Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-03-02
Continuation Of Eriroets from
CALLENpAK's Discourse.

AS to esform of government we have
passed under, it must be observed, IT
has been always more or less demo-
cratical At the first incorporation on
the island, the people chose a Judge to
do Justice and Judgment, and to preserve
the public peace; and towards the latter
end of the wear, on the second day ofthc
month, they added three gentlemen,
us assistants to him in his Office. The
three elders were Nicholas EaSton, John
Coggeshal, and VIM. Brenton.--And
soon after appointed all, TO take the oath
of allegiance to the King, according to
the Statute In 1910, they voted, the
chief magistrate should be called Gov
ernor; the next, deputy Governor, and
four gentlemen chosen out Of the two
towns, Assistants. Their names were,
w. .Coddington, Governor; VIM. Brcnton,
Deputy Governor; Nicholas Easton,
John Coggeshal, VIM. hutchinson, |.
Porter, Assistants. The next year X.
Harding, was in Mr. Easton's place, and
Mr.. w. Baulston, in the room of Mr.
Hutchinson, (who perhaps removed *
the next year, Mr.. Easton was chosen
assistant again, and those six gentlemen
held their offices till the patent Of incor
poratlon.-
AT Providence, all newcomers prom
ised "to submit themselves inactive or
passive obedience, to all such orders, and
agreements, as shall be made for the pub
lie good ofthe body, in any orderly way,
by major consent of the inhabitants, but
this being insufficient, on the 9th day ,
Mo. 1910, they did to the number olnear
40 persons, combine in a form Of civil
government, according to a model drawn
up by some of themselves, as most suita
bic to promote peace and order in their
present circumstances, which, however,
left them in a very feeble condition.
But all the inhabitants of Narraganset
Bay, being without Patent, and any le-
gal authority, in l643, Mr. Roger Will
liams, went to England as Agent, and by
the assistance Of Sir Henry Nane, Jun.
obtained of the Earl of Warwick, zap
pointed by Parliament Governor and Adj
miral of all the plantations,) and his
council, ga free and absolute Charter of
civil Incorporation, by the name of the
incorporation of Providence plantations
in the Narraganset Bay in New Eng
land" Empowering them "to rule them
selves, and such as should inhabit within
their bounds, by such form Of civil gov
ernment, as by the voluntary agreement
of all, or the greater part, shall be found
most serviceable, in their estate and con-
dlton; and to make suitable laws agree
able to the laws of England so far as the
nature of the place will admit, sc. Ut
was dated 18th of March, 10Th Charles,
!. e. 1884,, but it don't appear how long
it was before Mr. Williams brought it o.
yer.
In l647 May 10th, a General Assem-
bly, of the province (as then called es-
tablished body of good and wholesome
laws, agreeable to the English statute
book; and erected a form of civil gov
ernment for the administration ofthe laws,
and the making such others as should be
found necessary. The supreme power
fThe first twelve persons, who came to Mr.
Williams, were VIM. Arnold, John Greene, John
Thrognorton, Thos James, VIM Harris. Thos.
Olney, Richard Waterman, Francis Weston, Fee
kie HOLMAN, Robert Cole, Stukely Westcolt x
VIM. Carpenter Soon after came to them, Chad.
Browne, Wm. Fairfield. T. Warner, T.. Angel, J.
Winsor, r. Scott, VIM. Reynolds, VIM. Wicken-
don, Gregory Dexter, &c.