Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-03-02

missloners, consisting OF SIX persons, cho-
sen by each of the four towns of Proyi-
dcnce, Portsmouth, Newport and War
wick, had a legislature authority, at least
their acts were to be in force, unless re-
pealed within limited time, by the vote
of the major part Of the irocmcn of the
province, to be collected at their rcspcc-
tive town meetings appointed for that
End.
| A President and four assistants were
| chosen yearly, to be conscryatorS of the
peace, with all civil power, and by a
special commission, they were Judges of
the court Of Tryal, assisted by the two
Wardcns or Justices Of the particular
| Town, in which the court sat from time
| TO time.
| Every town chose "a Council Of six per-
sons, to manage their town affairs; and
their town court, had the tryal OF small
eases, but with an appeal to the court of
! the President and associates.
! This Form of Government subsstcd
! till lGjl, when there were some obstruc-
! tions to it, by ii commission granted from
| the Council of State, to the principal in
habitant of the Island, to govern the is
land, with council chosen by the pco-
pie, and approved by himself. But the
people thinking it violation or cncroach-
mcnt on their liberties, and purchases as
granted, and secured bv charter, immc-
diatcly dispatched Mr.. r. Williams, and
Mr. J. Clark to England, as their agents,
and they easily procured an order from
the council oi state to vacate and suspend
the commission. This order is dated ID
Of October, lGJ2, but by reason of
some misunderstanding between the four
Towns, it was year or two before they
returned to their old plan, which then
lasted to the present charter. In 1868,
July 3, Charles I'd granted an ample
Charter, whereby the Province was
made Body Corporate and Pollick, in
Fact and Name, by the Name of the
Governour and Company, of The English
COIony Of Rhode Island and PrOridence
Plantations IN .Ntw- -England IN .Amc,i-
| ca.'
| When Col Dudley was appointed Pres
ident Of the Massachusetts, the Nara
ganset country, called then Kings Prov
incc, was included in his Commission
In 1888, October 8, Writ of Ono Uar-.
rdnio, was issued out against the Colony,
which was brought here June 9G, 1896,
by Edward Randolph, Esq whereupon
the Free Inhabitants, especially of the
chief Towns, met at Newport on the 29th
and gave i'll their opinions to the Gencr-
al Assembly, and left "the further pro-
cccdings, to the .ludicious Determination
of the Assembly. ."-Thc Assembly up.
on serious consideration, published and
declared, that they determined not TO
stand suit with his Majesty, but to pro-
coed By hmnLIc .ljdresS 10 his uGjes'y, 10
continue Her PrjriIcgeS and Liberties, ,0c-
cordiRg 10 Hcr CHARTER, and they accor-
dinghy sent home an Address to the King,
Hho by his answer, promised them Pro-.
lection and -!iowevcr,t the Colo
nv was put under the Government OF Sir.
Edmund Audross, and suffered with 9TH.
rrs, several iiardships and severe lmpo-
sitionS." January II, 1861, Sir Ed.
mund Andross's commission, to be Gov
ernor, of this Colony, with the rest Of.
New-E England, was published here, and
thc Colouy made one County, and was
governed by civil officers under him.
After the Revolution in England, there
was a General Assembly ofthc frcemen
Of the Colony, at Newport, May |, 1889,
who agreed, that since Sir Edward An
dross was seized and confined with 9TH
ers Of his Council, lat Boston, and his
authority siIenced and dcposed, it was
their Duty to lay hold of their former
Chaier PririIcges: and avowcdIy profess
sing all Allegiance to the Crown of Eng
land, they replaced all the general Off.
GERS that had been displaced three years
before. Bat some Of the Gentlemen al
terwards declining to act by this authori-
ty, General Assembly called February
20, following, elected others in their.
Room." We pass over what our Author
says of the Religious affairs of the Colo
ny. "August 20, Mr.. Lcnthal, was by
vote called to keep a public School, for
the learning of youth, and for his cncour-
agcmcnt, there was granted to him and
his heirs, 100 acres Of land, and 4 more
for an house lot; it was also voted, that
one hundred acres should be laid forth,
and appropriated for school, for cncour-
agemcnt of the poorer Sort to train up
their youth in learning, and Mr.. Robert
Icnthal, while he continues to teach
School, is to have the benefit thereof"
\ To be Continued