The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-10-22
RROOEISLAyD a rpyYnr
MEMOIR OF RHODE-JSIAND
1876.

'Poi' Vi 'ie providence Committee al
furnishes another fact, which we have NOT fo,,,d
wen oeIhed IN the acts of the Assembly. VI, ;,
'"e oi sefVitude authorised by the COLONY. f,r i
dian captves ior
Nonie nave censured Rhode Island for s,b;oo.;,
'ie iii''iahs captured in war; and who ,oI,',..,
surrendered themselves, to seryitrde. I'm.
consider those destitute people. tbro,,.,,
&C.. =, ''' WHITES Tor support-hat they ba
E,' "e war; neither lands, houses yjctnoIs .
'"''-'hat they were unacquainted with E,,Is,
' vi 'lle occupation of husbandry. or op,, OH
pursuit OF the people of the CoIonv-,bat ,I,o,.
every 'hihg to learn, and until learned ,roro
'" ueh we do not think the law was so,.or, -
"n'h ill the circumstances are considorod nv,
'" oy 'helr master, when very youpo from, ,I.;,
on'h 10 hVe years old, would be FREQ ot ,h;,.
over fve and under ten at ,,vor,,,. ,;.I. ''''
.''''i H''eeh' at twenty-seyen; from fifteen to
d' Wehty-slX, and all above that ooo from,
9''e, 10 e'slt years to serve. We doubt f. r.,oI,
people, could be disposed of, On better form, -.
way ana then' 1t appears money was noid l ,l.;.
masters Tor the privilege of takinr tbo,,
=, We CONTRAST the law and practice of r island
'n ""a' oi 'he other colonies in resncct 70 .Ia
'''heh' Oh Indian captives after the tern,;,o,;., 81
'''e war; we shall have no cause TO blusb c,r
cesors. 'o' our an
nc part which the government of Rhode Island
20 die ' % e sIsfS ,sfa AHA nH Hqe qeeP$$ up
garrison at Providence They did not engage
in the with the other colonies, nor did we ever
understand that they were consulted by them about
- Hbo md; ,L Ill, e i
Ony were at peace with the colonists until the Mar
ragansetts were invaded by the army of the United
Colonies, after which the Indians considered all the
English enemies, which necessarily included the
the r. Islanders. Their means were inadequate to
the defence of the settlements the main that if
they had not been, at the time, governed by ma
jority of Quakers in the Assembly, perhaps they
could not have adopted a more cxpedient course
thar they did. The forces of the United Colonies
latter exasperating the Narragansets, by falling up
ION them, when they considered themselves at peace
with the Engsh) retired after their victory, leaving
|K. Island to defend herself in the best manner she
could. Thus, without allies she had to retire be-
hind the of the Naragansett bay to her in
sulated island; and depend upon her little navy to
secure her in her last retreat Fortunately no hos
title Indian was allowed to put his foot on the Island
Although, after the election of May 1916, the gov
|ernment assumed more energy than before still the
general policy not altered but system, pure
|ly defensive, persevered in, until the termination
ofthe war. This assembly repealed the law, which
Excused persons conscientious against bearing arms
from that duty; which is said to have given great
dissatisfaction to the people on the Island nsomuch
THAT at the October session, the substance of the
former law to excuse the Quallers from bearing
|arms was re-enacted.
What was the number OF vessels, or boats,
|ployed by the committee in securing the Island from
assault by the indians, we have no means of ascer-
taining but that soops as well as boats were en-
ployed is evident, by petition from VIM Clarke, in
the year 1879, wherein he forth that " he being
loommander of one Of the sioops in the year 1876.
which as he affrmeth, taken from him and dis
posed of by the authority of the island without py
ING him satisfaction, and therein desireth relief from
this assembly" This we apprehend Is the first in
stance, in these colonies if not in the new world, of
whole community being preserved from numer-
Gus and hostile enemies by maritime defence.
We regret that we have 50 little knowledge of the
commerce ofthe colony, and more especially of the
town of Newport at this early period. We believe,
however, that it must have been considerable from
the circumstance ofIhe black population. having in
1916 been so nriino.ous that the assembly ordered
an account of their numbers to be taken part Of
the effective force Of the Island, fo- the purpose Of
watching and warding. That those negroes were
imported in vessels belonging TO Newpor,. !, very
probable; as the town was carly engaged in that
rade. Ne ii vas among ths first Of her foreign
pursuits. We may easily believe tia. negroes were
imported by her m,rchl-'s. not onl, for her owi