Book Description

Excerpt from The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Vol. 2 Great men and their deeds and great facts of history are liable to lie bedded in the soil of forgetfulness until some resurrective force raises men and facts to the light and life of honest and honorable recognition. Such century plants survive ordinary human achievement and in time find their permanent place in the orders of social and civil life. These principles apply to the Royal Charter of 1663 and its author and procurer, Dr. John Clarke of Aquidneck. The charter of Rhode Island of 1663 has been universally recognized as the most liberal state paper ever issued by the English Crown. It is remarkable in several particulars, one of which is that it is a confirmation of the Declaration of Breda. The manifesto issued from Breda, in the Netherlands, April, 1660, by Charles the Second, in view of his assuming the English throne. In it he proclaimed a general amnesty for political enemies and offenders and an assurance of religious freedom for all the people of the realm. We do declare a Liberty to tender consciences: and that no Man shall be disquieted, or called in question, for differences of opinion in matters of religion which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom; and that we shall be ready to consent to such an act of Parliament, as, upon mature deliberation, shall be offered to us, for the full granting that indulgence. Still further it gives Royal sanction to the foundation principles of the Aquidneck towns. Yet more, its inner meanings, its scope and its historic references establish the authorship in Dr. John Clarke of Rhode Island Colony. Of all the acts of his distinguished career, the authorship and procuring the Royal Charter are the greatest. I have in mind to show that the principles of civil and religious liberty as set forth in the democratic constitutions of the several States of our Republic and in the constitution of the United States, were clearly enunciated, set forth and solemnly enacted in the Royal Charter, given to the colony of Rhode Island by King Charles the Second, July 8, 1663. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.