History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 26

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

and Joel Metcalf composed the board of town audit; Cyrus Cleve- land, overseer of town pumps in the north part of the town, Samuel Carlile in the south part, and Bernon Dunn on the west side. Gabriel Allen was then postmaster, and the post office was kept in Union Building. Mr. Allen held the office until he died, in 1824. He was succeeded by Bennett H. Wheeler, who was in turn followed by Edward J. Mallett. The latter removed the office to his building on South Main street. Welcome B. Sayles was the next incumbent of the office, and he brought it back again to Union Building, and thence removed it to the What Cheer Building. Henry L. Bowen held the office for awhile, but on the change of administration Mr. Sayles wasagain appointed, and by him it was removed to its present location in Weybosset street, the building having been opened in 1857.

The agitation of the temperance question began, as far as definite action was concerned, in 1827. The first public meeting was held in the First Baptist meeting house in April of that year. Several reso- lutions were passed on the subject, which were a step in the right direction, though they fell short of declaring for total abstinence from intoxicating drinks. Thus commenced a series of measures which have developed temperance principles to a very high degree. A few years later temperance organizations gained in popularity, and one after another, different societies were formed. The City Tem- perance Society was formed November 1st, 1836; the Providence Washington Total Abstinence Society, July 8th, 1841; the Young Men's Washington Total Abstinence Society, July 9th, 1841; the Sixth Ward Washington Total Abstinence Society, April 8th, 1842; and the Marine Washington Total Abstinence Society, August 29th, 1842. In each of these societies the members were pledged to total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks as a beverage. Their aggregate number in 1843 had reached above 5,000 members.

The population of Providence in 1825 was 15,941. Five years later it had reached 16,832. The increase of population made the holding of town meetings inconvenient, and a change in the form of local government was regarded by some as a necessity. In April, 1829, the proposition to adopt a city form of government was voted upon and carried by 312 to 222. In the following January the assembly granted a city charter, on the condition that three-fifths of the freemen voting at a meeting to be held should favor its adoption. The vote was taken on the 15th of February, but the charter was discarded by a vote of 383 for and 345 against it, this majority not reaching the re- quired three-fifths. Thus the town government was confirmed in possession of the field for an indefinite term. Its weakness to deal with a possible emergency was proven by a riot which occurred in the following year, and this doubtless created a change of sentiment which resulted soon after in the adoption of a city government. This

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riot of 1831 was an episode in the history of Providence of such serious importance as to demand its recital in brief in this connection.

On the night of September 21st, 1831, a number of sailors, evi- dently bent on having a row with the negroes, visited Olney's lane, where a number of the latter resided. The sailors opened the battle by making a great noise in the street and firing stones at the houses. This was finally answered by a gun fired from one of the houses. The assailants then retreated to the west end of the lane. A little later five sailors, who had not been with the marauding party, went up the lane. A negro man who was standing on the steps of his house, gun in hand, supposing them to be the same party as before, returning to do more mischief, told them to keep their distance. They threatened to take his gun from him, but without attempting to do so, proceeded a short distance and then stopped. The negro then ordered them to " clear out " or he would fire on them. They in turn dared him to fire. He fired, and one of the sailors fell dead. This enraged the sailors, perhaps more particularly the first party, who were still waiting at the foot of the lane. They returned and tore down two of the houses and broke out the windows of a number of others. During the next day there was great excitement. The sheriff of the county, with other peace officers, were in Olney's lane early in the evening. As the mob increased again they were ordered to disperse, and seven were taken into custody. Subsequently others were arrested, who were rescued from the hands of the officers. The sheriff then called for military aid from the governor of the state, and at midnight the First Light Infantry marched to his assistance. The mob, not intimidated by the presence of the military, assaulted them with stones. Finding that they could effect nothing without firing upon them, the soldiers withdrew, and the mob went on with its work of devastation. Six more houses in Olney's lane and one near Smith street were destroyed, the fiends continuing their work until nearly 4 o'clock in the morning.

