ROGER WILLIAMS AS COLONIAL PRESIDENT
What the people of Providence Plantations needed and deserved was a
good round scolding. They received it in the form of a sharp letter
addressed to the colony by Sir Henry Vane and entrusted to Roger
Williams. He wrote:
“How is it that there are such divisions amongst you? Such headiness,
tumults, disorders, injustice? The noise echoes into the ears of
all, as well friends as enemies, by every return of ships from those
parts.... Are there no wise men amongst you? No public self-denying
spirits, that at least, upon the grounds of public safety, equity and
prudence, can find out some way or means of union and reconciliation
for you amongst yourselves, before you become a prey to common enemies,
especially since this state, by the last letter from the Council of
State, give you your freedom, as supposing a better use would have
been made of it than there hath been? Surely, when kind and simple
remedies are applied and are ineffectual, it speaks loud and broadly
the high and dangerous distempers of such a body, as if the wounds were
incurable.”
Then, calling upon their higher nature, he concluded by saying kindly,
“But I hope better things from you.”
Roger Williams, too, penned a strong letter on the subject. He was
weary at heart because of the constant dissensions around him. Now he
gently reminded his friends and neighbors of Providence that “Only by
pride cometh contention,” and “Love covereth a multitude of sins,” but
at the same time he did not hesitate to rehearse the trials he had been
through for their good. In plain, direct language, he said that for
being their “stepping-stone,” he had received nothing but grief, sorrow
and bitterness. Only a hard-hearted people could have withstood such
pathetic words as these:
“It hath been told me that I labored for a licentious and contentious
people; that I have foolishly parted with town and colony advantages,
by which I might have preserved both town and colony in as good order
as any in the country about us.... I was unfortunately fetched and
drawn from my employment, and sent to so vast distance from my family,
to do your work of a high and costly nature, for so many days and
weeks and months together, and there left to starve, or steal, or beg
or borrow. But blessed be God, who gave me favor to borrow one while,
and to work another, and thereby to pay your debts there, and to come
over with your credit and honor, as an agent from you, who had, in your
name, grappled with the agents and friends of all your enemies round
about you.”
For once, Providence Plantations had the grace to be ashamed of itself.
For a while, at least, it was on its good behavior. The citizens of
Providence appointed Roger Williams to send a reply to Sir Henry Vane,
their friendly critic across the water. In this letter, they freely
acknowledged their shortcomings, but with this excuse:
“Possibly a sweet cup hath rendered many of us wanton and too active,
for we have long drunk of the cup of as great liberties as any people
that we can hear of under the whole heaven.”
Forgetting their jealousies and differences, the four towns united and
established the government on the old basis. There was peace for the
time being, due largely to the fact that on September 12, 1654, Roger
Williams was elected president of the colony and continued to serve
in that capacity for two and a half years. He would far rather have
preferred to remain a private citizen, but was overcome by the wishes
of others. Once again he was guided by the watchword “Service.”
The first problem with which Roger Williams had to grapple concerned
the Indians. The Narragansetts and the natives of Long Island were at
war, and the Commissioners of the United Colonies had tried in vain to
subdue the former. They sent an armed force against the Narragansetts,
which, however, was unsuccessful. They might have pushed the matter
further had it not been for Roger Williams’ action at this crisis. He
sent a letter to Massachusetts calling the attention of that colony to
the following facts: that their families had been allowed to grow up
in peace among the Indians; that the conversion of the savages was not
possible so long as unnecessary and cruel wars were waged against them;
that even so-called successful wars usually resulted in fearful losses
as well as gains.
He did not neglect to put in a good word for his friends, the
Narragansetts, who, he said, had never stained their hands with English
blood. Through all their territory, he added, Englishmen had frequently
traveled alone in perfect safety.
Whether or not Massachusetts was moved by this appeal, she certainly
acted as Roger Williams hoped she would. She passed the word round that
hostilities would be dropped. Thus again the prevention of an Indian
massacre was probably due to the efforts of the great peace-maker.
One of the laws passed during Roger Williams’ term of office concerned
the sale of strong drink to the Indians. Though laws had been passed
before covering this point, they had not been enforced. Now the new
statute provided that two “ordinary keepers” in each town should be
the only persons authorized to sell liquor or wine to the natives and
that the amount should be limited to a quarter of a pint a day. In case
the inn-keeper allowed any Indian customers to become intoxicated, he
was liable to be fined twenty shillings for each person found in such
a condition. This regulation, while not all that could be desired,
doubtless reduced the drink evil greatly and so increased the safety of
the colonists.
In spite of the good intentions of Providence Plantations, Roger
Williams’ path continued to be a thorny one. Stubborn and quarrelsome
individuals caused him no end of trouble by refusing to obey the
existing form of government. The principles for which their leader had
worked and sacrificed were altogether too big for them to comprehend.
His parable of the ship meant nothing to them. They misunderstood
liberty of conscience to mean license to do whatever they pleased.
Now it is true that Roger Williams had maintained from the first that
religious liberty should be enjoyed without interference from the
government. He had never preached, however, that the government had no
business to put a stop to disturbances if they threatened the general
welfare of the colony. In short, any community must protect the rights
of its members if it would continue to exist.
Rumors of the above difficulties reached the ears of Oliver Cromwell.
Too occupied with important affairs in old England to trouble himself
with the bickerings of a small group of people in New England, he
yet took time to write a brief note to the colony. He charged the
inhabitants to preserve peace and safety and to avoid dishonor to the
Commonwealth and themselves through differences at home or invasions
from outside.
