Volume 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
without 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.
As 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.
Thus, 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.