USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Smithfield > History of the town of Smithfield [R.I.] from its organization, in 1730-1, to its division, in 1871 > Part 5
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" We the inhabitants of the town of Smithfield, in town meeting assembled, being impressed with a sense of the iniquity and inhu- manity of the practice of enslaving the human species, and being
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fully convinced of this standing truth that all men are born to an equal right of liberty; and while we are contending for the inestima- ble privilege ourselves, to be acting the tyrant over, and bringing others into abject slavery is as great an inconsistency as a rational being can be guilty of, and sufficiently evinces that such people are only craving it for themselves for their own enjoyment without pos- sessing the spirit of liberty in their own minds: Therefore we instruct" and direct you our Representatives to use your endeavors and influence in the General Assembly, to procure a law made and passed that no ship or vessel shall be fitted out from any part of this State to Africa, unless the Master or Captain thereof shall give bonds in such a sum, and be under such lawfull restrictions, regulations and obligations as the legislative body shall seem suitable, and deem effective to debar him from purchasing or bringing away from the country the inhabi- tants, and making slaves of them, or selling them for slaves in any of the West India Islands or elsewhere."
1784. Daniel Mowry, Jr., was chosen delegate, and Gid- eon Comstock and John Sayles, a committee to consider and instruct said delegate in relation to the inequality of the State representation in the General Assembly, in view of a con- vention.
1786. WE THE FREEMEN OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD, assem- bled in legal town meeting to make choice of Deputies to represent us in the General Assembly at next May session. and to put in our proxy votes for general officers, being seriously and weightily concerned for the good people of this State, and for those of this town in particular, of which we have complete knowledge, of the difficulties and oppres- sions they live under.
For that there hath been several heavy and unjust taxes brought on, assessed and collected by order of the legislators of this State, and the money appropriated to them where it was not one-half due. It hath been raised, as it is said, to pay the interest of the money put into the Loan Office, and to those that are the holders of other public securities, when the money loaned did not pass, and was not worth one-quarter, and some not more than twenty for one in silver money. And many of the public securities originated from as small a value. The certifi- cates were given for paper money, which was then called lawful money, and have not been liquidated to the just value. So there have been many examples where one year's interest hath been paid in
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silver, that was worth more than the principal was, when loaned. And at this time there is another tax of twenty thousand pounds ordered and assessed on this little and oppressed State and ordered to be appropriated in an unjust manner as the former, which ought never to be collected or paid. And to our great surprise and astonishment, the legislators of this State, in one of their late sessions, complied with the requisition of Congress, wherein was contained the paying of the interest of the loaned money on the principal sum loaned, though they acknowledge it is subject to a liquidation.
And also did pass an act called an act giving and granting to the United States in Congress assembled, an impost of five per cent. on all foreign goods imported into this State, for the space of twenty-five years, to be collected by a Congress officer who is demeanable to none living but Congress, and it is said to be applied to pay the interest and principal of any of the expenses incurred by the late war. And as there is none to call Congress to account for the expenditures, on earth, it is in their hands, at their uncontrolled will. If the legisla- ture think it best to raise money by impost, we have not a word to say against it. And at the same time we are sensible it is raised out of the consumer of the goods. But we are of opinion, on principles well founded, that it ought to be collected by officers of the State, and deposited in the general treasury and disposed of by the General As- sembly. If the cause of the impost being granted at this time and after this manner, may appear a mystery, but about three years ago Congress insisted earnestly for the same measures and employed sev- eral gentlemen, one of which was Mr. Paine, a great writer in favor of liberty, to attend our Assembly, to enforce same. But all to no purpose, for the Assembly, sincerely and manfully opposed it, as being impolitic, unconstitutional and unjust, and giving up the rights and interests of the State, which was generally acknowledged by some of the other States to be to their great honor, and also to the honor of the State they represented, and had a good effect in the other States that had in some degree complied with the measure, who soon re- pealed the same. And what the cause is now, we do not pretend to affirm; but we think it favors the story of paying the interest and principal of the loaned money agreeable to the face of the certificates without liquidation. These proceedings we think to be grievances of a high nature, and not only think them so, but we feel them so, and that the same in truth and good conscience ought to be redressed, and in order thereto, we in the early part of this meeting, before our representatives are elected, do give the following instructions to those
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that may be chosen, that they may know the sense of this town at their acceptance of that important trust.
