3. Libertarianism in Rhode Island

0:00Volume 2, Chapter 3, Libertarianism in Rhode Island Though lacking its old-time consistency and zeal, Rhode Island continued as one of the most individualistic of the American colonies. No church establishment marred its libertarian record, and many religious sects flourished peacefully side by side in the small colony. Indeed, to ensure the prevalence of the voluntary principle, Rhode Island passed a law and set 1715 forbidding any churches from obtaining any of their revenue by compulsion. And as there was no establishment, neither was there a network of government schools, as in Massachusetts and Connecticut, to impose Calvinist theology upon the inhabitants. The Quakers, and especially the Baptists, progressed rapidly under this libertarian regime. True to its tradition of Freedom and Free Trade, Rhode Island paid even less attention than the other colonies to British trade restrictions. Nor did Rhode Islanders, with their Quaker traditions of anti-militarism, treat war as sacred. They continued happily to trade with their designated enemies, even in time of war. The militia, too, was raised strictly voluntarily, without

1:24without imposing the compulsion of conscription. Indeed, the towns themselves elected their militia officers a highly democratic check on the military that was abandoned in 1713 under the urging of Governor Samuel Cranston. But town voting for militia officers was restored the following year after violent controversy. However, this unique system was finally scrapped in 1718, when Rhode Island joined the other colonies in appointing militia officers by the General Assembly and the Governor. In fact, by 1741, Rhode Island had taken a large step toward militarism by establishing a permanent Council of War, consisting of the Governor, the Council, and the various high officers of the colony. No colony was as decentralized Each town largely governed itself, and often an individual town would simply neglect to tax its inhabitants for military or other expenses.

2:31As a result, taxes in Rhode Island were in fact minimal. Twice yearly general elections for numerous posts, coupled with an eager willingness to turn officials out, also kept a continuing check on arrogance or entrenched power in in the hands of public officials. Government in itself was so lax as to be charmingly irregular and freewheeling, and even liberals such as Lord Belmont were shocked at the democracy, decentralization, failure to keep records, and generally minimal government abiding in Rhode Island. Even this great home of religious liberty, however, began to falter in its ideals In 1725, the General Assembly officially ordered Westerly to mend its ways and observe Sunday is the Day of Rest, considering that, though the ordinances of man may not square with their private principles, yet they must be subject to them for the Lord's sake.

3:52Thus, far had a land founded by Anne Hutchinson and Samuel Gordon and Roger Williams fallen. And this was not all, for law excluding Roman Catholics from the franchise and from holding and Public Office also appeared on the books after the turn of the century. As Rhode Island in the early 18th century began to slip towards uniformity with the other colonies in the area of religious liberty and in its attitudes toward the military, so too did it move toward the other colonies in imposing in 1724 a freehold property qualification Property Qualification for Voting, specifically a freehold value of £100 sterling or an annual real estate income of £2.