CHAPTER XIII.-JANUARY 17TH TO OCTOBER, 1790.

JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION THAT ADOPTED THE CONSTITUTION.

TOWN MEETINGS for the election of Delegates to the Convention, held February 8-Convention met March 1-Character of the Delegates—Instructions from Richmond and Portsmouth-Resolutions of a Meeting of Freemen, held at East Greenwich-No official Record of the State Convention that adopted the Constitution, on file-Papers, Documents and Minutes of Proceedings of the Convention, preserved by Daniel Updike-Deposited with the Secretary of State, by Wilkins Updike, in 1863-Journal and Minutes, with Explanatory Remarks-Adjournment of the Convention to Newport-Final adoption of the Constitution, May 29-Letter from the President of the Convention to Congress-Special session of the Legislature, June 7-Election of Senators to Congress-Act passed for the election of Representatives-Address from the General Assembly to the President of the United States-Concluding remarks-Summary of the Legislation of Rhode Island in relation to the adoption of the Constitution.

President of the Convention to President Washington,

Address from General Assembly to President Washington, October, 1790,

May 29, 1790,

674-680

May 29, 1790,

681

683

CHAPTER I.

1765 TO MAY, 1776.

CONGRESS OF 1765-Causes that led to it-Oppressive acts of Parliament— Petitions from the Colonies-General Assembly-Destruction of the armed sloop Liberty in Newport Harbor-Boston Massacre-Schooner Gaspee boarded and burned on Namquit Point-Efforts of the British Government to discover the perpetrators of the deed-Tea thrown into Boston Harbor-Boston Port Bill-Resolutions of the Freemen of Providence relating thereto-Day of fasting and prayer appointed in VirginiaAction of the General Assembly approving a Congress and appointing Delegates thereto-Resolutions of the Massachusetts House of Representatives-Commission of the Rhode Island Delegates-Meeting of Congress in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, September 5, 1774Proceedings-Letter from Samuel Ward to Governor Wanton-Return of Delegates-Report to General Assembly and resolutions thereonAccount of expenses of Ward and Hopkins as Delegates to CongressProposition for a General Congress adopted by Providence in advance. of any municipal or colonial action on the subject-Ward and Hopkins appointed Delegates to another Congress-Instructions of the General Assembly-Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill-Commission of the Delegates-Signed by Secretary of State-Joseph Wanton elected Governor-Office of Governor declared vacant by the General Assembly because of the Tory opinions of the incumbent-Correspondence between Wanton and General Assembly-Nicholas Cooke elected Governor in place of Wanton-Remarks on proceedings against Governor Wanton-Meeting of Congress, May 10, 1775-Proceedings-Character of the members-Legislature of Rhode Island after the battle of Lexington-Army of Observation-Nathanael Greene appointed Brigadier General-Church, Hitchcock and Varnum appointed Colonels -Return of Samuel Ward from Congress and his report to General Assembly-Resolutions thereon-Further instructions to the Delegates, embracing the earliest action of any Colony in favor of a Continental Navy-First Naval force employed in the United Colonies-Letter from Gov. Cooke to Hopkins and Ward respecting-First American fleet,

under command of Esek Hopkins-Sailed on their first cruise Feb. 17, 1776-Arrival of Commodore Whipple at Philadelphia-Letter from Samuel Ward respecting-Letter from Gov. Cooke to Ward and Hopkins-Adjournment of Congress to Sept. 5-Letter from Gov. Cooke to Ward and Hopkins on the manufacture of Saltpetre-Bills of creditMeasures pursued by Rhode Island to give them value and currencyLetter from Samuel Ward to Gov. Cooke-Removal of cattle and sheep from the islands in Narragansett Bay-Memorial from Rhode Island to the Continental Congress, respecting her inability to defend herself and praying for assistance-Letter from Gov. Cooke accompanying-Letter from Gov. Cooke to Delegates in Congress-Death of Samuel WardCharacter-Resolutions of General Assembly respecting-Summary of the acts of Congress-Review of the labors and honors of the Delegates from Rhode Island.

