The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-10-02
MEMOIR OF IL. ISLAND
l047.

1917 rken IL pos Incorporated With the
forons on the Main.
The first purchasers and proprietors
of The Island incorporated themselves on
the 9Th day of March 1858 and consti-
tuteJ William Coddington their first
magistrate by the title of Judge; to him
was committed the executive power Of
the body. He presided at the meetings
Of tie frceemen who in General Assem-
bly exercised the Legislative and Judicial
functions Of the Government, which at
that time was pure democracy. They
were pious people who believed that
the laws of God when rightly understood,
contained all the code necessary for their
Government.
On tho 2nd Of the lith month the
Government was so far changed, as to
add three persons as Elders (Nicholas
Easion, John CoggeshalI, and William
Brcnton,) to assist the Judge ir the exc
cution of justice and Judgment, aud TO
the Judge and Elders was committed The
executive and judicial power oflhe body,
rcsering however 10 the body of the
freemen who were to assemble once in
three months the power Of freviewins, re-
vising or repeating nny act or decision,
done or made by The Judge and Elders
daring the three preceding months-thus
retaining all the power in the hands Of
the body of the freemep, who confirmed,
repealed or revised, the nets orders and
Judgments made by the Judge mud Elders
during the three preceding months.
The reader by turning back to the
brief aud simple constitution made ON
,he 2nd of the llth month will find him.
self amply rewarded by giving it a Sc
cond reading. Nothing had yet been
formerly enacted to secure religious toll
Grafton, no penal laws had been made,
all resltd 10 the discretion of the Gov!
ernment, no abuse Of power had been
felt by the people, and no guard against
such abuse had been deemed necessary.
The simple declaration that they would
be governed by the laws of God, gives
US but iiule knowledge Of their intcn-
tons as to civil government, unless we
were enlightened as to what was their
construction Of Gods laws, in their ap-
piication 70 civil affairs. That 1t was
their intention that the laws should DO
exercised in mercy, fully appears by their
declaring, that the decisions of the Judgs
nnd Elders shall stand if they are found
according to God, and the tender care
of induIgent fathers.
Al meeting Of the body on the Oath
Of the Ilth month it was determined
TO appoint a Constable by and out Of
their own body. The powers given to
The officer so to DO elected, is perhaps
the best evidence of their views as to the
distinction between ecclesiastical ,yrany
and civil liberty, and in our opinion
shows that the laws Of God, as they un-
derstood their application to civil gov
ernment, was only to cocrce The citizen
in .hings that related to the public peace
and security, as by the records will up
pear, viz: the 9th of:he l,b month
1898. "The Constable is to see that
the peace is kept and that there be no
unlawful meetings or any thing that may
tend TO civil disturbance practiced, and
furthermore lie is to inform of all muni-
fest breaches vf the law Of God that tend
10 civil disturbance, and that he have au-
thority to command party or parties,
one or more, MS need shall require to as
sisi lnm IN the discharge Of his Office"
On the 2Sth Of the Fad month 1850
The proprie.ors divided themselves into
two towns, Dine Of them settled the town
OF Newport, and took the south part OF
the leland for their division: The agree
mcnt was signed at Pocassei, now Ports
mouth, in which they declare that their
dissemination shall be by the mojor voice
ofJudge and Elders, the Judge to have
adoubIe voice by giving double voice
to the Judge we understand, that in case
of an equal division the Judge having
voted with the other ne ember. h. d.l .