Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-05
The Rhode Island Rebel ON.

The government of Rhode Island was
conducted under the charter granted in
1883 by Charles H., incorporating the
colony of "Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations" for $50 years. Under this
charter, at the breaking out of the
Revolution, the lower house of the legisla'
ture consisted of six deputies from New
port four each from Providence, Ports
mouth and Warwick, and two from each
of the other towns. The right of suffrage
was restricted to owners of freehold
worth 1914, or renting for 81 year, and
their eldest SONS. In process of time the
inequality of representation under the
charter, which continued to increase
with the increase of population, caused
much dissatisfaction. In 1910 Provi-
dence, with 23,17l inhabitants, had only
four representatives. while Newport
with but Z 1888 inhabitants had six mem
bers in the legislature. Of the seventy
two representatives elected in that year,
thirty-eight we're chosen form towns
having only 20 OPS inhabitants and 2, 846
voters; while the remaining thirty-four
were from towns having 1884 inhabit-
ants and 5,776 voters. Various attempts
to have the matter reformed through the
legislature having failed. Suffrage as
sociations were organized in the latter
part of 1910 and the early part of 184l.
which, at q mass convention held at
Providence July 5, 184l authorized their
state committee to call a convention to
frame q constitution. Delegates were
elected August %, and October 4 the con-
vention reasembled at Providence. A
tr<s cd h
mitted to the people at an election held
December q, 70, and 10. 1t is said that
at this election over 1000 votes we're
cast in favor of adopting this constitution,
being majority of the male citizens of
the state. It was further asserted that
this included also q majority of those
entitled to vote under the charter. An
election for state officers under this con.
stitution was therefore called for April
IS, 1912, when Thomas Wilson Dorr. the
most prominent leader of the suffrage
movement, was chosen governor. May
8, Mr.. DORIS government attempted to
orgrnize at Providence, and to seize the
reins of power. They were resisted by
the regular state government, at the
head of which was Governor Samuel w.
King. May 18, q part of the suffrage
party gathered at Providence under arms,
and attempted to seize the arsenal, but
dispersed on the approach of Governor
King with military force. They assem-
bled again to the number of several
hundred June rs, at Chepachet, but on
the appearance of the state military they
dispersed without resistance, and the
rebellion was at an end by J1ne28. Mr..
Dorr was arrested, tried, and convicted
of high treason, and in June, 1874, was
sentenced to Imprisonment for life. In
lS47 he was released under the act of
&c aeral amnesty, and in 1854 was restored
to his civil and political rights. In the
meantime the legislature, on FEBRUARY 6,
1S41, called a convention to frame a new
constitution. The delegates were elected
in August, and in the following February
they met and framed q constitution
which was however, rejected by the peo-
pie in the election Of the following
month. A second convention being
called, another constitution was agreed
upon, which was ratified by the people
almost unanimously, and which went
into effect in May, 1S43. The property
restriction in the old charter, it should
be noted, was retained in the new con-
stitution and is still inforced, but eldest
sons of property holders have no longer
any special privileges.