The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-05-15
Memoirs OF RhOde-fsland.
1GE3.

ded even by the rest OF the colony, en-
gage in hostilities against the Dutch,
and grant com missions not only for the
defence of Long Island, but also to
prosecute offensive war against the
Dutch and Indians. True il is how
ever, that when the colonies of New
Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Ha-
ven, shrunk from the war unless Mas
sachuset.s would support them (Which
she refused to do) tho little Island of
Rhode Island throwed herself into the
breach, and took upon herself the res
possibility Of authorizing, in her name,
the defence of Long Island against the
Dutch and the Indians.
Some of the freemen atte nded the
Assembly in Newport, (held May l7ih)
from the towns on the main, and they
chose an assistant for Providence and
one for Warwick, which gave the meet
ng the app earanco of a reunion of the
whole colony /: this however was not
the case in fact, as n majority of the
freemen on the main did not recognize
the meeting as binding on them, but on
the contrary continued their seperate ex-
istence as a government. The little
colony thus disunited found ample
means of discord that fruitful source
Of hu man misery, and instead Of uniting
their feeble means of defence under one
head, they were continually widening
the breach. The very act that author
lied Providence and Warwick to unite
with those oftho Island, was afterwards
repealed.
The commissioners for Providence
and Warwick met again, at Providence
j.. the Sd and 4th 1868 where only
two of the commissioners for Providence
,ha. were appointed in May attended,
and only three from Warwick SO that
moro than half the commissions who
met, az such, in May had been suspcn-
ded by others who must have resigned,
which shows the divided state of public
opinion in the Towns on the main, on
the question of reuniting with the ISL
and.
This assembly enacted that all those
iu this colony, that do own tho commits
sion which, we hear, is granted and CIV
en- TO John UnderhilI, Edward Hull,
and William Dyre, in the name of Prov
idence Plantations, shall have hence.
forth no liberty to act in Government,
until they have given satisfaction to the
respective Towns Of Providence and
Warwick"
The assembly then adopted re-
monstrance, and sont ono copy to the
town Of Newport, and another to the
town Of Portsmouth, and then adjonrn-
ed.
COPY.
"a brief remonstrance Of the two
Towns Of Providence Plantations, be-
ng at present the colony of Providence
Plantations.
Whereas it pleased the Honored coun.
Gil Of State to grant unto Mr.. VIM. Cod
dington commission to be Governor OF
Rhode Island whereby the Towns OF
Portsmouth and Newport were disjoin.
ted from the colony of Providence
Plantations, whereupon we tho two
Towns Of Providence and Warwick
having information thereof assembled d
together and declared ourselves uuani
-mously to stand embodied and incorpo
rated as before by virtue of our charter
and Immediately prepared to send oul
agent unto England for confirmation o.
our charter unto us as moro at large ap
peareth in the orders made ut Provi
dence, and whereas about the 10th O
the 18th month SO William Dyrc brough
unto us, the two towns Of Providence
and Warwick letter subscribed by
John Sanford, VIM. Baulstone, Johr
Potter, and Vim. Jeffercys of Rhode
Island intimating that the said William
Dyre had brought letters and orders fol
our directions sent from the much hon.
ored the Counsel Of State and that thew