The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-30
SENAT0R EN- FIRE; MANS SPEECH

Senator Freeman spoke as follows:
Gentlemen: We are assembled here TO
perform a pleasant and sacred duty which
has been entrusted to us by the state OF
Rhode Island and Providence Planta :
tions: the state which. though small In
territory. has not by any means been
the least or slowest i'm the performance
OF every duty which has devolved upon 1t
since its inception and foundation.
The great doctrine of the entire sepa-
ration Of church and state, and the abb
solute freedom OF all its citizens In re-
ligious matters had its berth ana its
complete fuhlment in the state of Rhode
Island.
In it's bill OF rights we find the follow
ing language: Whereas. Almighty God
hath created the mind free, and all at
tempts to influence IL by temporal pun
ishment or burdens. or by civil incapaci-
tations. tend TO beget habits OF hypocrisy
and meanness; and, whereas principal
object Of our venerable ancestors in their
migration to this country and their settle
mept OF this state was, as they expressed
IT, 10 hold forth a lively experiment that
a hourishing civil state may stand and
be best maintained with fun liberty in
religious concernments; we therefore de-
Glare that no man shall be compelled TO
frequent or 10 support any religious wor-
ship. place or ministry whatever. except
tract: not enforced. restrained. molested
i'm his body or goods; nor disqualified
from helding any office. nor otherwise
suffer on account of his religious belief,
and that every man shall be free TO wor-
ship God according to the dictates OF his
own conscience, and to profess and by
argument TO maintain his opinion in mat
ters of religion; and that the same shall
i'm no wise diminish, enlarge or affect his
civil capacity
A FLOURIsHING STATE.
The principle that was enunciated by
the founder of the state. and which was
made its corncr. stone, still lives. and upon
that cornerstone has been erected a
hourishing state, whose history is no ig-
noble part OF the history Of our great ma
ton.
Today inscribed In the dome OF its new
state house, building which has no equal
| I'm beauty or utility and adaptation to the
uses for which IL was intended. I'm this
/ broad land. built OF the finest OF Georgia
/ marble can he found this inscription
| Para temporum felcitis ubi sentire duae
I wells ct quae scntias deere licet" which
/ freely translated Is 20 happy times when
/ one can think what one chooses, and car
\ speak what he thinks
/ The part which our little state played
! in the evnts which led up to the Revolu'
tion, was not a minor or secondary one
4 Rhode Island was the first colony To di'
rect her officials 20 disregard the famous
stamp act
The FIRST recommenda ton for n perma
/ nent constitutional congress came from
/ the citizens OF Providence I'm town meet
ing assembled. and the general assembly
/ of Rhode Island was the first of the leg
\ islative bodies to send delegates there
/ 10.
More than two months before the Dec
laration OF Independence by the continen
taI congress Rhode Island through hei
general assembly formally enacted and
declared her Independence Of Great Brit
ain and to use the words OF another "Sh'
IL the oldest independent sovereign i'm thu
western world"
The first blood OF the Revolution wa:
spilled within her borders. and before
the shot was fired at Lexington which
/ was heard around the world prior TO the
famous tea party In Boston harbor. n:
royal maiesty's armed sloop Liberty had
been sunk by men from tho town ~ New
port. and another 81 his vessels, the Gas
\ pee. had been captured and destroyed b,
a party - Providence patriots
DfD MORE THAN HER SHARE.
All ihrouFh the Revolution she furnish.