 A 1658 letter from the United Colonies ( Massachusetts , Plymouth , New Haven and Connecticut ) announced the arrival in 1657 of the Quakers , calling them notorious heretics , and calling for their speedy removal from the colonies . The United Colonies wanted the Quakers removed from Newport , and used the threat of withholding trade as leverage for their position . While Arnold was no friend of the Quakers , his reply , endorsed by the four Assistants ( one from each town ) , demonstrated a firm adherence to the Rhode Island doctrine of religious tolerance . He wrote , " Concerning these Quakers ( so @-@ called ) , which are now among us , we have no law among us , whereby to punish any for only declaring by words , & c . , theire <unk> and understandings concerning the things and days of God , as to salvation and an eternal condition . " He goes on to say that the Quakers find a " delight to be persecuted by <unk> [ sic ] powers , " thus gaining more adherents to their cause . He felt that their doctrines tended to be very absolute , " cutting down and overturning relations and civil government among men ... " 
