On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
toleration of all Christian sects , attracted numerous emigrants from the adjacent settlements . , " Wfaeii tbe New England colonies , in
A 6 f 43 > formed their memorable confederacy * Rhode Island applied to he admitted a member . Plymouth objected ; asserting that the settlements were within her boundaries . The commissioners
decided , that Rhode Island might enjoy all the advantages of the confederacy , if she would submit to the jurisdiction of Plymouth . She declined , proudly preferring independence to all the benefits of dependent union .
** In 1644 , Mftlliams , having been sent to England as agent for both settlements , obtained of the Plymouth company a patent for the territory , and permission for the inhabitants to institute a government
for * themselves . In 1647 , delegates chosen by the freemen , held a general assembly at Portsmouth , organized a government , and established a code of laws . The executive power was confided to a president and four assistants .
" Upon the applications of the inhabitants * the king , in 1663 , granted a charter to Rhode Island and Providence Plantations * The supreme or legislative power , was to be exercised by an assembly , which was to consist of the governor , of ten assistants , and of representatives from the several towns , all to be chosen' by
toe freemen . This assembly granted to all Christian sects , except Roman Catholics , the fight of voting . In 1665 , they authorized , by law , the seizure of the estates of Quakers , who refused to assist in defending the colony ; but this law being generally condemned by the people , was never executed .
" When Audross was made governor of New England , he dissolved the charter goverpment of Rhode Island , and ruled the colony , with the assistance of a council appointed by himself . After he was
imprisoned , at Boston , the freemen met at Newport , and voted to resume their charter . All the officers , who three years before had been displaced , were restored .
The be » evolcnce , justice and pacific policy of Williams , secured to the colony an almost total exemption from Indian , hostility . In 1730 , the number of inhabitants was 18 , 000 ; in 1761 , it was
40 , 000 . Brown University was founded at Warareu * ia 1764 , and was removed a few yeare after to Providence . Its founder , was Nicholas Brown , who gave t < x th Institution live thousand dollars . " —Pp . 94—97 . Our historian ia fully sensible of the stain which negro-slavery fixes on
Untitled Article
the history and character of the United States , hut he attributes the guilt to England ! We forgive him this wrong , for the sake of the undisguised manner , in which he speaks of the foul
enormity . He thus conchfdes tne account of Virginia : " The laudable efforts of these representatives ^ to arrest the progress of slavery in the colony , ought not to be passed over in silence . Convinced of its
inhumanity , and foreseeing the dreadful evils which it must produce , they often passed laws prohibiting the importation of slaves : but those who were higher in authority , yielding to the wishes of merchants engaged in the abominable traffic , persisted with
criminal obstinacy in withholding their assent . England , not America , is responsible for the wretchedness which her kings and her officers were often importuned , but refused , to avert /*—P . 31 .
To the History is added an interesting Appendix on the principles of the constitution , the statistics , the education and literature , and the religion of the United States . On the
last topic , the enlightened writer says , after having enumerated several rjeligious denominations , " Many other sects exist , but reason , less tolerpt than the laws , is gradually diminishing the number . " This remark suggests
a new sense to the sentiment sometimes given at our public meetings , not , we think , without danger of its being mistaken , viz . 4 € No Toleration "
The anonymous historian ends his book with a very natural and not over sanguine calculation of his country ' s future greatness , which he winds mp with admonitions and benedictions , to
which every philanthropist will say Amen . " Although now inferior to the principal nations of the old world , yet but a short period will elapse before the United Spates , should their progress hereaftet be the aame that it has been , Wilt overtake and pass them . Their great natural
advantages will continue to urge them fdrward . Extensive tracts of fertile tend yet remain vacant of inhabitants ;\ tak portlous already settled are capable of supporting a much more numerous population ; new roads and new canals Will give greater activity to internal tornmerce , and open netv fields to lh £ un-
Untitled Article
; v KJ 6 Review .- —History of the Untied States .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1826, page 106, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2545/page/42/
-