARTS OF PEACE RESUMED.--DOCTRINE OF STATE RIGHTS.
+
+
+Great were the rejoicings over the surrender of Cornwallis--public
+balls, firing of cannon and display of fire-works--for close upon that
+surrender came the longed for peace. As a more enduring expression
+of gratitude to the man who had led in this great work, the Assembly
+decreed that "in order to obliterate, as may be, every trace and idea
+of that government which threatened our destruction ... the same
+county, (King's), shall forever hereafter be known and distinguished by
+the name and style of Washington."
+
+And soon the war-worn troops who had so gallantly borne their part in
+the burthen and heat of the day, came home rejoicing in their victory,
+but trembling for their future. Then came pressing the urgent questions
+of the hour, and first of all the question of finance. The Bank of
+North America had been established to strengthen the hands of the
+superintendent of finance, though not enough to make him listen to the
+appeal of Rhode Island to be allowed to pay part of her quota in army
+supplies. To ascertain on what ground the State stood for taxation a
+new census was ordered, which gave fifty-one thousand eight hundred
+and sixty-nine for the whole number of inhabitants, Newport returning
+five thousand five hundred and thirty-one, and Providence four thousand
+three hundred and ten. A new estimate of taxable property also was
+made, which was found to amount to nearly three millions of pounds in
+lawful money. Taxation had borne heavily upon this capital, but with
+peace war expenditures ceased, and productive industry began to return
+to its natural channels.
+
+And very soon a Federal question arose. Congress resolved to levy an
+import duty of five per cent., but could not do it without the consent
+of the states. Here dawns upon us the question of state rights, soon
+to assume a more menacing aspect and delay for years Rhode Island's
+entrance into the Union. Nearly all the states but Rhode Island had
+given their consent to it, but she foresaw in it future danger to her
+liberties and persisted in her refusal. Two of her delegates, Howell
+and Ellery, held out vigorously against it. "Howell undertook to prove
+that the State, by adopting the impost, would lose four-fifths of its
+revenue collected upon it. Mr. Ellery went upon the common danger of
+altering the constitution, and frightened the people with the loss of
+liberty."
+
+Varnum and Marchant used many arguments "to remove these prejudices,
+but to little purpose. The general spoke two hours and a half; his
+arguments were learned, sensible and conclusive; but they were
+unavailing." Such were the reasonings in the Rhode Island Assembly.
+"The truth of the matter is," wrote General Greene, "a large majority
+of the members are incompetent judges of so complicated a question....
+What is to become of us and our national honor God only knows. No
+people ever had brighter prospects shaded so unexpectedly."
+
+In the midst of these exciting discussions it is pleasant to see what
+early attention was given to education. The college returned to the use
+for which it was built, and in September, 1782, seven students received
+their degrees.
+
+In that same year and month died Nicholas Cooke, who had filled the
+Governor's chair so worthily at the beginning of the war. More than
+once before peace was declared an armed enemy was seen in Narragansett
+Bay. Two vessels were cut out of Newport harbor in the night by Tory
+privateers, and at another time an armed party took possession of Hope
+Island and held it for several days. One of the most menacing signs
+of these troubled times, was the armed resistance to the collection
+of taxes which had threatened Massachusetts with civil war, but was
+sternly put down. Yet even when the strong arm of the law was raised to
+enforce, they who wielded it most firmly could not but feel that there
+was much ground for complaint.
+
+I shall not attempt to follow step by step the progress of Rhode Island
+in her return to the life and arts of peace. New laws were called for
+and made. New fields of enterprise were opened and entered upon. The
+errors of the past were to be bitterly atoned for. But her resources
+were great, her will strong, and her courage unabated. From the mass of
+detail I select a few characteristic points.
+
+The financial embarrassment made itself felt everywhere, endangering
+contracts, paralyzing industry and checking enterprise, and undermining
+both public and private credit. Eight millions were required for the
+Federal quotas of 1782. Less than half a million had been collected.
+Four states had paid nothing, nine next to nothing. The impost act
+failed, and Howell, who by his opposition to it had made himself
+numerous enemies in Congress, had greatly added to his influence at
+home. Rhode Island was looked up to as the champion of state rights.
+With time she will grow wiser.
+
+We have seen that slavery became the subject of legislation at an
+early period of our annals. It reappeared at the return of peace, when
+gradual emancipation was minutely provided for, and the introduction of
+"slaves for sale under any pretext whatever, forbidden."
+
+Among the purely local acts was the incorporation of Newport, and the
+regulation of the Pawcatuck fishery, and an attempt to annex Potowomut
+to East Greenwich. Among those which belong to the history of thought
+was that by which Sabbatarians were "allowed to pursue their usual
+avocations on Sunday." Among those that bore directly upon business was
+the revival of the statute of limitations, and an act for encouraging
+the manufacture of certain articles of general demand. Patents and
+copyright laws followed soon after the adoption of the Constitution,
+though not with a full recognition of an author's right to the product
+of his brain. For the support of government a tariff act was passed.
+
+But the most historically interesting act of the February session of
+1783 was the enabling act, by which the original harmony between the
+digests and the charter was restored. Into these digests, but when or
+how nobody could tell, the phrases: "Roman Catholics excepted," and
+"professing Christianity," had been interpolated in direct violation
+of the royal charter. Neither under Charles nor under James could
+this have been done. But in 1696 a plot against William had been
+discovered, which led to the formation of "associations of loyalty"
+in all the colonies but Rhode Island. Practically, the exception had
+no effect, and Catholics and Jews were admitted to the full rights of
+citizenship as they had always been. But as an historical question it
+is pleasant to know that the principle of universal toleration was
+never practically violated in the home of Roger Williams.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+ DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY.--INTRODUCTION OF THE
+ SPINNING-JENNY.--BITTER OPPOSITION TO THE FEDERAL UNION.--RHODE
+ ISLAND FINALLY ACCEPTS THE CONSTITUTION.
+
+
+The question of finance meets us at every turn, and in every phase
+bears fatal witness to the demoralizing effects of paper money
+unsustained by hard money capital. At the Spring election of 1786,
+the triumph of the paper money party was complete. A new bank was
+established of a hundred thousand pounds. And soon a Forcing Act became
+necessary to give the bills currency under heavy penalties. A complete
+stagnation of business presently followed. The old hostility between
+town and country revived. Commerce was suspended. Shops were closed.
+The farmers who had mortgaged their farms for the bills, found that
+they had got nothing but bits of paper in return for fruitful acres.
+To retaliate upon the tradesmen they refused to bring their produce to
+market. The necessaries of life fell short and much suffering ensued.
+In Providence a town meeting was held to devise a remedy, and it was
+resolved that the farmers should be left to make their own bargains,
+and that to relieve the immediate demand five hundred dollars should
+be borrowed and sent abroad to buy corn for the sufferers. At Newport
+an attempt was made to force the bills upon the grain dealers, which
+led to a riot. At a meeting in South Kingstown farmers were advised to
+break off their intercourse with the merchants.
+
+A convention of the country towns of Providence County was held at
+Scituate and adjourned to meet the State convention at East Greenwich.
+Sixteen towns were represented and resolved "to support the acts of the
+General Assembly," and enforce the penal acts in favor of paper money.
+Providence was represented by five of its best and most popular men,
+but they were powerless against the torrent.
+
+When the question came before the Assembly a new Forcing Act was
+passed, in which the right to trial by jury was withheld and all the
+common forms of justice violated. The protest of the indignant minority
+was refused a place on the records; and pushing their recklessness
+to the utmost, the triumphant majority enacted that the arrears of
+Continental taxes might be paid in the new bills, and proposed a system
+by which all trade was to be carried on by a committee in the name
+of the State. This, however, was a step too far even for these wild
+schemers, and when the Force Act was brought to trial, it was condemned
+by a full bench as unconstitutional.
+
+But the Assembly persevered, summoned the judges to answer fofr their
+interference, and under the name of Test Act passed a new Forcing
+Act more outrageous than the last. It was something like a pause in
+this reckless career that the new act was referred to the towns for
+discussion. Only three towns accepted it. An attempt at conciliation
+failed.
+
+The lowest deep of financial degredation was reached when the treasurer
+was ordered to pay one-fourth part of the State debt in the bills
+received for taxes. Never had party spirit assumed so dangerous a form.
+Among the bad doings of the Assembly was the resumption of the charter
+of Newport.
+
+It was at this critical moment, when rents were paid in corn and trade
+seemed about to return to its original form of barter, that the first
+spinning-jenny in the United States was constructed by Daniel Jackson,
+of Providence, and the foundations of Rhode Island's manufacturing
+prosperity securely laid. History is full of compensations.
+
+We reach the beginning of a still greater struggle. The convention
+that was to transform the Confederation into a Union was to meet in
+May. Should Rhode Island be represented in it? Those who had faith in
+the Confederation, and there were many such, believed that with some
+amendments it might be made to answer all the purposes of a stable
+government. Those who were more impressed with its weakness called
+for a thorough and radical change. The first, who in the sequel were
+known as States Rights men, were also the advocates of paper money. The
+second, the Federalists of a later day, were in favor of hard money.
+The motion to send delegates was lost, and another step taken towards
+repudiation. "All holders of State securities were required to present
+them to the treasurer within six weeks and receive five shillings in
+the pound thereupon, or to forfeit that amount, and interest was to
+cease immediately upon the rising of the Assembly. The paper was now
+passing at the rate of six dollars in paper for one in silver." Never
+had the honor of the State been so imperilled. Fortunately, though, the
+Assembly was divided, the courts were firm, and it was only by removing
+four judges out of five that a decision in favor of paper payments
+was obtained. Meanwhile the bills continued to fall, and soon reached
+eight for one. But the moral sense of the community was not altogether
+stifled. Some churches refused to receive as communicants men who paid
+their debts in paper.
+
+But soon all questions became absorbed in the question of the
+acceptance or rejection of the Convention. In the Senate it was voted
+to send delegates, but the bill was lost in the House, whose action
+was defended by a State Rights letter, setting forth the doctrine of
+popular sovereignty and "the entire subserviency of the legislature
+to the public will." None but the people could send delegates to a
+convention.
+
+Meanwhile, the Convention, with Washington at its head, and Franklin,
+Hamilton and Madison among its working members, had reached the end
+of its arduous labors. The next step was to submit it to the people.
+The Assembly met and a bill was introduced for printing it for
+distribution, and appointing delegates as recommended by the Convention
+itself. The last was voted down by a large majority. The fruit was not
+yet ripe. But a resolve to print a thousand copies for distribution was
+agreed to, and thus the question was brought squarely before the people.
+
+And now for three years it was the chief question in all public
+meetings, and was sure to come in either directly or indirectly
+wherever two or three met together for business or for pleasure. The
+merchants accepted it cheerfully, for they saw progress and development
+and protection in it. But it was opposed by the farmers, who saw in it
+a sacrifice of the rights of the State. Rhode Island had stood alone
+so long, had been so firm and self-reliant through the dark days of
+her long contest with Massachusetts and Connecticut, that she failed
+to see how completely the relations of the colonies to each other were
+changed, when from colonies they became states. There was no place for
+independent states in the domain occupied by a Federal Union.
+
+The first to accept the Constitution was Delaware. Pennsylvania came
+next, and then New Jersey. The opening of 1788 was marked by the
+accession of Georgia. Connecticut followed close. In Massachusetts
+the contest was long and bitter. In June New Hampshire gave in her
+adherence.
+
+We have seen in what a dark hour Rhode Island first turned her
+attention to cotton spinning. In this hour of even deeper gloom she
+first opened a direct trade with India. About the same time a rolling
+and a slitting-mill was established near Providence. Women of all
+classes met together to spin flax, and men of all classes took pride in
+wearing homespun. Nor was the promise of navigation less. Providence
+already counted a hundred and ten sail in her waters, exclusive of
+river craft. In spite of all her errors her faith in the future was
+unimpaired.
+
+Meanwhile the contest continued. Town was arrayed against country, the
+States Rights men still holding the majority in the Assembly, although
+in Providence the Federalists were strongest. The tidings of New
+Hampshire's acceptance was received with exultation. The Constitution
+was sure. In Providence it was resolved to unite the celebration of the
+Fourth of July with that of the completion of the National Union. The
+States Rights men took this for an intentional insult and marched upon
+the town. Nothing but the good sense of the leaders prevented a bloody
+collision. The rejoicings it was agreed, were for the Declaration of
+Independence, not for the Declaration of the Union. Then from five to
+six thousand people sat down in a tent a thousand feet long to feast
+upon a sumptuous banquet, the most attractive part of which was an ox
+roasted whole. On the very next day came tidings from Virginia. She
+also had accepted the Constitution. New York followed and then North
+Carolina, and the warmest enthusiasm welcomed each new declaration of
+acceptance. But a bitter party spirit still held Rhode Island back.
+
+Thus month followed month. New assemblies and new town meetings came
+together and fought over the same ground. In all the other states
+of the old thirteen the Constitution had been accepted, and was in
+successful operation. It was clear that Rhode Island could not long
+preserve her insulation. She was already compelled to ask vital favors
+of the Union, and petition Congress to exempt her commerce from paying
+duties in Union ports. For a while Congress bore with her and granted
+her prayer. Slowly but surely the decisive day drew nigh. All the
+artifices of parliamentary tactics were brought into play. In the midst
+of intense excitement and by the casting vote of Governor Collins, it
+was decided on the Sabbath morning of January 17th, 1790, to call a
+convention. But even in the convention the friends of the Constitution
+were in a minority. The familiar ground was to be fought over again
+with no less bitterness than in the beginning. Loud murmurs came from
+Congress. Shall this little strip of land prevent us from completing
+a union so full of promise? Louder still were the murmurs from the
+seats of commerce--Providence and Newport. We will break away from
+these impracticable men and go into the Union alone with our ships and
+our spinning-jennies. A coalition ticket was formed. So great was the
+eager crowd, in which each man had his opinion, that the State House
+was found too small to hold them, and the convention was compelled
+to adjourn to the Second Baptist Church. It still took three days
+more before a vote was reached; and then, at five o'clock of Saturday
+afternoon, on the 29th of May, 1790, Rhode Island declared her adhesion
+to the Union.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+ MODE OF LIFE IN OUR FOREFATHERS' DAYS.
+
+
+We have followed with as much detail as our limits would permit, the
+history of Rhode Island through the various phases of her colonial
+life. Before we enter upon the story of her development as a member
+of a great Union, we propose to bring together a few facts from the
+imperfect record of her social and domestic life, and endeavor to form
+for ourselves some idea of what manner of men and women our fathers
+and mothers were, and what kind of lives they led. Incomplete as our
+materials for such a picture are, there is still enough to be found in
+those sources from which history loves to draw to bring us very near to
+the life of those days.
+
+And to begin with the soil; the inland in the beginning of English
+colonization was a vast forest, dotted with ponds of fresh water and
+watered by numerous rivers. In this forest the natives themselves had
+begun the work of clearing, and drawn between it and the sea a belt of
+arable land from eight to ten miles in depth, on which they planted
+their favorite food--the nutritious maize. The waters abounded with
+fish, the woods with game. The animals most to be feared were the
+wild-cat and the wolf--the most sought after by the hunter, the deer.
+In the earliest commercial intercourse of Indian and white man, the
+medium was maize.
+
+There were no carriages nor carriage roads. All traveling was on foot
+or horseback, and when the first English settlement began, in almost
+every twenty miles you would find an Indian village.
+
+As the soil came under more skillful cultivation and the colonist
+took the place of the Indian in field work, the harvests became more
+abundant, and the rich grasses which grew as high as the tops of the
+fences, became very valuable as butter and cheese. Thus farming was
+carried on on a large scale, and dairy farms gave employment to many
+hands. The Stanton farm was four miles long by two miles wide, and was
+cultivated by forty horses and forty slaves. The Champlin farm was a
+tract of a thousand acres, feeding thirty-five horses, fifty-five cows,
+from six to seven hundred sheep, and slaves enough to tend and utilize
+them all. Robert Hazard owned sixteen hundred acres on Boston Neck,
+and several thousand on the west side of the Pettaquamscot River. On
+one of these farms grazed a hundred and ten cows, two hundred loads of
+hay were cut, thirteen thousand pounds of cheese were made, and from
+seventy to eighty pounds of butter. The products on which all this
+labor was bestowed, were corn, tobacco, cheese and wool. The work was
+done by slaves and Indians. The cheese resembled in flavor and color
+the rich Cheshire cheese of England. Some attention was also given to
+fattening bullocks and raising horses, and cutting hay and grain for
+the West Indies.
+
+On Isaac P. Hazard's farm twelve negro women were employed in making
+cheese, each woman having a girl under her and making from twelve to
+twenty-four cheeses a day. So rich and luxuriant was the grass that his
+hundred and fifty cows gave double the quantity of milk that cows give
+on the same farms now. Four thousand sheep furnished the materials for
+the woolen cloths of his numerous household, and extensive hemp fields
+the linen, both being woven in his own looms. This Hazard, when years
+came upon him, gave over the management of his estate into the hands of
+his children, and congratulated himself that he thenceforth had only
+seventy mouths to provide for between parlor and kitchen.
+
+Traveling, as I have already stated, was on horseback, and a servant
+well mounted always went with the master to open the gates. The roads
+were mere driftways. A generous hospitality left the inns to justices'
+courts, town councils and tipplers. The guest chamber was seldom empty,
+and the fireside all the more cheerful for the face of a stranger.
+
+Public provisions for education were insufficient. Their place was
+supplied for boys by private tutors, or by board in the family of a
+learned clergyman to prepare them for college. The girls were sometimes
+sent to Boston to study accomplishments. They loved reading, each
+generation having its favorite in verse and in prose. Of those nearest
+to us Pope was the poet. Private libraries were numerous and well
+selected, though not large.
+
+Amusements took their character from country life. The young men loved
+races on the beach with their Narragansett pacers, and a silver tankard
+for the winner. They all loved quahaug roasts on the shores, where deep
+beds of shells still remain to bear witness to their festivities. They
+loved to hunt the fox and the deer with hound and horn, and exercise
+their skill in starting and following up the partridge and woodcock and
+quail. They would lie on the frozen ground in the cold winter dawn to
+get a shot at a duck or a wild goose and trap the timid rabbit in snow.
+No hardship was too great that brought them to their game. In May they
+went in merry parties to Hartford to eat bloated salmon.
+
+In such a state of society weddings were great festivals, and more
+especially for the display of dress. The bride came robed in stiff
+brocade with towering head dress and high heeled shoes. The bridegroom,
+in scarlet coat, his limbs clad in small-cloths and silken hose, with
+laced ruffles on his wrists, and brilliant buckles on his shoes, and
+his hair curled and frizzled, or suspended behind in a queue. Friends
+and kindred came from far and near, sometimes as many as six hundred
+being gathered to witness the nuptial rites and join in the wedding
+dance.
+
+But the great pastime for young and old, for matron and maid and
+for youth just blushing into manhood, was the autumn husking, when
+neighbors met at each other's corn-yards to husk each other's corn;
+sometimes husking a thousand bushels in a single meeting. Husking had
+its laws, and never were laws better obeyed. For every red ear the
+lucky swain could claim a kiss from every maid; with every smoot ear he
+smooched the faces of his mates amid laughter and joyous shoutings; but
+when the prize fell to a girl she would walk the round demurely, look
+each eager aspirant in the face, and hide or reveal the secret of her
+heart by a kiss. Then came the dance and supper, running deep into the
+night and often encroaching upon the early dawn.
+
+I have spoken of slavery and the repeated attempts Rhode Island made to
+shake it off. The number of slaves was not large, and for the most part
+they were treated kindly. Still servitude implied degradation, and the
+habit of looking down upon human beings could not but react unfavorably
+upon the character and habits of the masters themselves. It was a
+softening of their lot that in the regular festivals the negroes had
+their share, their dances and their suppers, and even their elections,
+when they elected and installed their governor, and feasted luxuriously
+at the expense of their masters.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXX.
+
+ COMMERCIAL GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF RHODE ISLAND.
+
+
+Rhode Island came well prepared to her new duties. She had worked
+out in her own experience the most important problems of civil
+organization, rendering "unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and
+unto God the things that are God's." Her legislation was the reflection
+of her culture, and her statute book the record of her progress in
+the science of self-government. Her colonial life had been a constant
+struggle with jealous neighbors who coveted her beautiful bay and
+detested her "soul liberty." Out of this struggle she came stronger
+and more resolute for the discipline it gave her, yet not without some
+marks of the strife. She had learned to apprehend danger from afar off
+and cultivate jealousy as a safeguard, and hence she sometimes as in
+her refusal to grant the impost duty, was guided by a keen sense of
+her rights as a sovereign state, rather than a deep conviction of her
+obligations as member of a confederation. Hence also, she had hesitated
+three years on the borders of union, and seen her sister states enter
+it one by one before she could bring herself to make over to a central
+government even those portions of authority which a central government
+could administer so much more in her interest than she. But she was
+wiser for the struggle, and full of resolution and hope entered boldly
+upon her new career.
+
+We have seen that Rhode Island began very early to seek her fortune
+on the water. Ship building was one of the earliest forms which her
+enterprise assumed. Already in March, 1790, the shipping of Providence
+alone consisted of nine ships, thirty-six brigs, forty-five sloops and
+twenty schooners, forming in all a tonnage of ten thousand five hundred
+and ninety. To man this commercial fleet the same town had a population
+of six thousand three hundred and eighty to draw from. Newport, though
+no longer holding the same position which she held before the war, was
+still an active seaport. The population of the whole State had risen to
+sixty-eight thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
+
+The most active commerce had been that of the West Indies. But with
+peace a wider field was opened, and ships sent directly to the East
+Indies. Raw material of various kinds was sent to Europe, and European
+manufactures brought back in return. It was soon evident that the new
+State would profit England more by equal commerce than by dependence.
+Yet it was not all at once that the financial errors of the Revolution
+could be repaired, or the bitterness engendered by civil war assuaged.
+A deep rooted hostility to England had taken hold of many minds, to
+bear its fruits when republican France claimed sympathy as a sister
+republic.
+
+We have already registered the birth of manufactures. Circumstances
+favored their growth and prepared the way for a development which has
+made the smallest one of the richest states of the Union. A great
+river runs through it, widening at its mouth into a spacious bay. Deep
+ponds of pure water dot its surface, and limpid streamlets which swell
+with every rain send from every upland their tributes to the bay. How
+should these waters be subjected to the will of man? Samuel Slater, a
+native of Derbyshire, had served an apprenticeship to Jedediah Strutt,
+the partner of Arkwright, and learned the secret of the new method of
+spinning cotton. Heavy penalties were affixed to the exportation of
+the new machinery. But Slater had made himself master of the theory as
+well as the practice of the art, and seems to have been casting about
+him for a way of turning his knowledge to account, when he learned that
+the State of Pennsylvania had offered a bounty for the introduction
+of it. Thus American manufactures owe their birth to protection. The
+story was a simple one. Slater came to America bringing the secret with
+him. In Moses Brown, of Providence, he found a judicious counselor, in
+William Almy and Smith Brown enterprising capitalists. On the 21st of
+December, 1790, and on the Pawtucket River, the first factory went into
+operation. On that day and by the hand of Samuel Slater, the destiny of
+Rhode Island was decided.
+
+In these days of mingled hope and fear, on the 19th of July, 1785,
+closed the long and useful career of Stephen Hopkins, whose name is
+closely interwoven with all that is greatest and best in Rhode Island
+history; an astronomer of no mean pretensions, a statesman of broad
+views and deep penetration, a supreme executive, prompt, energetic
+and fearless, a genial companion when wise men relax from care, and
+a trusty counselor when the duties of life bear heaviest on the
+scrupulous conscience.
+
+The tranquil growth of manufactures affords few materials for general
+history, in which it appears by its results rather than by its
+processes. Statistics take the place of narrative, and except in
+controlling and inventive minds the story of man himself is the story
+of a machine.
+
+Meanwhile another seed was sown in this fruitful ground, and another
+name was associated with a great public benefaction, the name of John
+Howland, a native of Newport, but from his ninth year a resident of
+Providence and a barber by trade, became, in 1799, the father of the
+free school system of Rhode Island. Not all at once was this good work
+done, but slowly and in spite of much opposition, chiefly from the poor
+who were to profit most by it. Years were yet to pass before the pride
+as well as the consciences of the people became enlisted in its behalf.
+
+In the commercial history of the State the foundation of the Providence
+Bank, in 1791, was an event of great importance, to be followed at
+intervals by others with various degrees of success. But among them all
+not one bore so directly upon the moral growth of the community as the
+Providence Institution for Savings, founded in 1819.
+
+Great hopes were founded on a canal connecting the tide-water of
+Providence River with the north line of the State. A company for this
+purpose was formed in 1796, and so great was the confidence which
+the undertaking inspired, that John Brown, a leading merchant of
+Providence, subscribed forty thousand dollars to the stock. The project
+failed, and though enthusiastically renewed in 1823, failed again and
+forever.
+
+The yellow fever belongs to our record, and Rhode Island came in for
+a full share of the destruction occasioned by the September gale of
+1815. Most towns hand down from generation to generation the story of
+some great fire which swept over it in its young days, leaving ruin and
+desolation in its path. The "great fire" of Providence was the fire
+of 1801, the memory of which still lives in the traditions of our own
+generation.
+
+Pleasant memories also belong to our record. When Washington made
+his first visit to the East as President, Rhode Island had not yet
+entered the Union. When she did he made a second visit to the East in
+recognition of her accession, and was enthusiastically welcomed. He had
+already been there under very different circumstances during the war.
+
+We have spoken of John Howland as a public benefactor. Another of
+these benefactors of their race was Ebenezer Knight Dexter, founder
+of the Dexter Asylum, who having amassed a large fortune in honorable
+commerce, gave sixty thousand dollars of it to the support of the poor.
+A still more important movement was made in the interest of the poor,
+when the first temperance meeting was held in Providence in 1827.
+
+We saw how a charter had been granted to Newport and taken from her. In
+1829 an attempt was made to obtain a charter for Providence and failed.
+Two years later a serious riot occurred in which some property was
+destroyed and some lives were lost. It became evident to the friends
+of good order that a more efficient government was required to hold in
+check a population of sixteen thousand eight hundred and thirty-two
+souls; for to that number had Providence risen in 1830. A charter was
+applied for and easily obtained, and on the 22d of November, 1832, the
+Town of Providence became a city. Samuel W. Bridgham was the first
+Mayor.
+
+Though never the seat of war during the war of 1812, the name of
+Rhode Island is closely connected with it, through Oliver H. Perry,
+one of the greatest of naval commanders. She bore her part also in the
+sufferings occasioned by the embargo, and the other rash measures of
+a government which rushed headlong and wholly unprepared into a war
+with the most powerful nation on earth. Fully sharing also in the just
+discontent of the Eastern States, she sent four delegates to the much
+maligned Hartford Convention.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+ THE DORR REBELLION.
+
+
+We have seen that the relation of the citizen to the State became
+the subject of attention and experiment at an early period in the
+history of Rhode Island. Although an avowed democracy, she regarded
+suffrage not as an inherent right, but as a privilege dependent
+upon the fulfillment of certain specified conditions. Inequality of
+representation was a natural consequence of the unequally increased
+population; some towns growing faster than others, but having no
+more voice in legislation than they had had at the beginning of
+their civil existence. The right to vote was held to be an important
+right, and great pains were taken to secure purity at the polls. But
+it was evident that all the tax-payers would sooner or later claim
+to be voters. This question recurs from time to time in all its
+ramifications, and though long deferred, became at last the chief
+question of Rhode Island politics.
+
+For more than two-thirds of a century she had lived under the Charter
+of Charles II., first as a Colony and lastly as a State. This Charter
+was framed in the broad and liberal spirit of Roger Williams and John
+Clarke, and left room for large developments in every department of
+legitimate thought and action.
+
+Unfortunately what might have been brought about by peaceful discussion
+was gradually fanned into the fiercest flame. Providence had entirely
+outgrown her old rival, Newport, and yet Newport had a representation
+of six in the Assembly, and Providence of only four. In other towns
+the disproportion was equally great. The property qualification also,
+a freehold of a hundred and thirty-four dollars, was bitterly opposed
+by those who had no freehold. In 1840 seventy-two representatives were
+chosen. Thirty-eight were chosen from towns having only twenty-nine
+thousand and twenty inhabitants and two thousand eight hundred and
+forty-six voters, and the remaining thirty-four came from towns which
+had only seventy-nine thousand eight hundred and four inhabitants, and
+five thousand seven hundred and seventy-six voters.
+
+Equally irritating to those who had no share in it was the right
+conferred by primogeniture.
