Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/125

RHODE ISLAND. citizens were accused of piracy. In 1775 an army of observation was organized for the defense of the colony, and two of the thirteen ships ordered by Congress were built here. Rhode Island renounced allegiance to Great Britain on May 4, 1776, and united with the other colonies for defense. During the Revolution Newport was held (1776-79) by British troops, and in 1780 the French fleet was stationed there. The famous soldier of Rhode Island was General (q.v.). After the Revolution the State blocked every attempt to give increased power to Congress. This was partly due to the prevalent exaggerated individualism and partly to the desire to retain the right to levy import duties and to force her paper money into circulation. Much paper money had been issued early in the century and in 1786 another era of inflation began. The paper issued on land mortgages depreciated, but many attempts were made to make it a legal tender. A debtor might deposit with a judge of the court the sum owed and upon notice to the creditor the debt was legally satisfied. The notices began, “Know Ye,” and hence the epithet applied in derision to residents of the State. The country or paper money party was in complete control, and a test act requiring all to regard the paper as equal to specie was passed.

The State refused to send delegates to the convention which drew up the Federal Constitution, and when that instrument was submitted for approval it was overwhelmingly rejected by the town meetings. Many attempts to call a convention to consider the Constitution failed, and it was not until threats of coercion had been made that the instrument was ratified, May 29, 1790. Though the commercial and manufacturing interests of the State grew rapidly, the power still lay in the country districts, as the basis of representation had not been changed since the granting of the charter, except to admit new towns. Dissatisfaction finally culminated in Dorr's Rebellion in 1841. (See .) A new State constitution was adopted as a result in 1842, which has been frequently amended since. The property qualification for suffrage was not abolished until 1888, and election by a plurality has been allowed since 1893. Previously the election of Governor and State officers was often thrown into the Legislature. Until 1900 the Legislature met in Newport in April to canvass the vote and adjourned to Providence in January to transact business. Now all sessions are held in Providence. A prohibitory amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1886, but was repealed in 1889. During the Civil War the State furnished more than her quota of troops. In national politics the State has been erratic. From 1792 to 1800 she gave her vote to the Federalist electors, but in 1804 was Democratic. In 1808 and 1812 the Federalists again secured control, but in 1816 and 1820 the State was once more Democratic. Rhode Island supported the tariff wing of the Democracy in 1824, but in 1828 was National Republican (the name originally borne by the Whig Party) and in 1832 Whig, only to be Democratic again in 1836. From 1840 to 1848 the Whig candidates received her votes, and in 1852 the State went back to Democracy. Since 1856, however, the State has been Republican in national elections: