New Constitution adopted, 282 Freedom of thought and speech the foundation of Rhode Island's prosperity, 282 CHAPTER XXXII. LIFE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.--THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.--THE CENTENARY. Life under the Constitution, 283 The War of the Rebellion, 283 Rhode Island's quota, 284 The Centennial Exposition, 285 APPENDIX. King Charles' Charter, 291 Present State Constitution, 301 Copy of the Dorr Constitution, 317 State seal, 333 Governors of Rhode Island, 334 Deputy-Governors of Rhode Island, 337 Members of the Continental Congress, 339 Towns, date of incorporation, &c., 340 Population from 1708 to 1875, 345 State valuation, 348 The Corliss Engine at the Centennial Exposition, 349 A Short History of Rhode Island. CHAPTER I. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND PLYMOUTH COLONIES.--ARRIVAL AND BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS. The nations of antiquity, unable to discover their real origin, found a secret gratification in tracing it to the Gods. Thus a religious sentiment was connected with the foundation of states, and the building of the city walls was consecrated by religious rites. The Christian middle ages preserved the spirit of Pagan antiquity, and every city celebrated with solemn rites the day of its patron saint. The colonies, which, in the natural progress of their development, became the United States of America, traced their history, by authentic documents, to the first Christian cultivators of the soil; and in New England the religious idea lay at the root of their foundation and development. In Plymouth it took the form of separatism, or a simple severance from the Church of England. In Massachusetts Bay it aimed at the establishment of a theocracy, and the enforcement of a rigorous uniformity of creed and discipline. From the resistance to this uniformity came Rhode Island and the doctrine of soul liberty.