+
+For many years these questions were prominent subjects of discussion,
+and were even brought forward as the most important objects of
+legislative action. But no relief could be obtained from the Assembly,
+for the Assembly itself was chiefly composed of the privileged classes.
+From the Assembly there was but one appeal--the appeal to the people,
+and upon the form of this appeal lay the choice between reform and
+revolution. This is the event known in Rhode Island history as the
+Dorr Rebellion.
+
+The first step towards action was the formation of suffrage
+associations, by which the public mind was excited and the popular will
+roused to exertion. All through the last weeks of 1840 and the first
+weeks of 1841, these associations were busy in guiding, kindling and
+stimulating the popular mind, and preparing it for decisive action.
+All classes were roused, for the contest was at every door, and every
+citizen was equally interested in the result.
+
+The suffrage associations did their work actively and well. By the 5th
+of July, 1841, a mass convention was held in Providence, and the State
+Committee was authorized to call a convention for the formation of a
+Constitution. Confident of their strength the committee set themselves
+to their task. On the 28th of August delegates were chosen, and on the
+4th of October the convention met. In this convention a Constitution
+was framed, and in December sent out to the people as the People's
+Constitution. Fourteen thousand voters, a majority, it was claimed, of
+all the male adult voters in the State, cast their votes for it. It
+claimed to be the will of the people authoritatively expressed. There
+was one more step to take, the consequence and complement of all that
+had hitherto been done, to complete the organization by the election
+of officers. The 18th of April, 1842, was fixed upon for this gravest
+function of freemen, and Thomas Wilson Dorr, of Providence, was chosen
+Governor.
+
+Votes had done all that the mere expression of opinion could do. But
+underlying every lawful vote was the law which gave it validity, and
+this law had prescribed the form and manner in which these votes became
+effective. It had said that while the source of all power was in the
+people, the people themselves in order to secure progress and guard
+against revolution had set limits to their authority, and told when,
+where and for what it should be employed.
+
+And now it was seen that there was another government which claimed
+to be in sole possession of this power, and the moment that the new
+government attempted to perform its executive functions it found itself
+face to face with the old. It was evident that one of the two parties
+must give way or there must be a collision and bloodshed.
+
+The first attempt of the Suffragists to organize was made at Providence
+on the 3d of May, and was repelled. The moral strength was with the
+charter government which had the chartered companies, the organized
+militia and a strong body of volunteers at its control. It had also
+the strong moral support of that clause in the Constitution of the
+United States which guarantees to every state a republican government
+and protection against internal violence. Should Federal intervention
+become necessary, the time and the form of it had been provided
+for. But it was not needed. We have seen that on the 3d of May the
+government of Governor, Dorr had attempted to displace the government
+of Governor King, and failed. On the 18th an attempt was made to seize
+the Arsenal, which also failed. Men who had grown up side by side in
+peaceful intimacy, had seized their arms under a strong political
+excitement, but when the moment for using them came, shrank from the
+fearful responsibility. Hundreds would have fought gallantly, but no
+one was prepared to begin. And thus when on the 25th of June an attempt
+was made to make a stand at Chepachet, the Suffragists gave way at
+the approach of the State troops, and returned to their homes without
+shedding a drop of blood. By the 28th of June all was over. The great
+body of the insurgents went quietly back to their stores and their
+farms. Their leader was tried for treason and condemned to imprisonment
+for life. But Rhode Island was not a place where so severe a punishment
+could be meted out to such an offence. In 1847 an act of general
+amnesty set him free, and in 1851 he was restored to his political
+and civil rights. Forgiveness went still further, and his sentence
+was reversed as illegal and unjust. But the Supreme Court refused to
+sustain this reversal as an assumption of judicial authority by the
+Legislature. Dorr's early death left him no time for new aspirations.
+
+Meanwhile a new convention for the framing of a new Constitution had
+been called by the regularly constituted authorities, and a new draft
+submitted to the people. But this also was rejected. Another attempt
+was made, another convention called. Argument and discussion were
+exhausted. The popular mind was prepared for decision. The popular
+will called for it. The last day of the old Charter was come. At an
+adjourned meeting of the convention, held at East Greenwich on the
+5th of November, a final decision was reached and a Constitution
+unanimously agreed upon. On the first Tuesday in May, 1843, it went
+into operation.
+
+And thus Rhode Island, while she adhered firmly to the principle of
+freedom of opinion, adhered no less firmly to the principle of law and
+order. The Dorr Rebellion was the resistance of law to revolution, of
+order to the arbitrary assumption of power. Rhode Island had begun her
+career by a practical profession of freedom of thought and freedom
+of speech. She had struggled long and hard to secure them both, and
+now the day of reward was at hand. Henceforth the industries of peace
+will bring her wealth from the land and the sea, the salubrity of her
+climate will raise up on her inland and on her shores a thriving and
+vigorous population, and while in some things she will take the lead of
+her sister states, in no thing will she fall far behind.
+
+
+
+
+ CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+ LIFE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.--THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.--THE
+ CENTENARY.
+
+
+With the adoption of the new Constitution business returned to its
+natural channels. Party animosities lost somewhat of their bitterness
+as the various forms of industry revived, and old friends were again
+brought into daily communication under the healing influence of common
+interests and common pleasures. The story of these calm pursuits brings
+out in pleasant relief the every-day virtues of domestic life and the
+higher qualities of combination and invention, but it seldom addresses
+itself to the imagination, or excites and surprises by glowing appeals
+to the passions. The happiest periods of history are those which are
+the most barren of incident.
+
+Meanwhile one of the great epochs of our history was at hand, and Rhode
+Island was again called upon to furnish the materials for battles which
+were to be fought at a distance from her own soil. The war of secession
+found her, like her sisters, unprepared for the great struggle in which
+humanity had so much at stake, and which soon made it manifest that
+industrious peace is the best of preparations for a war of principle.
+Within three days after President Lincoln issued his proclamation
+calling for troops for the defence of Washington, a body of Rhode
+Islanders, well armed and equipped, was on its way thither. As the war
+continued she still met its increasing demands, till the sum-total
+of her contributions amounted to twenty-four thousand and forty-two,
+upon a population of one hundred and eighty-four thousand nine hundred
+and sixty-five. Of these, two hundred and fifty-five were killed; one
+thousand two hundred and sixty-three died of wounds or disease; one
+thousand two hundred and forty-nine were wounded.
+
+As some readers may wish for more detail, I give the following
+statement, for which I am indebted to the politeness of
+Adjutant-General Heber Le Favour:
+
+ "There went into the field from Rhode Island during the late
+ rebellion, twenty-four thousand and forty-two men; of which the
+ infantry numbered ten thousand three hundred and eighty-two; cavalry,
+ four thousand three hundred and ninety-four; heavy artillery, five
+ thousand six hundred and forty-four; light artillery, two thousand
+ nine hundred and seventy-seven; navy, six hundred and forty-five.
+ This number is in excess of the actual number of persons furnished by
+ the State, as many of them appear several times on the record under
+ the head of promotions or re-enlistments after discharge from their
+ three months, nine months, or three years terms of service.
+
+ Two hundred and fifty-five were killed, one thousand two hundred and
+ sixty-five died of wounds or disease, and one thousand two hundred
+ and forty-nine were wounded. There were eight regiments of infantry,
+ of which three were for three months and two for nine months. There
+ were three regiments of cavalry for three years, and one squadron
+ for three months. There were three regiments of heavy artillery.
+ There was one regiment of light artillery, composed of eight light
+ batteries, and there were also two light batteries for three months
+ service. One company of infantry was stationed at Portsmouth Grove as
+ Hospital Guards."
+
+On the 4th of July, 1876, the United States of America ended the
+first century of their national existence; a century of marvellous
+experiences throughout the civilized world; of experiences in the
+science of government, which bear directly upon the moral development
+of man and experiences in the physical sciences which minister directly
+and indirectly both to his material wants and to the demands of his
+intellectual nature. Civilization had reached in those hundred years a
+height and a completeness which it had never reached before.
+
+Proud of what they had done, confident of what they could do, they
+invited the other civilized nations, their elders by centuries, to
+bring the choicest productions of their art and industry and set them
+side by side with those of the young republic. In this comparison how
+well Rhode Island bore her part the following list will show:
+
+Rhode Island was conspicuous at the Exposition for the excellence of
+her products in the following departments:[A]
+
+_First_--Machinery, including new inventions.
+
+_Second_--Cotton fabrics, including sheeting and shirting, calico, fine
+muslins, jeans, drillings, etc.
+
+_Third_--Woolen fabrics, broad cloths, cassimeres, shawls, worsteds,
+etc.
+
+_Fourth_--Wood screws. (American Screw Co., Providence.)
+
+_Fifth_--Fire-arms, rifles, carabines chiefly. The Peabody-Martini
+rifle furnished the Turkish government an arm of great excellence.
+(Providence Tool Co.)
+
+_Sixth_--Fabrics of India rubber. (The Bristol Works.)
+
+_Seventh_--Silver and plated ware. (Gorham's.)
+
+_Eighth_--Steam engines.
+
+_Ninth_--Hair cloth. (Various companies in Pawtucket.)
+
+_Tenth_--Files and mechanics' tools.
+
+_Eleventh_--Stoves and furnaces. (Chiefly the product of the Barstow
+Works.)
+
+_Twelfth_--Chemical manufactures.
+
+ [A] For the above list I am indebted to my friend, Hon. J. R.
+ Bartlett, to whom Rhode Island is indebted for the preservation
+ and publication of her Colonial Records.
+
+And here I stay my hand. I have spoken kindly of the State of my birth,
+but mindful of the historian's first duty, I have striven in every
+thing to speak truthfully. It is an unvarnished tale, and yet there
+is a moral grandeur in it far beyond the grandeur of battle-fields
+and thrones. By deep and earnest convictions, by unwavering faith and
+unshaken resolution, Rhode Island has worked out for herself and for
+mankind one of the grandest problems of civilization.
+
+It is the privilege of history that it teaches by examples. It is
+good for man that such men as Roger Williams and John Clark, should
+have lived. It is for the glory of Rhode Island that men like these,
+searching for a spot whereon they might build and live with unfettered
+consciences, should have chosen her for their dwelling place.
+
+
+
+
+ AUTHOR'S NOTE.
+
+ (_Referring to Page 196._)
+
+
+This is not strictly accurate. It was in honor of Nicholas, not John
+Brown, and several years after its removal from Warren to Providence,
+that the name of Rhode Island College was changed to Brown University.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ Map of
+ THE STATE OF
+ RHODE ISLAND
+ _PUBLISHED BY_
+ J. A. & R. A. REID,
+ IN
+ _A SHORT HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND_
+ 1877.
+ Drawn by J. C. Thompson.]
+
+
+
+
+ Appendix.
+
+
+
+
+ The Charter,
+
+ _GRANTED BY KING CHARLES II._,
+
+July 8, 1663, and in force until the adoption of the Constitution,
+November, 1842.
+
+
+Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland,
+France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whom these
+presents shall come, greeting: Whereas, we have been informed, by the
+humble petition of our trusty and well-beloved subject, John Clarke,
+on the behalf of Benjamin Arnold, William Brenton, William Codington,
+Nicholas Easton, William Boulston, John Porter, John Smith, Samuel
+Gorton, John Weeks, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter,
+John Coggeshall, Joseph Clarke, Randall Holden, John Greene, John
+Roome, Samuel Wildbore, William Field, James Barker, Richard Tew,
+Thomas Harris, and William Dyre, and the rest of the purchasers and
+free inhabitants of our island, called Rhode Island, and the rest
+of the Colony of Providence Plantations, in the Narragansett Bay,
+in New England, in America, that they, pursuing, with peaceable and
+loyal minds, their sober, serious, and religious intentions, of godly
+edifying themselves, and one another, in the holy Christian faith
+and worship, as they were persuaded; together with the gaining over
+and conversion of the poor ignorant Indian natives, in those parts
+of America to the sincere profession and obedience of the same faith
+and worship, did, not only by the consent and good encouragement of
+our royal progenitors, transport themselves out of this kingdom of
+England into America, but also, since their arrival there, after their
+first settlement amongst other our subjects in those parts, for the
+avoiding of discord, and those many evils which were likely to ensue
+upon some of those our subjects not being able to bear, in these remote
+parts, their different apprehensions in religious concernments, and in
+pursuance of the aforesaid ends, did once again leave their desirable
+stations and habitations, and with excessive labor and travel, hazard
+and charge did transplant themselves into the midst of the Indian
+natives, who, as we are informed, are the most potent princes and
+people of all that country; where, by the good Providence of God,
+from whom the Plantations have taken their name, upon their labor and
+industry, they have not only been preserved to admiration, but have
+increased and prospered, and are seized and possessed, by purchase and
+consent of the said natives, to their full content, of such lands,
+islands, rivers, harbors and roads, as are very convenient, both for
+plantations, and also for building of ships, supply of pipe-staves, and
+other merchandize; and which lie very commodious, in many respects,
+for commerce, and to accommodate our southern plantations, and may
+much advance the trade of this our realm, and greatly enlarge the the
+territories thereof; they having by near neighborhood to and friendly
+society with the great body of the Narragansett Indians, given them
+encouragement of their own accord, to subject themselves, their people
+and lands, unto us; whereby, as is hoped, there may, in time, by the
+blessing of God upon their endeavors be laid a sure foundation of
+happiness to all America: And whereas, in their humble address, they
+have freely declared, that it is much on their hearts (if they may be
+permitted) to hold forth a lively experiment, that a most nourishing
+civil state may stand and best be maintained, and that among our
+English subjects, with a full liberty in religious concernments; and
+that true piety rightly grounded upon gospel principles, will give the
+best and greatest security to sovereignty, and will lay in the hearts
+of men the strongest obligations to true loyalty: Now, know ye, that
+we, being willing to encourage the hopeful undertaking of our said
+loyal and loving subjects, and to secure them in the free exercise and
+enjoyment of all their civil and religious rights, appertaining to
+them, as our loving subjects; and to preserve unto them that liberty,
+in the true Christian faith and worship of God, which they have sought
+with so much travail, and with peaceable minds, and loyal subjection
+to our royal progenitors and ourselves, to enjoy; and because some of
+the people and inhabitants of the same colony cannot, in their private
+opinions, conform to the public exercise of religion, according to the
+liturgy, forms and ceremonies of the Church of England, or take or
+subscribe the oaths and articles made and established in that behalf;
+and for that the same, by reason of the remote distances of those
+places, will (as we hope) be no breach of the unity and uniformity
+established in this nation: Have therefore thought fit, and do hereby
+publish, grant, ordain and declare, That our royal will and pleasure
+is, that no person within the said Colony, at any time hereafter, shall
+be any wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question,
+for any differences in opinion in matters of religion, and do not
+actually disturb the civil peace of our said Colony; but that all and
+every person and persons may, from time to time, and at all times
+hereafter, freely and fully have and enjoy his and their own judgments
+and consciences, in matters of religious concernments, throughout
+the tract of land hereafter mentioned, they behaving themselves
+peaceably and quietly, and not using this liberty to licentiousness and
+profaneness, nor to the civil injury or outward disturbance of others,
+any law, statute, or clause therein contained, or to be contained,
+usage or custom of this realm, to the contrary hereof, in any wise,
+notwithstanding. And that they may be in the better capacity to defend
+themselves, in their just rights and liberties, against all the enemies
+of the Christian faith, and others, in all respects, we have further
+thought fit, and at the humble petition of the persons aforesaid are
+graciously pleased to declare, That they shall have and enjoy the
+benefit of our late act of indemnity and free pardon, as the rest
+of our subjects in other our dominions and territories have; and to
+create and make them a body politic or corporate, with the powers and
+privileges hereinafter mentioned. And accordingly our will and pleasure
+is, and of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we
+have ordained, constituted and declared, and by these presents, for us,
+our heirs and successors, do ordain, constitute and declare, That they,
+the said William Brenton, William Codington, Nicholas Easton, Benedict
+Arnold, William Boulston, John Porter, Samuel Gorton, John Smith, John
+Weeks, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter, John Coggeshall,
+Joseph Clarke, Randall Holden, John Greene, John Roome, William Dyre,
+Samuel Wildbore, Richard Tew, William Field, Thomas Harris, James
+Barker, ---- Rainsborrow, ---- Williams, and John Nickson, and all
+such others as now are, or hereafter shall be, admitted and made free
+of the company and society of our Colony of Providence Plantations, in
+the Narragansett Bay, in New England, shall be from time to time, and
+forever hereafter, a body corporate and politic, in fact and name, by
+the name of the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode
+Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America; and
+that, by the same name, they and their successors shall and may have
+perpetual succession, and shall and may be persons able and capable,
+in the law, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, to answer,
+and be answered unto, to defend and to be defended, in all and singular
+suits, causes, quarrels, matters, actions, and things, of what kind or
+nature soever; and also to have, take, possess, acquire, and purchase
+lands, tenements or hereditaments, or any goods or chattels, and the
+same to lease, grant, demise, aliene, bargain, sell and dispose of,
+at their own will and pleasure, as other our liege people of this our
+realm of England, or any corporation or body politic, within the same,
+may lawfully do. And further, that they the said Governor and Company,
+and their successors, shall and may, forever hereafter, have a common
+seal, to serve and use for all matters, causes, things and affairs,
+whatsoever, of them, and their successors; and the same seal to alter,
+change, break, and make new, from time to time, at their will and
+pleasure, as they shall think fit. And further, we will and ordain, and
+by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, do declare and
+appoint that, for the better ordering and managing of the affairs and
+business of the said Company, and their successors, there shall be one
+Governor, one Deputy-Governor and ten Assistants, to be from time to
+time, constituted, elected and chosen, out of the freemen of the said
+Company, for the time being, in such manner and form as is hereafter in
+these presents expressed, which said officers shall apply themselves to
+take care for the best disposing and ordering of the general business
+and affairs of and concerning the lands, and hereditaments hereinafter
+mentioned to be granted, and the plantation thereof, and the government
+of the people there. And, for the better execution of our royal
+pleasure herein, we do, for us, our heirs and successors, assign,
+name, constitute, and appoint the aforesaid Benedict Arnold to be the
+first and present Governor of the said Company, and the said William
+Brenton to be the Deputy-Governor, and the said William Boulston,
+John Porter, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, John Smith, John Greene,
+John Coggeshall, James Barker, William Field, and Joseph Clarke, to
+be the ten present Assistants of the said Company, to continue in the
+said several offices, respectively, until the first Wednesday which
+shall be in the month of May now next coming. And further, we will,
+and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do ordain
+and grant that the Governor of the said Company, for the time being,
+or, in his absence, by occasion of sickness, or otherwise, by his
+leave and permission, the Deputy-Governor, for the time being, shall
+and may, from time to time, upon all occasions, give order for the
+assembling of the said Company, and calling them together, to consult
+and advise of the business and affairs of the said Company. And that
+forever hereafter, twice in every year, that is to say, on every first
+Wednesday in the month of May, and on every last Wednesday in October,
+or oftener, in case it shall be requisite, the Assistants and such
+of the freemen of the said Company, not exceeding six persons for
+Newport, four persons for each of the respective towns of Providence,
+Portsmouth, and Warwick, and two persons for each other place, town or
+city, who shall be, from time to time, thereunto elected or deputed by
+the major part of the freemen of the respective towns or places for
+which they shall be so elected or deputed, shall have a general meeting
+or assembly, then and there to consult, advise and determine, in and
+about the affairs and business of the said Company and Plantations.
+And, further, we do, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and
+mere motion, give and grant unto the said Governor and Company of the
+English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New
+England, in America, and their successors, that the Governor, or, in
+his absence, or, by his permission, the Deputy-Governor, of the said
+Company, for the time being, the Assistants, and such of the freemen
+of the said Company as shall be so as aforesaid elected or deputed, or
+so many of them as shall be present at such meeting or assembly, as
+aforesaid, shall be called the General Assembly; and that they, or the
+greatest part of them present, whereof the Governor or Deputy-Governor,
+and six of the Assistants, at least to be seven, shall have, and have
+hereby given and granted unto them, full power and authority, from
+time to time, and at all times hereafter, to appoint, alter and change
+such days, times and places of meeting and General Assembly, as they
+shall think fit; and to choose, nominate and appoint, such and so many
+other persons as they shall think fit, and shall be willing to accept
+the same, to be free of the said Company and body politic, and them
+into the same to admit; and to elect and constitute such offices and
+officers, and to grant such needful commissions, as they shall think
+fit and requisite, for the ordering, managing, and dispatching of the
+affairs of the said Governor and Company, and their successors; and
+from time to time, to make, ordain, constitute or repeal, such laws,
+statutes, orders and ordinances, forms and ceremonies of government
+and magistracy, as to them shall seem meet, for the good and welfare
+of the said Company, and for the government and ordering of the lands
+and hereditaments, hereinafter mentioned to be granted, and of the
+people that do, or at any time hereafter shall, inhabit or be within
+the same; so as such laws, ordinances and constitutions, so made, be
+not contrary and repugnant unto, but as near as may be, agreeable to
+the laws of this our realm of England, considering the nature and
+constitution of the place and people there; and also to appoint, order
+and direct, erect and settle, such places and courts of jurisdiction,
+for the hearing and determining of all actions, cases, matters and
+things, happening within the said Colony and Plantation, and which
+shall be in dispute, and depending there, as they shall think fit;
+and also to distinguish and set forth the several names and titles,
+duties, powers and limits, of each court, office and officer, superior
+and inferior; and also to contrive and appoint such forms of oaths
+and attestations, not repugnant, but as near as may be agreeable,
+as aforesaid, to the laws and statutes of this our realm, as are
+convenient and requisite, with respect to the due administration of
+justice, and due execution and discharge of all offices and places
+of trust by the persons that shall be therein concerned; and also to
+regulate and order the way and manner of all elections to offices and
+places of trust, and to prescribe, limit and distinguish the numbers
+and bounds of all places, towns or cities, within the limits and bounds
+hereinafter mentioned, and not herein particularly named, who have,
+or shall have, the power of electing and sending of freemen to the
+said General Assembly; and also to order, direct and authorize the
+imposing of lawful and reasonable fines, mulcts, imprisonments, and
+executing other punishments, pecuniary and corporal, upon offenders
+and delinquents, according to the course of other corporations within
+this our kingdom of England; and again to alter, revoke, annul or
+pardon, under their common seal, or otherwise, such fines, mulcts,
+imprisonments, sentences, judgments and condemnations, as shall be
+thought fit; and to direct, rule, order and dispose of, all other
+matters and things, and particularly that which relates to the making
+of purchases of the native Indians, as to them shall seem meet; whereby
+our said people and inhabitants in the said Plantations, may be so
+religiously, peaceably and civilly governed, as that by their good life
+and orderly conversation, they may win and invite the native Indians
+of the country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and
+Saviour of mankind; willing, commanding and requiring, and by these
+presents, for us, our heirs and successors, ordaining and appointing,
+that all such laws, statutes, orders and ordinances, instructions,
+impositions and directions, as shall be so made by the Governor,
+Deputy-Governor, Assistants and freemen, or such number of them as
+aforesaid, and published in writing, under their common seal, shall
+be carefully and duly observed, kept, performed and put in execution,
+according to the true intent and meaning of the same. And these our
+letters patent, or the duplicate or exemplification thereof, shall
+be to all and every such officer, superior or inferior, from time to
+time, for the putting of the same orders, laws, statutes, ordinances,
+instructions and directions in due execution, against us, our heirs and
+successors, a sufficient warrant and discharge. And further, our will
+and pleasure is, and we do hereby, for us, our heirs and successors,
+establish and ordain, that yearly, once in the year, forever hereafter,
+namely, the aforesaid Wednesday in May, and at the town of Newport, or
+elsewhere, if urgent occasion do require, the Governor, Deputy-Governor
+and Assistants of the said Company, and other officers of the said
+Company, or such of them as the General Assembly shall think fit, shall
+be, in the said General Court or Assembly to be held from that day or
+time, newly chosen for the year ensuing, by such greater part of the
+said Company, for the time being, as shall be then and there present;
+and if it shall happen that the present Governor, Deputy-Governor and
+Assistants, by these presents appointed, or any such as shall hereafter
+be newly chosen into their rooms, or any of them, or any other the
+officers of the said Company, shall die or be removed from his or their
+several offices or places, before the said general day of election,
+(whom we do hereby declare, for any misdemeanor or default, to be
+removable by the Governor, Assistants and Company, or such greater
+part of them, in any of the said public courts, to be assembled as
+aforesaid,) that then, and in every such case, it shall and may be
+lawful to and for the said Governor, Deputy-Governor, Assistants and
+Company aforesaid, or such greater part of them, so to be assembled as
+is aforesaid, in any of their assemblies, to proceed to a new election
+of one or more of their Company, in the room or place, rooms or places,
+of such officer or officers, so dying or removed, according to their
+discretions; and immediately upon and after such election or elections
+made of such Governor, Deputy-Governor, Assistant or Assistants, or
+any other officer of the said Company, in manner and form aforesaid,
+the authority, office and power, before given to the former Governor,
+Deputy-Governor, and other officer and officers, so removed, in whose
+stead and place new shall be chosen, shall, as to him and them, and
+every of them, respectively, cease and determine: _Provided always_,
+and our will and pleasure is, that as well such as are by these
+presents appointed to be the present Governor, Deputy-Governor and
+Assistants of the said Company, as those that shall succeed them, and
+all other officers to be appointed and chosen as aforesaid, shall,
+before the undertaking the execution of the said offices and places
+respectively, give their solemn engagement, by oath, or otherwise,
+for the due and faithful performance of their duties in their several
+offices and places, before such person or persons as are by these
+presents hereafter appointed to take and receive the same, that is
+to say: the said Benedict Arnold, who is hereinbefore nominated and
+appointed the present Governor of the said Company, shall give the
+aforesaid engagement before William Brenton, or any two of the said
+Assistants of the said Company; unto whom we do by these presents
+give full power and authority to require and receive the same; and the
+said William Brenton, who is hereby before nominated and appointed
+the present Deputy-Governor of the said Company, shall give the
+aforesaid engagement before the said Benedict Arnold, or any two of
+the Assistants of the said Company; unto whom we do by these presents
+give full power and authority to require and receive the same; and the
+said William Boulston, John Porter, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, John
+Smith, John Greene, John Coggeshall, James Barker, William Field, and
+Joseph Clarke who are herein before nominated and appointed the present
+Assistants of the said Company, shall give the said engagement to their
+offices and places respectively belonging, before the said Benedict
+Arnold and William Brenton, or one of them; to whom respectively we do
+hereby give full power and authority to require, administer or receive
+the same: and further, our will and pleasure is, that all and every
+other future Governor or Deputy-Governor, to be elected and chosen
+by virtue of these presents, shall give the said engagement before
+two or more of the said Assistants of the said Company for the time
+being; unto whom we do by these presents give full power and authority
+to require, administer or receive the same; and the said Assistants,
+and every of them, and all and every other officer or officers to be
+hereafter elected and chosen by virtue of these presents, from time
+to time, shall give the like engagements, to their offices and places
+respectively belonging, before the Governor or Deputy-Governor for the
+time being: unto which said Governor, or Deputy-Governor, we do by
+these presents give full power and authority to require, administer or
+receive the same accordingly. And we do likewise, for us, our heirs
+and successors, give and grant unto the said Governor and Company,
+and their successors, by these presents, that, for the more peaceable
+and orderly government of the said Plantations, it shall and may be
+lawful for the Governor, Deputy-Governor, Assistants and all other
+officers and ministers of the said Company, in the administration
+of justice, and exercise of government, in the said Plantations, to
+use, exercise, and put in execution, such methods, rules, orders and
+directions, not being contrary or repugnant to the laws and statutes
+of this our realm, as have been heretofore given, used and accustomed,
+in such cases respectively, to be put in practice, until at the next
+or some other General Assembly, special provision shall be made and
+ordained in the cases aforesaid. And we do further, for us, our heirs
+and successors, give and grant unto the said Governor and Company, and
+their successors, by these presents, that it shall and may be lawful
+to and for the said Governor, or, in his absence, the Deputy-Governor,
+and major part of the said Assistants, for the time being, at any time
+when the said General Assembly is not sitting, to nominate, appoint
+and constitute, such and so many commanders, governors and military
+officers, as to them shall seem requisite, for the leading, conducting
+and training up the inhabitants of the said Plantations in martial
+affairs, and for the defence and safeguard of the said Plantations:
+and that it shall and may be lawful to and for all and every such
+commander, governor and military officer, that shall be so as
+aforesaid, or by the Governor, or in his absence, the Deputy-Governor,
+and six of the said Assistants, and major part of the freemen of the
+said Company present at any General Assemblies, nominated, appointed
+and constituted, according to the tenor of his and their respective
+commissions and directions to assemble, exercise in arms, martial
+array, and put in warlike posture, the inhabitants of the said Colony,
+for their special defence and safety; and to lead and conduct the said
+inhabitants, and to encounter, expulse, expel and resist, by force of
+arms, as well by sea as by land, and also to kill, slay and destroy,
+by all fitting ways, enterprises and means, whatsoever, all and every
+such person or persons as shall, at any time hereafter, attempt or
+enterprise the destruction, invasion, detriment, or annoyance of the
+said inhabitants or Plantations; and to use and exercise the law
+martial in such cases only as occasion shall necessarily require; and
+to take or surprise, by all ways and means whatsoever, all and every
+such person and persons, with their ship or ships, armor, ammunition
+or other goods of such persons, as shall, in hostile manner, invade or
+attempt the defeating of the said Plantation, or the hurt of the said
+Company and inhabitants; and upon just causes, to invade and destroy
+the native Indians, or other enemies of the said Colony. Nevertheless,
+our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby declare to the rest of our
+Colonies in New England, that it shall not be lawful for this our said
+Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in America, in
+New England, to invade the natives inhabiting within the bounds and
+limits of their said Colonies, without the knowledge and consent of
+the said other Colonies. And it is hereby declared, that it shall not
+be lawful to or for the rest of the Colonies to invade or molest the
+native Indians or any other inhabitants inhabiting within the bounds
+and limits hereafter mentioned, (they having subjected themselves unto
+us, and being by us taken into our special protection,) without the
+knowledge and consent of the Governor and Company of our Colony of
+Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Also our will and pleasure is,
+and we do hereby declare unto all Christian Kings, Princes and States,
+that if any person, which shall hereafter be of the said Company or
+Plantations or any other, by appointment of the said Governor and
+Company for the time being shall at any time or times hereafter, rob
+or spoil, by sea or land, or do any hurt or unlawful hostility to any
+of the subjects of us, our heirs or successors, or any of the subjects
+of any Prince or State, being then in league with us, our heirs or
+successors, upon complaint of such injury done to any such Prince or
+State, or their subjects, we, our heirs and successors, will make open
+proclamation within any parts of our realm of England, fit for that
+purpose, that the person or persons committing any such robbery or
+spoil, shall, within the time limited by such proclamation, make full
+restitution, or satisfaction of all such injuries, done or committed,
+so as the said Prince, or others so complaining, may be fully satisfied
+and contented; and if the said person or persons who shall commit any
+such robbery or spoil shall not make satisfaction, accordingly, within
+such time, so to be limited, that then we, our heirs and successors,
+will put such person or persons out of our allegiance and protection;
+and that then it shall and may be lawful and free for all Princes or
+others to prosecute with hostility, such offenders, and every of them,
+their and every of their procurers, aiders, abettors, and counsellors,
+in that behalf: _Provided also_, and our express will and pleasure is,
+and we do, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain
+and appoint that these presents, shall not, in any manner, hinder any
+of our loving subjects, whatsoever, from using and exercising the trade
+of fishing upon the coast of New England, in America; but that they,
+and every or any of them, shall have full and free power and liberty
+to continue and use the trade of fishing upon the said coast, in any
+of the seas thereunto adjoining, or any arms of the seas, or salt
+water, rivers and creeks, where they have been accustomed to fish:
+and to build and to set upon the waste land belonging to the said
+Colony and Plantations, such wharves, stages and work-houses as shall
+be necessary for the salting, drying and keeping of their fish, to be
+taken or gotten upon that coast. And further, for the encouragement
+of the inhabitants of our said Colony of Providence Plantations to
+set upon the business of taking whales, it shall be lawful for them,
+or any of them having struck whale, dubertus, or other great fish, it
+or them, to pursue unto any part of that coast, and into any bay,
+river, cove, creek, or shore, belonging thereto, and it or them, upon
+the said coast, or in the said bay, river, cove, creek, or shore,
+belonging thereto, to kill and order for the best advantage, without
+molestation, they making no wilful waste or spoil; anything in these
+presents contained, or any other matter or thing, to the contrary,
+notwithstanding. And further also, we are graciously pleased, and do
+hereby declare, that if any of the inhabitants of our said Colony do
+set upon the planting of vineyards (the soil and climate both seeming
+naturally to concur to the production of wines) or be industrious in
+the discovery of fishing banks, in or about the said Colony, we will,
+from time to time, give and allow all due and fitting encouragement
+therein, as to others, in cases of like nature. And further, of our
+more ample grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given
+and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors,
+do give and grant unto the said Governor and Company of the English
+Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in the Narragansett
+Bay, in New England, in America, and to every inhabitant there, and to
+every person and persons, trading thither, and to every such person
+or persons as are or shall be free of the said Colony, full power and
+authority, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, to take,
+ship, transport and carry away, out of any of our realms and dominions,
+for and towards the plantation and defence of the said Colony, such and
+so many of our loving subjects and strangers as shall or will willingly
+accompany them in and to their said Colony and Plantation; except such
+person or persons as are or shall be therein restrained by us, our
+heirs and successors, or any law or statute of this realm: and also to
+ship and transport all and all manner of goods, chattels, merchandizes
+and other things whatsoever, that are or shall be useful or necessary
+for the said Plantations, and defence thereof, and usually transported,
+and not prohibited by any law or statute of this our realm; yielding
+and paying unto us, our heirs and successors, such the duties, customs
+and subsidies, as are or ought to be paid or payable for the same.
