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Character of the People

inhabitants are industrious, sagacious husbandmen. Their farms furnish them with all the necessaries, most of the conveniences, and but few of the luxuries of life. They of course must be generally temperate, and if they chose, can subsist with as much independance as is consistent with happiness. The subsistence of the farmer is substantial, and does not depend on incidental circumstances, like that of most other professions. There is no necessity of serving an apprenticeship to the business, nor of a large stock of money to commence it to advantage. Farmers who deal much in barter, have less need of money than any other class of people. The ease with which a comfortable subsistence is obtained, induces the husbandman to marry young. The cultivation of his farm makes him strong and healthful. He toils cheerfully through the day, eats the fruit of his own labour with a gladsome heart, at night devoutly thanks his bounteous God for his daily blessing, retires to rest, and his sleep is sweet. Such circumstances as these have greatly contributed to the amazing increase of the inhabitants in this state. Beside, the people live under a free government, and have no fear of a tyrant. There are no overgrown estates, with rich and ambitious landlords, to have an undue and pernicious influence in the election of civil officers. Property is equally enough divided, and must continue to be so as long as estates descend as they now do. No person qualified by law is prohibited from voting. He who has the most merit, not he who has the most money, is generally chosen into public office. As instances of this, it is to be observed, that many of the citizens of Connecticut, from the humble walks of life, have arisen to the first offices in the state, and filled them with dignity and reputation. That base business of electioneering, which is so directly calculated to introduce wicked and designing men into office, is yet but little known in Connecticut. A man who wishes to he chosen into office, acts wisely, for that end, when he keeps his desires to himself.

Connecticut had but a small proportion of citizens who did not join in opposing the oppressive measures of Great Britain, and was active and influential, both in the field and in the cabinet, in bringing about the revolution. Her soldiers were applauded by the commander in chief, for their bravery and fidelity. The revolution, which so essentially affected the government of most of the colonies, produced no very perceptible alteration in the government of Connecticut. While under the jurisdiction of Great Britain, they elected their own

governors, and all subordinate civil officers, and made their own laws, in the same manner, and with as little control as they now do. Connecticut has ever been a republic, and perhaps as perfect and as happy a republic as ever existed. She has uninterruptedly proceeded in her old track, both as to government and manners; and, by these means, has avoided those convulsions which have rent other states into violent parties.

At the anniversary election of governor and other public officers, which is held yearly at Hartford on the second Thursday in May, a sermon is preached, which is published at the expence of the state. On these occasions a vast concourse of respectable citizens, particularly of the clergy, are collected, from every part of the state; and while they add dignity and solemnity to the important and joyful transactions of the day, serve to exterminate party spirit, and to harmonize the civil and religious interests of the state. Connecticut, as well as Massachusetts, has been highly distinguished in having a succession of governors, eminent both for their religious and political accomplishments.

CHAP XIII.

Settlement of Rhode Island---This Colony refused Admittance into the Confederation--Narraganset Indians surrender their Coun try to the King of England---Roman Catholics---Charter surrendered.

Motives of the same kind with those which are well known to have occasioned the settlement of most of the other United States, gave birth to the settlement of Rhode Island. The emigrants from England, who came to Massachusetts, although they did not perfectly agree in religious sentiments, had been tolerably united by their common zeal against the ceremonies of the church of England. But when they were removed from ecclesiastical courts, and possessed a charter allowing liberty of conscience, they fell into disputes and contentions among themselves. Of the principle of uniformity, the majority here were as fond as those from whose persecution they had fled. The true grounds of religious liberty were not embraced at this time, nor understood by any sect. While all disclaimed persecution for the sake of conscience, a regard for the public peace, and the preservation of the church of Christ from infec

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Settlement of Rhode Island.

tion, together with the obstinacy of the heretics, was urged in justification of that, which, stripped of all its disguises, the light of nature, and the laws of Christ, in the most solemn manner condemn.

Mr. Roger Williams, a Puritan minister, came over to New England in 1631, and settled at Salem, assistant to the Rev. Mr. Skelton. His settlement was opposed by the magistrates because he refused to join with the church at Boston, unless they would make a declaration of their repentance for maintaining communion with the church of England, while in their native country. In consequence Mr. Williams removed to Plymouth, where he remained assistant to Mr. Smith three years, or, as others say, two, and others, not one; when he disagreed with some influential characters in that town, and by invitation returned to Salem and succeeded Mr. Skelton, who had lately deceased. His settlement was still opposed by the magistrates, who charged him with maintaining," That it is not lawful for a godly man to have communion in family prayer or in an oath, with such as they judge unregenerate;" therefore he refused the oath of fidelity, and taught others to follow his example; "that it is not lawful for an unregenerate man to pray; that the magistrate has nothing to do in matters of the first table; that there should be a general and unlimited toleration of all religions; that to punish a man for following the dictates of his conscience was persecution; that the patent which was granted by King Charles was invalid, and an instrument of injustice which they ought to renounce, being injurious to the natives, the King of England having no power to dispose of their lands to his own subjects," On account of these sentiments, and for refusing to join with the Massachusetts churches, he was at length banished the colony, as a disturber of the peace of the church and commonwealth. He left his house, wife, and children, at Salem, in the dead of winter, and sought a residence within the limits of Massachusetts. Fortunately for Mr. Williams, he had cultivated an acquaintance with the Indians, and learned their language, and before he left the colony, he had privately treated with Canonicus and Osamaquin, two Narraganset sachems, for a tract of land within their territories, provided he should be under the neces sity of settling among them. These circumstances, together with the advice of Governor Winthorp, induced him, with four of his friends, after his banishment, to direct his course toward Narraganset bay. He with his companions established them

