The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-05-13
MEMOIR OF RHoDE-IsLAND.
I6S9-9O,


March 3d.-"Ordered, that the seal brought in
by Mr.. Arnold Collins, being the "Anchor,
with the motto " Hope is appointed to be the seal
of the colony he having been employed by this as
sembly to make il"
The Kings Proclamation of against the
French, was ordered TO be proclaimed by beat of
drum, and watch and ward, ordered to be set, and
kept, in each town in the colony.
Ordered, that the Frenchmen that reside at
Narragansett be sent for by Major John Greene, to
what place in Warwick he shall appoint to signify
unto them the Kings pleasure in his proclamation
ofwar, and his indulgence to such Frenchmen as
behave themselves well and require their engage
ment thereunto."
"Ordered, that duplicate of the address, sent to
their majesties, by the deputy governor and Coun-
Gil, be transmitted, and sent to their majes,ics from
this Assembly, and subscribed by the clerk of this
Assembly in their behalf"
New Commissions were ordered to be issued to
all the military officers in the colony.
The Gov. of New York applied to this colony to
aid in the war against the French and Indians to
which they answered, " that this colony being small
and the port of Newport, being the principle port,
but weakly fitted to oppose an enemy therefore it
is concluded upon, that necessity requires, for the
preservation of their maesties interest here that we
cannot assist by men, but nevertheless, we are will
ling to assist, by paying money according to reason
nblc proportion"
There was, evidently two parties iv the colony,
the royal, aud republican party; the former consid
cred the act of surrendering the charter to king
James the second binding upon the colony, in which
opinion they doubtless joined by many modes
ate men, who also believed that further authority
from England was necessary, to enable the colony
to reestablish government in legal manner The
republican party preferred resuning the charter,
and trusting to circumstances for the accomplish
ment of their wishes; and The event turned out,
it appears they judged right for if they had applied
for authority from England for that purpose, it is
no way probable that they could have obtained like
privileges those contained in the charter. The
people were by unanimous in their opin-
ion of the validity of the government. The town
of Providence and some others sent delegates to
the last assembly and altho' threatened with nva-
sion from the French the taxes ordered for he de-
fence of the colony, were not attended to by the
towns of Providence Portsmoth, Warwick, Westerly,
jamestown, ngstown, and East Greenwich by
which cause the treasury was unprovided with the
means necessary for the common defence BY the
perseverance of the republican party in calling and
holding general Assemblies, and enactng and en-
forcing laws, by all the means in their power; and
more particularly by the silent acqlIiescence of the
Government ofthe mother country, the colonial gov
ernment, under the charter acquired reputation and
strength, and finally embraced by the greater
part of the opposition, and became again the foun-
dation of the government, and it had before, the
pride of the people.
AT a general assembly held at Newport, May 6,
1850.
HENRY BULL, Gov.