It was thought likely that an attack on the jail would be made, and on the morning of the 23d the sheriff again required military aid, and the governor ordered the Light Dragoons, the Artillery, the Ca- dets, the Volunteers and the First Infantry to be in arms at 6 o'clock in the evening. The mob appeared in small force that night, and did but little mischief. The evening of the 24th, however, developed a renewal of the work of destruction, and the military were again called out. They marched up Smith street and took position on the hill, being pelted with stones by the mob while on the way. Both the governor and sheriff now remonstrated with the mob, to induce them to separate, and told them that the muskets of the military were loaded with ball cartridges, but without avail. The riot act was then read to them, and they were ordered by a peace officer to disperse. The mob continued to throw stones both at the houses and at the

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soldiers. The sheriff then attempted to disperse them by marching the Dragoons and Infantry among them, but without success. Thus every harmless means failing, he finally ordered the military to fire. The order was obeyed and four persons fell mortally wounded, just east of Smith's bridge in Smith street. This had the desired effect. The mob dispersed immediately and quiet was restored.

During these four evenings of the riot eight houses in Olney's lane, and nine near Smith street, in the section derisively called Snow Town, were destroyed or materially injured. The day follow- ing the last act in the tragedy was Sunday. On that morning, the 25th of September, a town meeting was held. It met at the town house, but the assemblage was too great to be accommodated there. and they adjourned to the state house parade. Here several resolu- tions lamenting the occasion which had made recourse to the military necessary, approving the action of the authorities on the occasion, and sympathizing with the friends and relatives of the de- ceased, were passed with great unanimity. A committee was ap- pointed to prepare and publish a correct statement of facts relative to the riots, and the facts we have quoted above are to be found in their report.

Believing the whole evil to have been largely chargeable to the weakness of a town government to deal with any such emergency, it was unanimously resolved by the freemen at a town meeting Oc- tober 5th, that it was expedient to adopt a city form of government. A committee composed of John Whipple, Caleb Williams, William T. Grinnell, Peter Pratt, George Curtis and Henry P. Franklin were appointed to draft a charter. This being done, the freemen on the 22d voted to urge the representatives to ask the general assembly to make it a law. The town vote stood 471 for, and 175 against the the change. The assembly granted the charter, with the condition that it should have the approval of three-fifths of the freemen voting at a town meeting to be held on the 22d of November. On that day the freemen voted 459 for and 188 against it. The necessary majority being thus given, the charter went into effect on the first Monday in June, 1832, the town government being superseded by it.

The first election of city officers was held on the fourth Monday in April, 1832. Samuel W. Bridgham was elected to the office of mayor, an office to which he was successively re-elected without opposi- tion, till his death in December, 1839. The city was at first divided into six wards, and the aldermen elected from each ward were as follows, the order of each name corresponding to the number of the ward represented by him: Dexter Thurber, Charles Holden, John H. Ormsbee, William T. Grinnell, Henry R. Greene and Asa Messer. The first common council was composed of the following: First ward -- Thomas R. Holden, Jesse Metcalf, William R. Staples, Peter Dan- iels: Second ward-Isaac Brown, Samuel Pearson, Joseph Cady, Cyrus

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Fisher; Third ward-Joseph S. Cooke, John Church, William C. Barker, Asa Pike; Fourth ward-George Barker, James M. Warner, Benjamin D. Weeden, Thomas B. Fenner; Fifth ward-Samuel Jack- son, 2d., Hezekiah Anthony, Pardon Clark, William Tallman; Sixth ward-Caleb Williams, William Olney, Thomas Seekell, Sterry Baker.

The last meeting of the town council was held on June 4th, 1832. at the state house. The five members who were then present were Richmond Bullock, who was president of the board, Charles Holden, John H. Ormsbee, William Sheldon and Henry P. Franklin. The record of that meeting declares,

" The Council met at this time and place, pursuant to an act of the General Assembly passed at their October session, A. D. 1831, for the purpose of inducting the Mayor and Aldermen elect of the city of Providence into office; when the oath of affirmation prescribed by law was by the President of this Council administered to the officers elect of the City Government, the Council dissolved."

The ceremony of induction spoken of took place in the represent- atives' chamber, and after taking the oath of office himself Mayor Bridgham duly engaged the board of aldermen and common council, by administering the official oath to them. Other city offices were filled by the following: Richard M. Field, clerk; Stephen Tilling- hast, treasurer; Joshua Rathbun, overseer of the poor, and clerk of the market; Edward Harwood, sergeant; John Hill, collector of taxes; John Greene, city crier; Menzie Sweet, overseer of public bridges; Sylvester Hartshorn, auctioneer; Joshua Rathbun, overseer of town house. Many other offices were at that time also filled, such as city constables, officers of the city courts, assessors of taxes, sur- veyors and corders of wood, surveyors of highways, hoops, staves and heading, gaugers of casks, packers and inspectors of fish, overseers of hospitals, fence viewers, field drivers, presidents of firewards. school committee men (20), sealers of leather, street committee, in- spectors of pot and pearl ashes, inspectors and measurers of carpen- ters', masons' and painters' work, surveyors and measurers of stone. superintending committee on chimneys, stoves and stove pipes, measurers of grain, sea coal and salt, overseers of pumps, inspectors of liquors, commissioners of sidewalks, measurers of bran, and com- mittee on nuisances.