+And further, our will and pleasure is, and we do, for us, our heirs
+and successors, ordain, declare, and grant unto the said Governor and
+Company, and their successors, that all and every the subjects of us,
+our heirs and successors, which are already planted and settled within
+our said Colony of Providence Plantations, or which shall hereafter go
+to inhabit within the said Colony, and all and every of their children,
+which have been born there, or which shall happen hereafter to be
+born there, or on the sea, going thither, or returning from thence,
+shall have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and natural
+subjects within any the dominions of us, our heirs or successors to
+all intents, constructions and purposes, whatsoever, as if they, and
+every of them, were born within the realm of England. And further,
+know ye, that we, of our more abundant grace, certain knowledge, and
+mere motion, have given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents,
+for us, our heirs and successors, do give, grant and confirm, unto the
+said Governor and Company, and their successors, all that part of our
+dominions in New England, in America, containing the Nahantic, and
+Nanhyganset, alias Narragansett Bay, and countries and parts adjacent,
+bounded on the west, or westerly, to the middle of a channel or river
+there, commonly called and known by the name of Pawcatuck, alias
+Pawcawtuck river, and so along the said river, as the greater or middle
+stream thereof reacheth or lies up into the north country, northward,
+unto the head thereof, and from thence, by a straight line drawn
+due north, until it meets with the south line of the Massachusetts
+Colony; and on the north, or northerly, by the aforesaid south or
+southerly line of the Massachusetts Colony or Plantation, and extending
+towards the east, or eastwardly, three English miles to the east and
+north-east of the most eastern and north-eastern parts of the aforesaid
+Narragansett Bay, as the said bay lyeth or extendeth itself from the
+ocean on the south, or southwardly unto the mouth of the river which
+runneth towards the town of Providence, and from thence along the
+easterly side or bank of the said river (higher called by the name of
+Seacunck river) up to the falls called Patuckett Falls, being the most
+westwardly line of Plymouth Colony, and so from the said falls, in a
+straight line, due north, until it meet with the aforesaid line of the
+Massachusetts Colony; and bounded on the south by the ocean; and, in
+particular, the lands belonging to the towns of Providence, Pawtuxet,
+Warwick, Misquammacok, alias Pawcatuck, and the rest upon the main
+land in the tract aforesaid, together with Rhode Island, Block Island,
+and all the rest of the islands and banks in the Narragansett Bay, and
+bordering upon the coast of the tract aforesaid, (Fisher's Island only
+excepted,) together with all firm lands, soils, grounds, havens, ports,
+rivers, waters, fishings, mines royal, and all other mines, minerals,
+precious stones, quarries, woods, wood grounds, rocks, slates, and all
+and singular other commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, privileges,
+franchises, preheminancies, and hereditaments, whatsoever within the
+said tract, bounds, lands and islands aforesaid, or to them or any
+of them belonging, or in anywise appertaining; _to have and to hold_
+the same, unto the said Governor and Company, and their successors,
+forever, upon trust, for the use and benefit of themselves and their
+associates freemen of the said Colony, their heirs and assigns, to
+be holden of us, our heirs and successors, as of the Manor of East
+Greenwich, in our county of Kent, in free and common soccage, and not
+in capite, nor by knight service; yielding and paying, therefore, to
+us, our heirs and successors, only the fifth part of all the ore of
+gold and silver which, from time to time, and at all times hereafter,
+shall be there gotten, had or obtained, in lieu and satisfaction of all
+services, duties, fines, forfeitures, made or to be made, claims and
+demands whatsoever, to be to us, our heirs or successors, therefor or
+thereout rendered, made or paid; any grant, or clause in a late grant,
+to the Governor and Company of Connecticut Colony, in America, to the
+contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding; the aforesaid Pawcatuck
+river having been yielded, after much debate, for the fixed and certain
+bounds between these our said Colonies, by the agents thereof; who
+have also agreed, that the said Pawcatuck river shall be also called
+alias Norrogansett or Narrogansett river; and, to prevent future
+disputes, that otherwise might arise thereby, forever hereafter shall
+be construed, deemed and taken to be the Narragansett river in our late
+grant to Connecticut Colony mentioned as the easterly bounds of that
+Colony. And further, our will and pleasure is, that in all matters of
+public controversy which may fall out between our Colony of Providence
+Plantations, and the rest of our Colonies in New England, it shall and
+may be lawful to and for the Governor and Company of the said Colony of
+Providence Plantations to make their appeals therein to us, our heirs
+and successors, for redress in such cases, within this our realm of
+England: and that it shall be lawful to and for the inhabitants of the
+said Colony of Providence Plantations, without let or molestation, to
+pass and repass, with freedom, into and through the rest of the English
+Colonies, upon their lawful and civil occasions, and to converse, and
+hold commerce and trade with such of the inhabitants of our other
+English Colonies as shall be willing to admit them thereunto, they
+behaving themselves peaceably among them; any act, clause or sentence,
+in any of the said Colonies provided, or that shall be provided, to
+the contrary in anywise notwithstanding. And lastly, we do, or us,
+our heirs and successors, ordain and grant unto the said Governor and
+Company and their successors by these presents that these our letters
+patent shall be firm, good, effectual and available in all things
+in the law, to all intents, contents, constructions and purposes
+whatsoever, according to our true intent and meaning hereinbefore
+declared; and shall be construed, reputed and adjudged in all cases
+most favorably on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof of
+the said Governor and Company, and their successors; although express
+mention of the true yearly value or certainty of the premises, or any
+of them, or of any other gifts or grants, by us, or by any of our
+progenitors or predecessors, heretofore made to the said Governor
+of the Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence
+Plantations, in the Narragansett Bay, New England, in America, in
+these presents is not made, or any statue, act, ordinance, provision,
+proclamation or restriction, heretofore had, made, enacted, ordained
+or provided, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoever, to the
+contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. In witness, whereof, we
+have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness ourself, at
+Westminister, the eighth day of July, in the fifteenth year of our
+reign.
+
+ _By the King_:
+
+ HOWARD.
+
+
+
+
+ CONSTITUTION
+
+ OF THE
+
+ State of Rhode Island,
+
+ AND
+
+ Providence Plantations.
+
+
+ARTICLE I.--_Declaration of Rights._
+
+SECTION 1. Right of the people to make and alter their Constitution.
+
+SEC. 2. Object of government--How laws should be made and burdens
+distributed.
+
+SEC. 3. Religious freedom secured.
+
+SEC. 4. Slavery prohibited.
+
+SEC. 5. Laws should provide remedies--Justice shall be free, complete,
+prompt.
+
+SEC. 6. Rights of search and seizure regulated.
+
+SEC. 7. Provisions concerning criminal proceedings.
+
+SEC. 8. Bail, fines and punishments.
+
+SEC. 9. Bail and _habeas corpus_.
+
+SEC. 10. Rights of the accused in criminal proceedings.
+
+SEC. 11. Debtors entitled to relief.
+
+SEC. 12. No _ex post facto_ law, &c., to be passed.
+
+SEC. 13. No man to criminate himself.
+
+SEC. 14. Presumption of innocence--Accused to be secured without
+severity.
+
+SEC. 15. Trial by jury.
+
+SEC. 16. Private property secured.
+
+SEC. 17. Rights of fishery.
+
+SEC. 18. Military subordinate--Martial law.
+
+SEC. 19. Of quartering soldiers.
+
+SEC. 20. Liberty of the press secured--Truth as a defence to libel.
+
+SEC. 21. Right of the people to assemble, and to petition.
+
+SEC. 22. Right to bear arms.
+
+SEC. 23. Rule of construction.
+
+
+ARTICLE II.--_Electors._
+
+SEC. 1. Of electors owning real estate.
+
+SEC. 2. Of electors qualified to vote on adoption of Constitution--
+Registered voters--Qualified by dollar tax--Military duty---Who to
+vote for City Council in Providence, to impose a tax, &c.
+
+SEC. 3. Of assessment and payment of registry tax.
+
+SEC. 4. Who shall not gain residence or be permitted to vote.
+
+SEC. 5. Residents on lands ceded, &c., not electors.
+
+SEC. 6. Power of General Assembly over elections.
+
+
+ARTICLE III.--_Powers Distributed._
+
+Three Departments.
+
+
+ARTICLE IV.--_Legislative Powers._
+
+SECTION 1. Constitution supreme law.
+
+SEC. 2. Two houses--General Assembly--Style of laws.
+
+SEC. 3. Sessions of General Assembly.
+
+SEC. 4. Members not to take fees, &c.
+
+SEC. 5. Members exempt from arrest, &c.
+
+SEC. 6. Powers of each house--Organization.
+
+SEC. 7. Powers to make rules, &c.
+
+SEC. 8. Of the journal and yeas and nays.
+
+SEC. 9. Of adjournments.
+
+SEC. 10. Of powers not prohibited.
+
+SEC. 11. Pay of members.
+
+SEC. 12. Lotteries prohibited.
+
+SEC. 13. Debts not to be incurred.
+
+SEC. 14. Private or local appropriations.
+
+SEC. 15. Of valuations of property and assessments.
+
+SEC. 16. Officers may be continued until successors are qualified.
+
+SEC. 17. Bills to create corporations to be continued, except, &c.
+
+SEC. 18. Of election of senators to Congress.
+
+
+ARTICLE V.--_House of Representatives._
+
+SECTION 1. House, how constituted--Ratio of representation.
+
+SEC. 2. May elect its officers, &c.
+
+
+ARTICLE VI.--_Senate._
+
+SECTION 1. How constituted.
+
+SEC. 2. Governor to preside--when to vote in grand committee.
+
+SEC. 3. May elect presiding officer in case of vacancy, &c.
+
+SEC. 4. Secretary and other officers.
+
+
+ARTICLE VII.--_Executive._
+
+SECTION 1. Of the governor and lieutenant-governor--How elected.
+
+SEC. 2. Duty of governor.
+
+SEC. 3. He shall command military and naval forces, except, &c.
+
+SEC. 4. He may grant reprieves, &c.
+
+SEC. 5. He may fill vacancies.
+
+SEC. 6. He may adjourn assembly, in case, &c.
+
+SEC. 7. He may convene assembly, when, &c.
+
+SEC. 8. Commissions, how signed, &c.
+
+SEC. 9. Lieutenant-governor, when to act as governor.
+
+SEC. 10. Vacancies, how filled.
+
+SEC. 11. Compensation of governor, &c.
+
+SEC. 12. Duties of general officers.
+
+
+ARTICLE VIII.--_Elections._
+
+SECTION 1. Governor and general officers, when elected.
+
+SEC. 2. General officers and members of assembly, how voted for.
+
+SEC. 3. Same subject--How votes to be sealed up, transmitted and
+counted.
+
+SEC. 4. List of voters to be kept. [Obsolete.]
+
+SEC. 5. Ballots for members of Assembly, how counted--Adjournment
+of elections, when.
+
+SEC. 6. Of voting in the City of Providence.
+
+SEC. 7. If governor or lieutenant-governor not elected by the people
+grand committee to elect, how.
+
+SEC. 8. In case general officers not elected by the people, how vacancies
+shall be filled.
+
+SEC. 9. Vacancies in Assembly, how filled.
+
+SEC. 10. Majority required to elect.
+
+
+ARTICLE IX.--_Qualifications for Office._
+
+SECTION 1. Qualified electors only eligible.
+
+SEC. 2. Conviction of bribery a disqualification.
+
+SEC. 3. Oath of general officers.
+
+SEC. 4. Officers, how engaged.
+
+SEC. 5. How oath to be administered to governor, &c.
+
+SEC. 6. Holding office under United States, or other governments,
+a disqualification for certain offices,--except, &c.
+
+
+ARTICLE X.--_Judiciary._
+
+SECTION 1. One supreme court--Inferior courts how established.
+
+SEC. 2. Jurisdiction of courts--Chancery powers.
+
+SEC. 3. Judges of supreme court to instruct jury--To give opinions,
+&c.
+
+SEC. 4. Of election and tenure of office of judges of supreme court.
+
+SEC. 5. Vacancies, how filled.
+
+SEC. 6. Compensation of judges.
+
+SEC. 7. Justices of the peace and wardens, how elected--Their
+jurisdiction.
+
+
+ARTICLE XI.--_Impeachments._
+
+SECTION 1. Impeachments, how ordered.
+
+SEC. 2. Impeachments, how tried.
+
+SEC. 3. What officers liable to impeachment--Effect of conviction.
+
+
+ARTICLE XII.--_Education._
+
+SECTION 1. Duty of General Assembly to promote schools, &c.
+
+SEC. 2. The permanent school fund.
+
+SEC. 3. Donations for support of schools.
+
+SEC. 4. Powers of General Assembly under this article.
+
+
+ARTICLE XIII.--_Amendments._
+
+SECTION 1. Amendments, how proposed,--how voted upon,--how
+adopted.
+
+
+ARTICLE XIV.--_Adoption of the Constitution._
+
+SECTION 1. Constitution, when to go into operation--Its effect on
+existing laws, charters, &c.
+
+SEC. 2. Former debts, &c., adopted.
+
+SEC. 3. Jurisdiction of supreme court.
+
+SEC. 4. Exemptions of New Shoreham and Jamestown from military
+duty, continued.
+
+
+AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
+
+ARTICLE I.
+
+Lists of voters for general officers no longer required to be kept, &c.
+
+ARTICLE II.
+
+The pardoning power, how exercised.
+
+ARTICLE III.
+
+Sessions of the General Assembly.
+
+ARTICLE IV.
+
+Electors absent from the state in the military service of the United
+States, allowed to vote.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+We, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
+grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty
+which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for
+a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same,
+unimpaired, to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this
+Constitution of Government.
+
+
+ ARTICLE I.
+
+ DECLARATION OF CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES.
+
+In order effectually to secure the religious and political freedom
+established by our venerated ancestors, and to preserve the same for
+our posterity, we do declare that the essential and unquestionable
+rights and principles hereinafter mentioned, shall be established,
+maintained and preserved, and shall be of paramount obligation in
+all legislative, judicial and executive proceedings.
+
+SECTION 1. In the words of the Father of his Country, we declare,
+that, "the basis of our political systems is the right of the people to
+make and alter their constitutions of government; but that the constitution
+which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and
+authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all."
+
+SEC. 2. All free governments are instituted for the protection,
+safety and happiness of the people. All laws, therefore, should be
+made for the good of the whole; and the burdens of the state ought
+to be fairly distributed among its citizens.
+
+SEC. 3. Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free; and
+all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments, or burthens, or
+by civil incapacitations, tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness;
+and whereas, a principal object of our venerable ancestors in
+their migration to this country and their settlement of this state, was,
+as they expressed it, to hold forth a lively experiment, that a flourishing
+civil state may stand and be best maintained with full liberty in
+religious concernments; we therefore declare that no man shall be
+compelled to frequent or to support any religious worship, place or
+ministry whatever, except in fulfillment of his own voluntary contract;
+nor enforced, restrained, molested or burthened in his body or
+goods; nor disqualified from holding any office; nor otherwise suffer
+on account of his religious belief; and that every man shall be free to
+worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and to
+profess and by argument to maintain his opinion in matters of religion;
+and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect his
+civil capacity.
+
+SEC. 4. Slavery shall not be permitted in this state.
+
+SEC. 5. Every person within this state ought to find a certain remedy,
+by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which
+he may receive in his person, property or character. He ought to
+obtain right and justice freely, and without purchase, completely, and
+without denial; promptly and without delay; conformably to the
+laws.
+
+SEC. 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, papers
+and possessions, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
+be violated; and no warrants shall issue, but on complaint in writing,
+upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and describing
+as nearly as may be the place to be searched, and the persons or things
+to be seized.
+
+SEC. 7. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or other
+infamous crime, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury,
+except in cases of impeachment, or of such offences as are cognizable
+by a justice of the peace; or in cases arising in the land or naval
+forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public
+danger. No person shall, after an acquittal, be tried for the same
+offence.
+
+SEC. 8. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
+imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted; and all punishments ought
+to be proportioned to the offence.
+
+SEC. 9. All persons imprisoned ought to be bailed by sufficient
+surety, unless for offences punishable by death or by imprisonment for
+life, when the proof of guilt is evident, or the presumption great. The
+privilege of the writ of _habeas corpus_ shall not be suspended, unless
+when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public service shall require
+it, nor ever without the authority of the General Assembly.
+
+SEC. 10. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
+right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury; to be informed
+of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the
+witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining them
+in his favor, to have the assistance of counsel in his defence, and shall
+be at liberty to speak for himself; nor shall he be deprived of life,
+liberty, or property, unless by the judgment of his peers, or the law of
+the land.
+
+SEC. 11. The person of a debtor, when there is not strong presumption
+of fraud, ought not to be continued in prison, after he shall have
+delivered up his property for the benefit of his creditors, in such manner
+as shall be prescribed by law.
+
+SEC. 12. No _ex post facto_ law, or law impairing the obligation of
+contracts, shall be passed.
+
+SEC. 13. No man in a court of common law shall be compelled to
+give evidence criminating himself.
+
+SEC. 14. Every man being presumed innocent, until he is pronounced
+guilty by the law, no act of severity which is not necessary to
+secure an accused person shall be permitted.
+
+SEC. 15. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.
+
+SEC. 16. Private property shall not be taken for public uses, without
+just compensation.
+
+SEC. 17. The people shall continue to enjoy and freely exercise, all
+the rights of fishery, and the privileges of the shore, to which they
+have been heretofore entitled, under the charter and usages of this
+state. But no new right is intended to be granted, nor any existing
+right impaired by this declaration.
+
+SEC. 18. The military shall be held in strict subordination to the
+civil authority, and the law martial shall be used and exercised in such
+cases only as occasion shall necessarily require.
+
+SEC. 19. No soldier shall be quartered in any house, in time of
+peace, without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, but in
+manner to be prescribed by law.
+
+SEC. 20. The liberty of the press being essential to the security of
+freedom in a state, any person may publish his sentiments on any
+subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all
+trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, unless published
+from malicious motives, shall be sufficient defence to the person
+charged.
+
+SEC. 21. The citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble
+for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the
+powers of government, for redress of grievances, or for other purposes,
+by petition, address, or remonstrance.
+
+SEC. 22. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
+infringed.
+
+SEC. 23. The enumeration of the aforegoing rights shall not be
+construed to impair or deny others retained by the people.
+
+
+ ARTICLE II.
+
+ OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS.
+
+SECTION 1. Every male citizen of the United States, of the age of
+twenty-one years, who has had his residence and home in this state
+for one year, and in the town or city in which he may claim a right
+to vote, six months next preceding the time of voting, and who is
+really and truly possessed in his own right of real estate in such
+town or city, of the value of one hundred and thirty-four dollars,
+over and above all incumbrances, or which shall rent for seven dollars
+per annum, over and above any rent reserved, or the interest of any
+incumbrances thereon, being an estate in fee simple, fee tail, for
+the life of any person, or an estate in reversion or remainder, which
+qualifies no other person to vote, the conveyance of which estate,
+if by deed, shall have been recorded at least ninety days, shall
+thereafter have a right to vote in the election of all civil officers,
+and on all questions in all legal town or ward meetings, so long as
+he continues so qualified. And if any person hereinbefore described
+shall own any such estate within this state out of the town or city in
+which he resides, he shall have a right to vote in the election of all
+general officers and members of the General Assembly, in the town or
+city in which he shall have had his residence and home for the term of
+six months next preceding the election, upon producing a certificate
+from the clerk of the town or city in which his estate lies, bearing
+date within ten days of the time of his voting, setting forth that
+such person has a sufficient estate therein to qualify him as a voter;
+and that the deed, if any, has been recorded ninety days.
+
+SEC. 2. Every male native citizen of the United States, of the age of
+twenty-one years, who has had his residence and home in this state
+two years, and in the town or city in which he may offer to vote, six
+months next preceding the time of voting, whose name is registered
+pursuant to the act calling the convention to frame this Constitution,
+or shall be registered in the office of the clerk of such town or city
+at least seven days before the time he shall offer to vote and before
+the last day of December in the present year; and who has paid or shall
+pay a tax or taxes, assessed upon his estate within this state, and
+within a year of the time of voting, to the amount of one dollar, or
+who shall voluntarily pay, at least seven days before the time he shall
+offer to vote, and before said last day of December, to the clerk or
+treasurer of the town or city where he resides, the sum of one dollar,
+or such sum as, with his other taxes, shall amount to one dollar, for
+the support of public schools therein, and shall make proof of the
+same, by the certificate of the clerk, treasurer or collector of any
+town or city where such payment is made; or who, being so registered
+has been enrolled in any military company in this state, and done
+military service or duty therein, within the present year, pursuant
+to law, and shall, (until other proof is required by law,) prove by
+the certificate of the officer legally commanding the regiment, or
+chartered or legally authorized volunteer company, in which he may have
+served or done duty, that he has been equipped and done duty according
+to law, or by the certificate of the commissioners upon military claims
+that he has performed military service shall have a right to vote in
+the election of all civil officers, and on all questions in all legally
+organized town or ward meetings, until the end of the first year
+after the adoption of this Constitution, or until the end of the year
+eighteen hundred and forty-three.
+
+From and after that time, every such citizen, who has had the residence
+herein required, and whose name shall be registered in the town where
+he resides, on or before the last day of December, in the year next
+preceding the time of his voting, and who shall show by legal proof,
+that he has for and within the year next preceding the time he shall
+offer to vote, paid a tax or taxes assessed against him in any town or
+city in this state, to the amount of one dollar; or that he has been
+enrolled in a military company in this state, been equipped and done
+duty therein, according to law, and at least for one day during such
+year, shall have a right to vote in the election of all civil officers,
+and on all questions in all legally organized town or ward meetings:
+Provided, that no person shall at any time be allowed to vote in the
+election of the City Council of the City of Providence, or upon any
+proposition to impose a tax, or for the expenditure of money in any
+town or city, unless he shall, within the year next preceding have
+paid a tax assessed upon his property therein, valued at least at one
+hundred and thirty-four dollars.
+
+SEC. 3. The assessors of each town or city shall annually assess upon
+every person whose name shall be registered, a tax of one dollar, or
+such sum as with his other taxes shall amount to one dollar, which
+registry tax shall be paid into the treasury of such town or city, and
+be applied to the support of public schools therein: but no compulsory
+process shall issue for the collection of any registry tax: Provided
+that the registry tax of every person who has performed military duty
+according to the provisions of the preceding section, shall be remitted
+for the year he shall perform such duty; and the registry tax assessed
+upon any mariner, for any year while he is at sea, shall, upon his
+application, be remitted; and no person shall be allowed to vote whose
+registry tax for either of the two years next preceding the time of
+voting is not paid or remitted as herein provided.
+
+SEC. 4. No person in the military, naval, marine, or any other service
+of the United States, shall be considered as having the required
+residence by reason of being employed in any garrison, barrack, or
+military or naval station in this state: and no pauper, lunatic,
+person _non compos mentis_, person under guardianship, or member of
+the Narragansett tribe of Indians, shall be permitted to be registered
+or to vote. Nor shall any person convicted of bribery, or of any crime
+deemed infamous at common law, be permitted to exercise that privilege,
+until he be expressly restored thereto by act of the General Assembly.
+
+SEC. 5. Persons residing on lands ceded by this state to the United
+States shall not be entitled to exercise the privilege of electors.