1st. Whereupon, our advice and instructions to you, gentlemen, are, that you attend the General Assembly at their several sittings for May session; that you use your utmost endeavors and influence to stop and hinder any more money being paid in this State, either by taxes, impost, or any other way, for interest or principal on Loan Office certificates, or any public securities, subject to a liquidation, till the just value they originated from is known and the same be re- duced thereto; and where the full value is paid on any of the securi- ties, that it be so declared and the same cancelled; and if more be paid on any, than what is right and equitable, that strict justice may be done.
2d. That you use your utmost endeavors and exert yourselves in debates and in voting, to procure that part of an act, called " An Act granting an impost of five per cent. to the United States in Congress assembled, on all foreign goods imported into this State," to be re- pealed, so far as relates to Congress, or to the officer that collects the same being a Congress officer or demeanable to Congress; and that the General Assembly fill up and finish that part of the act which they left Congress to do. And that the collector or collectors be accountable to the General Treasurer, and the money arising on the impost be deposited in the general treasury and disposed by the General Assembly.
3d. That you move it in the General Assembly that proper means be used and applications made that the accounts with the United States be settled, and that this State may know what we have to pay and what we pay it for, and that we pay it our own way. And that you do not order any money to be paid for the United States' debts till this be done, for it is of the uttermost bad consequence to lie, as it doth, and may save the trouble of many requisitions being sent.
4th. That you move once more, that a more equal representation be had in this State, and if not obtained, we think we ought to be and are exonerated from paying any more taxes till done.
In town meeting at Smithfield, April 19th, 1786. The within requisitions were read and debated in town meeting, and voted to be given as instructions to the representatives of this town in General Assembly, at the May session next. .
Witness, DANIEL MOWRY, Town Clerk.
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At a special town meeting held October 21, 1786, it was voted that the town does not approve of an act forwarded from the General Assembly, intended to stimulate and give efficacy to the paper bills emitted by this State; and George Comstock, Daniel Mowry, Jr., Esq., Thomas Lapham, Gideon Comstock, Esq., and Elisha Bartlett were appointed a com- mittee to draft instructions for the Representatives in that behalf. In December of this year a committee was chosen to inspect into the state and circumstances of the poor. April, 1787, the Deputies were instructed to endeavor to procure the passage of a law giving the towns a more equal representation in the General Assembly. In March, 1788, the town voted 159 to 2 against the proposed Constitution ; and also in favor of the repeal of the paper money tender act. In 1798 the town for the first time provided for the keeping of the poor, by vendue ; they being put out for the year to the lowest bidder. If this seems, in this day a harsh and unfeeling mode of caring for the unfortunate, a glance at the conditions of the contract and the safeguards thrown around the welfare of the poor, will relieve the natural but unjust suspicion. The poor were to be clothed, fed, lodged, nursed in sickness and provided "with all such necessaries fitting for them in their degree." Two or more of the over- seers of the poor were to visit them as often as once in two months, to see if they were decently kept and provided for; and if complaint be made, oftener, if they think necessary. At the August meeting, 1799, upon consideration of an act passed by the General Assembly to establish free schools, it was thought that the terms of said act were more peculiarly adapted to the interests of the sea-port and compact towns than to those of the country towns, and Philip Mowry, Wil- liam Buffum, Joel Aldrich, Elisha Olney, Duty Winsor, Ed- ward Medbury and John Jenckes, 3d, were appointed a committee "to examine every paragraph and article therein, and upon mature investigation to report their opinion and
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judgment in relation thereto; whether for the best to adopt or reject."
At the September meeting, the said committee reported in favor of the adoption of said school act, and the town ac- cepted said report, and instructed the Representatives to endeavor to have said act passed into a law. In June, 1800, William Buffum, Joel Aldrich, Ezekiel Comstock, Thomas Mann, Elisha Olney, Robert Harris, Thomas Appleby, Jona- than Harris and Joseph Farnum were chosen a committee "in order to provide ways and means to organize and pre- scribe the best plan to put in motion the Free School Act ; and proportion off, how many schools are necessary, and where to be kept for the convenience of the town of Smith- field-who have engaged to set and consult the premises without cost to the town." At the August town meeting, the said committee reported that they had agreed upon twenty-six as the number of schools; a tax of one thousand dollars was voted to be levied for the support thereof.
