The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-09-21
MEMOIR OF RHODE-ISLAND.

1871.
Paper money produced great party heat in
Rhode Island.
The paper money system was followed
up by the assembly to a degree that alarm
ed many of the inhabitants of the most ju-
dicious cast, and among the rest was the
Governor of the Colony. The commercial
men in the town ofNewpor felt the bad ef-
fects of the excessive issues of bills of cred
II TO greater degree than any other part
of the colony, which induced them TO petit
ion the King on the subject; all which OPP
poslon afterwards appears to have subsded,
under fear that the agitation of the ques-
ton in England might endanger the Char
ter privileges of Rhode Island; thing all
parties were very anxious TO retain.
Cor. Jenckes petition to the King.
To the Kings most excellent Majesty.
The humble address and petition of Jo-
seph Jcnckes the present Governor OF your
Majestys Colony of Rhode Island and Prov
luencc III I've"
May it please your Majesty.
AsI have at all times endeavored stead
lily to observe your Majesty's Royal lnsruc-
tions sent 10 me, as also the instructions OF
y,ur Majesty's predecessor, directed to the
several Governors of the Colony; so | shall
ever account it my duty to have the like re-
r. ouJ IIrpp-
,ons, as your Majesty may Judge proper to
send me, fully persuadng myseifthat your
Maiesty's regard for the well managing the
affairs of this, your Mayjesty's Colony, is
such, that his Governors hereof shall not
miss Of proper direction for the same, in
any case where they meet with difficulty, in
case they apply themselves to your Majesty
for the same and there having of late been
an act passed by the General Assembly OF
this your Majesty's Colony for emitting
great number of paper bills of credit, not
withstanding the great endeayors used to
prevent it, both by myself and many others
ofyour Majesty's good subjects, inhabitants
VI tulS SOOilN loi SN'Siu' VI
the said inhabitants applied themselves to
the Secretary of the Colony for copy of
the aforesaid act, with several other copies,
in order to send them to your Majesty, and
the secretary had drawn the copies, he sent
to me, an order for the affixing the colony
seal thereto, to certify that he is Secretary
of this Colony, and that full faith and credit
ought to be given to his allegations !Sc.-
and accordingly gave orders. But it was
no sooner known to two of the members of
our General Council, gentlemen deslrous of
popularity and to be accounted the prime
agents in preserving our charter privileges,
but they caused the news thereof to spread
throughout the Colony, declaring that the
Governor had endangered the loss of our
charter, by ordering the Colony's seal to be
set to a complaint against the Government,
in order to be sent to your Majesty; the
which actions of theirs has occasioned me
much trouble, and has occasioned many of
the inhabitants to be highly displeased with
me, indeed am afraid that ] shall be un-
der necessity to trouble your Majesty with
matter of so inferior a nature, but for my
own Just vindication am Obliged thereto.
do therefore, with the greatest submis-
sion humbly pray that your Majesty may
graciausly please to give your Royal deter
minatton upon these particulars.
First. Whether any act passed by the
General Assembly of this Colony, may be
judged valid i; the Governor having entered
his dissent from il at the time ii was voted.
Secondly. Whether, or no, the Govern
or of this Colony may with safety, disallow,
or refuse, setting the Colony seal to copies
:aken out ofthe Secretary's office and attes-
ted by him in order TO be sent to your Ma
jesty.
Thirdly. Whether it be the Governors
duty to examine all such copies before lie
orders the Colony's seal to be set thereto,
the Secretary, who atlested them, being an
officer under oath.
Your Ma;es,ys royal determination here
in, will with great. .ihankfulness be accepted
both by myself and many others OF your