+
+SEC. 6. The General Assembly shall have full power to provide for
+a registry of voters, to prescribe the manner of conducting the
+elections, the form of certificates, the nature of the evidence to be
+required in case of a dispute as to the right of any person to vote,
+and generally to enact all laws necessary to carry this article into
+effect, and to prevent abuse, corruption and fraud in voting.
+
+
+ ARTICLE III.
+
+ OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS.
+
+The powers of the government shall be distributed into three
+departments: the legislative, executive and judicial.
+
+
+ ARTICLE IV.
+
+ OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER.
+
+SECTION 1. This constitution shall be the supreme law of the
+state, and any law inconsistent therewith, shall be void. The General
+Assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry this constitution into
+effect.
+
+SEC. 2. The legislative power, under this constitution, shall
+be vested in two houses, the one to be called the senate, the other the
+house of representatives; and both together, the General Assembly. The
+concurrence of the two houses shall be necessary to the enactment of
+laws. The style of their laws shall be, _It is enacted by the General
+Assembly as follows_.
+
+SEC. 3. There shall be two sessions of the General Assembly
+holden annually; one at Newport, on the first Tuesday of May, for the
+purposes of election and other business; the other on the last Monday
+of October, which last session shall be holden at South Kingstown once
+in two years, and the intermediate years alternately at Bristol and
+East Greenwich; and an adjournment from the October session shall be
+holden annually at Providence.
+
+SEC. 4. No member of the General Assembly shall take any fee,
+or be of counsel in any case pending before either house of the General
+Assembly, under penalty of forfeiting his seat, upon proof thereof to
+the satisfaction of the house of which he is a member.
+
+SEC. 5. The person of every member of the General Assembly
+shall be exempt from arrest, and his estate from attachment, in any
+civil action, during the session of the General Assembly, and two days
+before the commencement, and two days after the termination thereof,
+and all process served contrary hereto, shall be void. For any speech
+in debate in either house, no member shall be questioned in any other
+place.
+
+SEC. 6. Each house shall be the judge of the elections and
+qualifications of its members; and a majority shall constitute a quorum
+to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and
+may compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under
+such penalties as may be prescribed by such house, or by law. The
+organization of the two houses may be regulated by law, subject to the
+limitations contained in this constitution.
+
+SEC. 7. Each house may determine its rules of proceeding,
+punish contempts, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with
+the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member; but not a second time
+for the same cause.
+
+SEC. 8. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings.
+The yeas and nays of the members of either house shall, at the desire
+of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.
+
+SEC. 9. Neither house shall, during a session, without the
+consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, nor to any other
+place than that in which they may be sitting.
+
+SEC. 10. The General Assembly shall continue to exercise
+the powers they have heretofore exercised, unless prohibited in this
+constitution.
+
+SEC. 11. The senators and representatives shall receive the
+sum of one dollar for every day of attendance, and eight cents per
+mile for traveling expenses in going to and returning from the General
+Assembly. The General Assembly shall regulate the compensation of the
+governor, and all other officers subject to the limitations contained
+in this constitution.
+
+SEC. 12. All lotteries shall hereafter be prohibited in this
+state, except those already authorized by the General Assembly.
+
+SEC. 13. The General Assembly shall have no power, hereafter,
+without the express consent of the people, to incur state debts to an
+amount exceeding fifty thousand dollars, except in time of war, or in
+case of insurrection or invasion; nor shall they in any case, without
+such consent, pledge the faith of the state for the payment of the
+obligations of others. This section shall not be construed to refer to
+any money that may be deposited with this state by the government of
+the United States.
+
+SEC. 14. The assent of two-thirds of the members elected
+to each house of the General Assembly shall be required to every
+bill appropriating the public money or property for local or private
+purposes.
+
+SEC. 15. The General Assembly shall, from time to time,
+provide for making new valuations of property, for the assessment of
+taxes, in such manner as they may deem best. A new estimate of such
+property shall be taken before the first direct state tax, after the
+adoption of this constitution, shall be assessed.
+
+SEC. 16. The General Assembly may provide by law for
+the continuance in office of any officers of annual election or
+appointment, until other persons are qualified to take their places.
+
+SEC. 17. Hereafter, when any bill shall be presented to either
+house of the General Assembly, to create a corporation for any other
+than for religious, literary or charitable purposes, or for a military
+or fire company, it shall be continued until another election of
+members of the General Assembly shall have taken place, and such public
+notice of the pendency thereof shall be given as may be required by law.
+
+SEC. 18. It shall be the duty of the two houses, upon the
+request of either, to join in grand committee for the purpose of
+electing senators in Congress, at such times and in such manner as may
+be prescribed by law for said elections.
+
+
+ ARTICLE V.
+
+ OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
+
+SECTION 1. The house of representatives shall never exceed seventy-two
+members, and shall be constituted on the basis of population, always
+allowing one representative for a fraction exceeding half the ratio;
+but each town or city shall always be entitled to at least one member;
+and no town or city shall have more than one-sixth of the whole number
+of members to which the house is hereby limited. The present
+ratio shall be one representative to every fifteen hundred and thirty
+inhabitants, and the General Assembly may, after any new census taken
+by the authority of the United States, or of this state, reapportion
+the representation by altering the ratio; but no town or city shall be
+divided into districts for the choice of representatives.
+
+SEC. 2. The house of representatives shall have authority to elect its
+speaker, clerks and other officers. The senior member from the town
+of Newport, if any be present, shall preside in the organization of the
+house.
+
+
+ ARTICLE VI.
+
+ OF THE SENATE.
+
+SECTION 1. The senate shall consist of the lieutenant-governor and
+of one senator from each town or city in the state.
+
+SEC. 2. The governor, and, in his absence the lieutenant-governor,
+shall preside in the senate and in grand committee. The presiding
+officer of the senate and grand committee shall have a right to vote in
+case of equal division, but not otherwise.
+
+SEC. 3. If, by reason of death, resignation, absence or other cause,
+there be no governor or lieutenant-governor present, to preside in the
+senate, the senate shall elect one of their own members to preside during
+such absence or vacancy; and until such election is made by the
+senate the secretary of state shall preside.
+
+SEC. 4. The secretary of state shall, by virtue of his office, be secretary
+of the senate, unless otherwise provided by law; and the senate
+may elect such other officers as they may deem necessary.
+
+
+ ARTICLE VII.
+
+ OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER.
+
+SECTION 1. The chief executive power of this state shall be vested
+in a governor, who, together with a lieutenant-governor, shall be annually
+elected by the people.
+
+SEC. 2. The governor shall take care that the laws be faithfully
+executed.
+
+SEC. 3. He shall be captain-general and commander-in-chief of the
+military and naval forces of this state, except when they shall be called
+into the service of the United States.
+
+SEC. 4. He shall have power to grant reprieves after conviction, in
+all cases except those of impeachment, until the the end of the next
+session of the General Assembly.
+
+SEC. 5. He may fill vacancies in office not otherwise provided for
+by this constitution, or by law, until the same shall be filled by the
+General Assembly or by the people.
+
+SEC. 6. In case of disagreement between the two houses of the General
+Assembly, respecting the time or place of adjournment certified
+to him by either, he may adjourn them to such time and place as he
+shall think proper: provided that the time of adjournment shall not
+be extended beyond the day of the next stated session.
+
+SEC. 7. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the General
+Assembly at any town or city in this state, at any time not provided
+for by law; and in case of danger from the prevalence of epidemic or
+contagious disease, in the place in which the General Assembly are by
+law to meet, or to which they may have been adjourned, or for other
+urgent reasons, he may, by proclamation, convene said Assembly at
+any other place within this state.
+
+SEC. 8. All commissions shall be in the name and by the authority
+of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; shall be
+sealed with the state seal, signed by the governor, and attested by the
+secretary.
+
+SEC. 9. In case of vacancy in the office of governor, or of his inability
+to serve, impeachment, or absence from the state, the lieutenant-governor
+shall fill the office of governor, and exercise the powers and
+authority appertaining thereto, until a governor is qualified to act, or
+until the office is filled at the next annual election.
+
+SEC. 10. If the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor be both
+vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, absence, or
+otherwise, the person entitled to preside over the senate for the time
+being shall in like manner fill the office of governor during the absence
+or vacancy.
+
+SEC. 11. The compensation of the governor and lieutenant-governor
+shall be established by law and shall not be diminished during the
+term for which they are elected.
+
+SEC. 12. The duties and powers of the secretary, attorney-general,
+and general treasurer, shall be the same under this constitution as are
+now established, or as from time to time may be prescribed by law.
+
+
+ ARTICLE VIII.
+
+ OF ELECTIONS.
+
+SECTION 1. The governor, lieutenant-governor, senators,
+representatives, secretary of state, attorney-general, and general
+treasurer, shall be elected at the town, city, or ward meetings, to be
+holden on the first Wednesday of April, annually; and shall severally
+hold their offices for one year, from the first Tuesday of May next
+succeeding, and until others are legally chosen, and duly qualified
+to fill their places. If elected or qualified after the said first
+Tuesday of May, they shall hold their offices for the remainder of the
+political year, and until their successors are qualified to act.
+
+SEC. 2. The voting for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of
+state, attorney-general, general treasurer, and representatives to
+Congress shall be by ballot; senators and representatives to the
+General Assembly, and town or city officers shall be chosen by ballot,
+on demand of any seven persons entitled to vote for the same; and in
+all cases where an election is made by ballot or paper vote, the manner
+of balloting shall be the same as is now required in voting for general
+officers, until otherwise prescribed by law.
+
+SEC. 3. The names of the persons voted for as governor,
+lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, attorney-general, and general
+treasurer, shall be placed upon one ticket; and all votes for these
+officers shall, in open town or ward meetings, be sealed up by the
+moderators and town clerks and by the wardens and ward clerks, who
+shall certify the same, and deliver or send them to the secretary of
+state; whose duty it shall be securely to keep and deliver the same to
+the grand committee, after the organization of the two houses at the
+annual May session; and it shall be the duty of the two houses at said
+session, after their organization, upon the request of either house, to
+join in grand committee, for the purpose of counting and declaring said
+votes, and of electing other officers.
+
+SEC. 4. The town and ward clerks shall also keep a correct list or
+register of all persons voting for general officers, and shall transmit
+a copy thereof to the General Assembly, on or before the first day of
+said May session.
+
+SEC. 5. The ballots for senators and representatives in the several
+towns shall, in each case, after the polls are declared to be closed,
+be counted by the moderator, who shall announce the result, and the
+clerk shall give certificates to the persons elected. If, in any
+case, there be no election, the polls may be reopened, and the like
+proceedings shall be had until an election shall take place: Provided,
+however, that an adjournment or adjournments of the election may be
+made to a time not exceeding seven days from the first meeting.
+
+SEC. 6. In the city of Providence, the polls for senator and
+representatives shall be kept open during the whole time of voting
+for the day, and the votes in the several wards shall be sealed up at
+the close of the meeting by the wardens and ward clerks in open ward
+meeting, and afterwards delivered to the city clerk. The mayor and
+aldermen shall proceed to count said votes within two days from the day
+of election; and if no election of senator and representatives or if
+an election of only a portion of the representatives shall have taken
+place, the mayor and aldermen shall order a new election, to be held
+not more than ten days from the day of the first election, and so on
+until the election shall be completed. Certificates of election shall
+be furnished by the city clerk to the persons chosen.
+
+SEC. 7. If no person shall have a majority of votes for governor, it
+shall be the duty of the grand committee to elect one by ballot from
+the two persons having the highest number of votes for the office,
+except when such a result is produced by rejecting the entire vote
+of any town, city or ward for informality or illegality, in which
+case a new election by the electors throughout the state shall be
+ordered; and in case no person shall have a majority of votes for
+lieutenant-governor, it shall be the duty of the grand committee to
+elect one by ballot from the two persons having the highest number of
+votes for the office.
+
+SEC. 8. In case an election of the secretary of state,
+attorney-general, or general treasurer, should fail to be made by
+the electors at the annual election, the vacancy or vacancies shall
+be filled by the General Assembly in grand committee from the two
+candidates for such office having the greatest number of the votes
+of the electors. Or, in case of a vacancy in either of said offices,
+from other causes, between the sessions of the General Assembly, the
+governor shall appoint some person to fill the same, until a successor
+elected by the General Assembly is qualified to act; and in such case,
+and also in all other cases of vacancies, not otherwise provided for,
+the General Assembly may fill the same in any manner they may deem
+proper.
+
+SEC. 9. Vacancies from any cause in the senate and house of
+representatives, may be filled by a new election.
+
+SEC. 10. In all elections held by the people under this constitution, a
+majority of all the electors voting shall be necessary to the election
+of the persons voted for.
+
+
+ ARTICLE IX.
+
+ OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE.
+
+SECTION 1. No person shall be eligible to any civil office (except the
+office of school committee), unless he be a qualified elector for such
+office.
+
+SEC. 2. Every person shall be disqualified from holding any office
+to which he may have been elected, if he be convicted of having
+offered, or procured any other person to offer, any bribe to secure his
+election, or the election of any other person.
+
+SEC. 3. All general officers shall take the following engagement before
+they act in their respective offices, to wit: You ... being by the
+free vote of the electors of this State of Rhode Island and Providence
+Plantations, elected unto the place of ... do solemnly swear, (or
+affirm,) to be true and faithful unto this state, and to support the
+constitution of this state and of the United States; that you will
+faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties of your aforesaid
+office to the best of your abilities, according to law: So help you
+God. Or, this affirmation you make and give upon the peril of the
+penalty of perjury.
+
+SEC. 4. The members of the General Assembly, the judges of all the
+courts, and all other officers, both civil and military, shall be
+bound by oath or affirmation to support this constitution, and the
+constitution of the United States.
+
+SEC. 5. The oath or affirmation shall be administered to the governor,
+lieutenant-governor, senators and representatives, by the secretary of
+state, or, in his absence, by the attorney-general. The secretary of
+state, attorney-general and general treasurer shall be engaged by the
+governor, or by a justice of the supreme court.
+
+SEC. 6. No person holding any office under the government of the United
+States, or of any other state or country, shall act as a general
+officer, or as a member of the General Assembly, unless at the time
+of taking his engagement he shall have resigned his office under such
+government; and if any general officer, senator, representative, or
+judge, shall after his election and engagement, accept any appointment
+under any other government his office under this shall be immediately
+vacated; but this restriction shall not apply to any person appointed
+to take depositions or acknowledgment of deeds, or other legal
+instruments, by the authority of any other state or country.
+
+
+ ARTICLE X.
+
+ OF THE JUDICIAL POWER.
+
+SECTION 1. The judicial power of this state shall be vested in one
+supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the General Assembly
+may, from time to time, ordain and establish.
+
+SEC. 2. The several courts shall have such jurisdiction as may, from
+time to time, be prescribed by law. Chancery powers may be conferred
+on the supreme court, but on no other court to any greater extent than
+is now provided by law.
+
+SEC. 3. The judges of the supreme court shall, in all trials, instruct
+the jury in the law. They shall also give their written opinion upon
+any question of law whenever requested by the governor, or by either
+house of the General Assembly.
+
+SEC. 4. The judges of the supreme court shall be elected by the two
+houses in grand committee. Each judge shall hold his office until his
+place be declared vacant by a resolution of the General Assembly to
+that effect; which resolution shall be voted for by a majority of all
+the members elected to the house in which it may originate, and be
+concurred in by the same majority of the other house. Such resolutions,
+shall not be entertained at any other than the annual session for the
+election of public officers; and in default of the passage thereof at
+said session, the judge shall hold his place as is herein provided.
+But a judge of any court shall be removed from office, if, upon
+impeachment, he shall be found guilty of any official misdemeanor.
+
+SEC. 5. In case of vacancy by death, resignation, removal from the
+state or from office, refusal or inability to serve, of any judge of
+the supreme court, the office may be filled by the grand committee,
+until the next annual election, and the judge then elected shall hold
+his office as before provided. In cases of impeachment or temporary
+absence or inability, the governor may appoint a person to discharge
+the duties of the office during the vacancy caused thereby.
+
+SEC. 6. The judges of the supreme court shall receive a compensation
+for their services, which shall not be diminished during their
+continuance in office.
+
+SEC. 7. The towns of New Shoreham and Jamestown may continue to elect
+their wardens as heretofore. The other towns and the city of Providence
+may elect such number of justices of the peace, resident therein, as
+they may deem proper. The jurisdiction of said justices and wardens
+shall be regulated by law. The justices shall be commissioned by the
+governor.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XI.
+
+ OF IMPEACHMENTS.
+
+SECTION 1. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of
+impeachment. A vote of two-thirds of all the members elected shall be
+required for an impeachment of the governor. Any officer impeached
+shall thereby be suspended from office until judgment in the case shall
+have been pronounced.
+
+SEC. 2. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate; and, when
+sitting for that purpose, they shall be under oath or affirmation. No
+person shall be convicted, except by vote of two-thirds of the members
+elected. When the governor is impeached, the chief or presiding justice
+of the supreme court, for the time being, shall preside, with a casting
+vote in all preliminary questions.
+
+SEC. 3. The governor and all other executive and judicial officers
+shall be liable to impeachment; but judgment in such cases shall not
+extend further than to removal from office. The person convicted shall,
+nevertheless, be liable to indictment, trial and punishment according
+to law.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XII.
+
+ OF EDUCATION.
+
+SECTION 1. The diffusion of knowledge, as well as of virtue among
+the people, being essential to the preservation of their rights and
+liberties, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to promote
+public schools, and to adopt all means which they may deem necessary
+and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of
+education.
+
+SEC. 2. The money which now is, or which may hereafter be appropriated
+by law for the establishment of a permanent fund for the support of
+public schools shall be securely invested, and remain a perpetual fund
+for that purpose.
+
+SEC. 3. All donations for the support of public schools, or for other
+purposes of education, which may be received by the General Assembly,
+shall be applied according to the terms prescribed by the donors.
+
+SEC. 4. The General Assembly shall make all necessary provisions by law
+for carrying this article into effect. They shall not divert said money
+or fund from the aforesaid uses, nor borrow, appropriate, or use the
+same, or any part thereof, for any other purpose, under any pretence
+whatsoever.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XIII.
+
+ ON AMENDMENTS.
+
+The General Assembly may propose amendments to this constitution by
+the votes of a majority of all the members elected to each house.
+Such propositions for amendment shall be published in the newspapers
+and printed copies of them shall be sent by the secretary of state,
+with the names of all the members who shall have voted thereon, with
+the yeas and nays, to all the town and city clerks in the state. The
+said propositions shall be, by said clerks, inserted in the warrants
+or notices by them issued, for warning the next annual town and ward
+meetings in April; and the clerks shall read said propositions to the
+electors when thus assembled, with the names of all the representatives
+and senators who shall have voted thereon, with the yeas and nays,
+before the election of senators and representatives shall be had. If
+a majority of all the members elected to each house, at said annual
+meeting, shall approve any proposition thus made, the same shall be
+published and submitted to the electors in the mode provided in the
+act of approval; and if then approved by three-fifths of the electors
+of the state present, and voting thereon in town and ward meetings, it
+shall become a part of the constitution of the state.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XIV.
+
+ ON THE ADOPTION OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
+
+SECTION 1. This constitution, if adopted, shall go into operation on
+the first Tuesday of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and
+forty-three. The first election of governor, lieutenant-governor,
+secretary of state, attorney-general and general treasurer, and of
+senators and representatives under said constitution, shall be had
+on the first Wednesday of April next preceding, by the electors
+qualified under said constitution. And the town and ward meetings
+therefor shall be warned and conducted as is now provided by law. All
+civil and military officers now elected, or who shall hereafter be
+elected, by the General Assembly, or other competent authority, before
+the said first Wednesday of April, shall hold their offices and may
+exercise their powers until the said first Tuesday of May, or until
+their successors shall be qualified to act. All statutes, public and
+private, not repugnant to this constitution, shall continue in force
+until they expire by their own limitation, or are repealed by the
+General Assembly. All charters, contracts, judgments, actions, and
+rights of action shall be as valid as if this constitution had not been
+made. The present government shall exercise all the powers with which
+it is now clothed, until the said first Tuesday of May, one thousand
+eight hundred and forty-three, and until the government under this
+constitution is duly organized.
+
+SEC 2. All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the
+adoption of this constitution, shall be as valid against the state as
+if this constitution had not been adopted.
+
+SEC 3. The supreme court, established by this constitution, shall
+have the same jurisdiction as the supreme judicial court at present
+established, and shall have jurisdiction of all causes which may be
+appealed to, or pending in the same; and shall be held at the same
+times and places, and in each county, as the present supreme judicial
+court, until otherwise prescribed by the General Assembly.
+
+SEC 4. The towns of New Shoreham and Jamestown shall continue to enjoy
+the exemptions from military duty which they now enjoy, until otherwise
+prescribed by law.
+
+Done in convention, at East Greenwich, this fifth day of November,
+
+A. D. one thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
+
+ JAMES FENNER, _President_.
+ HENRY Y. CRANSTON, _Vice-Pres't._
+
+ THOMAS A. JENCKES,}
+ WALTER W. UPDIKE, } _Secretaries_.
+
+
+
+
+ ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT.
+
+ ADOPTED NOVEMBER, 1854.
+
+
+ ARTICLE I.
+
+It shall not be necessary for the town or ward clerks to keep and
+transmit to the General Assembly a list or register of all persons
+voting for general officers; but the General Assembly shall have power
+to pass such laws on the subject as they may deem expedient.
+
+ ARTICLE II.
+
+The governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall
+hereafter exclusively exercise the pardoning power, except in cases of
+impeachment, to the same extent as such power is now exercised by the
+General Assembly.
+
+ ARTICLE III.
+
+There shall be one session of the General Assembly holden annually,
+commencing on the last Tuesday in May, at Newport, and an adjournment
+from the same shall be holden annually at Providence.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ ADOPTED AUGUST, 1864.
+
+ ARTICLE IV.
+
+Electors of this state who in time of war are absent from the state,
+in the actual military service of the United States, being otherwise
+qualified, shall have a right to vote in all elections in the state
+for electors of president and vice-president of the United States,
+representatives in Congress, and general officers of the state. The
+General Assembly shall have full power to provide by law for carrying
+this article into effect: and until such provision shall be made by
+law, every such absent elector on the day of such elections, may
+deliver a written or printed ballot, with the names of the persons
+voted for thereon, and his Christian and surname, and his voting
+residence in the state, written at length on the back thereof, to the
+officer commanding the regiment or company to which he belongs: and all
+such ballots, certified by such commanding officer to have been given
+by the elector whose name is written thereon, and returned by such
+commanding officer to the secretary of state within the time prescribed
+by law for counting the votes in such elections, shall be received
+and counted with the same effect as if given by such elector in open
+town, ward, or district meeting: and the clerk of each town or city,
+until otherwise provided by law, shall, within five days after any such
+election, transmit to the secretary of state a certified list of the
+names of all such electors on their respective voting lists.
+
+
+
+
+ [_Copy of the Dorr Constitution._]
+
+ CONSTITUTION
+
+ OF THE
+
+ State of Rhode Island,
+
+ AND
+
+ Providence Plantations,
+
+ AS FINALLY ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLE ASSEMBLED
+ AT PROVIDENCE, ON THE 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1841.
+
+
+WE, the PEOPLE of the STATE of RHODE ISLAND and PROVIDENCE
+PLANTATIONS, grateful to Almighty God for His blessing vouchsafed
+to the "lively experiment" of Religious and Political Freedom
+here "held forth" by our venerated ancestors, and earnestly imploring
+the favor of His gracious Providence toward this our attempt to
+secure, upon a permanent foundation, the advantages of well ordered
+and rational Liberty, and to enlarge and transmit to our successors
+the inheritance that we have received, do ordain and establish the
+following CONSTITUTION of Government for this State:
+
+
+ ARTICLE I.
+
+ DECLARATIONS OF PRINCIPLES AND RIGHTS.
+
+1. In the spirit of and in the words of ROGER WILLIAMS, the illustrious
+founder of this state, and of his venerated associates, WE DECLARE
+"that this government shall be a DEMOCRACY," or government of the
+PEOPLE, "by the major consent" of the same, "ONLY IN CIVIL THINGS." The
+will of the people shall be expressed by representatives freely chosen,
+and returning at fixed periods to their constituents. This state shall
+be and forever remain, as in the design of its founder, sacred to
+"SOUL LIBERTY," to the rights of conscience, to freedom of thought, of
+expression and of action, as hereinafter set forth and secured.
+
+2. All men are created free and equal and are endowed by their Creator
+with certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, among which
+are life, liberty, the acquisition of property and the pursuit of
+happiness. Government cannot create or bestow these rights which are
+the gift of God, but it is instituted for the stronger and surer
+defence of the same; that men may safely enjoy the rights of life and
+liberty, securely possess and transmit property, and so far as laws
+avail may be successful in the pursuit of happiness.
+
+3. All political power and sovereignty are originally vested in and
+of right belong to the PEOPLE. All free governments are founded in
+their authority and are established for the greatest good of the whole
+number. The PEOPLE have therefore an inalienable and indefeasible right
+in their original, sovereign and unlimited capacity to ordain and
+institute government, and in the same capacity to alter, reform, or
+totally change the same, whenever their safety or happiness requires.
+
+4. No favor or disfavor ought to be shown in legislation toward any
+man, or party, or society, or religious denomination. The laws should
+be made not for the good of the few, but of the many, and the burdens
+of the state ought to be fairly distributed among its citizens.
+
+5. The diffusion of useful knowledge and the cultivation of a sound
+morality in the fear of God being of the first importance in a
+republican state, and indispensable to the maintenance of its liberty,
+it shall be an imperative duty of the legislature to promote the
+establishment of free schools and to assist in the support of public
+education.
+
+6. Every person in this state ought to find a certain remedy by having
+recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which may be done to
+his rights of person, property or character. He ought to obtain right
+and justice freely and without purchase, completely and without denial,
+promptly and without delay, conformably to the laws.
+
+7. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
+papers and possessions against unreasonable searches and seizures,
+shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but on complaint in
+writing upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and
+describing, as nearly as may be, the place to be searched, and the
+person or things to be seized.
+
+8. No person shall be held to answer to a capital or other infamous
+charge unless on indictment by a grand jury except in cases arising in
+the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service,
+in time of war or public danger. No person shall be tried, after an
+acquittal, for the same crime or offence.
+
+9. Every man being presumed to be innocent until pronounced guilty
+by the law, all acts of severity that are not necessary to secure an
+accused person ought to be repressed.
+
+10. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
+nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted, and all punishments ought
+to be proportioned to the offence.
+
+11. All prisoners shall be bailable upon sufficient surety, unless for
+capital offences, when the proof is evident or the presumption great.
+The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended,
+unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety shall
+require it.
+
+12. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the privilege
+of a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury; be informed of the
+nature and cause of the accusation; be confronted with the witnesses
+against him; have compulsory process to obtain them in his favor, and
+at the public expense, when necessary, have the assistance of counsel
+in his defence, and be at liberty to speak for himself. Nor shall he be
+deprived of his life, liberty or property unless by the judgment of his
+peers, or the law of the land.
+
+13. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, and in all
+criminal cases the jury shall judge both of the law and of the facts.
+
+14. Any person in this state who may be claimed to be held to labor or
+service under the laws of any other state, territory or district, shall
+be entitled to a jury trial, to ascertain the validity of such claim.
+
+15. No man in a court of common law shall be required to criminate
+himself.
+
+16. Retrospective laws, civil and criminal, are unjust and oppressive,
+and shall not be made.
+
+17. The people have a right to assemble in a peaceable manner, without
+molestation or restraint, to consult upon the public welfare; a right
+to give instructions to their senators and representatives; and a right
+to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress
+of grievances, for the repeal of injurious laws, for the correction of
+faults of administration, and for all other purposes.
+
+18. The liberty of the press being essential to the security of freedom
+in a state, any citizen may publish his sentiments on any subject,
+being responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all trials for
+libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, spoken from good motives
+and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defence to the person
+charged.
+
+19. Private property shall not be taken for public uses without just
+compensation; nor unless the public good require it; nor under any
+circumstances until compensation shall have been made, if required.
+
+20. The military shall always be held in strict subordination to the
+civil authority.
+
+21. No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without
+the consent of the owner; nor in time of war but in manner to be
+prescribed by law.
+
+22. Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free, and all attempts
+to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens, or by civil
+incapacitations, tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness;
+and whereas a principal object of our venerated ancestors in their
+migration to this country and their settlement of this state, was,
+as they expressed it, to hold forth a lively experiment, that a
+flourishing civil state may stand, and be best maintained, with full
+liberty in religious concernments. WE therefore DECLARE that no man
+shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship,
+place or ministry whatsoever, nor be enforced, restrained, molested
+or burdened in his body or goods, nor disqualified from holding any
+office, nor otherwise suffer on account of his religious belief; and
+that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain,
+their opinions in matters of religion; and that the same shall in no
+wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities; and that all
+other religious rights and privileges of the people of this state as
+now enjoyed, shall remain inviolate and inviolable.