April, 1801, the price of a day's work on the highway was raised to seventy-five cents, fifty per cent. advance. At this time a special town meeting could be called upon request of seven freemen, and as the General Assembly had passed an act requiring in such cases formal notice to the freemen, the town, having under said law the right to prescribe for itself, the mode of calling such special meetings, Voted, that they should be called by posting notices in five public places, and designated such places as follows: at Peleg Arnold's; at Sylvanus Bucklin's ; at Scott Pond Halls ; at Robert Harris's ; and upon the great road at Tucker and Sevours. All these designated places were then public houses. April, 1805, the overseers of the poor were directed to bind out to proper per- sons the children, from the age of four years and upwards, being poor of the town. At the annual town meeting in June, 1806, the Representatives to the General Assembly were instructed to use their endeavors, at the next and all
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future Assemblys to cause resolutions to be passed, recom- mending the people to give their suffrages either in favor of, or against a convention of delegates, for the purpose of form- ing a Constitution for this State.
At a Convention of members from all the towns in the County of Providence, met at Smithfield, on the 13 day of September, 1781; Gideon Comstock Esq., was chosen chair- man, and John Harris Esq., clerk. Voted : That a commit- tee be appointed to draught some recommendations, to lay before the several towns for their approbation, and that they instruct their Deputies accordingly. Voted: That Benoni Williams, Sylvanus Sayles, Hon. William West, Rev. Phile- mon Hines, Joab Young, Roger Sheldon, Nehemiah Atwood, Stephen Olney and Jonathan Hopkins be the committee. The report of the committee recited, that : "Whereas itsap- pears that the distress of the good people of this State is truly alarming, on account of the unstable state of the paper currency, the instability of which arises from the opposition of the mercantile interest within this State : And whereas it is evident that great profit ariseth from importation; and also that for our produce we can import silver or gold, which we must have to discharge our foreign debt and foreign ex- penses, which we have been prevented doing by the exporta- tion of cash ; and also considering it to be good policy for any State to make use of every advantage in their power to extricate themselves from every embarrassment under which they may labor ; and that it is their duty to support their inhabitants with the conveniences of life as far as possible : We the committee recommend to the inhabitants of this State that they call town meetings, and instruct their Deputies to use their influence at the next General Assembly to form a State-Trade ; and that they provide vessels for that purpose ; and that the taxes that are assessed, by order of Assembly, which is not otherwise appropriated, to be appropriated for the purposes aforesaid, and the proceeds be appropriated
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to supply the said inhabitants, and to discharge our foreign debt and expenses as aforesaid; which business shall be transacted under the General Assembly, or those that they shall appoint for that purpose. Also that they instruct their Deputies to use their utmost efforts to obtain a repeal of that statute which introduces the law making notes of hand nego- tiable in this State; and that the statute of limitations be shortened to two years from the rising of the said Assembly. And also that the General Treasurer be directed to issue no more interest certificates receivable by the Collectors of Impost, but that the importers pay the Collectors in money. And also that an excise on the superfluities and luxuries of life, be properly established, and punctually executed. Also we recommend to the inhabitants of this State that they keep on hand all those articles which are most suitable for ex- portation, until a full determination can be had on the afore- said recommendation by the General Assembly ; and that the collection of taxes for the purposes aforesaid be in the following manner, viz: in Money, Produce, Lumber, or Labor, at stipulated prices, for carrying the aforesaid State- Trade into effect."
A call was made in form upon the Governor, to call the General Assembly together "as soon as can be convenient."
1786. February. A lottery was granted to raise four hundred and fifty dollars for the repair of the bridge near Unity Furnace, Jotham Carpenter Esq., of Cumberland, and Capt. David Sayles, of Smithfield, managers.
1787. During the session of the Continental Congress, in this year, at New York, there was published in the Daily Advertiser, of that city, an article headed : "Quintessence of villany ; or, proceedings of the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island at the late session." Which article was construed to be a " daring insult to a sovereign State, by our Representatives, James M. Varnum and Peleg Arnold."
