sup Political Character.-The Rhode Islanders ported the revolutionary war with great gallantry, but they persisted till the year 1790 in refusing to ratify the new federal constitution, though established with the consent of the other states in 1787. They were accused of refusing to assist in suppressing the rebellion in Massachusetts, and of having given a free asylum to the offenders; for which reason the place for some time received the injurious name of Rogue's Island. They deserve great praise, however, for abolishing the slave trade, which had enriched many of the people in Newport. This was done some years ago, by an act of the legislature, prohibiting the trade between Africa and the West India islands. Rhode Island has the honour of having produced one of the most distinguished heroes of the revolutionary war, Nathaniel Green, and the misfortune of having given birth to the noted traitor Benedict Arnold, who attempted to deliver into the hands of the enemy the commander-in-chief of the republican forces. History.-At the time of the first settlements, Rhode Island was occupied by the Narraganset tribe of Indians, whose warriors, in 1620, were about three thousand in number; but in fifty years afterwards they were diminished by one-third. The king of the Wampanoags, who occupied the He held the second rank in the army. neighbouring country, induced them to unite in an attempt to expel the English; but, in 1674, (19th December,) a force was sent against them from Massachusetts and Connecticut, by which both tribes were completely subdued. Near Point Judith Pond is a piece of dry land, surrounded by a cedar swamp, where they had their strongest fort, palisadoed, and protected by a fence of trees, a rod in thickness, into which the only entrance across the water was on a single piece of timber. General Winslow, who commanded the assault, had under him fifteen hundred men, with three hundred from Connecticut, and a hundred and fifty Indians. The Indian force was about four thousand; and so formidable was their resistance, that, before an assailable point was discovered, six captains fell, with eighty men.* This colony, which was a branch of that of Massachusetts Bay, owed its origin to religious intolerance. In 1635 Roger Williams, minister of Salem, on account "of his Antinomian, familistical, Brownist, and other fanatical doctrines, though in other respects a good man, was excommunicated and banished from the colony of Massachusetts, by the assembly or legislature, as a disturber of the peace of the church and commonwealth." He retired, with his friends and adherents, forty in number, to a place * See Morse and Parish's History of New England. on the Patucket river, named Moosachick, which he purchased from the Indians, and called Providence. Here they formed a colony, and established a plan of government. In 1643 he passed over to England, and the year following obtained a charter of incorporation, under the title of "The Providence Plantations in the Narraganset Bay, in New England," with authority to act as freemen, in the formation of their constitution and laws, which were established by the general assembly, in May 1647. In 1662 a new charter was granted by Charles II. by which the colony was made a body politic or corporate, by the name of "The Governor and Company of Freemen of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in Narraganset Bay, in New England," with powers to grant liberty of conscience in religion, to call an annual assembly, composed of the governor, deputy-governor, ten assistants and representatives from the towns elected by the majority of freemen. This colony entered into the confederation of the United Colonies, in 1643; and, in 1684, when the charter was revoked by Charles II. it was united with the government of New Plymouth and the Bay of Massachusetts; but having only delivered up that which they received from the prince, when William III. mounted the throne, they made use of the other in favour of their rights. It is worthy of remark, that, in the town of North Kingston, near the shore, lived Major-General Whalley, one of the judges of King Charles. In 1746 this state took an active part in the Indian war, raising three hundred soldiers, and fitting out a sloop of war, manned with a hundred seamen, to aid in the proposed expedition against Canada. In 1776 the British troops took possession of Rhode Island, where they remained a considerable time. Civil or Administrative Division of the State of Rhode Island, with the Population of each County and Chief Town, in 1810, the Year of the last Enumeration. Constitution.-The charter of incorporation, granted by Charles II. in the fifteenth year of his reign, was to the inhabitants of Rhode island and Providence Plantations, in the name of the Governor and Company, to be holden of him, his heirs, and successors, as of his manor of East Greenwich in Kent, in free and common sockage. The king reserved to himself, as an acknowledgment of his sovereignty, the fifth part of the gold and silver ore that should be found within the territory. This charter forms the basis of the present form of government, which consists of a council of twelve members and house of representatives, chosen by the freemen. The former, which includes the governor and deputy-governor, is chosen annually; the latter, by the citizens twice a-year. Each township has one representative. In his legislative capacity the governor has but one voice, and cannot give a negative to any act of the two houses. All judicial and executive officers are annually elected by the governor and company, or by the upper and lower house of assembly. Every process is issued in the name of the governor and company. The oaths of office and allegiance are made conformable to the principles of the revolution. * Judiciary.-There is a supreme judicial court of five judges, and an inferior court of common pleas, and general sessions of the peace, In each county there is a court of common pleas. General sessions of the peace are held twice a-year, in order to hear and determine all matters and things, not capital, relating to the conservation of the peace. From the sentence of this tribunal appeal may be made to the superior court of judicature, court of assize, and general gaol-delivery. Its jurisdiction extends over the whole state, and sits twice a-year in each county. All process is in the name of the governor and company. The judges are appointed * This charter is prefixed to the account of the constitution, |