At this time the city contained about 17,000 inhabitants, who were scattered over an area of 53 square miles. This area was traversed by about 60 miles of streets. The following streets were then open, as far as indicated: Abbott, from Sabin to Brewery: Aborn, from West- minster to Sabin; Angell, from Benefit to Central bridge; Ann, from Wickenden to Shore; Anthony's Wharf, opening between 28 and 30 Weybosset; Arnold, from Benefit to Hope; Atwell's avenue. from Aborn to North Providence line; Bark, from Mill to Stevens; Ben, from Smith to Orms; Benefit, from the "north pumps" to Wickenden:

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Benevolent, from Benefit to Hope and beyond; Black, from Orms to Martin; Bourn, from Atwell's avenue to Federal street; Bowen, from North Main to Benefit; Bradford, from Tanyard street, across At- well's avenue; Broad, from Weybosset to High; Brook, from Wil- · liams to Wickenden; Brown, from George to Power; Burgess, from High to Cranston street; Burrill, from Westminster to High; Burr's lane, from North Main to Stampers; Butler's Wharf, opened between 38 and 40 Weybosset; Cady's lane, from North Main to Benefit; Charles, from Smith to north bounds of city; Charles Field street, from Benefit to Hope; Cheapside, from Market Square to 71 North Main; Chestnut, from Broad to Elm; Church, from North Main to Benefit; Claverick, from Pawtuxet street to Friendship; Clemence, from Westminster to Fountain; Clifford, from Dorrance to Chestnut; College, from South Main to the college; Cook, from Power to George; Congdon, from Angell to Cushing; Convenient, from Elm to South; Corlis, from So. Water to So. Main; Cranston, from High to the west boundary line; Crawford, from So. Water to So. Main; Cozzen's lane, from No. Main to Sexton; Cushing, from Congdon across Prospect; Dorrance, from Broad to the river: Dyer, from Eddy to Dorrance; East street, from Hill across North street; Eddy, from Pine to the river; Elbow, from Ship to Hospital; Elm, from Plane to the river; Federal, from Sabin to Tanyard street; Fenner, from High to Paw- tuxet street; Field, from Ship to the river; Foster's lane, from Paw- tuxet street to Pine; Fountain, from Mathewson to Tanyard; Fox Point Wharves, on Shore street; Franklin, from High to Fountain; Friendship, from Dorrance to Plane; Front, from Hope to Seekonk river; George, from Benefit across Hope; Harding's alley, from So. Main to Well street; Harrington's lane, at north end of city; Hewes street, from Stevens to No. Main; High, from Westminster to Johnston line; Hill, from Hope, running eastward; Hope, from Olney's lane to Hill street: Hopkins, from So. Main to Benefit; Hos- pital, across Elm and head of Pine toward old hospital; Howland's alley, from North Main to Benefit; Hydraulion, from Market street to the Cove; India Point Wharves, east end of Shore street; Jackson, from Westminster to Fountain and Weybosset streets; James, from So. Main to Benefit; Job, from Westminster to Fountain; John, from Benefit across Hope; Long Wharf, opened between 16 and 18 Wey- bosset; Love lane, from High to Atwell's avenue; Market street, from the bridge to Westminster: Market Square, fronting the Market; Martin, from Charles to the North Providence line; Mason's Wharf, opened between 8 and 10 Weybosset; Mathewson, from Broad to the Cove; Meeting, from No. Main to Hope; Megee, from George to Benevolent; Middle, from Orange to Union; Mill, from No. Main to Charles; Mohawk alley, from Arnold to Transit; Nash's lane, from 377 No. Main westward; North, from Hope eastward: North Court, from North Main to Benefit; North Main, from Market