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A letter was addressed by them to the Governor of the State of New York, requesting him to cause the publisher of said paper to be apprehended for publishing said libel. The Legislature of New York ordered the prosecution of the printer, if our delegates should request; but they deemed their views to have been fully met, and declined to have the prosecution entered upon. Their point was to sus- tain the honor of the State.
1788. At the March session of the General Assembly, a motion was made in the House of Representatives for a Con- vention to act upon the adoption of the Constitution framed at Philadelphia as and for the Constitution of the United States. It was negatived by twenty-seven majority, as the same motion had been negatived by a majority of thirty at a previous session. In June, nine States had adopted the Constitution, and it became apparent that it would event- ually receive the assent of all the States. The citizens of Providence who were largely in favor of the new national government, at a public meeting resolved to celebrate " the adoption of the Federal Constitution by nine States," and the anniversary of American Independence, on the Fourth of July. The celebration "was to be on the plain to the .northward of the bay or cove." In the newspapers was in- serted a general invitation to the town and country to assemble on this occasion, and special invitations were issued to the State officials. "The public at large," says Judge West, “seeing preparations for so public a celebra- tion of the adoption of the same Constitution, which had already received the disapprobation and disgust of at least four-fifths of the individual inhabitants of this State, as well as of the legislative authority of the State, did thereupon at once perceive, that such entertainment in such public manner, was intended as a public insult upon the legisla- tive authority of the State as well as the body of the peo-
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ple at large." The celebration of Independence as a part of said festival was considered to be a mockery, a delusion and a snare to the country people. Whereupon it was de- termined to prevent the celebration of the intended feast for which great preparation was making, and at which there was to be an ox roasted whole. During the night of the third of July about one thousand men from all the surrounding country assembled under arms, and there was every prospect of the attendance of two or three times that number before noon on the Fourth. About eleven o'clock of the night of the third, the town sent a committee to en- quire what the country demanded, whereupon they were informed, that the country had no objection to the celebra- tion of any occasion, except that of the new Constitution, or its adoption by any of the States, on which it was agreed that a committee of each party should meet in the morning with an endeavor to accommodate matters to the satisfac- tion of the country.
The committee from the town consisted of Jabez Bowen, David Howell, Welcome Arnold, John I. Clark, Benjamin Bourne, Esqs., Col. Zephaniah Andrews, and Mr. John Mason. The committee of the country consisted of William West, Esq., Capt. Andrew Waterman, Abraham Mathewson, John Westcott, and Peleg Fisk, Esqs., Col. John Sayles and. Capt. James Aldrich.
After a conference of about an hour, it was agreed on the part of the town, that they would not celebrate the day on account of the adoption of the Constitution by nine States, or on account of said Constitution, in any respect whatever ; that no salutes should be fired or toasts drank in honor of said Constitution, or in honor of any State or States which have adopted said Constitution, that they would only honor the day by a discharge of thirteen cannon and thirteen only, that the celebration of the day should be in honor of the independence of America, and that only, and that they would
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not publish or cause to be published any account contrary to said agreement. One member from each committee went to the troops under arms and declared to them the particu- lars of the aforesaid agreement; whereupon they retired in pursuance of said agreement.
1790. January. The General Treasurer laid before the Assembly the deficiency of the several towns in the payment of the tax assessed at the June session, 1788, and it appeared that the sums unpaid varied from over one thousand pounds, to one pound. . Smithfield was deficient only two pounds eight shillings and seven pence.
At a Convention of Delegates, begun and holden at South Kingstown, in the County of Washington, on the first Monday in March, 1790, pursuant to an act of the General Assembly, passed at their session in January, 1790, for the purpose of investigating and deciding on the new Constitution, proposed for the United States: John Sayles, Esq., and Andrew Mr. Waterman, Esq., were delegates from Smithfield.
Waterman was one of the committee to prepare Rules and Orders for the government of the Convention. Col. Sayles moved that a committee be appointed to form a bill of rights and prepare amendments to the proposed Constitu- tion, formed by the Convention at Philadelphia, on the 17th day of September, 1787, for the government of the United States, and report to the Convention, and that the Conven- tion do adjourn to a future day. Seconded by Andrew Waterman. Laid upon the table. Upon motion afterwards made a committee was appointed, consisting of two from each county, to draft amendments to be proposed to the new Federal Constitution. The members for the county of Providence, were, Stephen Steere, Esq., and John Sayles, Esq. On motion of Andrew Waterman the Convention ad- journed to the fourth Monday in May, at Newport. Upon the question of adopting " the federal government," the vote 8
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was thirty-four in the affirmative, and thirty two in the neg- ative, the delegates from Smithfield voting in the negative.
