The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-10-02


Mr.. John Greene Assistant for War
wick.
John Sanford General Recorder.
John Sanford General Treasurer.
Mr.. james Rogers General Sergeant.
Mr.. John Euston General Attorney.
The General Court of Commissioners
held for tho Colony at Portsmouth the
22d May, 1900. 4
Propidcnce. Portsmouth.
William Brenton, John Porter
William Field, VIM. Hail,
Benedict Arnold, s'aml. Wi!bore,
Arthur Fenner, John Albro,
William Carpenter, Edward Fisher,
Thomas Hopkins, John Sanford.
Newport. WIwriek.
Nicholas Easton, Randall Ho Ildcn,
Richard Tew, Samuel Gorton,
John Cranston, John Smytb,
John Easton, John Weeks,
William Harris, John Greene,
John Greene, Richard Carder.
Ii ought to be recollccted ,l,a, by the
constitution Of the Government of Pro-
,idence Plantations, any law made by
the Legislature, or court Of Commission
ers, wns subject to he annulled by the
frecmcn in their town meetings, under
certain regulations. The State was q
pure democracy, aud the freemen in
their primitive meetings held tho sccp-
,uFo of power. An act passed a, this
cour:, further to declare the rights of the
frccmen, which we shall insert entire, to
show the reader at one view the nature
Of their civil institutions.
"Whereas there is certain clause in
law mnde at Warwick Nov. 2nd, 1868
touching the peoples liberty TO disanuul
any law TO them presented from the
Courts ofCommissioners as there is pre-
missed, by which clause it seems the
privileges Of the people are not so clear
ly evinced ms the con- mis- ssioners thereby
and therein did intend in forming the
same laws, in regard Of this clause (that
the major part Of each town in the col
Iony must send in their votes Of their
town to the General Recorder to disalow
any law that should be so presented
within ten days nlicr it il presented to
their town &C.. if they conceive such or
any such law not wholesome &c) It's
therefore ordered by the authority OF this
present Assembly, that the aforesaid
clause be rectifed, and that instead
thereof il be enacted, and II is hereby
enacted, that there be three months
time, that is to say four score and six
days allowed for the return of the votes
from eachtown unto The General Recor-
der, utter that such laws be presented lin
such order and time as by the aforesaid
Law is proridcd) to each town. As also
we further enact, that j, appearing by the
return ofthe votes that the major part Of
the free inhabitants Of This COLONY have
disaproved or disannulled any such law
laws, then tho said law or laws to be of
no force, although any one town or other
should wholly be silent therein, or other
wise such law or laws TO bc iu force ac-
cording TO the true intcres, ofthe other
part or clause in the above said law of
Nov. 2nd 1868.
And this forcsaid alteration and nd.
dition to stand and be in full force, nnv
law orlaws, or any clause or clauses, in
any former law contained, to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
o. Notwithstanding the above, i, does
not appear that the towns ever annulled
law of the Commissioners.
A coinmi,,es was appointed to ''con.
slider of some way Of making a bridge
over Pawtuxeit River" and report OF the
next meeting ofthc Commissioners.