+
+23. No witness shall be called in question before the legislature,
+nor in any court of this state, nor before any magistrate or other
+person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation, for his or her
+religious belief, or opinions, or any part thereof; and no objection
+to a witness, on the ground of his or her religious opinions, shall be
+entertained or received.
+
+24. The citizens shall continue to enjoy and freely exercise all the
+rights of fishery and privileges of the shore to which they have been
+heretofore entitled under the charter and usages of this state.
+
+25. The enumeration of the foregoing rights shall not be construed to
+impair nor deny others retained by the people.
+
+
+ ARTICLE II.
+
+ OF ELECTORS AND THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
+
+1. Every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of
+twenty-one years, who has resided in this state for one year, and in
+any town, city or district of the same for six months next preceding
+the election at which he offers to vote, shall be an elector of all
+officers, who are elected or may hereafter be made eligible by the
+people. But persons in the military, naval or marine service of the
+United States shall not be considered as having such established
+residence by being stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place
+in any town or city in this state.
+
+2. Paupers and persons under guardianship, insane or lunatic are
+excluded from the electoral right; and the same shall be forfeited
+on conviction of bribery, forgery, perjury, theft, or other infamous
+crime; and shall not be restored unless by an act of the General
+Assembly.
+
+3. No person who is excluded from voting for want of the qualification
+first named in section first of this article, shall be taxed or be
+liable to do military duty; provided that nothing in said first article
+shall be so construed as to exempt from taxation any property or
+persons now liable to be taxed.
+
+4. No elector who is not possessed of and assessed for ratable property
+in his own right to the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars, or who
+shall have neglected or refused to pay any tax assessed upon him in
+any town, city or district for one year preceding the town, city, ward
+or district meeting at which he shall offer to vote, shall be entitled
+to vote on any question of taxation, or the expenditure of any public
+moneys in such town, city or district, until the same be paid.
+
+5. In the city of Providence and other cities no person shall be
+eligible to the office of mayor, alderman or common councilman, who is
+not taxed or who shall have neglected or refused to pay his tax, as
+provided in the preceding section.
+
+6. The voting for all officers chosen by the people, except town or
+city officers, shall be by ballot; that is to say, by depositing a
+written or printed ticket in the ballot box, without the name of the
+voter written thereon. Town or city officers shall be chosen by ballot,
+on the demand of any two persons entitled to vote for the same.
+
+7. There shall be a strict registration of all qualified voters in the
+towns and cities of the state; and no person shall be permitted to vote
+whose name has not been entered upon the list of voters before the
+polls are opened.
+
+8. The General Assembly shall pass all necessary laws for the
+prevention of fraudulent voting by persons not having an actual
+permanent residence or home in the state, or otherwise disqualified
+according to this constitution; for the careful registration of all
+voters, previously to the time of voting; for the prevention of frauds
+upon the ballot box; for the preservation of the purity of elections;
+and for the safe keeping and accurate counting of the votes; to the end
+that the will of the people may be freely and fully expressed, truly
+ascertained and effectually exerted, without intimidation, suppression
+or unnecessary delay.
+
+9. The electors shall be exempted from arrest on days of election and
+one day before and one day after the same, except in cases of treason,
+felony or breach of the peace.
+
+10. No person shall be eligible to any office by the votes of the
+people who does not possess the qualifications of an elector.
+
+
+ ARTICLE III.
+
+ OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS.
+
+1. The powers of the government shall be distributed into three
+departments, the legislative, the executive and the judicial.
+
+2. No person or persons connected with one of these departments
+shall exercise any of the powers belonging to either of the others,
+except in cases herein directed or permitted.
+
+
+ ARTICLE IV.
+
+ OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
+
+1. The legislative power shall be vested in two distinct houses, the
+one to be called the house of representatives, the other the senate,
+and both together the General Assembly. The concurrent votes of
+the two houses shall be necessary to the enactment of laws; and the
+style of their laws shall be--_Be it enacted by the General Assembly as
+follows_.
+
+2. No member of the General Assembly shall be eligible to any
+civil office under the authority of the state during the term for which
+he shall have been elected.
+
+3. If any representative or senator in the General Assembly of this
+state shall be appointed to any office under the government of the
+United States, and shall accept the same after his election as such
+senator or representative, his seat shall thereby become vacant.
+
+4. Any person who holds an office under the government of the
+United States may be elected a member of the General Assembly and
+may hold his seat therein if at the time of taking his seat he shall have
+resigned said office, and shall declare the same on oath or affirmation,
+if required.
+
+5. No member of the General Assembly shall take any fees, be of
+counsel, or act as advocate in any case pending before either branch
+of the General Assembly, under penalty of forfeiting his seat upon
+due proof thereof.
+
+6. Each house shall judge of the election and qualifications of its
+members; and a majority of all the members of each house, whom
+the towns and senatorial districts are entitled to elect, shall constitute
+a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from
+day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in
+such manner and under such penalties as each house may have previously
+prescribed.
+
+7. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish
+its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of
+two-thirds of the members elected, expel a member; but not a second
+time for the same cause.
+
+8. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish
+the same when required by one-fifth of its members. The yeas and
+nays of the members of either house shall, at the desire of any five
+members present, be entered on the journal.
+
+9. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn
+for more than two days, nor to any other place than that at which the
+General Assembly is holding its session.
+
+10. The senators and representatives shall in all cases of civil
+process be privileged from arrest during the session of the General
+Assembly, and for two days before the commencement and two days
+after the termination of any session thereof. For any speech in debate
+in either house no member shall be called in question in any other
+place.
+
+11. The civil and military officers heretofore elected in grand
+committee shall hereafter be elected annually by the General Assembly
+in joint committee, composed of the two houses of the General
+Assembly, excepting as is otherwise provided in this constitution,
+and excepting the captains and subalterns of the militia who shall be
+elected by the ballots of the members composing their respective
+companies, in such manner as the General Assembly may prescribe;
+and such officers so elected shall be approved of and commissioned
+by the governor, who shall determine their rank, and if said companies
+shall neglect or refuse to make such elections after being duly
+notified, then the governor shall appoint suitable persons to fill such
+offices.
+
+12. Every bill and every resolution requiring the concurrence of the
+two houses (votes of adjournment accepted) which shall have passed both
+houses of the General Assembly, shall be presented to the governor
+for his revision. If he approve of it he shall sign and transmit the
+same to the secretary of state, but if not he shall return it to the
+house in which it shall have originated, with his objections thereto
+which shall be entered at large on their journal. The house shall then
+proceed to reconsider the bill; and if after such reconsideration
+that house shall pass it by a majority of all the members elected,
+it shall be sent with the objections to the other house which shall
+also reconsider it; and if approved by that house by a majority of all
+the members elected it shall become a law. If the bill shall not be
+returned by the governor within forty-eight hours (Sundays excepted)
+after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall become a law,
+in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the General Assembly by
+their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a
+law.
+
+13. There shall be two sessions of the General Assembly in every year;
+one session to be held at Newport, on the first Tuesday of June, for
+the organization of the government, the election of officers, and for
+other business; and one other session on the first Tuesday of January,
+to be held at Providence, in the first year after the adoption of this
+constitution and in every second year thereafter. In the intermediate
+years the January session shall be forever hereafter held in the
+counties of Washington, Kent, or Bristol, as the General Assembly may
+determine before their adjournment in June.
+
+
+ ARTICLE V.
+
+ OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
+
+1. The house of representatives shall consist of members chosen
+by the electors in the several towns and cities in their respective town
+and ward meetings annually.
+
+2. The towns and cities shall severally be entitled to elect members
+according to the apportionment which follows, viz: Newport to
+elect five; Warwick, four; Smithfield, five; Cumberland, North Providence
+and Scituate, three; Portsmouth, Westerly, New Shoreham,
+North Kingstown, South Kingstown, East Greenwich, Glocester,
+West Greenwich, Coventry, Exeter, Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton,
+Warren, Richmond, Cranston, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Johnston,
+Foster and Burrillville to elect two; and Jamestown, Middletown
+and Barrington to elect one.
+
+3. In the city of Providence there shall be six representative districts,
+which shall be the six wards of said city. And the electors
+resident in said districts for the term of three months next preceding
+the election at which they offer to vote, shall be entitled to elect two
+representatives for each district.
+
+4. The General Assembly in case of great inequality in the population
+of the wards of the city of Providence, may cause the boundaries of the
+six representative districts therein to be so altered as to include in
+each district as nearly as may be, an equal number of inhabitants.
+
+5. The house of representatives shall have authority to elect their
+own speaker, clerks and other officers. The oath of office shall be
+administered to the speaker by the secretary of state, or, in his
+absence, by the attorney-general.
+
+6. Whenever the seat of a member of the house of representatives shall
+be vacated by death, resignation, or otherwise, the vacancy may be
+filled by a new election.
+
+
+ ARTICLE VI.
+
+ OF THE SENATE.
+
+1. The state shall be divided into twelve senatorial districts; and
+each district shall be entitled to one senator, who shall be annually
+chosen by the electors in his district.
+
+2. The first, second and third representative districts in the city of
+Providence shall constitute the first senatorial district; the fourth,
+fifth and sixth representative districts in said city the second
+district; the town of Smithfield the third district; the towns of North
+Providence and Cumberland the fourth district; the towns of Scituate,
+Glocester, Burrillville and Johnston the fifth district; the towns of
+Warwick and Cranston the sixth district; the towns of East Greenwich,
+West Greenwich, Coventry and Foster the seventh district; the towns of
+Newport, Jamestown and New Shoreham the eighth district; the towns of
+Portsmouth, Middletown, Tiverton and Little Compton the ninth district;
+the towns of North Kingstown and South Kingstown the tenth district;
+the towns of Westerly, Charlestown, Exeter, Richmond and Hopkinton the
+eleventh district; the towns of Bristol, Warren and Barrington the
+twelfth district.
+
+3. The lieutenant-governor, shall be by virtue of his office, president
+of the senate; and shall have a right, in case of an equal division to
+vote in the same, and also to vote in joint committe of the two houses.
+
+4. When the government shall be administered by the
+lieutenant-governor, or he shall be unable to attend as president of
+the senate, the senate shall elect one of their own members president
+of the same.
+
+5. Vacancies in the senate occasioned by death, resignation or
+otherwise, may be filled by a new election.
+
+6. The secretary of state shall be, by virtue of his office, secretary
+of the senate.
+
+
+ ARTICLE VII.
+
+ OF IMPEACHMENTS.
+
+1. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment.
+
+2. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate; and when sitting
+for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. No person
+shall be convicted except by vote of two-thirds of the members
+elected. When the governor is impeached the chief-justice of the
+supreme court shall preside, with a casting vote in all preliminary
+questions.
+
+3. The governor and all other executive and judicial officers shall
+be liable to impeachment, but judgments in such cases shall not
+extend further than removal from office. The party convicted shall
+nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial and punishment, according
+to law.
+
+
+ ARTICLE VIII.
+
+ OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
+
+1. The chief executive power of this state, shall be vested in a
+governor who shall be chosen by the electors, and shall hold his office
+for one year and until his successor be duly qualified.
+
+2. No person holding any office or place under the United States,
+this state, any other of the United States, or any foreign power, shall
+exercise the office of governor.
+
+3. He shall take care that the laws are faithfully executed.
+
+4. He shall be commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces
+of the state, except when called into the actual service of the United
+States; but he shall not march nor convey any of the citizens out of
+the state without their consent, or that of the General Assembly, unless
+it shall become necessary in order to march or transport them
+from one part of the state to another, for the defence thereof.
+
+5. He shall appoint all civil and military officers whose appointment
+is not by this constitution, or shall not, by law, be otherwise
+provided for.
+
+6. He shall from time to time inform the General Assembly of the
+condition of the state, and recommend to their consideration such
+measures as he may deem expedient.
+
+7. He may require from any military officer or any officer in the
+executive department, information upon any subject relating to the
+duties of his office.
+
+8. He shall have power to remit forfeitures and penalties, and to
+grant reprieves, commutation of punishments and pardons after conviction,
+except in cases of impeachment.
+
+9. The governor shall at stated times receive for his services a
+compensation, which shall not be increased nor diminished during his
+continuance in office.
+
+10. There shall be elected in the same manner as is provided for
+the election of governor, a lieutenant-governor, who shall continue in
+office for the same term of time. Whenever the office of governor
+shall become vacant by death, resignation, removal from office or
+otherwise, the lieutenant-governor shall exercise the office of governor
+until another governor shall be duly qualified.
+
+11. Whenever the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor shall
+both become vacant by death, resignation, removal from office, or
+otherwise, the president of the senate shall exercise the office of
+governor until a governor be duly qualified; and should such vacancies
+occur during a recess of the General Assembly, and there be no president
+of the senate, the secretary of state shall by proclamation convene
+the senate, that a president may be chosen to exercise the office
+of governor.
+
+12. Whenever the lieutenant-governor or president of the senate
+shall exercise the office of governor, he shall receive the compensation
+of governor only; and his duties as president of the senate shall cease
+while he shall continue to act as governor; and the senate shall fill
+the vacancy by an election from their own body.
+
+13. In case of a disagreement between the two houses of the General
+Assembly respecting the time or place of adjournment, the person
+exercising the office of governor may adjourn them to such time or
+place as he shall think proper; provided, that the time of adjournment
+shall not be extended beyond the first day of the next stated session.
+
+14. The person exercising the office of governor may, in cases of
+special necessity convene the General Assembly at any town or city in
+this state, at any other time than herein before provided. And, in
+case of danger from the prevalence of epidemic or contagious diseases,
+or from other circumstances in the place in which the General Assembly
+are next to meet, he may by proclamation convene the Assembly
+at any other place within the state.
+
+15. A secretary of state, a general treasurer and an attorney-general
+shall also be chosen annually, in the same manner and for the same time
+as is herein provided respecting the governor. The duties of these
+offices shall be the same as are now or may hereafter be prescribed by
+law. Should there be a failure to choose either of them, or should a
+vacancy occur in either of their offices, the General Assembly shall
+fill the place by an election in joint committee.
+
+16. The electors in each county shall, at the annual elections, vote
+for an inhabitant of the county to be sheriff of said county for one
+year and until a successor be duly qualified. In case no person shall
+have a majority of the electoral votes of his county for sheriff, the
+General Assembly, in joint committee, shall elect a sheriff from the
+two candidates, who shall have the greatest number of votes in such
+county.
+
+17. All commissions shall be in the name of the State of Rhode Island
+and Providence Plantations, sealed with the seal of the state, and
+attested by the secretary.
+
+
+ ARTICLE IX.
+
+ GENERAL PROVISIONS.
+
+1. This constitution shall be the supreme law of the state, and all
+laws contrary to or inconsistent with the same which may be passed by
+the General Assembly shall be null and void.
+
+2. The General Assembly shall pass all necessary laws for carrying this
+constitution into effect.
+
+3. The judges of all the courts, and all other officers, both civil and
+military, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to the due observance
+of this constitution and of the constitution of the United States.
+
+4. No jurisdiction shall hereafter be entertained by the General
+Assembly in cases of insolvency, divorce, sale of real estate of
+minors, or appeal from judicial decisions, nor in any other matters
+appertaining to the jurisdiction of judges and courts of law. But
+the General Assembly shall confer upon the courts of the state all
+necessary powers for affording relief in the cases herein named;
+and the General Assembly shall exercise all other jurisdiction and
+authority which they have heretofore entertained, and which is not
+prohibited by, or repugnant to this constitution.
+
+5. The General Assembly shall from time to time cause estimates to be
+made of the ratable property of the state, in order to the equitable
+apportionment of state taxes.
+
+6. Whenever a direct tax is laid by the state, one-sixth part thereof
+shall be assessed on the polls of the qualified electors, provided that
+the tax on a poll shall never exceed the sum of fifty cents, and that
+all persons who actually perform military duty, or duty in the fire
+department, shall be exempted from said poll tax.
+
+7. The General Assembly shall have no power hereafter to incur state
+debts to an amount exceeding the sum of fifty thousand dollars, except
+in time of war, or in case of invasion, without the express consent of
+the people. Every proposition for such increase shall be submitted
+to the electors at the next annual election, or on some day to be set
+apart for that purpose, and shall not be farther entertained by the
+General Assembly, unless it receive the votes of a majority of all the
+persons voting. This section shall not be construed to refer to any
+money that now is, or hereafter may be, deposited with this state by
+the general government.
+
+8. The assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of
+the General Assembly shall be requisite to every bill appropriating
+the public moneys, or property for local or private purposes; or
+for creating, continuing, altering or renewing any body politic or
+corporate, banking corporations excepted.
+
+9. Hereafter when any bill creating, continuing, altering or renewing
+any banking corporation, authorized to issue its promissory notes for
+circulation shall pass the two houses of the General Assembly, instead
+of being sent to the governor, it shall be referred to the electors
+for their consideration at the next annual election, or on some day
+to be set apart for that purpose, with printed tickets, containing
+the question, shall said bill (with a brief description thereof) be
+approved, or not; and if a majority of the electors voting shall vote
+to approve said bill it shall become a law, otherwise not.
+
+10. All grants of incorporation shall be subject to future acts of
+the General Assembly, in amendment or repeal thereof, or in any wise
+affecting the same, and this provision shall be inserted in all acts of
+incorporation hereafter granted.
+
+11. The General Assembly shall exercise as heretofore a visitorial
+power over corporations. Three bank commissioners shall be chosen at
+the June session for one year, to carry out the powers of the General
+Assembly in this respect. And commissioners for the visitation of other
+corporations, as the General Assembly may deem expedient, shall be
+chosen at the June session for the same term of office.
+
+12. No city council or other government in any city shall have power
+to vote any tax upon the inhabitants thereof, excepting the amount
+necessary to meet the ordinary public expenses in the same, without
+first submitting the question of an additional tax or taxes to the
+electors of said city; and a majority of all who vote shall determine
+the question. But no elector shall be entitled to vote in any city upon
+any question of taxation thus submitted, unless he shall be qualified
+by the possession in his own right of ratable property to the amount
+of one hundred and fifty dollars, and shall have been assessed thereon
+to pay a city tax, and shall have paid the same as provided in section
+fourth of Article II. Nothing in that article shall be construed as to
+prevent any elector from voting for town officers, and in the city of
+Providence and other cities for mayor, aldermen, and members of the
+common council.
+
+13. The General Assembly shall not pass any law nor cause any act or
+thing to be done in any way to disturb any of the owners or occupants
+of land in any territory now under the jurisdiction of any other state
+or states, the jurisdiction whereof may be ceded to, or decreed to
+belong to this state; and the inhabitants of such territory shall
+continue in the full, quiet and undisturbed enjoyment of their titles
+to the same, without interference in any way on the part of this state.
+
+
+ ARTICLE X.
+
+ OF ELECTIONS.
+
+1. The election of the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of
+state, general treasurer, attorney-general, and also of senators and
+representatives to the General Assembly, and of sheriffs of the counties,
+shall be held on the third Wednesday of April, annually.
+
+2. The names of the persons voted for as governor, lieutenant-governor,
+secretary of state, general treasurer, attorney-general and
+sheriffs of the respective counties, shall be put upon one ticket; and
+the tickets shall be deposited by the electors in a box by themselves.
+The names of the persons voted for as senators and as representatives
+shall be put upon separate tickets, and the tickets shall be deposited
+in separate boxes. The polls for all the officers named in this section
+shall be opened at the same time.
+
+3. All the votes given for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary
+of state, general treasurer, attorney-general, sheriffs, and also for
+senators shall remain in the ballot boxes till the polls be closed. These
+votes shall then, in open town and ward meetings, and in the presence
+of at least ten qualified voters, be taken out and sealed up in
+separate envelopes by the moderators and town clerks and by the
+wardens and ward clerks, who shall certify the same and forthwith
+deliver or send them to the secretary of state, whose duty it shall be
+securely to keep the same, and to deliver the votes for state officers
+and sheriffs to the speaker of the house of representatives after the
+house shall be organized at the June session of the General Assembly.
+The votes last named shall, without delay, be opened, counted and
+declared in such manner as the house of representatives shall direct,
+and the oath of office shall be administered to the persons who shall
+be declared to be elected by the speaker of the house of representatives,
+and in the presence of the house; provided that the sheriffs
+may take their engagement before a senator, judge or justice of
+the peace. The votes for senators shall be counted by the governor
+and secretary of state within seven days from the day of election;
+and the governor shall give certificates to the senators who are
+elected.
+
+4. The boxes containing the votes for representatives to the General
+Assembly in the several towns shall not be opened till the polls
+for representatives are declared to be closed. The votes shall then be
+counted by the moderator and clerk, who shall announce the result
+and give certificates to the persons elected. If there be no election,
+or not an election of the whole number of representatives to which
+the town is entitled, the polls for representatives may be reopened, and
+the like proceedings shall be had until an election shall take place;
+provided, however, that an adjournment of the election may be made
+to a time not exceeding seven days from the first meeting.
+
+5. In the city of Providence and other cities, the polls for
+representatives shall be kept open during the whole time of voting
+for the day; and the votes in the several wards shall be sealed up
+at the close of the meeting by the wardens and ward clerks, in the
+presence of at least ten qualified electors, and delivered to the city
+clerks. The mayor and aldermen of said city or cities shall proceed to
+count said votes within two days from the day of election; and if no
+election, or an election of only a portion of the representatives whom
+the representative districts are entitled to elect shall have taken
+place, the mayor and aldermen shall order a new election, to be held
+not more than ten days from the day of the first election; and so on
+till the election of representatives shall be completed. Certificates
+of election shall be furnished to the persons chosen by the city clerks.
+
+6. If there be no choice of a senator or senators at the annual
+election, the governor shall issue his warrant to the town and ward
+clerks of the several towns and cities in the senatorial district
+or districts that may have failed to elect, requiring them to open
+town or ward meetings for another election, on a day not more than
+fifteen days beyond the time of counting the votes for senators. If,
+on the second trial there shall be no choice of a senator or senators
+the governor shall certify the result to the speaker of the house
+of representatives; and the house of representatives, and as many
+senators as shall have been chosen, shall forthwith elect, in joint
+committee, a senator or senators from the two candidates who may
+receive the highest number of votes in each district.
+
+7. If there be no choice of governor at the annual election, the
+speaker of the house of representatives shall issue his warrant to
+the clerks of the several towns and cities requiring them to notify
+town and ward meetings for another election, on a day to be named by
+him, not more than thirty nor less than twenty days beyond the time of
+receiving the report of the committee of the house of representatives,
+who shall count the votes for governor. If, on this second trial
+there shall be no choice of a governor, the two houses of the General
+Assembly, shall, at their next session, in joint committee elect a
+governor from the two candidates having the highest number of votes, to
+hold his office for the remainder of the political year, and until his
+successor be duly qualified.
+
+8. If there be no choice of governor and lieutenant-governor at
+the annual election, the same proceedings for the choice of a
+lieutenant-governor shall be had as are directed in the preceding
+section; provided that the second trial for the election of governor
+and lieutenant-governor shall be on the same day; and also provided,
+that if the governor shall be chosen at the annual election and the
+lieutenant-governor shall not be chosen, then the last named officer
+shall be elected in joint committee of the two houses from the two
+candidates having the highest number of votes, without a further appeal
+to the electors. The lieutenant-governor, elected as is provided in
+this section, shall hold his office as is provided in the preceding
+section respecting the governor.
+
+9. All town, city and ward meetings for the choice of representatives,
+justices of the peace, sheriffs, senators, state officers,
+representatives to Congress and electors of president and
+vice-president, shall be notified by the town, city and ward clerks at
+least seven days before the same are held.
+
+10. In all elections held by the people under this constitution, a
+majority of all the electors voting shall be necessary to the choice of
+the person or persons voted for.
+
+11. The oath or affirmation to be taken by all the officers named in
+this article shall be the following: You, being elected to the place of
+governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, general treasurer,
+attorney-general, or to the places of senators or representatives, or
+to the office of sheriff or justice of the peace, do solemnly swear,
+or severally solemnly swear, or affirm, that you will be true and
+faithful to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and
+that you will support the constitution thereof; that you will support
+the constitution of the United States, and that you will faithfully
+and impartially discharge the duties of your aforesaid office to the
+best of your abilities and understanding--So help you God! or, this
+affirmation you make and give upon the peril of the penalty of perjury.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XI.
+
+ OF THE JUDICIARY.
+
+1. The judicial power of this state shall be vested in one supreme
+court, and in such other courts inferior to the supreme court as the
+legislature may, from time to time, ordain and establish; and the
+jurisdiction of the supreme and of all other courts, may, from time to
+time be regulated by the General Assembly.
+
+2. Chancery powers may be conferred on the supreme court; but
+no other court exercising chancery powers shall be established in this
+State, except as is now provided by law.
+
+3. The justices of the supreme court shall be elected in joint
+committee of the two houses, to hold their offices for one year, and
+until their places be declared vacant by a resolution to that effect,
+which shall be voted for by a majority of all the members elected to
+the house in which it may originate, and be concurred in by the same
+vote of the other house, without revision by the governor. Such resolution
+shall not be entertained at any other than the annual session
+for the election of public officers; and in default of the passage thereof
+at the said session, the judge or judges shall hold his or their place or
+places for another year. But a judge of any court shall be removable
+from office, if upon impeachment, he shall be found guilty of any
+official misdemeanor.
+
+4. In case of vacancy by the death, resignation, refusal, or inability
+to serve, or removal from the state of a judge of any court, his place
+may be filled by the joint committee until the next annual election;
+when, if elected, he shall hold his office as herein provided.
+
+5. The justices of the supreme court shall receive a compensation,
+which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
+
+6. The judges of the courts inferior to the supreme court shall be
+annually elected in joint committee of the two houses, except as
+herein provided.
+
+7. There shall be annually elected by each town and by the several
+wards in the city of Providence, a sufficient number of justices
+of the peace or wardens resident therein with such jurisdiction as
+the General Assembly may prescribe. And said justices or wardens,
+(except in the towns of New Shoreham and Jamestown) shall be
+commissioned by the governor.
+
+8. The General Assembly may provide that justices of the peace
+who are not re-elected, may hold their offices for a time not exceeding
+ten days beyond the day of the annual election of these officers.
+
+9. The courts of probate in this state, except the supreme court,
+shall remain as at present established by law, until the General Assembly
+shall otherwise prescribe.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XII.
+
+ OF EDUCATION.
+
+1. All moneys which now are, or may hereafter be appropriated
+by the authority of the state to public education, shall be securely
+invested, and remain a perpetual fund for the maintenance of free
+schools in this state; and the General Assembly are prohibited from
+diverting said moneys or fund from this use, and from borrowing,
+appropriating or using the same or any part thereof for any other
+purpose, or under any pretence whatsoever. But the income derived
+from said moneys or fund, shall be annually paid over by the general
+treasurer to the towns and cities of the state, for the support of said
+schools in equitable proportions; provided, however, that a portion of
+said income may, in the discretion of the General Assembly, be added
+to the principal of said fund.
+
+2. The several towns and cities shall faithfully devote their portions
+of said annual distribution to the support of free schools; and
+in default thereof shall forfeit their shares of the same to the increase
+of the fund.
+
+3. All charitable donations for the support of free schools and
+other purposes of public education, shall be received by the General
+Assembly and invested, and applied agreeably to the terms prescribed
+by the donors, provided the same be not inconsistent with the constitution,
+or with sound public policy; in which case the donation shall
+not be received.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XIII.
+
+ AMENDMENTS.
+
+The General Assembly may propose amendments to this constitution
+by the vote of a majority of all the members elected to each
+house. Such propositions shall be published in the newspapers of
+the state; and printed copies of said propositions shall be sent by the
+secretary of state, with the names of all the members who shall have
+voted thereon, with the yeas and nays, to all the town and city clerks
+in the state; and the said propositions shall be by said clerks inserted
+in the notices by them issued for warning the next annual town and
+ward meetings in April; and the town and ward clerks shall read said
+propositions to the electors when thus assembled, with the names of
+all the representatives and senators who shall have voted thereon,
+with the yeas and nays, before the election of representatives and senators
+shall be had. If a majority of all the members elected at said
+annual meetings, present in each house, shall approve any proposition
+thus made, the same shall be published as before provided and then
+sent to the electors in the mode provided in the act of approval; and
+if then approved by a majority of the electors who shall vote in town
+and ward meetings to be specially convened for that purpose, it shall
+become apart of the constitution of the state.