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Square to North Providence line: North Water, from Market Square to Smith street; Olney's lane, from No. Main to the Neck; Orange, from Westminster to the river; Orms, from Charles to the North Providence line; Packet, from So. Water to So. Main; Page, from Broad to Friendship; Parsonage, from Elm to South; Pawtuxet, from Broad to the Cranston line; Peck's Wharf, opened between 48 and 50 Weybosset; Pine, from Peck's Wharf to Plane street: Plane, from Pawtuxet street through South toward the hospital; Planet, from So. Main to Benefit; Pleasant, from Broad to Westminster; Point street, from Hospital street to the river; Potter, from Broad to Pine; Power, from So. Main to Hope; President, from No. Main to Benefit; Prospect, from College street to Olney's lane; Randall, from Charles to No. Main; Rhodes, from Broad to Pine; Richmond, from Broad to Ship; Sabin, from Mathewson to Federal; Sexton, from No. Main to the North Burial Ground; Sheldon, from Benefit to Hope; Ship, from Chestnut to the river; Short alley, from No. Main to Benefit; Snow, from Broad to Washington; Smith, from No. Main to Powder Mill turnpike; Shore, from So. Water to India Point: Stampers, from No. Main to Hewes; Star, from No. Main to Benefit; Steeple, from No. Water to No. Main; Stevens, from No. Main to Charles; South, from Plane to the river; South Court, from No. Main to Prospect; South Main, from Market Square to Wickenden street; South Water, from Market Square to Fox Point; Stewart, from High to Pawtuxet street; Sugar lane, from Broad to Westminster; Tanyard, from High to At- well's avenue; Talman's lane, from Chestnut to Seekonk river; Thayer, from Arnold to Power; Thomas, from North Main to Benefit; Thompson, from Wickenden to Shore street; Thurber's lane, in north end of the city; Transit, from So. Main to East street; Union, from Broad to the Cove; Walker, from Westminster to Wash- ington; Washington, from Tanyard street to the Cove; Well, from Power to William; Westminster, from Market to High; West Water, from Market street to Mason's Wharf; Weybosset, from Market to Broad: Wickenden, from So. Main to Hope; Williams, from So. Main to Hope.

The city had on its shoulders to begin with a debt of about $109,000, of which $95,000 was funded at five per cent. interest. The assessed valuation of property in the city was, of real estate, $6,838,- 300; personal property, $5,282,900; the total assessment being $12,- 121,200. The first tax, of 33 cents on a hundred dollars, amounted to $40,000. The expenses of the city government for the first year, aggregating $43,205.11, were in detail of subjects as follows: For bridges, $1,599.33; fire department, $1,797.74; highways and paving, $6.452.47; interest, $5,352.59; lighting streets, $1,742.69; public schools, $4,702.56; support of the poor, including the asylum, $3,717.82: offi- cers' salaries in part, $1,700, and for watchmen, $4,110.

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A few of the principal streets were then lighted a part of the night. The light was but little more than darkness, being furnished by oil lamps, enclosed in small, well smoked lanterns placed at a great height above the sidewalks. Contingencies of fire were pro- vided for by a volunteer fire department, with hand engines, and stationary force pumps, and buckets in every house. The night watch was composed of men who crept about the streets, well wrapped in coats and cloaks, and going in pairs, for protection and for company. The few school buildings showed the wear of time and neglect in the buildings themselves as well as in their furniture. But the day of enterprise and progress was brightening, and the growth of the city, and its internal improvement were in brighter prospect than ever before. During the decade that followed many new enterprises sprung up, and those already established made more rapid growth. Attention was paid to the advancement of literary culture and the arts and various interests of refinement and educa- tion. Many newspapers were established, churches were built, im- provements in the streets and other public works of the city were made on every hand, and individual enterprise in many fields of industry and commercial achievement spread its wings for grander flight than it had ever known before. Thus the years sped on while prosperity smiled graciously upon the growing city.

WVe come now to the period which saw in the history of Provi- dence one of the most violent and deplorable commotions that ever disgraced or disturbed the social and political peace of a civilized community. We refer to the period and the succession of events commonly known as the Dorr war. It would be impossible within the limits of present space to give an account in detail of this un- happy conflict of the inflamed passions of men. From the various representations of the affair we glean the following outline which we trust may be as free from any shade of prejudice as it is possible to picture a proceeding which has its roots in a soil of prejudice and waves its branches in an atmosphere of prejudice.

