Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1892-06-15
POPULAR TALKS ON LAW.
The Massachusetts, Connectl-
cut and Rhode Island Col
onieS. -
BY wM. c srRAGUK, Eso.



The government which the Puritans
founded was Democratic. All the
members of the church met in a gen
eral assembly. and made the laws, un-
til 1889, a representative body was
elected 10 take the place Of this popu-
lar legislature. Their governor was
elected from their own number. In
1929, King Charles |. confirmed: a
grant made by the Plymouth Cow
psny to The geverner and company
of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England and gave them powers Of
government.
The charter gave power TO elect
annually a governor, deputy governor,
IL assistants. Four great and general
courts" were 10 be held every year, 10
consist Of the governor or deputy, the
assistants and the freeMen. These
courts were authorized to appoint such
officers as they should think proper,
and al,o to make such laws and ordin-
ances IS Ia them should seem meet !;
provided they were not contrary 10 the
law OF England.
lis form Of government WAS the
same as that of the Pilgrims at
Plymoulh-hrst popular and finally
representative. This charter was de.
clared forfeited to the king In 1884 and
in 1891, \ second charter was granted,
which continued in fierce down TO the
Revolution. This second charter
merged Plymouth, Nav Hampshire,
Maine and Novia Scotia IN Ma>sachu'
seit,. Maine continued part Of
Massachusetts until 1t became State
in 1920, and Massachusetts and
Plymouth were never separated.
Discoatsnied Massac husetts coloni,ts
planted three towns gu the Connects.
Gu; river, between 1884 and 1888, and
in 1889, these lawns united and adopted
\ constitution called "The fundamental
orders of Connecticut Tnese three,
with \ settlement at New Haven, and
others on Long Island Sound sooa
united in one colony under 'he maine
OF New Haven. They had No charter
and ne title to their land but, in 1862,
Charles IL. granted them charter,
which remained in force, save during
five years, for 1856 years.
The people of this colony, by the
express words Of thar charter, were
entitled to the privileges Of natural
born subjects, and invested with all
the powers of government, the only
limitation being that their laws should
not be contrary to those of England.
So we'll were the people satisfied with
it, that Connecticut did net adept II
constitution till 1918,
Another ,of.hot from Massac husetts
was Rhode Island, and, as in the last
cases, The Rhode Island colonists mad,
ut first, no grants either of land or
power.
The Rhode Island celonists were
Bablists, under the lead of Roger
Williams. They were driven out OF
the Massachusetts colony in 1885, one
division of them founding Providencs,
and the other Rhode Island psnta-
ton In 1868, Charles i. united them
under the name of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations" and gave il
powers ~f government similar to til ose
of the Connecticut colonies. The
| Rhode Island charter continued in
| force. with but brief interim, until
1912. The colony of New Hampshire
which became royal colony in 1892
was founded by Capt. John Mason and
Sir Feidinsndo Gerges, by grant Of
the old Plymouth colony in 1922
Their territory being between the
Merrimac ana Ksanebec rivers
Massachusetts, claimed this territory
and for the most part, the New Hamp-
shire settlements were subject to hrl
government until 1892