Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-05-01

stituted, elected and chosen, out of the
freemen of the said company for the
time being, in such manner and form as
is hereafter in these presents expressed;
which said officers shall apply them
selves TO take care for the best disposing
and ordering Of the general business
and affairs Of, and concerning the lands
and heredtaments hereinafter mention
ed to be granted, and the plantation
thereof, and the government Of the peo-
pie there. Charter Of RhOde-Island,
page 9Th, Digest 1922.
Sand that forever hereafter, twice in
every year, that is to say, on every first
"Wednesday in the month Of May, and
on every last Wednesday in October, or
oliener in case it shall be requisite, the
assistants, and such of the freemen Of
the said company, not exceeding six per-
sons for Newport, four persons for each
Of the respective towns Of Providence
Portsmouth, and Warwick, and two per-
sons for each other place, town, or city,
who shall be from time TO time thereun-
to elected or deputed by the major part
of the ireemen OF the respective towns
or places for which they shall be so E.
lected or deputed, shall have general
meeting or assembly, then and there to-
consult, advise, and determine in and a
bout the affairs and business of the said
company and plantations. And, further,
we do, of our especial grace, certain
knowledge, and mere motion, give and
grant unto the said governor and compa-I
ny of the English colony Of Rhode-Is-
land and Providence Plantations in N.
England, in America, and their success
sors, that the governor, or, in his abb
sence, and by his permission, the deputy
governor Of the said company for the
time being, the assistants, and such of
the freemen of the said company as shall
be so as aforesaid elected or deputed, or
so many of them as shall be present at
such meeting or assembly as aforesaid,
shall be called the General Assembly
and that they, or the greatest part OF,
them then present, whereof the COVER
nor or deputy governor, and six Of the
assistants, at least to be seven, shall
have, and hereby have, given and grant
ed unto them full power and authority
from time to time, and at all times here
after, to appoint, alter, and change such
days, times, and places Of meeting and
general assembly, as they shall think fit,
&c." H. i
".And from lime to time 10 make, ordain,
constitute, or repeal, such laws, statutes,
orders and ordinances, forms and ceremo-
MES Of government and nsagislrucy, as to
them shall seem meet for The good and weI-
fare Of The said company, and for the go
vernment and ordering Of the lands and
herediiaments hereinafter mentioned to be
granted, and Of the people that do, or at
any fime hereafter shaH inhabit, or be pith-
IN The same, so as such laws, ordinances,
and constitutions so made be not contrary
and rspugnant unto, but as near as may
be agreeable TO the laws Of this our realm
Of England, considering the nature and
constitution Of the place and people there"
Digest Of lS22,-Pages 6, 4, g. 9th Of
Charter. H.
"And further, our will and pleasure is,
and we do hereby for US, our heirs and {
SUCCESSORS, establish and ordain that t
yearly, once in the year forever hereaf-
Ter, namely, tho aforesaid Wednesday z
in May, and at the town of Newport, or
ifurgent occasion do require, q
he governor, deputy governor, and as {
sistants Of the said company, and other t
officers of the said company, or such of '
lhem as the General Assembly shall c
think fit, shall be in the said General q
Court or Assembly to be held from that a
day or time, newly chosen for the year
hu - oc
company for the time being as shall be j
hen and there present. "--Ugest Of 1922,
page 9h Of The Charter. t
These extracts from the charter will v
serve to show the original structure of p
he government of Rhode Island and Il
Plantations. The charter v
provides that the governor, deputy gov t.
srnor, and assistants, shall be chosen an. s.
nually on the first Wednesday Of May Il
n each and every year, by majority of, J,
he company at Newport. The deputies Il
o the General Assembly were to be A
chosen in the several towns Cor which "
hey were elected semi-annually, and TO Il
on the first Wednesday in tc
May, and the last Wednesday in Octo- ft
'er, or oftener, in case it should be re- g
luisite, at such place as might be desig- fd
rated by law. The governor, deputy v,
governor, assistants and deputies, as or W
,anized under the charter, formed one tn
'ody, which is called the General AS ly
emily. th
The unlimited power granted to this tn
'ody to repeal or modify the existing re- tn
,ulations for the government of the CO. al
ony, or to adopt such new regulations dt
IS might bo deemed expedient for the
of the people. has been ex- e,