+
+
+ ARTICLE XIV.
+
+ OF THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
+
+1. This constitution shall be submitted to the people for their
+adoption or rejection, on Monday, the 27th day of December next, and
+on the two succeeding days; and all persons voting are requested to
+deposit in the ballot-boxes printed or written tickets in the following
+form: I am an American citizen, of the age of twenty-one years, and
+have my permanent residence or home in this state. I am (or not)
+qualified to vote under the existing laws of this state. I vote for
+(or against) the constitution formed by the convention of the people,
+assembled at Providence, and which was proposed to the people by said
+convention, on the 18th day of November, 1841.
+
+2. Every voter is requested to write his name on the face of his
+ticket; and every person entitled to vote as aforesaid, who from
+sickness or other causes may be unable to attend and vote in the town
+or ward meetings, assembled for voting upon said constitution on the
+days aforesaid, is requested to write his name upon a ticket, and to
+obtain the signature upon the back of the same of a person who has
+given his vote as a witness thereto. And the moderator or clerk of any
+town or ward meeting convened for the purpose aforesaid, shall receive
+such vote on either of the three days next succeeding the three days
+before named for voting on said constitution.
+
+3. The citizens of the several towns in this state, and of the several
+wards in the city of Providence, are requested to hold town and ward
+meetings on the days appointed and for the purpose aforesaid; and also
+to choose in each town and ward a moderator and clerk to conduct said
+meetings and receive the votes.
+
+4. The moderators and clerks are required to receive and carefully to
+keep the votes of all persons qualified to vote as aforesaid, and to
+make registers of all the persons voting; which, together with the
+tickets given in by the voters shall be sealed up and returned by said
+moderators and clerks, with certificates signed and sealed by them,
+to the clerks of the convention of the people, to be by them safely
+deposited and kept, and laid before said convention to be counted and
+declared at their next adjourned meeting on the 12th day of January,
+1842.
+
+5. This constitution, except so much thereof as relates to the election
+of the officers named in the sixth section of this article, shall, if
+adopted, go into operation on the first Tuesday in May, in the year one
+thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
+
+6. So much of the constitution as relates to the election of officers
+named in this section, shall go into operation on the Monday before
+the third Wednesday of April next preceding. The first election
+under this constitution of governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary
+of state, general treasurer and attorney-general, of senators and
+representatives, of sheriffs for the several counties, and of justices
+of the peace for the several towns and the wards of the city of
+Providence, shall take place on the Monday aforesaid.
+
+7. The electors of the several towns and wards are authorized to
+assemble on the day aforesaid, without being notified as is provided in
+section ninth of Article X., and without the registration required in
+section seventh of Article II., and to choose moderators and clerks,
+and proceed in the election of the officers named in the preceding
+section.
+
+8. The votes given in at the first election for representatives to the
+General Assembly and for justices of the peace, shall be counted by
+the moderators and clerks of the towns and wards chosen as aforesaid;
+and certificates of election shall be furnished by them to the
+representatives and justices of the peace elected.
+
+9. Said moderators and clerks shall seal up, certify, and transmit
+to the house of representatives all the votes that may be given in
+at said first election for governor and state officers, and for
+senators and sheriffs; and the votes shall be counted as the house of
+representatives may direct.
+
+10. The speaker of the house of representatives shall, at the first
+session of the same, qualify himself to administer the oath of office
+to the members of the house and to other officers, by taking and
+subscribing the same oath in presence of the house.
+
+11. The first session of the General Assembly shall be held in the
+city of Providence, on the first Tuesday of May, in the year one
+thousand eight hundred and forty-two, with such adjournments as may
+be necessary; but all other sessions shall be held as is provided in
+Article IV. of this Constitution.
+
+12. If any of the representatives whom the towns or districts are
+entitled to choose, at the first annual election aforesaid, shall not
+be then elected, or if their places shall become vacant during the
+year, the same proceedings may be had to complete the election, or to
+supply vacancies as are directed concerning elections in the preceding
+sections of this article.
+
+13. If there shall be no election of governor or lieutenant-governor,
+or of both of these officers, or of a senator or senators at the first
+annual election, the house of representatives and as many senators as
+are chosen, shall forthwith elect, in joint committee, a governor or
+lieutenant-governor, or both, or a senator or senators, to hold their
+offices for the remainder of the political year, and, in the case of
+the two officers first named, until their successors shall be duly
+qualified.
+
+14. If the number of the justices of the peace determined by the
+several towns and wards on the day of the first annual election shall
+not be then chosen, or if vacancies shall occur, the same proceedings
+shall be had as are provided for in this article in the case of a
+non-election of representatives and senators, or of vacancies in their
+offices. The justices of the peace thus elected shall hold office
+for the remainder of the political year, or until the second annual
+election of justices of the peace to be held on such day as may be
+prescribed by the General Assembly.
+
+15. The justices of the peace elected in pursuance of the provisions
+of this article may be engaged by the persons acting as moderators of
+the town and ward meetings as herein provided; and said justices after
+obtaining their certificates of election, may discharge the duties of
+their office for a time not exceeding twenty days, without a commission
+from the governor.
+
+16. Nothing contained in this article, inconsistent with any of the
+provisions of other articles of the constitution shall continue in
+force for a longer period than the first political year under the same.
+
+17. The present government shall exercise all the powers with which
+it is now clothed, until the said first Tuesday in May, one thousand
+eight hundred and forty-two, and until their successors under this
+constitution shall be duly elected and qualified.
+
+18. All civil, judicial and military officers now elected, or who
+shall hereafter be elected by the General Assembly or other competent
+authority, before the said first Tuesday of May, shall hold their
+offices and may exercise their powers until that time.
+
+19. All laws and statutes, public and private, now in force and
+not repugnant to this constitution, shall continue in force until
+they expire by their own limitation, or are repealed by the General
+Assembly. All contracts, judgments, actions, and rights of action,
+shall be as valid as if this constitution had not been made. All
+debts contracted, and engagements entered into before the adoption
+of this constitution, shall be as valid against the state as if this
+constitution had not been made.
+
+20. The supreme court established by this constitution shall have the
+same jurisdiction as the supreme judicial court at present established;
+and shall have jurisdiction of all causes which may be appealed to or
+pending in the same; and shall be held in the same times and places in
+each county as the present supreme judicial court until the General
+Assembly shall otherwise prescribe.
+
+21. The citizens of the town of New Shoreham shall be hereafter
+exempted from military duty and the duty of serving as jurors in the
+courts of this state. The citizens of the town of Jamestown shall be
+forever hereafter exempted from military field duty.
+
+22. The General Assembly shall, at their first session after the
+adoption of this constitution, propose to the electors the question,
+whether the word "white," in the first line of the first section of
+Article II. of the constitution shall be stricken out. The question
+shall be voted upon at the succeeding annual election; and if a
+majority of the electors voting shall vote to strike out the word
+aforesaid, it shall be stricken from the constitution; otherwise not.
+If the word aforesaid shall be stricken out, section third of Article
+II. shall cease to be a part of the constitution.
+
+23. The president, vice-president and secretaries shall certify and
+sign this constitution, and cause the same to be published.
+
+Done in convention at Providence, on the eighteenth day of November,
+in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and of American
+Independence the sixty-sixth.
+
+ JOSEPH JOSLIN, _President of the Convention_.
+
+ WAGER WEEDEN, } _Vice Presidents_.
+ SAMUEL H. WALES,}
+
+ _Attest_:
+ WILLIAM H. SMITH,} _Secretaries_.
+ JOHN S. HARRIS }
+
+
+
+
+ The State Seal.
+
+
+The coat of arms of the State is familiar to every citizen, for it is
+impressed on public documents and meets the eye on monuments and in
+newspapers. Its simplicity and its significance, as well as its correct
+heraldry render it superior to that of any of the other states; and the
+words by which it is described in our statute book, have a singular
+force and beauty. "There shall continue to be one seal for the public
+use of the State; the form of an anchor shall be engraven thereon, and
+the motto thereof shall be the word HOPE."
+
+This has been the seal of the State ever since the adoption of the
+charter, in May, 1664. Previous to that time the seal consisted of
+an anchor only, on a shield, without the motto "Hope." At the first
+meeting of the General Assembly under the "parliamentary patent,"
+in 1647, it was "ordered that the seal of the province shall be an
+anchor," and on the margin of the original manuscript, now preserved
+in the office of the secretary of state, is simply an anchor upon a
+shield, drawn by the pen of the writer.
+
+But this was not the first seal the State may claim to have possessed.
+At a meeting of the Newport Colony at Portsmouth, in 1641, six years
+before the establishment of the anchor as the seal, it was "ordered,
+that a manual seale shall be provided for the State, and that the
+signett or engraving thereof, shall be a sheaf of arrows bound up, and
+on the liass or band, this motto: _Amor omnia vincit_."
+
+The seal of the anchor with the motto "Hope," was surrounded by a
+circle, in which was inscribed the words COLONIE OF RHODE ISLAND AND
+PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS, and several impressions of it may be found
+among the old records of the State. This seal Andros broke, at the
+time of his usurpation in 1686-7. But after his expulsion, and on
+the reorganization of the General Assembly, 1689-90, a new seal was
+ordered, precisely like the old seal, except that the words "Colonie of
+Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" were omitted; nor did these
+words ever again form a part of the seal until this year, (1875), when
+they were restored by an act of the General Assembly, in January last,
+and the date 1636 added. Of course the word "Colonie" was altered to
+the word "State."
+
+No impression of the Newport seal--the sheaf of arrows; nor of the seal
+under the parliamentary patent--the anchor alone--exists among the
+archives of the State. Perhaps some of the antiquarian readers of the
+_Journal_ may know where such impressions may be found. And perhaps
+also some one may know why the anchor originally came to be chosen as
+the device of the seal. Was this the "bearing" of the shield of the
+family of Roger Williams, or of any of the families who accompanied
+him? Did the idea arise from the depressing circumstances of the
+time? If so, why was the word HOPE not added until seventeen years
+afterwards, and in comparatively prosperous times? Was there any reason
+why the legend "Colonie of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations"
+was omitted after the expulsion of Andros? Whence came the cable now
+surrounding the shank, and thus converting the anchor into a "foul
+anchor"? And whence the rock and the waves, with light-house and ship
+in the distance, as is now frequently seen? And how came the shield
+altered into unmeaning scroll-work? Is there any more authority for
+these changes than the ill-informed fancy of the seal-engravers from
+time to time?
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ NOTE.--For this excellent dissertation on the seal of Rhode Island,
+ I am indebted to my friend, the Hon. T. P. Shepard.
+
+
+
+
+ Governors of Rhode Island.
+
+
+The State originally consisted of four towns: Providence, settled in 1636;
+Portsmouth, in 1638; Newport, in 1639; and Warwick, in 1642. Each town was
+governed independently until 1647. Providence and Warwick had no executive
+head till 1647.
+
+ PORTSMOUTH.
+
+ JUDGES.
+
+ William Coddington, March 7, 1638 to April 30. 1639.
+ William Hutchinson, April 30, 1639 to March 12, 1640.
+
+
+ NEWPORT.
+
+ JUDGE.
+
+ William Coddington, April 28, 1639 to March 12, 1640.
+
+
+ PORTSMOUTH AND NEWPORT.[B]
+
+ GOVERNOR.
+
+ William Coddington, March 12, 1640 to May 19, 1647.
+
+In 1647 the four towns were united under a charter or patent, granted in
+1643, by Parliament.
+
+ [B] United in 1640.
+
+
+ PRESIDENTS UNDER THE PATENT.
+
+ John Coggeshall, May, 1647 to May, 1648.
+ William Coddington, May, 1648 to May, 1649.
+ John Smith, May, 1649 to May, 1650.
+ Nicholas Easton, May, 1650 to Aug., 1651.
+
+In 1651 a separation occurred between the towns of Providence and Warwick
+on the one side, and Portsmouth and Newport on the other.
+
+ PROVIDENCE AND WARWICK.
+
+ PRESIDENTS.
+
+ Samuel Gorton, Oct., 1651 to May, 1652.
+ John Smith, May, 1652 to May, 1653.
+ Gregory Dexter, May, 1653 to May, 1654.
+
+ PORTSMOUTH AND NEWPORT.
+
+ PRESIDENT.
+
+ John Sandford, Senior May, 1653 to May, 1654.
+
+In 1654 the union of the four towns was reëstablished.
+
+ PRESIDENTS.
+
+ Nicholas Easton, May, 1654 to Sept. 12, 1654.
+ Roger Williams, Sept., 1654 to May, 1657.
+ Benedict Arnold, May, 1657 to May, 1660.
+ William Brenton, May, 1660 to May, 1662.
+ Benedict Arnold, May, 1662 to Nov. 25, 1663.
+
+
+ ROYAL CHARTER.
+
+ GOVERNORS.
+
+ Benedict Arnold, Nov., 1663 to May, 1666.
+ William Brenton, May, 1666 to May, 1669.
+ Benedict Arnold, May, 1669 to May, 1672.
+ Nicholas Easton, May, 1672 to May, 1674.
+ William Coddington, May, 1674 to May, 1676.
+ Walter Clarke, May, 1676 to May, 1677.
+ Benedict Arnold, 1677 to June 20, 1678. Died.
+ William Coddington, Aug. 28, 1678 to Nov. 1, 1678. Died.
+ John Cranston, Nov., 1678 to March 12, 1680. Died.
+ Peleg Sandford, March 16, 1680 to May, 1683.
+ William Coddington, Jr., May, 1683 to May, 1685.
+ Henry Bull, May, 1685 to May, 1686.
+ Walter Clarke,[C] May, 1686 to June 29, 1686.
+ Henry Bull, Feb. 27, to May 7, 1690.
+ John Easton, May, 1690 to May, 1695.
+ Caleb Carr, May, 1695 to Dec. 17, 1695. Died.
+ Walter Clarke, Jan., 1696 to March, 1698.
+ Samuel Cranston, May, 1698 to April 26, 1727. Died.
+ Joseph Jenckes, May, 1727 to May, 1732.
+ William Wanton, May, 1732 to Dec., 1733. Died.
+ John Wanton, May, 1734 to July 5, 1740. Died.
+ Richard Ward, July 15, 1740 to May, 1743.
+ William Greene, May, 1743 to May, 1745.
+ Gideon Wanton, May, 1745 to May, 1746.
+ William Greene, May, 1746 to May, 1747.
+ Gideon Wanton, May, 1747 to May, 1748.
+ William Greene, May, 1748 to May, 1755.
+ Stephen Hopkins, May, 1755 to May, 1757.
+ William Greene, May, 1757 to Feb. 22, 1758. Died.
+ Stephen Hopkins, March 14, 1758 to May, 1762.
+ Samuel Ward, May, 1762 to May, 1763.
+ Stephen Hopkins, May, 1763 to May, 1765.
+ Samuel Ward, May, 1765 to May, 1767.
+ Stephen Hopkins, May, 1767 to May, 1768.
+ Josias Lyndon, May, 1768 to May, 1769.
+ Joseph Wanton, 1769 to Nov. 7, 1775. Deposed.
+ Nicholas Cooke, Nov., 1775 to May, 1778.
+ William Greene, May, 1778 to 1786.
+ John Collins, May, 1786 to 1790.
+ Arthur Fenner,[D] 1790 to 1805. Died.
+ James Fenner, May, 1807 to 1811.
+ William Jones, May, 1811 to 1817.
+ Nehemiah R. Knight,[E] May, 1817 to Jan. 9, 1821.
+ William C. Gibbs, May, 1821 to 1824.
+ James Fenner, May, 1824 to 1831.
+ Lemuel H. Arnold, 1831 to 1833.
+ John Brown Francis, 1833 to 1838.
+ William Sprague,[F] 1838 to 1839.
+ Samuel Ward King, 1840 to 1843.
+
+ [C] The charter was suspended till 1689. The Deputy-Governor, John
+ Coggeshall, acted as Governor during the interval, Governor
+ Clarke refusing to serve.
+
+ [D] Paul Mumford, Deputy-Governor, died. Henry Smith, First Senator,
+ officiated as Governor. In 1806, no election; Isaac Wilbour,
+ Lieutenant-Governor, officiated.
+
+ [E] Elected United States Senator January 9, 1821, for unexpired term
+ of James Burrill, Jr., deceased.
+
+ [F] In 1839 no choice; Samuel Ward King was First Senator and
+ Acting-Governor.
+
+ UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
+ (Adopted in 1842.)
+
+ James Fenner, 1843 to 1845.
+ Charles Jackson, 1845 to 1846.
+ Byron Diman, 1846 to 1847.
+ Elisha Harris, 1847 to 1849.
+ Henry B. Anthony, 1849 to 1851.
+ Philip Allen,[G] 1851 to 1853.
+ William Warner Hoppin, 1854 to 1857.
+ Elisha Dyer, 1857 to 1859.
+ Thomas G. Turner, 1859 to 1860.
+ William Sprague, 1860 to March 3, 1863. Resigned.
+ William C. Cozzens,[H] March 3, 1863 to May, 1863.
+ James Y. Smith, 1863 to 1866.
+ Ambrose E. Burnside, 1866 to 1869.
+ Seth Padelford, 1869 to 1873.
+ Henry Howard, 1873 to 1875.
+ Henry Lippitt, 1875 to ----
+
+ [G] Resigned July 20, 1853, having been elected United States Senator
+ May 4, 1853. Lieutenant-Governor, F. M. Dimond, officiated.
+
+ [H] Governor Sprague resigned March 3, 1863, and Lieutenant-Governor
+ Arnold having been elected to the Senate Mr. Cozzens became
+ Governor by virtue of his office as President of the Senate.
+
+
+ Deputy Governors.
+
+ William Brenton, March 12, 1640 to May 10, 1647.
+
+ From 1647 to 1663 the colony governed by a president, with four
+ assistants.
+
+ William Brenton, 1663 to 1666.
+ Nicholas Easton, 1666 to 1669.
+ John Clarke, 1669 to 1670.
+ Nicholas Easton, 1670 to 1671.
+ John Clarke, 1671 to 1672.
+ John Cranston, 1672 to 1673.
+ William Coddington, 1673 to 1674.
+ John Easton, 1674 to 1676.
+ John Cranston, 1676 to 1678.
+ James Barker, 1678 to 1679.
+ Walter Clarke, 1679 to 1686.
+ John Coggeshall, May to June, 1686.
+
+ (Charter suspended, 1686 to 1690.)
+
+ John Coggeshall, 1690.
+ John Greene, 1690 to 1700.
+ Walter Clarke, 1700 to 1714. Died.
+ Henry Tew, 1714 to 1715.
+ Joseph Jencks, 1715 to 1721.
+ John Wanton, 1721 to 1722.
+ Joseph Jencks, 1722 to 1727.
+ Jonathan Nicholls, May to August, 1727. Died.
+ Thomas Frye, 1727 to 1729.
+ John Wanton, 1729 to 1734.
+ George Hassard, 1734 to 1738. Died.
+ Daniel Abbott, 1738 to 1740.
+ Richard Ward, May to July, 1740.
+ William Greene, 1740 to 1743.
+ Joseph Whipple, 1743 to 1745.
+ William Robinson, 1745 to 1746.
+ Joseph Whipple, 1746 to 1747.
+ William Robinson, 1747 to 1748.
+ William Ellery, 1748 to 1750.
+ Robert Haszard, 1750 to 1751.
+ Joseph Whipple, 1751 to 1753.
+ Jonathan Nichols, 1753 to 1754.
+ John Gardner, 1754 to 1755.
+ Jonathan Nichols, 1755 to 1756.
+ John Gardner, 1756 to 1764.
+ Joseph Wanton, Jr., 1764 to 1765.
+ Elisha Brown, 1765 to 1767.
+ Joseph Wanton, Jr., 1767 to 1768.
+ Nicholas Cooke, 1768 to 1769.
+ Darius Sessions, 1769 to 1775.
+ Nicholas Cooke, May to November, 1775.
+ William Bradford, 1775 to 1778.
+ Jabez Bowen, 1778 to 1780.
+ William West, 1780 to 1781.
+ Jabez Bowen, 1781 to 1786.
+ Daniel Owen, 1786 to 1790.
+ Samuel J. Potter, 1790 to 1799.
+
+ The title was now changed to lieutenant-governor.
+
+
+ LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS.
+
+ Samuel J. Potter, Feb., 1799 to May, 1799.
+ George Brown, 1799 to 1800.
+ Samuel J. Potter, 1800 to 1803.
+ Paul Mumford, 1803 to 1806.
+ Isaac Wilbour, 1806 to 1807.
+ Constant Taber, 1807 to 1808.
+ Simeon Martin, 1808 to 1810.
+ Isaac Wilbour, 1810 to 1811.
+ Simeon Martin, 1811 to 1816.
+ Jeremiah Thurston, 1816 to 1817.
+ Edward Wilcox, 1817 to 1821.
+ Caleb Earle, 1821 to 1824.
+ Charles Collins, 1824 to 1833.
+ Jeffrey Hazard, 1833 to 1835.
+ George Engs, 1835 to 1836.
+ Jeffrey Hazard, 1836 to 1837.
+ Benjamin B. Thurston, 1837 to 1838.
+ Joseph Childs, 1838 to 1840.
+ Byron Diman, 1840 to 1842.
+ Nathaniel Bullock, 1842 to 1843.
+ Byron Diman, 1843 to 1846.
+ Elisha Harris,[I] 1846 to 1847.
+ Edward W. Lawton, 1847 to 1849.
+ Thomas Whipple, 1849 to 1851.
+ William Beach Lawrence, 1851 to 1852.
+ Samuel G. Arnold, 1852 to 1853.
+ Francis M. Dimond, 1853 to 1854.
+ John J. Reynolds, 1854 to 1855.
+ Anderson C. Rose, 1855 to 1856.
+ Nicholas Brown, 1856 to 1857.
+ Thomas G. Turner, 1857 to 1859.
+ Isaac Saunders, 1859 to 1860.
+ J. Russell Bullock, 1860 to 1861.
+ Samuel G. Arnold, 1861 to 1863.
+ Seth Padelford, 1863 to 1865.
+ Duncan C. Pell, 1865 to 1866.
+ William Greene, 1866 to 1868.
+ Pardon W. Stevens, 1868 to 1872.
+ Charles R. Cutler, 1872 to 1873.
+ Charles C. Van Zandt,[I] 1873 to 1875.
+ Henry T. Sisson,[I] 1875 to -----
+
+ [I] Elected by the Assembly: no choice by the people.
+
+
+ MEMBERS
+
+ OF THE
+
+ Continental Congress
+
+ FROM RHODE ISLAND.
+
+ Jonathan Arnold, 1782 to 1783.
+ Peleg Arnold, 1787 to 1789.
+ John Collins, 1778 to 1782.
+ Ezekiel Cornell, 1780 to 1782.
+ William Ellery, 1776 to 1784.
+ Jonathan J. Hazard, 1787 to 1789.
+ Stephen Hopkins, 1774 to 1779.
+ David Howell, 1782 to 1784.
+ James Manning, Feb., 1786.
+ Henry Marchant, Feb., 1777 to 1784.
+ Nathan Miller, Feb., 1786.
+ Daniel Mowry, 1780 to 1781.
+ James M. Varnum, 1780, '81, '86.
+ Samuel Ward, 1774 to 1775.
+ John Gardner, 1788 to 1789.
+ William Bradford,[J] Oct., 1776.
+ John Brown,[J] 1785.
+ George Champlin,[J] 1785 to 1786.
+ Paul Mumford,[J] 1785.
+ Peter Phillips,[J] 1785.
+ Sylvester Gardner,[J] 1787.
+ Thomas Holden,[J] 1788 to 1789.
+
+ [J] Duly elected, but their names are not in the Journals of Congress.
+
+
+ Towns in Rhode Island,
+
+ DATE OF INCORPORATION, ETC.
+
+ ================+=================+====================================
+ COUNTIES AND | DATE OF | FROM WHAT TAKEN, ORIGINAL
+ TOWNS. | INCORPORATION. | NAMES, CHANGES OF BOUNDARIES, &c.
+ ----------------+-----------------+------------------------------------
+ BRISTOL CO. |Feb'y 17, 1746-47|Incorporated with same county
+ | | limits as at present. Originally
+ | | the county consisted of two towns,
+ | | Bristol and Warren. Afterwards,
+ | | June, 1770, Warren was divided,
+ | | and the Town of Barrington was
+ | | incorporated.
+ | |
+ Barrington |June 16, 1770 |Taken from Warren, which see.
+ | |
+ Bristol |Jan'y 27, 1746-47|Five towns received from
+ | | Massachusetts this date. A portion
+ | | of Bristol annexedto Warren, May
+ | | 30, 1873.
+ | |
+ Warren |Jan'y 27, 1746-47|See Bristol. The territory of the
+ | | Town of Warren, when admitted to
+ | | the State, included the Town of
+ | | Barrington, and a portion of the
+ | | towns of Swanzey and Rehoboth, in
+ | | Massachusetts. In 1770 Warren was
+ | | divided, and one of the original
+ | | names (Barrington) was given to
+ | | the new town.
+ | |
+ KENT CO. |June 15, 1750 |Taken from Providence County.
+ | | Incorporated with the same county
+ | | limits as at present, and same
+ | | towns.
+ | |
+ Coventry |August 21, 1741 |Taken from Warwick.
+ | |
+ East Greenwich |October 31, 1677 |Incorporated as the Town of East
+ | | Greenwich. Name changed to
+ | | Dedford, June 23, 1686. The
+ | | original name restored in 1689.
+ | | The town divided in 1741.
+ | |
+ West Greenwich |April 6, 1741 |Taken from East Greenwich, which
+ | | see.
+
+ ================+=================+====================================
+ COUNTIES AND | DATE OF | FROM WHAT TAKEN, ORIGINAL
+ TOWNS. | INCORPORATION. | NAMES, CHANGES OF BOUNDARIES, &c.
+ ----------------+-----------------+------------------------------------
+ Warwick |Original town |First settled January, 1642-43.
+ | | Named from Earl of Warwick, who
+ | | signed the Patent of Providence
+ | | Plantations, March 14, 1643. The
+ | | first action of the inhabitants as
+ | | a town was August 8, 1647. Indian
+ | | name, Shawomet.
+ | |
+ NEWPORT CO. |June 22, 1703 |Originally incorporated as Rhode
+ | | Island County, June 16, 1729,
+ | | incorporated as Newport County,
+ | | and included Newport, Portsmouth,
+ | | Jamestown and New Shoreham.
+ | |
+ Fall River |October 6, 1856 |Taken from Tiverton. Ceded to
+ | | Massachusetts in the settlement of
+ | | the boundary question. March 1,
+ | | 1862. See Pawtucket and East
+ | | Providence.
+ | |
+ Jamestown |November 4, 1678 |Named in honor of King James.
+ | | Indian name Quononoqutt
+ | | (Conanicut).
+ | |
+ Little Compton |Jan'y 27, 1746-47|One of the five towns received from
+ | | Massachusetts. Annexed to Newport
+ | | County February 17, 1746-47.
+ | | Indian name, Seaconnet.
+ | |
+ Middletown |June 16, 1743 |Town in the "middle" of the island.
+ | | Taken from Newport.
+ | |
+ Newport |Original town |Settled in 1639. Line between
+ | | Newport and Portsmouth established
+ | | September 14, 1640. Incorporated
+ | | as a city June 1, 1784. City
+ | | charter given up March 27, 1787.
+ | | City incorporated the second time
+ | | at the May session, 1853, and the
+ | | charter accepted May 20, 1853.
+ | |
+ New Shoreham |November 6, 1672 |Admitted to Colony as Block Island,
+ | | May 4, 1664. When incorporated in
+ | | 1672, name changed to New Shoreham
+ | | "as signes of our unity and
+ | | likeness to many parts of our
+ | | native country." Indian name
+ | | Mannasses or Manisses.
+ | |
+ Portsmouth |Original town |Settled in 1638. Indian name
+ | | Pocasset. "At a quarter meeting of
+ | | the first of ye 5th month 1639, it
+ | | is agreed upon to call this town
+ | | Portsmouth." At the "Generall
+ | | Courte" at "Nieuport" 12th of 1st
+ | | month, 1640, the name of
+ | | Portsmouth was confirmed.
+ | |
+ Tiverton |Jan'y 27, 1746-47|One of the five towns received this
+ | | date from Massachusetts. See
+ | | Bristol, Warren, &c. Indian name
+ | | Annexed to Newport County,
+ | | February 17, 1746-47.
+ -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ ================+=================+====================================
+ COUNTIES AND | DATE OF | FROM WHAT TAKEN, ORIGINAL
+ TOWNS. | INCORPORATION. | NAMES, CHANGES OF BOUNDARIES, &c.