The principle on which the controversy was based was the suffrage qualifications. From the date of the Rhode Island charter of 1663, down to the year 1841 no person was allowed to vote for town or state officers unless possessed of competent estates and admitted as a freeman in the town of his residence. From 1723 no person could be admitted a freeman of any town unless he owned a freehold estate of the value fixed by law, which value was varied at different times, or else he should be the eldest son of such a freeholder. The freehold value required in 1841 was $134. This freehold require- ment was the source of growing dissatisfaction. At the January session of the legislature in 1841, a petition signed by five or six hundred male inhabitants, praying for an extension of suffrage, was presented. The legislature thereupon requested the freemen of the

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several towns to choose delegates at their regular town meetings in August for a convention to be held in November, 1841, to frame a written constitution. It may be needless to remark that up to this time the state had no constitution other than the charter of 1663. The convention met, and finally, in February, 1842, completed and set forth a constitution which was to be acted upon by the votes of the freemen to make it the fundamental law of the state.

Meanwhile the citizens who advocated the extension of suffrage beyond the freehold qualification, seeing in the call of the assembly for a convention a determination to favor such limitation, resolved upon a bold appeal to the people, believing that a majority would rally to the support of the principle held by them that the suffrage right was inherent in the citizen and not conferred by legal enact- ments. Thus the people were divided into two parties, one the "land-holders," or the " charter " party, and the other the " people's" or "suffrage " party. A mass meeting of the advocates of suffrage was held in Providence April 18th, 1841, and adjourned thence to Newport, May 5th following, and thence again to Providence on July 5th. Long lists of resolutions were passed, the most vital points of which declared in favor of a constitution and the extension of suf- frage. At the meeting in Providence a state committee was appoint- ed to attend to the details of calling a state convention. This com- mittee met in Providence on July 20th, and issued a call for the election of delegates on the 28th of August following, to attend a convention to be held at the state house in Providence on the first Monday of October for the purpose of framing a constitution and laying it before the people of the state for their adoption or rejection.

This convention, the delegates to which were elected by an aggre- gate vote of about 7,200 in the state, met in October, and framed a constitution called the "people's" constitution. This constitution was printed and circulated throughout the state, and by the order of the convention it was voted upon on the 2 7th, 28th and 29th of De- cember. Every American citizen over 21 years of age who had re- sided in the state one year previous to the time of voting was allowed to vote, by placing his name upon the back of his ballot and also certifying whether or not he was entitled by statute to vote. The ballots were received by secretaries in open town meetings, the sec- retaries preserving and forwarding all the ballots to the convention which by adjournment met to canvass the result, on the 12th of Jan- uary, 1842. It was then found that 13,944 had voted for the constitu- tion and 52 against it. Of the whole number who voted 4,960 were entitled by existing statutes to vote. The committee who canvassed the votes then made a certified copy of the result, and with an at- tested copy of the constitution thus adopted, transmitted it to the governor, with the request that he would communicate the same to the general assembly then in session.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

According to the act of the legislature the other constitution was voted upon on the 21st, 22d and 23d of March, 1842. It was rejected by a majority of 676; there being 8,689 against it, and 8,013 in favor of it. The claim was now asserted by the "people's " party that their constitution was the choice of a majority and ought to go into effect. This claim was denied by the state government already in power and foreseeing trouble they petitioned the president of the United States to interfere. He replied that he should recognize those in authority under the charter as the true representatives of the state, but hoped that they would be able to preserve order without the interference of the general government or resort to martial force. On the 13th of April an election was held under the "people's" constitution, and Thomas W. Dorr was elected governor, and other state and legisla- tive officers to organize a state government. On the 3d of May the members elect of the legislature met at Providence. Eight or nine hundred state troops and two or three thousand citizens composed a procession which honored the inauguration of the new state govern- ment by their presence. The state house being barred against them their meeting was held in another place. The legislature organized in a building called the Foundry, on Eddy street, whence they ad- journed, after making a few preliminary directions, to meet at Providence on the 4th of July. Governor Dorr was thus left to man- age the affairs of state as best he could. This legislature never met again. The state government under the " people's " constitution thus came into existence on the 3d of May, and went out of existence on the 4th of May. The representatives of Providence in this legisla- ture were William M. Webster, Samuel H. Wales, J. F. B. Flagg, William Coleman, John A. Howland, Perez Simmons, Frederick L. Beckford, Benjamin Arnold, Jr., Franklin Cooley, William A. Thorn- ton, and John S. Parkis.

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History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 26

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036