Religious Dissensions.

87

selves first at Secunk or Seekhonck, now Rehoboth. But that place being within the bounds of Plymouth colony, Governor Winslow, in a friendly manner, advised them to remove to the other side of the river, where the lands were not covered by any patent. Accordingly, in 1636, they crossed Seekhonck river, and landed among the Indians, by whom they were hospitably received, and thus laid the foundation of a town, which," from a sense of God's merciful providence to him in his distress," Mr. Williams called PROVIDENCE. Here the little colony were soon after joined by a number of others; and though they were secured against the Indians by the terror of the English, yet, for a considerable time, they suffered much from fatigue and want; but they enjoyed liberty of conscience, and the consolation of having" provided a refuge for persons persecuted for conscience sake.”

Unhappy religious dissensions still prevailed in Massachusetts; and, from a zeal for the purity of the faith, Governor Winthrop strove to exterminate the opinions which he disapproved. For this purpose, on the 30th of August, 1637, a synod was convened at Newtown (now Cambridge) to whom eighty erroneous opinions were presented; these were debated and unanimously condemned. At a court holden at the same place, the following October, Wheelright, Mrs. Hutchinson, and Underhill, the leading characters who had embraced these errors, were banished, and several others were censured for seditious conduct. A number who had signed a seditious petition to the general court, in which they charge them with having condemned the truth of Christ, those who refused to retract were disarmed. Of these, fifty eight belonged to Boston, six to Salem, three to Newbury, five to Roxbury, two to Ipswich, and two to Charlestown.

The subsequent election of civil officers was carried by a party spirit excited by religious controversy, but the orthodox party maintained the ascendency, and Mr. Winthrop was reelected governor. Those who were banished by the court, joined by a number of their friends, left the colony, and went in quest of a new place for settlement. They first proceeded to Providence, where they were kindly received by Mr. Williams, and with whom they remained for some time.

In March, 1638, two sachems, by virtue of their authority, and in consideration of fifty fathoms of white beads, sold to Mr. Coddington (one of the most respectable of these exiles) and his associates, the great island of Aquidnect, and the athe isles

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Rhode Island purchased and settled.

in Narraganset bay, except two which had been previously sold. The natives soon after agreed, upon receiving ten coats aud twenty hoes, to remove before the next winter. The largest island was soon after called Rhode Island. Having thus acquired a title and possession, on considerations which gave satisfaction to the original owners, they here established themselves: and, copying the conduct of their neighbours, they formed a similar association for the purposes of civil government. Though the numbers associated were few, yet the soil being fruitful, and the climate agreeable, many persons soon resorted where they found protection, and the island, in a few years, became so populous as to send out colonists to the adjacent shores. The little colony elected Mr. Coddington their judge and chief magistrate. This gentleman came to America in 1630, and settled at Boston as a merchant. After his removal to Rhode Island, he embraced the sentiments of the Friends, and became the father of that denomination of Christians in that colony. Their yearly meeting was held in his house till his death, in 1688. Mr. John Clarke was another principal character among the exiles; for the sake of enjoying liberty of conscience, he voluntarialy abandoned the colony of Massa chusetts and settled in Rhode Island, where, in 1644, he founded a Baptist church. The first settlement on Rhode Island was made at the north end, and called Portsmouth. In 1639, another settlement was begun at the south west part of the island on a fine barbour, which they called Newport. From the convenience of this harbour, the fertility and pleasantness of the island, and the wealth of the first settlers, this place had a rapid growth, and in a few years became the capital of the colony. The government which they established was of the democratic kind. The chief magistrate and four assistants were invested with part of the executive powers; the remainder, with the legislative authority, was exercised by the body of the people in town meetings. The colonies at Providence and Rhode Island, at different periods, received large accessions from the denominations of Baptists and Friends, who were persecuted in other colonies. What distinguishes these colonies from all others is, that they were settled on a " plan of an entire religious liberty; men of every denomination being equally protected and countenanced, and enjoying the honours and offices of government."

The inefficacy of a voluntary government, and the want of a patent to legalize their proceedings, was soon experienced by