+ ----------------+-----------------+------------------------------------
+ PROVIDENCE CO. |June 22, 1703 |Originally incorporated as the
+ | | County of Providence Plantations,
+ | | and included the present territory
+ | | of Providence, Kent and Washington
+ | | counties, excepting the present
+ | | towns of Cumberland, Pawtucket and
+ | | East Providence. The name was
+ | | changed to Providence County June
+ | | 16, 1729. See Kent and Washington
+ | | counties.
+ | |
+ Burrillville |October 29, 1806 |Taken from Glocester. The town was
+ | | first authorized to meet to elect
+ | | officers, Nov. 17, 1806. Named
+ | | from Hon. James Burrill.
+ | |
+ Cranston |June 14, 1754 |Taken from Providence. Probably
+ | | named from Samuel Cranston, who was
+ | | Governor of Rhode Island from
+ | | March, 1698, to April 26, 1727,
+ | | when he died. A portion re-united
+ | | to Providence, June 10, 1868, and
+ | | March 28, 1873.
+ | |
+ Cumberland |Jan'y 27, 1746-47|One of the five towns received this
+ | | date. See Tiverton, Bristol, &c.
+ | | Until incorporated in Rhode Island
+ | | it was known as Attleboro Gore.
+ | | Named from Cumberland, England.
+ | | Annexed to Providence County,
+ | | February 17, 1746-47. A portion of
+ | | Cumberland was incorporated as the
+ | | Town of Woonsocket, January 31,
+ | | 1867.
+ | |
+ East Providence |March 1, 1862 |The westerly part of Rehoboth,
+ | | Massachusetts, was incorporated as
+ | | Seekonk, February 26, 1812. The
+ | | westerly part of Seekonk was
+ | | annexed to Rhode Island,
+ | | incorporated as a town, and named
+ | | East Providence in the settlement
+ | | of the boundary question in 1862.
+ | | See Pawtucket and Fall River.
+ | |
+ Foster |August 24, 1781 |Taken from Scituate. Named probably
+ | | from Hon. Theodore Foster.
+ | |
+ Glocester |Feb'y 20, 1730-31|Taken from Providence. At this date
+ | | an act was passed "for erecting
+ | | and incorporating the outlands of
+ | | the Town of Providence into three
+ | | towns." These towns were Scituate,
+ | | Glocester and Smithfield.
+ | |
+ Johnston |March 6, 1759 |Taken from Providence, and named in
+ | | honor of Augustus Johnston, Esq.,
+ | | the attorney-general of the Colony
+ | | at that time.
+
+ Lincoln |March 8, 1871 |Taken from Smithfield, and named in
+ | | honor of Abraham Lincoln, late
+ | | President of the United States.
+ ----------------+-----------------+------------------------------------
+
+ ================+=================+====================================
+ COUNTIES AND | DATE OF | FROM WHAT TAKEN, ORIGINAL
+ TOWNS. | INCORPORATION. | NAMES, CHANGES OF BOUNDARIES, &C.
+ ----------------+-----------------+------------------------------------
+ North Providence|June 13, 1765 |Taken from Providence. A small
+ | | portion reunited to Providence
+ | | June 29, 1767, and March 28, 1873.
+ | | The town was divided March 27,
+ | | 1874, a portion was annexed to the
+ | | City of Providence and a portion
+ | | to the Town of Pawtucket. The act
+ | | went into effect May 1, 1874.
+ | |
+ North Smithfield|March 8, 1871 |Taken from Smithfield, and
+ | | incorporated as the Town of
+ | | Slater. Name changed to North
+ | | Smithfield, March 24, 1871.
+ | |
+ Pawtucket |March 1, 1862 |Name of Indian origin. Part of
+ | | Seekonk, Mass., was incorporated
+ | | as the Town of Pawtucket, March 1,
+ | | 1828. The whole Town of Pawtucket
+ | | except a small portion lying
+ | | easterly of Seven Mile River was
+ | | annexed to Rhode Island, with East
+ | | Providence, which see. A portion
+ | | of the Town of North Providence
+ | | annexed to Pawtucket, May 1, 1874.
+ | |
+ Providence | Original town |Settled in 1636. Named Providence
+ | | by Roger Williams, "in gratitude
+ | | to his supreme deliverer."
+ | | Originally comprised the whole
+ | | county. City incorporated in 1832.
+ | | Portions of the Town of Cranston
+ | | were re-annexed to Providence June
+ | | 10, 1768, and March 28,1873.
+ | | Portions of North Providence were
+ | | re-annexed June 29, 1767, March
+ | | 28, 1873, and May 1, 1874.
+ | |
+ Scituate |Feb'y 20, 1730-31|Taken from Providence. See
+ | | Glocester.
+ | |
+ Smithfield |Feb'y 20, 1730-31|Taken from Providence. See
+ | | Glocester. The town was divided
+ | | March 8, 1871, a portion being
+ | | annexed to Woonsocket, and the
+ | | remainder divided into three
+ | | towns. See Lincoln and North
+ | | Smithfield.
+ | |
+ Woonsocket |Jan'y 31, 1867 |Name of Indian origin. Taken from
+ | | Cumberland. A portion of
+ | | Smithfield was annexed to
+ | | Woonsocket March 8, 1871.
+ ----------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------
+ WASHINGTON CO. |June 16, 1729 |Originally called the "Narragansett
+ | | country." Named King's Province,
+ | | March 20, 1654. Boundaries
+ | | established May 21, 1669.
+ | | Incorporated June, 1729, as King's
+ | | County, with three towns and same
+ | | territory as at present. Name
+ | | changed to Washington County,
+ | | October 29, 1781.
+ | |
+ Charlestown |August 22, 1738 |Taken from Westerly.
+ | |
+ Exeter |March 8, 1742-43 |Taken from North Kingstown.
+ -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ ================+=================+====================================
+ COUNTIES AND | DATE OF | FROM WHAT TAKEN, ORIGINAL
+ TOWNS. | INCORPORATION. | NAMES, CHANGES OF BOUNDARIES, &C.
+ ----------------+-----------------+------------------------------------
+ Hopkinton |March 19, 1757 |Taken from Westerly.
+ | |
+ North Kingstown |October 28, 1674 |First settlement, 1641.
+ | | Incorporated in 1674, under the
+ | | name of King's Towne, as the
+ | | seventh town in the Colony.
+ | | Incorporation reaffirmed in 1679.
+ | | Name changed to Rochester June 23,
+ | | 1686. Name restored in 1689; see
+ | | East Greenwich. Kingstown, divided
+ | | into North and South Kingstown,
+ | | February, 1722. The act provided
+ | | that North Kingstown should be the
+ | | oldest town.
+ | |
+ South Kingstown |Feb'y 26, 1722-23|See North Kingstown. Pettiquamscut
+ | | settled January 20, 1657-58.
+ | |
+ Richmond |August 18, 1747 |Taken from Charlestown.
+ | |
+ Westerly |May 14, 1669 |Original name Misquamicut.
+ | | Incorporated in May, 1669, under
+ | | the name of Westerly, as the fifth
+ | | town in the Colony. Name of
+ | | Westerly changed to Haversham,
+ | | June 23, 1686, but soon restored.
+ -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+NOTE.--In several cases the exact date of the passage of the act of
+incorporation of towns cannot be ascertained. In such cases the date
+of the meeting of the General Assembly at which the act was passed is
+given.
+
+
+ Total Population of Rhode Island,
+
+ FROM 1708 TO 1875.
+
+ =================+===========+======+======+======+======+======+======
+ TOWNS AND |Settled | 1708.| 1730.| 1748.| 1755.| 1774.| 1776.
+ DIVISIONS |or | | | | | |
+ OF THE STATE. |Incorpa'td.| | | | | |
+ -----------------+-----------+------+------+------+------+------+------
+ Barrington, | 1770 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 601 | 538
+ Bristol, | 1747 | -- | -- | 1,069| 1,080| 1,209| 1,067
+ Warren, | 1747 | -- | -- | 680| 925| 979| 1,005
+ | +------+------+------+------+------+------
+ BRISTOL CO., | 1747 | -- | -- | 1,749| 2,005| 2,789| 2,610
+ | | | | | | |
+ Coventry, | 1741 | -- | -- | 792| 1,178| 2,023| 2,300
+ East Greenwich, | 1677 | 240| 1,223| 1,044| 1,167| 1,663| 1,664
+ West Greenwich, | 1741 | -- | -- | 766| 1,246| 1,764| 1,653
+ Warwick, | 1643 | 480| 1,178| 1,782| 1,911| 2,438| 2,376
+ | +------+------+------+------+------+------
+ KENT CO., | 1750 | 720| 2,401| 4,384| 5,502| 7,888| 7,993
+ | | | | | | |
+ Fall River, | 1856 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Jamestown, | 1678 | 206| 321| 420| 517| 563| 322
+ Little Compton, | 1747 | -- | -- | 1,152| 1,170| 1,232| 1,302
+ Middletown, | 1743 | -- | -- | 680| 778| 881| 860
+ Newport, | 1639 | 2,203| 4,640| 6,508| 6,753| 9,209| 5,299
+ New Shoreham, | 1672 | 208| 290| 300| 378| 575| 478
+ Portsmouth, | 1638 | 628| 813| 992| 1,363| 1,512| 1,347
+ Tiverton, | 1747 | -- | -- | 1,040| 1,325| 1,956| 2,091
+ | +------+------+------+------+------+------
+ NEWPORT CO., | 1703 | 3,245| 6,064|11,092|12,284|15,928|11,699
+ | | | | | | |
+ Burrillville, | 1806 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Cranston, | 1754 | -- | -- | -- | 1,460| 1,861| 1,701
+ Cumberland, | 1747 | -- | -- | 806| 1,083| 1,756| 1,686
+ East Providence, | 1862 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Foster, | 1781 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Glocester, | 1731 | -- | -- | 1,202| 1,511| 2,945| 2,832
+ Johnston, | 1759 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,031| 1,022
+ North Providence,| 1765 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 830| 813
+ Pawtucket, | 1862 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Scituate, | 1731 | -- | -- | 1,232| 1,813| 3,601| 3,289
+ Smithfield, | 1731 | -- | -- | 450| 1,921| 2,888| 2,781
+ | +------+------+------+------+------+------
+ TOWNS, Prov. Co.,| 1703 | -- | -- | 3,690| 7,788|14,912|14,124
+ | | | | | | |
+ PROVIDENCE CITY, | 1636 | 1,446| 3,916| 3,452| 3,159| 4,321| 4,355
+ | | | | | | |
+ Charlestown, | 1738 | -- | -- | 1,002| 1,130| 1,821| 1,835
+ Exeter, | 1743 | -- | -- | 1,174| 1,404| 1,864| 1,982
+ Hopkinton, | 1757 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,808| 1,845
+ North Kingstown, | 1674 | 1,200| 2,105| 1,935| 2,109| 2,472| 2,761
+ South Kingstown, | 1723 | -- | 1,523| 1,978| 1,913| 2,835| 2,779
+ Richmond, | 1747 | -- | -- | 508| 829| 1,257| 1,204
+ Westerly, | 1669 | 570| 1,926| 1,809| 2,291| 1,812| 1,824
+ | +------+------+------+------+------+------
+ WASHINGTON CO., | 1729 | 1,770| 5,554| 8,406| 9,676|13,869|14,230
+ | | | | | | |
+ WHOLE STATE, | 1636 | 7,181|17,935|32,773|40,414|59,707|55,011
+ -----------------+-----------+------+------+------+------+------+------
+
+ NOTE.--The permission to use these valuable tables I owe to Hon. J. M.
+ Addeman, Secretary of State.
+
+ =================+========+========+========+========+========+========
+ TOWNS AND | 1782. | 1790. | 1800. | 1810. | 1820. | 1830.
+ DIVISIONS | | | | | |
+ OF THE STATE. |
+ -----------------+--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+ Barrington, | 534 | 683 | 650 | 604 | 634 | 612
+ Bristol, | 1,032 | 1,406 | 1,678 | 2,693 | 3,197 | 3,034
+ Warren, | 905 | 1,122 | 1,473 | 1,775 | 1,806 | 1,800
+ +--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+ BRISTOL CO., | 2,471 | 3,211 | 3,801 | 5,072 | 5,637 | 5,446
+ | | | | | |
+ Coventry, | 2,107 | 2,447 | 2,423 | 2,928 | 3,139 | 3,851
+ East Greenwich, | 1,609 | 1,824 | 1,775 | 1,530 | 1,519 | 1,591
+ West Greenwich, | 1,698 | 2,054 | 1,757 | 1,619 | 1,927 | 1,817
+ Warwick, | 2,112 | 2,493 | 2,532 | 3,757 | 3,643 | 5,529
+ +--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+ KENT CO., | 7,526 | 8,848 | 8,487 | 9,834 | 10,228 | 12,788
+ | | | | | |
+ Fall River, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Jamestown, | 345 | 507 | 501 | 504 | 448 | 415
+ Little Compton, | 1,341 | 1,542 | 1,577 | 1,553 | 1,580 | 1,378
+ Middletown, | 674 | 840 | 913 | 976 | 949 | 915
+ Newport, | 5,530 | 6,716 | 6,739 | 7,907 | 7,319 | 8,010
+ New Shoreham, | 478 | 682 | 714 | 722 | 955 | 1,185
+ Portsmouth, | 1,350 | 1,560 | 1,684 | 1,795 | 1,645 | 1,727
+ Tiverton, | 1,959 | 2,453 | 2,717 | 2,837 | 2,875 | 2,905
+ +--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+ NEWPORT CO., | 11,677 | 14,300 | 14,845 | 16,294 | 15,771 | 16,535
+ | | | | | |
+ Burrillville, | -- | -- | -- | 1,834 | 2,164 | 2,196
+ Cranston, | 1,589 | 1,877 | 1,644 | 2,161 | 2,274 | 2,652
+ Cumberland, | 1,548 | 1,964 | 2,056 | 2,210 | 2,653 | 3,675
+ East Providence, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Foster, | 1,763 | 2,268 | 2,457 | 2,613 | 2,900 | 2,672
+ Glocester, | 2,791 | 4,025 | 4,009 | 2,310 | 2,504 | 2,521
+ Johnston, | 996 | 1,320 | 1,364 | 1,516 | 1,542 | 2,115
+ North Providence,| 698 | 1,071 | 1,067 | 1,758 | 2,420 | 3,503
+ Pawtucket, | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
+ Scituate, | 1,628 | 2,315 | 2,523 | 2,568 | 2,834 | 3,993
+ Smithfield, | 2,217 | 3,171 | 3,120 | 3,828 | 4,678 | 6,857
+ +--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+ TOWNS, PROV. CO.,| 13,230 | 18,011 | 18,240 | 20,798 | 23,969 | 30,184
+ | | | | | |
+ PROVIDENCE CITY, | 4,310 | 6,380 | 7,614 | 10,071 | 11,767 | 16,836
+ | | | | | |
+ Charlestown, | 1,523 | 2,022 | 1,454 | 1,174 | 1,160 | 1,284
+ Exeter, | 2,058 | 2,495 | 2,476 | 2,256 | 2,581 | 2,383
+ Hopkinton, | 1,735 | 2,462 | 2,276 | 1,774 | 1,821 | 1,777
+ North Kingstown, | 2,328 | 2,907 | 2,794 | 2,957 | 3,007 | 3,036
+ South Kingstown, | 2,675 | 4,131 | 3,438 | 3,560 | 3,723 | 3,663
+ Richmond, | 1,094 | 1,760 | 1,368 | 1,330 | 1,423 | 1,363
+ Westerly, | 1,720 | 2,298 | 2,329 | 1,911 | 1,972 | 1,915
+ +--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+ WASHINGTON CO., | 13,133 | 18,075 | 16,135 | 14,962 | 15,687 | 15,421
+ | | | | | |
+ WHOLE STATE, | 52,347 | 68,825 | 69,122 | 77,031 | 83,059 | 97,210
+ -----------------+--------+--------|--------+--------+--------+--------
+
+
+ =================+========+========+========+========+========+========
+ TOWNS AND | 1840. | 1850. | 1860. | 1865. | 1870. | 1875.
+ DIVISIONS | | | | | |
+ OF THE STATE | | | | | |
+ -----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+ Barrington, | 549 | 795 | 1,000 | 1,028 | 1,111 | 1,185
+ Bristol, | 3,490 | 4,616 | 5,271 | 4,649 | 5,302 | 5,829
+ Warren, | 2,437 | 3,103 | 2,636 | 2,792 | 3,008 | 4,005
+ +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+ BRISTOL CO., | 6,476 | 8,514 | 8,907 | 8,469 | 9,421 | 11,019
+ | | | | | |
+ Coventry, | 3,433 | 3,620 | 4,247 | 3,995 | 4,349 | 4,580
+ East Greenwich, | 1,509 | 2,358 | 2,882 | 2,400 | 2,660 | 3,120
+ West Greenwich, | 1,415 | 1,350 | 1,258 | 1,228 | 1,133 | 1,034
+ Warwick, | 6,726 | 7,740 | 8,916 | 7,696 | 10,453 | 11,614
+ +--------+---------+-------+--------+--------+---------
+ KENT CO., | 13,083 | 15,068 | 17,303 | 15,319 | 18,595 | 20,348
+ | | | | | |
+ Fall River, | -- | -- | 3,337 | -- | -- | --
+ Jamestown, | 365 | 358 | 400 | 349 | 378 | 488
+ Little Compton, | 1,327 | 1,462 | 1,304 | 1,197 | 1,166 | 1,156
+ Middletown, | 891 | 830 | 1,012 | 1,019 | 971 | 1,074
+ New Shoreham, | 1,069 | 1,262 | 1,320 | 1,308 | 1,113 | 1,147
+ Portsmouth, | 1,706 | 1,833 | 2,048 | 2,153 | 2,003 | 1,893
+ Tiverton, | 3,183 | 4,699 | 1,927 | 1,973 | 1,898 | 2,101
+ +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+ TOWNS, | 8,541 | 10,444 | 11,388 | 7,999 | 7,529 | 7,859
+ NEWPORT CO., | | | | | |
+ | | | | | |
+ NEWPORT CITY, | 8,333 | 9,563 | 10,508 | 12,688 | 12,521 | 14,028
+ | | | | | |
+ Burrillville, | 1,982 | 3,538 | 4,140 | 4,861 | 4,674 | 5,249
+ Cranston, | 2,901 | 4,311 | 7,500 | 9,177 | 4,822 | 5,688
+ Cumberland, | 5,225 | 6,661 | 8,339 | 8,216 | 3,882 | 5,673
+ East Providence, | -- | -- | -- | 2,172 | 2,668 | 4,336
+ Foster, | 2,181 | 1,932 | 1,935 | 1,873 | 1,630 | 1,543
+ Glocester, | 2,304 | 2,872 | 2,427 | 2,286 | 2,385 | 2,098
+ Johnston, | 2,477 | 2,937 | 3,440 | 3,436 | 4,192 | 4,999
+ Lincoln, | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7,889 | 11,565
+ North Providence,| 4,207 | 7,680 | 11,818 | 14,553 | 20,495 | 1,303
+ North Smithfield,| -- | -- | -- | -- | 3,052 | 2,797
+ Pawtucket, | -- | -- | -- | 5,000 | 6,619 | 18,464
+ Scituate, | 4,090 | 4,582 | 4,251 | 3,538 | 3,846 | 4,101
+ Smithfield, | 9,534 | 11,500 | 13,283 | 12,315 | 2,605 | 2,857
+ Woonsocket, | -- | -- | -- | -- | 11,527 | 13,576
+ +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+ TOWNS, PROV. CO.,| 34,901 | 46,013 | 57,133 | 67,427 | 80,286 | 84,249
+ | | | | | |
+ PROVIDENCE CITY, | 23,172 | 41,513 | 50,666 | 54,595 | 68,904 |100,675
+ | | | | | |
+ Charlestown, | 923 | 994 | 981 | 1,134 | 1,119 | 1,054
+ Exeter, | 1,776 | 1,634 | 1,741 | 1,498 | 1,462 | 1,355
+ Hopkinton, | 1,726 | 2,477 | 2,738 | 2,512 | 2,682 | 2,760
+ North Kingstown, | 2,909 | 2,971 | 3,104 | 3,166 | 3,568 | 3,505
+ South Kingstown, | 3,717 | 3,807 | 4,717 | 4,513 | 4,493 | 4,240
+ Richmond, | 1,361 | 1,784 | 1,964 | 1,830 | 2,064 | 1,739
+ Westerly, | 1,912 | 2,763 | 3,470 | 3,815 | 4,709 | 5,408
+ +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+ WASHINGTON CO., | 14,324 | 16,430 | 18,715 | 18,468 | 20,097 | 20,061
+ +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+ WHOLE STATE, |108,830 |147,545 |174,620 |184,965 |217,353 |258,239
+ -----------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
+
+
+ State Valuation.
+
+Valuation of the several towns and cities in the State as returned by
+the town and city clerks to the Secretary of State, October, 1875.
+
+ =================+==============+=============+=============+==========
+ | | | | Rate of
+ | | Personal | | Tax on
+ TOWN OR CITY. | Real Estate. | Estate. | Total. | each
+ | | | | $100.[K]
+ -----------------+--------------+-------------+-------------+----------
+ Barrington, | $985,505 | $509,300 | $1,494,805 | $0.55
+ Bristol, | 3,210,700 | 1,900,400 | 5,111,100 | .78
+ Warren, | 2,052,950 | 2,115,150 | 4,168,100 | .64
+ +--------------+-------------+-------------+
+ BRISTOL COUNTY, | $6,249,155 | $4,524,850 | 10,774,005 |
+ | | | |
+ Coventry, | $2,616,300 | $1,437,100 | $4,053,400 | .40
+ East Greenwich, | 1,465,402 | 372,550 | 1,837,952 | .50
+ West Greenwich, | 362,030 | 143,140 | 505,170 | .90
+ Warwick, | 7,577,500 | 2,840,900 | 10,418,400 | .50
+ +--------------+-------------+-------------+
+ KENT COUNTY, | $12,021,232 | $4,793,690 | $16,814,922 |
+ | | | |
+ Jamestown, | $785,300 | $273,400 | $1,058,700 | .50
+ Little Compton, | 830,950 | 435,600 | 1,266,550 | .50
+ Middletown, | 1,596,000 | 398,200 | 1,994,200 | .60
+ Newport, | 20,831,000 | 8,040,200 | 28,871,200 | .77
+ New Shoreham, | 287,384 | 45,304 | 332,688 | 2.25
+ Portsmouth, | 1,556,400 | 674,500 | 2,230,900 | .58
+ Tiverton, | 1,262,913 | 484,285 | 1,747,198 | .60
+ +--------------+-------------+-------------+
+ NEWPORT COUNTY, | $27,149,947 | $10,351,489 | $37,501,436 |
+ | | | |
+ Burrillville, | $1,853,600 | $896,800 | $2,750,400 | .74
+ Cranston, | 5,864,550 | 934,200 | 6,798,750 | .50
+ Cumberland, | 3,671,250 | 2,084,050 | 5,755,300 | .65
+ East Providence, | 4,565,700 | 817,800 | 5,383,500 | .70
+ Foster, | 535,300 | 148,900 | 684,200 | .94
+ Glocester, | 824,555 | 450,550 | 1,275,105 | .80
+ Johnston, | 3,686,600 | 784,900 | 3,871,500 | .80
+ Lincoln, | 5,474,350 | 1,732,800 | 7,207,150 | .80
+ North Providence,| 803,705 | 199,500 | 1,003,205 | .80
+ North Smithfield,| 1,270,550 | 966,400 | 2,236,950 | .70
+ Pawtucket, | 12,648,774 | 3,603,656 | 16,252,430 | 1.25
+ Providence, | 82,862,900 | 39,091,800 | 121,954,700 | 1.45
+ Scituate, | 1,571,300 | 776,600 | 2,347,900 | .85
+ Smithfield, | 1,366,600 | 728,900 | 2,095,500 | .85
+ Woonsocket, | 6,979,900 | 2,533,370 | 9,513,270 | 1.20
+ +--------------+-------------+-------------+
+ PROVIDENCE CO., | $133,379,634 | $55,750,226 |$189,129,860 |
+ | | | |
+ Charlestown, | $612,800 | $88,450 | $701,250 | .70
+ Exeter, | 546,860 | 123,580 | 670,440 | .50
+ Hopkinton, | 1,326,850 | 438,450 | 1,765,300 | .65
+ North Kingstown, | 1,869,905 | 969,630 | 2,839,535 | .52
+ South Kingstown, | 3,002,490 | 1,458,610 | 4,461,100 | .60
+ Richmond, | 1,006,800 | 257,400 | 1,264,200 | .65
+ Westerly, | 3,113,800 | 1,379,175 | 4,492,975 | .60
+ +--------------+-------------+-------------+
+ WASHINGTON CO., | $11,479,505 | $4,715,295 | $16,194,800 |
+ | | | |
+ WHOLE STATE, | $190,279,473 | $80,135,550 |$270,415,023 |
+ -----------------+--------------+-------------+-------------+----------
+
+ [K] Including highway tax.
+
+
+ The Corliss Engine
+
+ AT THE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION.
+
+This engine was furnished by George H. Corliss, of Providence, Rhode
+Island, and was especially designed for supplying motive power at
+the International Exposition of 1876. This engine is of fourteen
+hundred horse-power, but is capable of doing the work of twenty-five
+hundred horses if necessary. With its appurtenances it weighs over
+seven hundred tons, and furnishes power to all the machinery in the
+building. Miles of shafting lead away from it along the aisles from
+end to end. Of these are eight main lines of shafting, four on each
+side of the central transept where the engine stands, extending
+lengthwise. Seven have a speed of one hundred and twenty revolutions,
+and one a speed of two hundred and forty revolutions a minute. A line
+of shafting is also provided for carrying power into the pump _annex_,
+and counter shafts are introduced into the aisles at different points.
+The power is transmitted by the _spur-gear_ fly-wheel, thirty feet
+in diameter, weighing fifty-six tons; the jack-wheel ten feet in
+diameter on the main shafting, which being run under the floors to the
+pulleys, the power is transmitted thence to the eight main lines of
+shafting above the floor, aggregating more than a mile in length, from
+which the machinery of the Exposition derives its power. The engine
+makes thirty-six revolutions per minute, and for driving them there
+are twenty Corliss boilers capable of developing fourteen hundred
+horse-power, and of standing a pressure of one hundred pounds to the
+square inch. The platform on which the engine stands is breast high.
+From this, on either side, a long iron staircase mounts to the top of
+the A frames, where narrow walks with brass railings lead about among
+the moving masses aloft in the air. It is five times a man's height
+from the platform to the top of the walking-beam.
+
+It is a tamed monster with unresistable power. To see a man walk calmly
+around among the great beams and cranks is a sight to make one shiver.
+He caresses a polished crank of steel that would crush him to bits if
+he should stop in its path. He pats the ends of the beams as they fly
+up and down past him, and touches the joints with his oiler. Aside from
+the fact that the engine is one of the largest of its kind, it is so
+unique in construction and form that it is all new to beholders. It is
+a model of simplicity and picturesqueness.
+
+
+
+
+ Index.
+
+
+ A.
+
+ Adams, John, 98, 224.
+
+ Adams, Samuel, 98.
+
+ Aix-la-Chapelle, 170, 176.
+
+ Albany Congress, 176.
+
+ Almy, Christopher, 110.
+
+ Almy, William, 272.
+
+ Anabaptists, 140.
+
+ Andros, Sir Edmond, 101, 102, 104, 105, 107, 108, 110.
+
+ Angell, 231.
+
+ Annapolis, 129.
+
+ Annapolis Royal, 168.
+
+ Anne, Queen, 135.
+
+ Ann, Fort, 132.
+
+ Antinomians, 140.
+
+ Anti-Sabbatarians, 140.
+
+ Aquidneck, 15, 17, 19, 38, 62, 70, 75, 84, 97, 129.
+
+ Arminians, 140.
+
+ Arnold, 225.
+
+ Arnold, Governor, 80.
+
+ Ashurst, Sir Henry, 122.
+
+ Atherton, Humphrey, 46, 47, 49, 50, 84, 101, 106, 114.
+
+
+ B.
+
+ Bailey, Richard, 80.
+
+ Baptists, 30, 105, 120, 159, 196.
+
+ Barbadoes, 127.
+
+ Barber, Henry, 248.
+
+ Bartlett, J. R., 286.
+
+ Beaver, The, 206.
+
+ Beaver Tail Light, 173, 246.
+
+ Bellemont, Lord, 118, 119, 122.
+
+ Berkeley, George, 146, 147, 179, 203.
+
+ Block Island, 55, 56, 112, 121, 125, 151, 156.