WITH the Congress of 1765, commenced a new epoch in the history of the English colonies in North America. From the time of the planting of the first of these colonies, the leading object of the legislation of the mother country in relation to them, was to make and keep them dependent on her. To this end, she monopolized their trade and commerce, limited their manufactures and controlled all their industrial pursuits. The colonists rendered an unwilling obedience to such laws, and this only when it could not be avoided. The exigencies of their situation, the weakness and poverty of their new settlements, and the dangers to which they were exposed from their Indian and French neighbors, compelled them to bear illegal impositions in comparative silence. It was the price that they paid for the protection they needed and received from the mother country. The conquest of Canada left the colonies in peace and safety. The wars that led to it taught them their strength, and diminished their feeling of dependence. The same wars had increased the debt of Great Britain. On the ground that the colonies had been especially benefited by these wars, Parliament imposed specific duties on certain enumerated articles that should be imported by them, and more stringent measures were adopted for the collection of all

These

custom house dues. The powers of the Vice Admiralty courts here were increased and a stamp act was proposed. and other similar measures excited a feeling of insecurity and alarm in the minds of the colonists, which led to the calling of the Congress of 1765. With this Congress a new era in the history of the colonies was inaugurated. Then they, for the first time, assembled in a Congress on their own motion. Then they met, for the first time, to consult upon their rights and to seek redress for their wrongs. The means proposed and adopted were, "a general and united, loyal and honorable representation of their condition to His Majesty and the Parliament, and to implore relief."

Parliament refused to receive their petition. They were proffered no relief by His Majesty. But they learned their own strength by this meeting, and were made conscious of the importance of thus assembling together, by the violent opposition manifested by the British government against it. The stamp act was passed before this Congress convened, to go into operation at a time subsequent. But such was the general feeling of hostility throughout the colonies to these measures, that this act was soon repealed, and, before the day appointed for it to go into operation, the act imposing impost duties was greatly modified. Parliament accompanied these conciliatory measures with a new act declaring that they had the power to bind the colonies in all cases whatever-an act which would not confer the power, if they did not possess it, any more than could the acts of the colonies, denying its existence, destroy it, if it really existed.

In 1767, Parliament passed an act imposing an impost duty on certain articles imported into the colonies, and took especial care to insert in its preamble, that it was passed for the purposes of revenue. They also authorized the appointment of a Board of Commissioners to be located at Boston, for the purpose of enforcing the laws relating to the trade

and commerce of the colonies. The House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay remonstrated by petition to the home government against these acts and by a circular to the other colonies, advised them of the steps they had taken, and called on them to present similar petitions. This circular gave great offence to the British government. As soon as the news of it reached England, an order was dispatched to Massachusetts for that Province to rescind it. The other colonies were at the same time admonished that "it was a matter of dangerous and factious tendency, ** calculated to produce an unwarrantable combination." Massachusetts refused to rescind it. The Colony of Rhode Island forwarded to England a petition similar to the one sent from Massachusetts, and in relation to the circular of Massachusetts, they replied to the admonition of the English Secretary, that they were surprised "that an attempt to unite fellow subjects, laboring under the same hardships, in petitioning the throne in a constitutional and loyal manner for redress, should be termed 'a factious and unwarrantable combination." Instead of treating it with contempt, as advised by the Secretary, they said that they "think themselves bound in duty to themselves and to their country to approve the sentiments contained in it." The most efficient measure adopted by the colonists against these acts of Parliament, was their agreement not to import any goods charged with an impost duty. Committees of correspondence had been formed in most of the colonies, and through them a uniformity of action was greatly promoted.

In 1768, the Secretary of State for the colonies wrote to the Governor of this Colony, complaining that his letters to the Governor had been by him communicated to the Legislature, adding that it was His Majesty's pleasure that this course should not be pursued "unless you have His Majesty's particular direction to the contrary." This letter was laid