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"Rhode Island was so called from a fancied
resemblance to the ancient Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean.
Roger Williams, having been banished from
Massachusetts, in 1635, visited
Ousamequin, the sachem of
Pokanoket whose residence was at Mount Hope, near the present town of
Bristol. From him he obtained a grant of land in the town of Seekonk, and
here made preparations to erect a house; but, being informed by the Governor
of Plymouth that he was within the
limits of that colony, he resolved to move. Accordingly, about the middle of
June, 1636, he embarked in a canoe with five others, and proceeded down the
Narragansett River to a spot near the mouth of the Moshassuck. This he
selected as a place of settlement, which, in grateful remembrance of the
mercies of God, he called Providence.
This was within the jurisdiction of the Narragansett
Indians. The sachems were Canonicus, and his nephew, Miantinomo. These he
visited, and received a verbal cession of land, and two years afterwards,
was formally conveyed to him by deed.
In the course of two years, Mr. Williams was joined by a
number of friends from Massachusetts, with whom he shared the land he had
obtained, reserving to himself only two small fields, which, on his first
arrival, he had planted with his own hands.
And here, in this community, was presented the first example
the world ever saw of perfect religious toleration—everyone was permitted to
hold such religious opinions, and to worship God after that manner they
pleased, without fear and molestation. The honor of this arrangement belongs
to Mr. Williams.
He was careful, nevertheless, to provide for the maintenance
of the civil peace. All the settlers were required to sign a covenant to
submit themselves to all such orders or arrangements as should be made for
the public good concerning civil matters. This simple instrument
combining the principles of a pure democracy and of unrestricted religious
liberty, was the basis of the first government of Rhode Island.
The government of the town being thus placed in the hands of
the inhabitants; with the legislative, judicial, and executive functions
exercised for several years by its citizens, in town meetings. Two deputies
were appointed, from time to time, whose duty it was to preserve order, to
settle disputes, to call
town meetings, to preside over them, and to see that their resolutions were
executed.
In 1638, William Coddington and eighteen others, being
persecuted in Massachusetts for their religious tenets, followed Mr.
Williams to Providence. By his advice, they purchased from Canonicus and Miantinomo,
some islands in Narragansett Bay, and
began the settlement of Portsmouth, on the northern part of the what
was known as Aquetnet island. Soon
after, another settlement was commenced, on the southwestern side, by the
name of Newport. Both towns were considered as belonging to the same colony,
which received the name of Rhode Island Plantation.
In imitation of the form of government which existed for a time among the
Jews, the inhabitants elected Mr. Coddington to be their magistrate, with
the title of Judge; and a few months afterward, they elected three elders to
assist him. This form of government continued until March 12th 1640, when
they chose Mr. Coddington governor, Mr. Brenton deputy-governor, with a
treasurer, secretary and three assistants. No other change in the form of
government took place until the charter was obtained.
At the time of the Union of the New England colonies in
their confederacy of 1643, the
proposal of the Providence and Rhode Island Plantations to
join it was refused, on the ground that they had no charter; whereupon, the
following year, Roger Williams proceeded to England, and obtained from
Parliament a free charter of incorporation, by which the two plantations
were united under one government. In 1663, a royal charter was granted to
them by Charles II. This charter constituted an assembly, consisting of a
governor, deputy-governor, and ten assistants, with the representatives from
the several towns, all to be chosen by the freemen. In 1686, Andros, being
made Governor of New England, dissolved the charter of Rhode Island, and
appointed a council to assist him in governing the colony. Three years
after, William, Prince of Orange, ascended the throne of England, and Andros
was seized and imprisoned; upon which, the freemen assembled at Newport,
and, having resumed their charter, restored all the officers whom Andros had
displaced.
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