+
+ Bloody Brook, 72.
+
+ Borden, John, 70.
+
+ Boston, 2, 3, 4, 7, 17, 22, 31, 69, 73, 77, 100, 101, 103, 107, 115,
+ 116, 119, 128, 138, 144, 149, 152, 154, 203, 211, 219, 228, 236.
+
+ Boston Port Bill, 211, 215.
+
+ Bowen, Ephraim, 208.
+
+ Bowler, Metcalf, 192, 206.
+
+ Bradford, (printer,) 129.
+
+ Bradford, William, 220.
+
+ Brenton, Jahleel, 117.
+
+ Brenton's Point, 245, 246.
+
+ Breton, Cape, 170.
+
+ Bridge, Rev. Christopher, 121.
+
+ Bridgham, Samuel W., 275.
+
+ Brinley, Francis, 108.
+
+ Bristol, 38, 168, 230.
+
+ Bristol, County of, 11.
+
+ Bristol, Town of, 70, 144, 224, 227, 235, 249.
+
+ Brookfield, 71.
+
+ Brown, John, 196, 274.
+
+ Brown, Moses, 272.
+
+ Brown, Smith, 272.
+
+ Brown University, 147, 196.
+
+ Bucklin, Joseph, 208.
+
+ Bull, Henry, 110, 111.
+
+ Bunker Hill, 221, 223.
+
+
+ C.
+
+ Callender, John, 173.
+
+ Calvinists, 140.
+
+ Cambridge, 98.
+
+ Canada, 129, 130, 170.
+
+ Canonchet, 75, 76.
+
+ Canonicus, 11, 12, 20, 28.
+
+ Careless, Thomas, 199.
+
+ Carolina South, 135, 243.
+
+ Carr, Sir Robert, 57, 59.
+
+ Carteret, Lord, 146.
+
+ Carthagena, 157.
+
+ Cartwright, George, 57.
+
+ Champlin farm, 266.
+
+ Charles I., 47.
+
+ Charles II., 39, 41, 47, 51, 95, 98, 277.
+
+ Charlestown, 171.
+
+ Charter House, 2.
+
+ Chepachet, 281.
+
+ Church, Benjamin, 70, 76.
+
+ Church's Harbor, 188.
+
+ Clarke, Jeremy, 25.
+
+ Clarke, John, 18, 30, 31, 32, 34, 40, 42, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56,
+ 57, 61, 63, 64, 65, 85, 124, 141, 277, 287.
+
+ Clarke, Walter, 99, 104.
+
+ Clawson, John, 92.
+
+ Coddington, Nathaniel, 117.
+
+ Coddington, William, 18, 25, 30, 31, 32, 37, 87.
+
+ Coggeshall, John, 25, 94.
+
+ Coke, Sir Edward, 2.
+
+ Collins, Governor, 263.
+
+ Conanicut, Island of, 11, 20.
+
+ Congregationalists, 120, 175.
+
+ Connecticut, 22, 30, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 57, 58, 61, 64, 65,
+ 66, 72, 77, 79, 80, 81, 84, 86, 96, 100, 104, 105, 106, 109, 114,
+ 122, 124, 130, 138, 152, 163, 171, 186, 242, 243, 261.
+
+ Connecticut River, 71.
+
+ Cook, Colonel, 230.
+
+ Cooke, Esek, 225.
+
+ Cooke, Nicholas, 198, 220, 225, 235, 254.
+
+ Copley, 147.
+
+ Cornberry, Lord, 125.
+
+ Coweset, 79, 81.
+
+ Coweset Bay, 93, 229.
+
+ Cranston, 197.
+
+ Cranston, John, 156, 166.
+
+ Cranston, Samuel, 117, 118, 119, 122, 124, 135, 141.
+
+ Cranfield, 96, 97.
+
+ Crary, Colonel, 244.
+
+ Cromwell, 39.
+
+ Cromwell, Richard, 39.
+
+ Culpepper, Lord, 106.
+
+ Cumberland, 168.
+
+ Cygnet, The, 191.
+
+
+ D.
+
+ Davenport, Captain, 73.
+
+ Dedford, 101.
+
+ Deerfield, 71.
+
+ Delaware, 11, 261.
+
+ D'Estaing, 236, 237, 238, 239.
+
+ Dexter Asylum, 275.
+
+ Dexter, Ebenezer Knight, 275.
+
+ Dickinson, John, 199.
+
+ Dorr Rebellion, 279, 282.
+
+ Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 280, 281.
+
+ Douglass, David, 180.
+
+ Downer, Silas, 199.
+
+ Duddingston, Lieutenant, 206, 208.
+
+ Dudley, 100, 108, 122, 124, 125.
+
+ Dudley, Charles, 226.
+
+ Durfee, Colonel Joseph, 236.
+
+ Dutch Island, 158.
+
+ Dyer, William, 25.
+
+
+ E.
+
+ Eastern, John, 111.
+
+ Edwards, Mr., 50.
+
+ Edwards, Rev. Morgan, 196.
+
+ Eliot, John, 58, 59, 69.
+
+ Ellery, William, 166, 253.
+
+ Endicott, John, 55.
+
+ England, 7, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 39, 47, 64, 82, 83, 88, 92,
+ 95, 102, 103, 106, 107, 109, 110, 119, 127, 128, 131, 138, 141,
+ 143, 149, 153, 156, 157.
+
+ England, Church of, 2, 3, 103, 153.
+
+ Episcopalians, 120, 140, 175.
+
+ Exeter, 163, 196.
+
+ Exposition, Centenary, 286.
+
+
+ F.
+
+ Fall River, 236.
+
+ Familists, 140.
+
+ Famme Goose Bay, 165.
+
+ Farmer's Letters, 197, 199.
+
+ Fellowship Club, 176.
+
+ Fitch, Governor, 192.
+
+ Flagg, Major Ebenezer, 251.
+
+ Fones, Captain, 165.
+
+ Fothergill, Samuel, 159.
+
+ France, 64, 86, 110, 159.
+
+ Franklin, Benjamin, 176, 190, 213, 214, 261.
+
+ Franklin, James, 144, 147.
+
+ Freemasonry, 181.
+
+ Freetown, 121.
+
+ French Residents, 178.
+
+ Frenchtown, 107, 111.
+
+
+ G.
+
+ Gage, General, 215.
+
+ Galloway, Mr., 130.
+
+ Gardiner's Island, 250.
+
+ Gaspee, 194, 206, 207, 211, 212, 221.
+
+ George I., 135, 142.
+
+ George II., 143, 142.
+
+ George, Fort, 156, 159, 216, 223.
+
+ Goat Island, 123.
+
+ Goddard, William, 180, 214, 222.
+
+ Godfrey, John, 112.
+
+ Goffe, 72.
+
+ Gorton, Samuel, 18, 19, 20, 22, 29, 85.
+
+ Goulding, Roger, 110.
+
+ Greene, Christopher, 218, 226, 231, 234, 250.
+
+ Greene, Governor, 248.
+
+ Greene, James, 162.
+
+ Greene, John, 61, 82, 94, 97, 100, 103, 106, 111, 114, 115, 119, 121.
+
+ Greene, Nathanael, 218, 219, 220, 236, 239, 250.
+
+ Greene, William, 158, 235.
+
+ Greenwich, 233.
+
+ Greenwich, East, 79, 82, 88, 101, 151, 163, 174, 192, 212, 215, 218,
+ 244, 245, 256, 258, 282.
+
+ Greenwich, West, 132, 163, 174, 226.
+
+ Gregorian Calendar, 175.
+
+
+ H.
+
+ Hadley, 71.
+
+ Hall, Benoni, 206.
+
+ Hamilton, 261.
+
+ Hancock, John, 236.
+
+ Hannah, The Sloop, 207.
+
+ Harris, Thomas, 37.
+
+ Harris, William, 33, 82, 85, 86.
+
+ Hartford, 35, 76, 79, 105.
+
+ Hartford Convention, 276.
+
+ Harvard College, 121.
+
+ Hatfield, 72.
+
+ Haversham, 101.
+
+ Hays, 246.
+
+ Hazard's, Isaac P., farm, 267.
+
+ Hazard's, Robert, farm, 266.
+
+ Helme, James, 206.
+
+ Henry, Patrick, 191.
+
+ Herendeen, 92.
+
+ Hill, David, 205, 206.
+
+ Hill, Lieutenant, 193.
+
+ Hillsborough, Lord, 201.
+
+ Hog Island, 38.
+
+ Holden, Randall, 25, 82, 97.
+
+ Holland, 32, 64, 95, 149.
+
+ Holmes, Obadiah, 30.
+
+ Honeyman's Hill, 121.
+
+ Honeyman, James, 121.
+
+ Hooker, Dr., 105.
+
+ Hope Bay, Mount, 70.
+
+ Hope Island, 226, 254.
+
+ Hope, Mount, 11, 69, 70, 76.
+
+ Hopkins, Captain William, 157.
+
+ Hopkins, Samuel, 204.
+
+ Hopkins, Stephen, 106, 176, 178, 179, 180, 188, 198, 200, 206, 212,
+ 216, 224, 233, 273.
+
+ Hopkinton, 182.
+
+ Howard, Martin, Jr., 176.
+
+ Howell, 253.
+
+ Howland, John, 273.
+
+ Hutchinson, Anna, 17.
+
+ Hutchinson, Captain, 49.
+
+ Hutchinson, Governor, 171, 205.
+
+ Hutchinson Letters, 213.
+
+ Huguenots, 107, 135.
+
+
+ J.
+
+ Jackson, Daniel, 259.
+
+ James, Fort, 62.
+
+ James II., 98, 100, 105, 106, 107.
+
+ Jamestown, 88, 158.
+
+ Jenckes, Joseph, 134, 142, 148, 152.
+
+ Jews, 98, 256.
+
+ Johnson, Captain, 73.
+
+ Johnston, 182.
+
+ Johnston, Augustus, 191.
+
+ Judith, Point, 237.
+
+
+ K.
+
+ Katy, The, 222.
+
+ Keeler, Captain, 212.
+
+ Kent County, 58, 174.
+
+ Kentish Guards, 218.
+
+ Kidd, Captain, 119.
+
+ King, Governor, 281.
+
+ King's Province, 58, 59, 79, 80, 96, 101, 104, 106, 107, 122, 252.
+
+ Kingston, 73, 88, 93, 101, 121, 139.
+
+ Kingstown, North, 163.
+
+ Kingstown, South, 151, 247, 258.
+
+
+ L.
+
+ Lafayette, 236, 239, 240, 248.
+
+ Languedoc, The, 238.
+
+ Lee, General, 226, 233.
+
+ LeFavour, Heber, 284.
+
+ Leister, 112.
+
+ Lenthall, Robert, 54.
+
+ Lexington, 219.
+
+ Liberty, The Sloop, 202.
+
+ Lincoln, President, 282.
+
+ Lindsey, Captain, 207.
+
+ Little Compton, 121, 127, 168.
+
+ Lockman, Leonard, 164.
+
+ London, 109.
+
+ Long Island, 62.
+
+ Long Island, Indians of, 35.
+
+ Lopez, 246.
+
+ Lopez, Moses, 175.
+
+ Louisburg, 165, 166, 170.
+
+ Lovelace, Governor, 62.
+
+ Lutherans, 140.
+
+ Lyndon, Josias, 198.
+
+ Lynn, 30.
+
+ Lyon, The Ship, 2.
+
+
+ M.
+
+ Madison, 261.
+
+ Maidstone, 193.
+
+ Maine, 61, 75.
+
+ Malmedy, 233.
+
+ Manhattan, 32.
+
+ Marchant, 205, 254.
+
+ Martha's Vineyard, 62.
+
+ Martindale, Major, 124.
+
+ Massachusetts Bay, Colony of, 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20,
+ 21, 22, 29, 30, 35, 36, 38, 39, 42, 44, 45, 46, 50, 53, 55, 57, 58,
+ 61, 64, 66, 70, 72, 75, 84, 87, 96, 100, 102, 105, 107, 109, 114,
+ 118, 122, 125, 126, 133, 134, 144, 152, 161, 171, 179, 186, 212,
+ 254, 261.
+
+ Massasoit, 5, 8, 11, 12, 66.
+
+ Mather, Cotton, 140.
+
+ Mather, Dr. Increase, 109.
+
+ Maverick, Samuel, 57.
+
+ Mayflower, 13.
+
+ Miantonomi, 5, 11, 20, 22.
+
+ Middletown, 163.
+
+ Milton, John, 16.
+
+ Mohegans, 21, 22, 47, 76.
+
+ Montague, Admiral, 207.
+
+ Mooshausick Hill, 65.
+
+ Mooshausick River, 9, 10, 12, 13, 97, 183, 184.
+
+ Moravian Mission, 174.
+
+
+ N.
+
+ Namcook, 46.
+
+ Nantasket Roads, 2, 129.
+
+ Nantucket, 62.
+
+ Narragansett, 31, 45, 50, 58, 79, 80, 84, 89, 96, 106, 115, 124, 128,
+ 175.
+
+ Narragansett Bay, 7, 15, 19, 23, 45, 46, 48, 58, 62, 70, 80, 81, 96,
+ 150, 227, 236, 241, 254.
+
+ Narragansett River, 48, 51.
+
+ Narragansetts, The, 11, 20, 21, 22, 28, 35, 46, 72, 73, 75.
+
+ Neale, Thomas, 116.
+
+ Newburyport, 236.
+
+ New England, 23, 40, 45, 53, 58, 75, 77, 88, 95, 96, 98, 100, 105,
+ 107, 114, 118, 131, 133, 145, 154, 159.
+
+ New Haven, 22.
+
+ New Jersey, 11, 105.
+
+ New London, 112.
+
+ New Netherlands, 62.
+
+ Newport, 18, 25, 27, 29, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 53, 61, 64, 65, 75, 88,
+ 90, 104, 108, 112, 121, 123, 124, 126, 129, 130, 133, 136, 140,
+ 142, 143, 144, 145, 147, 150, 154, 157, 159, 163, 172, 174, 179,
+ 189, 191, 195, 199, 203, 204, 207, 215, 218, 222, 223, 224, 225,
+ 226, 227, 235, 236, 237, 238, 243, 245, 247, 250, 253, 255, 259,
+ 264, 273, 275, 278.
+
+ Newport Artillery, 164.
+
+ Newport Marine Society, 176.
+
+ Newport Mercury, 180, 248.
+
+ New York, 11, 15, 57, 62, 105, 112, 115, 119, 125, 152, 157, 202, 249.
+
+ Niantics, 76, 128.
+
+ Nichols, Colonel Richard, 57.
+
+ Niles, Samuel, 121.
+
+ Ninigret, 35, 128, 137.
+
+ Nipmucks, 71.
+
+ Norris, Matthew, 155.
+
+
+ O.
+
+ Oleron, laws of, 25.
+
+ Olney, Colonel, 231, 234.
+
+ Olney's Tavern, 199.
+
+ Olneys, The, 231.
+
+ Olney, Thomas, 37.
+
+ Otis, James, 89, 98.
+
+
+ P.
+
+ Paine, John, 62.
+
+ Paine, Thomas, 112.
+
+ Pappoosquash Point, 249.
+
+ Paris, Peace of, 177.
+
+ Partridge, Richard, 158, 181.
+
+ Patience, Island of, 19.
+
+ Pawcatuck, 112, 114, 132.
+
+ Pawcatuck River, 49, 51, 101.
+
+ Pawtucket, 132.
+
+ Pawtuxet River, 162, 197.
+
+ Pawtuxet, 12, 29, 38, 45, 76, 82, 83, 96.
+
+ Pedobaptists, 140.
+
+ Penn, William, 125.
+
+ Pennsylvania, 261.
+
+ Peoples' Constitution, 279.
+
+ Pequots, 20, 21, 22, 55, 66, 76.
+
+ Perry, Oliver H., 276.
+
+ Pettaquamscott Pond, 105.
+
+ Philadelphia, 226.
+
+ Philip, King, 68, 69, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77.
+
+ Philip's, King, War, 66, 89, 120.
+
+ Phipps, Sir William, 114.
+
+ Pigot, Sir Robert, 237, 238.
+
+ Pitt, William, 177.
+
+ Plainfield, 132.
+
+ Plymouth, Colony of, 3, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 15, 22, 57, 61, 67, 69, 70,
+ 72, 76, 77, 84, 97, 114, 126, 236.
+
+ Pocasset, 17, 19, 71.
+
+ Port Royal, 129, 131, 166.
+
+ Portsmouth, 24, 25, 27, 29, 41, 44, 63, 75, 88, 116, 124, 135, 136,
+ 144, 156, 158, 193.
+
+ Portsmouth Grove, 285.
+
+ Potter, Simeon, 218.
+
+ Potter, Stephen, 206.
+
+ Potowomut, 93, 101, 256.
+
+ Potowomut River, 136.
+
+ Presbyterians, 140.
+
+ Prospect Hill, 223.
+
+ Proud, John, 159.
+
+ Providence, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33,
+ 39, 41, 43, 44, 54, 64, 65, 75, 78, 82, 83, 88, 90, 94, 120, 130,
+ 135, 136, 148, 151, 153, 172, 174, 195, 199, 200, 201, 203, 207,
+ 209, 216, 218, 219, 220, 223, 224, 229, 230, 233, 249, 253, 258,
+ 262, 264, 271, 273, 275, 278, 279, 280.
+
+ Providence Bank, 274.
+
+ Providence Court House, 179.
+
+ Providence Cove, 188.
+
+ Providence Gazette and Country Journal, 180, 214.
+
+ Providence Institution for Savings, 274.
+
+ Providence Library Association, 171.
+
+ Providence Plantations, 23, 24, 40, 232.
+
+ Prudence Island, 62, 227.
+
+ Puritans, 2, 3, 105, 120.
+
+
+ Q.
+
+ Quakers, 39, 76, 103, 105, 120, 140, 148, 152, 158, 159, 181.
+
+ Quebec, 226.
+
+ Quidnesset, 46.
+
+ Quincy, Josiah, 98.
+
+
+ R.
+
+ Randolph, 96, 97, 100, 104, 119.
+
+ Ranters, 140.
+
+ Ray, Simon, 55.
+
+ Redwood, Abraham, 200.
+
+ Redwood Library, 147, 171, 200, 250.
+
+ Rehoboth, 248.
+
+ Reid, Captain William, 202.
+
+ Rhode Island, 7, 11, 17, 18, 19, 22, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 42,
+ 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64,
+ 66, 70, 71, 73, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 84, 86, 87, 92, 95, 96,
+ 97, 98, 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113,
+ 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 120, 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 134,
+ 135, 138, 144, 152, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 162, 163, 166, 168,
+ 171, 177, 181, 201, 205, 206, 211, 212, 213, 227, 228, 231, 232,
+ 235, 242, 247, 248, 250, 255, 256, 259, 269, 270, 271, 273, 274,
+ 275, 276, 277, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285, 286, 287.
+
+ Rhode Island Army of Observation, 221, 223.
+
+ Rhode Island, Island of, 15.
+
+ Riveiras, 246.
+
+ Robinson, John, 3.
+
+ Rochambeau, 249, 250.
+
+ Rochester, 101.
+
+ Rogers, James, 175.
+
+ Roman Catholics, 140, 150, 256.
+
+ Rome, George, 213, 224.
+
+ Rose, Frigate, 221.
+
+ Roxbury, 73.
+
+ Ryswick, Treaty of, 117, 118, 123.
+
+
+ S.
+
+ Sabbatarians, 81, 120.
+
+ Salem, 4, 5, 7, 8, 85, 236.
+
+ Sandford, Peleg, 80, 117.
+
+ Sanford, John, 25.
+
+ Say and Seal, Lord, 47.
+
+ Scituate, 178, 258.
+
+ Scituate Furnace Company, 200.
+
+ Scott, John, 49, 50.
+
+ Seekonk, 16.
+
+ Seekonk River, 8, 9.
+
+ Senegal, 199.
+
+ Separatists, 105.
+
+ Sequasson, 22.
+
+ Shawomut, 19, 20, 29.
+
+ Sheffield, Captain Joseph, 157.
+
+ Sherwood Joseph, 181, 205.
+
+ Shoreham, New, 56, 88, 156.
+
+ Simpson, Joseph, 216.
+
+ Skelton, Mr., 4, 5.
+
+ Slate Rock, 9.
+
+ Slater, Samuel, 272.
+
+ Smibert, 147.
+
+ Socinians, 140.
+
+ Spain, 86, 156, 159.
+
+ Sparker, Henry, 199.
+
+ Spencer, General, 236.
+
+ Springfield, 72.
+
+ Stamper's Hill, 39.
+
+ Stanton Farm, 266.
+
+ Stanwix, Fort, 188.
+
+ Star Chamber, 2.
+
+ Stiles, Ezra, 200, 203.
+
+ Stirling, Earl of, 62.
+
+ Stonington, 76.
+
+ Sullivan, 236, 237, 239.
+
+ Sutton Hospital, 2.
+
+ Swanzey, 69.
+
+
+ T.
+
+ Talbot, Silas, 242.
+
+ Tartar, Ship, 155, 162, 165.
+
+ Taunton River, 70.
+
+ Taylor, George, 153.
+
+ Ternay, 249, 250.
+
+ Tew, Henry, 134.
+
+ Thayer, Simeon, 226, 231.
+
+ Theatres in Rhode Island, 180.
+
+ Thurston, 150.
+
+ Tiverton, 71, 121, 168, 230, 236, 249.
+
+ Tiverton Heights, 229.
+
+ Trinity Church, 200, 250.
+
+ Touros, 246.
+
+ Turpin, William, 153.
+
+
+ U.
+
+ Uncas, 22.
+
+ Underhill, Captain, 7.
+
+ United Colonies, 22, 34, 35, 39, 46, 50.
+
+ Utrecht, Treaty of, 131.
+
+
+ V.
+
+ Vane, Sir Henry, 17, 20, 34.
+
+ Varnum, General, 233, 234, 254.
+
+ Varnum, James M., 218.
+
+ Venus, Transit of, 200.
+
+ Verin, Joshua, 14.
+
+ Virginia, 110, 116.
+
+
+ W.
+
+ Wallace, Sir James, 221, 223, 224, 227.
+
+ Walpole, 189.
+
+ Walpole, Sir Robert, 143.
+
+ Wamponoags, 11, 12, 66.
+
+ Wamsutta, 67.
+
+ Wanasquatucket, 12.
+
+ Wanton, Captain John, 126, 153, 158.
+
+ Wanton, Captain William, 124, 152.
+
+ Wanton, Governor, 220, 221, 224, 227.
+
+ War of Independence, 202.
+
+ Ward, Henry, 192.
+
+ Ward, Major, 234.
+
+ Ward, Richard, 158, 160, 178, 179, 188, 192, 195, 198, 216.
+
+ Ward, Samuel, 226, 228, 231.
+
+ Warren, 98, 168, 227, 236.
+
+ Warren Association of Baptist Churches, 196.
+
+ Warwick, Colony of, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 31, 34, 41, 43, 44, 58, 65,
+ 75, 76, 79, 82, 83, 88, 93, 94, 96, 101, 111, 132, 163, 174.
+
+ Warwick, Earl of, 23.
+
+ Warwick Neck, 229.
+
+ Washington, 248, 261, 274.
+
+ Washington, The, 222.
+
+ Waumaion, 92.
+
+ West, 147.
+
+ West, General, 227, 230.
+
+ West Indies, 128, 149, 153, 158, 271.
+
+ Westerly, 88, 101, 121, 124, 138, 144, 151, 182, 215.
+
+ Weybosset Bridge, 165, 188.
+
+ What Cheer Square, 9.
+
+ Whipple, Captain Abraham, 208, 222, 226.
+
+ Whipple Hall, 200.
+
+ Whipple, Joseph, 175.
+
+ Whitefield, Governor, 159.
+
+ Wickford, 74, 121.
+
+ Willard, Captain, 36.
+
+ William and Mary, 109, 110.
+
+ Williams, Roger, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
+ 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42,
+ 45, 46, 58, 59, 62, 63, 64, 65, 75, 82, 85, 86, 92, 141, 184, 256,
+ 277, 287.
+
+ Winslow, 29.
+
+ Winslow, Major, 67.
+
+ Winthrop, John, 46, 47, 49, 51, 62, 124.
+
+ Wolf, 77.
+
+ Wonumytomoni Hill, 65.
+
+ Worcester, 179.
+
+
+ Y.
+
+ Yale College, 147.
+
+ Yemassee War, 135.
+
+ York, Duke of, 62.
+
+
+
+
+ WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
+
+
+ HISTORICAL STUDIES.
+
+ One vol., 12mo., 1850.
+
+
+ BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES.
+
+ One vol., 12mo., 1860.
+
+
+ NATHANAEL GREENE.
+
+ AN EXAMINATION OF SOME PASSAGES IN THE 14TH
+ VOLUME OF MR. BANCROFT'S "HISTORY OF THE
+ UNITED STATES."
+
+ Eight vo., 1866.
+
+
+ THE LIFE OF NATHANAEL GREENE,
+
+ MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE ARMY OF THE REVOLUTION.
+
+ Three vols., 8vo., 1871.
+
+
+ THE GERMAN ELEMENT IN THE WAR
+ OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
+
+ One vol., 12mo., 1876.
+
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+The paragraphs of the Dedication were printed in mixed case using
+small capitals. In the interest of readability, this portion of the
+text is simply left as mixed case.
+
+There are several errors in the chronology given in the Analytical
+table. The entry for Chapter XVII is missing the year of the death
+of Governor Cranston (1727) which is mentioned on p. 141. This has
+been added. The page number for the last entry for Chapter XXXIX
+was printed as 228, but should have been 282. This has been corrected
+as well.
+
+Minor inconsistencies of punctuation in the Analytical Table and the
+Index have been corrected silently. In the Index, the entry for
+Roger Williams includes an out-of-sequence reference to p. 39, which
+should have been p. 29.
+
+Some words appear both with and without hyphens. Where the hyphen is
+used at a line break, the most common usage is followed.
+
+The word 'seized' was misprinted twice (pp. 30, 79) as 'siezed'.
+It appears correctly more than a dozen times. These have been
+corrected.
+
+On p. 112, an opening quotation mark in the final paragraph is never
+closed. A page later, an unbalanced closing quotation mark appears, but
+it is very unlikely that they correspond, since they span multiple
+topics. Both have been removed. See the entries for pp. 112-113 in the
+table below.
+
+The Author's Note, which refers to p. 196, is a clarification of remarks
+on the foundation and re-naming of Brown University. The paragraph
+begins with the phrase "The foundation of a university".
+
+On the final page, the description of "NATHANAEL GREENE",
+includes a misprinted reference. The original referred to:
+
+ Mr. Bancrofts "History of the United" States.
+
+This has been corrected:
+
+ Mr. Bancroft's "History of the United States."
+
+The following table contains other typographical issues, most likely
+printer's errors, and their resolution. Idiosyncratic spellings,
+where no other correct instances are to be found, are allowed to
+stand. Non-standard spelling which appear in quoted material are also
+given here as printed, unless an error can be confirmed by comparison
+with original sources.
+
+p. viii Mass[as]oit Added.
+
+ success[s]ful Removed.
+
+p. xiii bes[ei/ie]ged Transposed.
+
+p. xvii [1727] Death of Governor Cranston Added.
+
+p. 43 Deputy-Govern[e/o]r Corrected.
+
+p. 61 struck a familiar cord _sic._
+
+p. 74 victors and vanquishe[r/d] were driven Corrected.
+
+p. 81 con[s]cientious Added.
+
+p. 95 parapheranalia _sic._
+
+p. 102 his a[r]bitrary will Added.
+
+p. 112 The war pressed so ["]heavily on the Removed.
+
+p. 113 says a cotemporary letter.["] Removed.
+
+p. 117 admiral[i]ty Removed.
+
+p. 167 the conquest of New Eng[l]and Added.
+
+p. 176 to har[r]ass the enemy's commerce Removed.
+
+p. 233 the rank of Brigadier[.]" Added.
+
+p. 254 the begin[n]ing of the war Added.
+
+p. 259 degredation _sic._
+
+p. 263 enthusia[s]m Added.
+
+p. 268 (Various companies in Pawtucket.[)] Added.
+
+p. 292 enlarge the [the] territories Removed.
+
+p. 293 suc[c]essors Added.
+
+p. 295 ensu[s]ing Removed.
+
+ in any [of] their assemblies Added.
+
+p. 329 mi[s]demeanor Added.
+
+p. 356 27, [3/2]9, 31 Corrected.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A short history of Rhode Island, by
+George Washington Greene
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44955 ***
generated by cgit v1.2.3 (git 2.25.1) at 2026-07-01 10:36:33 +0000