The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-04-17

MEMOIR OF ". ISLAND.
1852.

successful in tneir petilion anu on TIC
I'd of October 1859 the Counsel of state
passed an order yacating the commission
OF Mr.. Coddingten. and wrote letters to
thar effect, as also to confirm the former
charter of the Providence Plantations,
which letters were sent over by VIM.
Dyre. In the month Of February said
Dyre carried a letter to Providence
signed by Messrs. Sanford, Baulston,
Porter and Jefferies, requesting the
freemen Of the Town OF Providence and
Warwick to appoint time for gener-
al assembly Of the freemen of the whole
colony to hear and &C, upon the Coun-
sci of States letters. The town Of Pro-
ydence was called on that occasion,
and majority present decided that the
,wo towns on the main, having adhered
10 their former charter, and having KEEP,
themselves embodied, il was the duty of
Dyre, TO have broush, TO them the let
iers from the counsel Of State, they be-
ing the only organized body in the colo
ny competent to act upon them
Dyre maintained TINT the colony was
without Government, and had been SO
ever since Mr.. Coddington brought o.
yer his commission, and that the only
course which remained, was for the
freemen Ofthe whole colony 10 meet
and lay the foundation Of Government
anew--Dyre stated that the whole as
ssmbled freemen was the proper body
for him to deliver the letters to--that
he had left them on the Island-That
the Island being the MAJOR part Of the
colony had the greatest interest IN them
&c. A majority of the Town of Prov
ideDce ,.however, were Of different o.
pinion, and referred the business 10 n
court Of six commissioners from each of
the two Towns, which met at Pawtuxel
on the 25th of February this court
sent four messengers TO the Island for
the letters, or copy of them, with in
siructions, that if the States orders were
for them to unite again, then TO agree
on the time and place of meeting.
The difference between Mr.. Dyre,
and those Of the Island, and that of the
Towns or the main was, that the for
mer insisted on general meeting of
the fsemen, and the latter on the en-
bodied character Of their governmsnt.-
The former maintaining that Govern
ment had eased to exist, and the latter
that it still survived in the Towns on
the main. Under those circumstances
Dyre assumed the power TO call the free
men Of the whole colony to meot at
Portsmouth, by the following ins,ru-
ment 3:
."Loving friends and neighbors, these
are to signify unto you. that it hath
pleased the right honorable, the counsel
Of state, authorized by the supreme au-
thorisy Of the common wealth of Eng
land, to betrust myself with letters and
orders concerning this colony. and the
welfare thereof be pleased therefore to
understand, that upon Tuesday come
seven night, at Portsmouth, x. /. at Mr..
Baulston's house, shall be there (God
willing) ready to attend the communica-
ton of,he trust committed to my charge
unto nll such free inhabitants as shall
there make their personal appearance
Given under my hand this present 9th
day Of the week. being the 18th of Feb
ruary 1862. WILLIAM DYRE."
He sent copy Of this to each Town
and many Of the freemen met according
ly at Portsmouth on the first day OF
March, by which assembly il was order.
ed, that all officers that were in place
when Mr.. Coddington's commission oh.
sirucied. should be re-enstaied in their
former places to act by virtue Of their
former commissions on the Island, and
IN the res, of the colony, as they had
been since chosen, until new election
should take place. This however did
not satisfy,he towns on the main, their
commissioners met Again a, Paw;uxe,
on The 9th OF March 10 reeeive the a,.