The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-10-18

0las Easton, John Wanton, George Has
zard, Samuel Carr, William Read and VIM
Richardson.
Political revieo of the last ten years
The rival candidates for Governor, Messrs.
Samuel Ward, and Stephen Hopkins, each
entered the field of political opposition as
early as the year l75S, at which time Hop
kins was Governor.-Ward came up as his
opposing candidate, and had for his support
the southern interest, principally he was
the candidate of the arstocracv, at the head
of which stood the town of Newport-and
Hopkins was as warmly supported by the
democracy, at the head Of which stood the
town of Providence. Hopkins obtained his
re-election-and was again reelected in
the years 1890 and 6I. Ward sue
ceeded in l762, and Hopkins in l763. Du-
ring all this time party virulencc had been
increasing until one general hostility perva-
ded the whole colony, which ragged between
the friends and supporters of the two rival
candidates. Itappears to have been ques-
ton about men more than measures Be-
tween the mercantile and the farming in
terests between the aristocracy of wealth
and magnifcence, and the democracy of
numbers. The Colony was torn by domes-
tic dscord-town against town, and neigh
bor against neig ghbor; almost every freeman
was enlisted in one or the other ranks, and
felt toward each other that hostility which
abated even the charities and hospitaities
Of life.
Things were in this situation when the
place of Deputy Gov. became vacant, by the
death of the Hon. John Gardner. This
opportunity was seized by Gov. Hopkins
& his friends, who, at the February session,
l764, proposed, for the future quiet of the
colony and repose of the people, that Gov.
Ward should be invited to fill the place of
Deputy Governor, and be elected by the
Assembly then in sessiun.
The proposal was made to Mr.. Ward, but
was not accepted, who in his turn proposed,
that Hopkins and himself should both re-
linquish their pretensons at the spring cleo
ton. The House of Assistants then pro-
posed, that if Mr.. Ward would accept the
place of Deputy Governor, one half Of that
body, say five, would chserfully give way for
FIVE others, at the spring election, to be Sc
lected by Mr.. Ward and his friends, and in
case of such q measure being effected, then
the appointment of officers, by the Assem-
bly,, at the election in May, to be from the
ranks ofboth parties, as equally as possible
The next day Mr.. Ward gave for answer
that those proposals could not be accep-
ted" That no peace could be expected
while Gov. Hopkins remained in the chair,
but he repeated his offer to resign his pre-
tensions to the government if Gov. Hopkins
would do the same"
Another proposal was then made, viz.
that if Mr. Ward would not accep, the place
of Deputy Governor himself, he or his
friends might name another man, in New
port, to GIL the place, and thereby effec, the
compromise. This last proposition no, hav-
ing been agreed to, the Assembly proceed
ed and appointed Deputy Governor from
among the political friends Of Gov. Hopkins,
and esch party prepared for another vigor-
Gus campaign.
Governor Hopkins was again reelected
in the spring Of i764-but in the following
year 176S, Gov. Ward succeeded, snd his
party came isso power, which he and they
held during that and the succeeding year o.
1866. In the spring Of l767 Gov. Hop
kius ~as elected By larger majority thar
had before been given for either, since the