The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-18
4 GREAT DAY IN HISTORY
Providence Took the First Step to
Throw or British Rub.
WAS ll9 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY.
The sturdy Iownsmen Announced that
they Proposed to Protect Their In
valuable Rights and Privileges and
Transmit Them TO Their Posterity.

Just 11o years ago yes erday a town
meeting was held In the then town OF
Providence ut which the first definite
action was taken in the lcolonies tending
toward complete Independence. The
slurs that have been thrown at Little
Rhody for being the last 70 adopt the
constitution, glance aside and are Tor
gotten when the edict from that famous
town meeting is mentioned, and Provi-
dence, which is Rhode Island, stands In
the lead as The first town to boldly de-
clare its position for independence
Mutterings of the troubles at Boston
had been brought to tie Providence
Plantations by letter aud bv trave lers,
but when the tidings reached here OF the
browning indignity put on the Massa-
chusetts Bay Colony the men OF Provl-
dence anu Plantations, gathered together
and decided that something must he
done. A town meeting was at once
called by warrant, and men realizihg
that the serious crisis had come met there
with grave faces. The nesting was short
and deliberate. Most OF the discussion
had preceded the meeting, carried on In
groups of twos and threes, aud the result
Of tue meeting was decided upon before
Il had convened.
"A Bold Stano Takens
Samuel Nightingale was chosen moder-
stor of the meeting. and In as lew words
rs possible set forth the purpose OF the
meeting. There was no applause or loud
shouting. The men gathered there felt
mat there WAS too much a. stake TO III
dulge in any illjudg d enthusiasm.
Everything was considered gravely,
knowing that by the action OF that meet
ing Providence became in the eyes OF
the mother country a rebelllous subject.
and would bs dealt with accordingly.
80. the 18th OF May, l774, the following
document was Drawn W and declared
the sense OF the meeting;
Resolved, That this town will heartily joine
with the Province Of the Massachusetts Bay
and the other Colonies in such Measures as
shall be Generally agreed on by the colonies
Tor the protecting and securing their invalu-
able Natural Rights and privileges and trans
uniting the same TO tho latest posterity.
That the Deputies OF this Town be requested
70 use their influence at the approaching ses-
sion of the General Assembly OF this Colony
for promoting a congress rs soon as may be,
of the representatives of the General Assem-
blies OF the several Colonies and Provinces of
North America, for establishing the Firmest
Union and adopting SUCH measures as 10
answer that important purpose and to agree
upon proper Methods for executing the same.
That the Committee Of Correspondence of
this Town be desired TO assure the Town of
Boston that we consider ourselves greatly in
terested in the present alarming conduct of
the british Parliament towards them aud
view the whole English American Colonies
Equally concerned In the Event, and that we
Will with the utmost hrmness act accordingly,
whenever any Plan shall be agreed on; in the
mean Time We are OF the Opinion that an
universal Stoppage of all Trade with Great
Britain, Ireland, Africa and the West Indias
unull such Time as the Port OF Boston shall
be reinstated in its former Privileges, ETC.,
will be the best expedient in the Case and
that a proper Time should be generally agreed
ON for The sauna nuiyarsally Tn take plaCp-
The spirit OF Independence seemed
stirred into life by the above resolution.
and having taken the first step, the
next was easier.
Action Against Slavery.
The records say that whereas Jacob
Shoemaker died intestate, land leaving
six negro slaves, of whom four were in
fants, they fall to the town. becoming
its properly by law. Therefore,. as IL is
unbecoming the character OF free men to
enslave said negroes, the town does
hereby give up all claim or right of
property in them or either OF them, Ii is
recommended that the town counci
take them under its protectio1, and
bi d the small children to some proper
masters and mistresses. In case there
SHOULD not be sufficient p .rsonal prop
erty left to pay Jacob Shoemaker's just
deb's. the w adult negroes be bound
out Tor that purpose"
Freedom for All-No slaves.
Then this famous town meeting passed
o resolution that was destined to echo
through the annals Of a century.
WHEREAS, The Inhabitants of America are
engaged in the Preservation of their Rights
ana Liberties; and as Personal Liberty is an
essential Part of the Natural Rights OF Man
TO use their endeavors to obtain an Act of
General Assembly prohibiting the Importa-
ton of Negro slaves into this Colony; and
that all Negroes in the Colony should be free
after attaining to "a certain age.
1t WIS not until August 10 Of the
same year that the town meeting was
again called. In the meantime the trou-
bles with England had become more and
more tense and in the face of possible
severe punishment the town meeting
took ano her step. Benjamin Man pre-
sided over this session. "A resolution
had been prepared and was pas ed in
sui S ance as follows:
WHEREAS, The distress of Boston oc-
c%asioncd by a cruel edict blocking that Port
Awakes our attention and excites our Com
passion, Therefore, as their Cause is our
Cause and unless ALI and Succor be afforded
them they may be discouraged into IA hurtful
submission, and Ministerial vengeance NAV
be next directed against this colony, the depu-
ties are requested TO use your endeavors at
procure a Craft of a sum of money as thew
may see fit, Relieving and Mitigating the
Difficulties and Distresses which that town
must Experience from the operation of that
most unrighteous inhibition the hostile man
ner of causing same into force and general ar
rest of their liberties.
Permit us 70 observe that in doing this il
VIII be evidenced that as n community we
would do unto others as we would that thew
should do unto us in like circumstances.
First Representative TO General Assembly.
STEPHEN HOPKINS, ESQ.
second Rep. JOHN JENC<s. ESQ.
Third MIR. o SMITH.
Egurtn MIR. Holm N ATuEWSnN
The people OF the state having become
boldrr and frmer in their position be-
came much iuceused agai st those per-
sons OF foreign birth who remained
loya II to England during the trouble. 40
the action of the town meeting shows
tie public feeling la an act which states
that this tow is not ar asvlum for per
son or persons whose home was within
British Dominions whose principles and
practices were inimical to the liberals
Of our coun ry and it, happy constitu-
tioa or IL they were obnoxious to the
people.