The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-19
RHODE ISLAND.

We see, and II Is not WITHOUT regret, thdt
there exists disposition on the part OF several
of the ultra presses of the country, at the head
of which the Globe is most certainly entitled to
stand, to condemn the President for his letters
addressed in reply to those of the Governor OF
Rhode Island, in which, with frankness alto
gether becoming the man, he makes known his
opinion of what will be his duty as the Presi-
dent of the United States under the Constitu-
lion and laws, in the event of certain crisis oc-
curing. No man in the Union, we believe,
would more deeply deplore the employment of
the military arm against any portion of the
People than himself; but to suppose that he
would, for moment, hesitate to carry out the
solemn injunction Of the Constitution, or the
imperative mandates Of the law, is greatly TO mis-
Judge his character. What is the principle laid
down by the President in his letters 10 the Gov
ernor of Rhode Island, at which the Destruc-
lives so much carp, and out of which they seek
10 make political capital? 1t is, that the Presi-
dent of the United States, be he who lie may,
cannot 60 behind the existing Government OF a
State. That whether the existing Government
be a written or unwrtten Constitution, provided
j, has been recognized as Republican by past
acquiescence or positive acknowledgement
whether il exercises its powers by virtue OF a
charter from King Charles or from any other
auarter--can not release him from his obligation
to protect it from being overthrown by force,
or the State where it exists from domestic VIC
lence This duty is rendered too plain to admit
OF doubt, and we put II to the altrds to say,
whether if Rhode Island was threatened with
invasion from abroad or actually invaded, they
would have the President stop to look into the
source and origin of the powers exercised by its
Government, before he would lend the military
aid TO repel the invasion? We inquire Of
these persons to say, whether if an armed
force, before this contest originated, had
threatened the existence of its Government, Oh
resorted TO acts of domestic violence by resis-
lance TO the civil authority, AMI by levying war,
they would have had the President deny protec-
tion however loudly called for, because Roger
Williams and others, the first settlers, had accept
ed charter from King Charles How ridiculous
andide for these persons then, the purposes of
popular effect to talk of KING CHARLES CHAR
TER? Do they imagine that the People will
not thoroughly understand their efforts at decep-
ton Rhode Island existed under KING
CHARLES CHARTER during the Revolutionary
War Did our forefathers refuse her contri,
buttons in men and money because Of this
She came into the Union under KING CHARLES
CHARTER. Did any of the States refuse to ad-
nit her because of this? She fought CALAMITY
during the last war under KING CHARLES
CHARTER. Her gallant Perry was born and
reared under that Charter. Was the public
gratitude for his gallant conduct on Lake Erie sup
pressed because of this Do the members of the
Senate or House Of Representatives refuse asso-
citation with her able Senators and Representa-
lives because they come from State the pow
ers of whose Government are derived from
KING CHARLES CHARTER? And yet the Globe
and its whole fraternity OF Destructires
cry out KING CHARLES CHARTER,
merely to catch the public ear, and to build up
the hopes of a fallen dynasty. They seize upon
cabalisic words-the rights Of a majoritv-the
right Of suffrage, &C., &c, for this sole purpose
of building up the somewhat gloomy prospects
of their leaders The President might have
played the demagogue with the best of them, II
he had pleased If he had reversed the prnci,
pies in his letters and taken in hand the task OF
deciding which party had the maJorty-pro-
claimed his aversion to the restricted suffrage
and insisted upon equalzing the representation
of the State he might have mounted the popu-
lar hobby, and by base appeal to abstract doc
,rines, have invested himself with more than
imperial sway Grant him this privilege OF be-
coming the Constitutions maker for the States,
and what then becomes of popular rights, Tor
which these friends of liberty are SO Jealous
What State Government could stand up before
him He might engender feuds for his own
acknowledgements revolt and proclaim re-
bellion, revolution, and legimise domestic vlo-
lence Acting upon the abstraction OF real or
supposed majority, and stringing together few
cant phrases, as that--'the majority has a
right to rule" &c, &C., counting men, women,
and children to-day to suit his purposes, and re-
ecting them o-morrow-adopting at his plea
sure any arbitrary standard-on all occa-
sions asserting that all by their nature are
equally Free" (as the Abolitionists do, and then
pray tell US ye men Of the People, in the name
Of liberty, whether the President is not only
the armed arbitrator" but the armed agitdtor
also? What State Government could stand
up against him, or what power sufficient to re-
sst his will And yet these are the powers
with which these exclusives would invest him,
and all in the name of popular rights The
President resisted the temptation thus set be-
fore him. He grasped the Constitution as the
pillar of safety TO the country--and the staff OF
true glory for himself He will have nothing to
do with questions altogether municipal in then
character The Government of Rhode Island
will be sustained until it shall be declared 10 be
changed altered or abolished by due course o.