An Act to incorporate certain persons by the name of the " Providence Society for promoting the abolition of Slavery, for the relief of persons unlawfully held in bondage, and for improving the condition of the African race," was passed by the General Assembly. Among the persons named in the act, were the following, of Smithfield : Arnold Paine, John Sayles, and Peleg Arnold. Among the corporators, was Jonathan Edwards, of Connecticut.
1791. The "Smithfield Grenadiers " chartered, compris- ing the following persons : Samuel Mcclellan, John Jenckes, Jr., William Harris, William Arnold, Jr., Richard Angel, John Angel, Jr., Isaac Angel, Thomas Angel, Charles Angel, Jr., Benjamin Angell, John Arnold, Thomas Arnold, William Aldrich, Jr., Daniel Arnold, Jr., Smith Arnold, Job Angel, Jr., James Bryant, William Bryant, Stephen Brayton, Jr., William Ballou, Nicholas Brock, William Dexter, James Drake, Jacob File, William Gray, Benjamin Harris, Uriah Harris, Job Harris, Nicholas Jenckes, George Jenckes, Da- vid Jenckes, Daniel Jenckes, Benjamin Jenckes, William Legg, Jonathan Lapham, Ahab Mowry, Nathaniel Mowry, Daniel Olney, Zelotus Olney, Loammi Tucker, Joseph Tucker, Henry Sprague, Joseph Sprague, Jr., Simeon Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, Jr., Joseph Wilkinson, Arnold Whipple, Jeremiah Whipple, John White, Jesse Whipple, Nathan Young, Samuel Thayer and Samuel Mann.
The officers were :
Captain-Samuel Mcclellan. First Lieutenant-Zenas Winsor. Second Lieutenant-John Jenckes, Jr. Ensign-William Harris.
June. A tax of six thousand pounds, lawful money, was
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assessed. Smithfield to pay three hundred and eighty-six pounds.
1792. At the February session the General Assembly
enacted : Whereas the preservation of this State, as well as of other States, depends, under the protection of God, upon the military skill and discipline of the inhabitants; and whereas a number of the inhabitants of the town of Smith- field, to wit: Zenas Winsor, Joab Mathewson, Peleg Peck, Job Aldrich, Jr., Olney Latham, Daniel Tinkom, William Newell, Elisha Latham, Ichabod Potter, Constant Luther, William Moffiatt, John Russell, Jeremiah Winsor, Jr., Wil- liam Potter, Jr., William Potter, 3d, Christopher Wilkinson, Samuel Weston, Elijah Day, John Crosby, Abraham Math- ewson, Jr., Josiah Deane, Benajah Dyse, Oliver Jenckes, Stephen Sprague, Charles Salisbury, Edward Pike, William Hicks, Amos Eddy, John Slocum, Asher Saunders, George Smith, Joseph Mathewson, Thomas Dyer, James Sweet, Nathaniel Thatcher, Hendrick Smith, Elisha Evans, Emor Olney, Philip Keach, Joseph Carpenter, Solomon Paine, Oliver Saunders, Daniel Winsor, Pardon Smith, Andrew Waterman, Jr., Joseph Mitchell, Noah Bartlett, Jr., Juni Smith, David Comstock, Christopher Smith, Gardner Al- drich, Simeon Potter, Barlow Aldrich, William Shumway, Benjamin Waterman, John Appleby, David Tucker, James Brown, George Aldrich, Nathaniel Mowry, Jr., Daniel Al- drich, Daniel Tucker, Joseph Aldrich, Thomas Steere, Jabez Mowry, Caleb Shrieve, Nathaniel Mowry, 3d, Samuel Mow- ry, Stephen Appleby, and James Appleby, of Smithfield, in the County of Providence, have offered to form a company by the name of the Federal Protectors : Wherefore, this General Assembly, in order to give due encouragement to so laudable a design, have ordained, constituted and granted that said petitioners be an independent company. The officers were :
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