This order from the Lord Protector was the very weapon needed by Roger
Williams and others who were working for good government. It placed a
wholesome restraint upon several turbulent spirits and allowed those in
authority to enforce their just demands. The most troublesome rebel,
however, could not be kept in subjection very long. He was William
Harris, to whom a legal dispute was as the very air he breathed. For
many years he was Roger Williams’ thorn in the flesh until that usually
mild and forgiving individual had him arrested on a charge of treason
for his persistent opposition to the government.
William Coddington, who, perhaps more than any other person, had
been to blame for the discord that distressed Roger Williams, now
came forward and promised obedience. Much as we disapprove of his
disloyalty, we cannot help admiring his simple and dignified behavior
as he publicly professed his allegiance:
“I, William Coddington, do freely submit to the authority of his
Highness in this colony as it is now united, and that with all my
heart.”
During Roger Williams’ presidency, Warwick and Pawtuxet continued to be
a source of vexation. Certain inhabitants of those settlements still
rebelled against their proper authorities, claiming that they owed
allegiance to Massachusetts alone. Even the Indians used the name of
the Bay Colony to cover acts of lawlessness. Roger Williams protested
in writing to Massachusetts against her encouragement of such a state
of affairs. Not receiving a satisfactory answer to his first letter, he
wrote a second time.
One matter which he discussed in this correspondence--the question
of defence against possible Indian outbreaks--was as vital as
land disputes. It was necessary that his colony secure a supply
of ammunition. Twice he asked Massachusetts for the privilege of
purchasing it from her, but she flatly refused to sell it. Her action
was both unneighborly and unjust.
The condition of Providence Plantations at this time was extremely
dangerous. As an exposed frontier colony, unshielded from the Indians
about her, her risk of attacks by them was always greater than that of
her more protected sister colonies. Though the natives, as a general
thing, had a wholesome respect for Roger Williams, yet it was not
safe to trust the best of them. Canonicus and Miantonomo were both
dead. There was no knowing to what lengths their tribe might go when
equipped with firearms and strong drink. There was no doubt that
they had been so supplied by unscrupulous Dutchmen and the very same
Englishmen who had refused to sell to the colonists. Roger Williams’
indignant words showed clearly what he thought of such practices:
“For myself ... I have refused the gain of thousands by such a
murderous trade, and think no law yet extant ... secure enough against
such villainy.”
In addition to the possibility of Indian attacks, there was also a
chance that the colony might go to war with the neighboring Dutch
province. Such an outbreak would indeed be a calamity, as many supplies
came by way of New Amsterdam; still, as England and Holland were at
war, hostilities might easily extend to America.
Now Roger Williams and his colony were firm believers in preparedness.
Not being able to keep ammunition and liquor entirely out of reach of
the natives, they resolved upon the next best thing--to meet the danger
by having the colony ready to defend itself should occasion arise. In
such a course alone lay safety. Instead of waiting until actual attacks
were begun, it was wise to take time by the forelock and prepare
beforehand.
A beginning had already been made along this line years before. “Train
bands” were organized early in the history of the colony for military
drill, and in 1650 the towns were required by law to have their guns in
good condition and to keep a magazine of arms and ammunition. Newport’s
apportionment was the greatest of all, as she was the largest and most
flourishing of the settlements. Yet even her means of defence was
pitifully small--three barrels of powder, one thousand pounds of lead,
twelve pikes and twenty-four muskets.
Another measure of defence was now proposed--the erection of a fort at
Stampers’ Hill, in Providence. The story of the naming of this spot is
too curious to be passed by. One of the Rhode Island historians tells
the story thus:
“Soon after the settlement of Providence, a body of Indians approached
the town in a hostile manner. Some of the townsmen, by running and
stamping on this hill, induced them to believe that there was a
large number of men stationed there to oppose them, upon which they
relinquished their design and retired. From this circumstance the hill
was always called Stampers’ Hill, or more generally, the Stampers.”
A street of this name is still to be found on the map of Providence.
The same year that the fort was discussed, a consignment of powder and
shot was received by the colony from John Clarke in England. It was
placed in the hands of Roger Williams and distributed by him so that
each town received one barrel of powder and two barrels of shot each.
It was ordered by the General Assembly that money be raised to pay
for it to the sum of “ten pound in good and well-sorted strung peage
(wampum), after the rate of eight white per penny, and four black per
penny, from each town.” Clarke’s assignment was inadequate enough for
the needy colony, still it was something.
Happily, the worst of the threatened troubles did not materialize.
As a result of Roger Williams’ second letter to Massachusetts, John
Endicott, then governor, invited his old friend to Boston. Roger
Williams accepted the invitation and his trip did much to lessen
friction between the two colonies. A curious record shows that stormy
little Warwick did her part to make the president’s mission a success.
She voted forty shillings out of her treasury, provided a horse for
the journey, and also a pair of “Indian breeches” for Roger Williams’
Indian.
The Dutch war cloud failed to burst. Peace was declared between the
warring nations across the water before New Netherland and Providence
Plantations came to blows.
The fear of the Indians, too, gradually lessened. The matter of
fortifications was apparently dropped and neither during Roger
Williams’ term of office nor for many years afterwards did the
Narragansetts spoil their record by shedding the blood of their white
neighbors. We like to think that the colony’s best safeguard at this
time was its president--a better defence than firearms and forts, one
that stood for justice and harmony.