The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-26
THE PRESIDENT AND RHODE ISLAND

THE PRESIDENT AND RHODE ISLAND.
We copied, some time since, with an expression Of
doubt as to its correctness, paragraph from the
Washington correspondence of the New York Amer
lean, charging upon President Tyler duplicity and
reachery in regard to the affairs of this State-accu
sing him with nothing less than tampering with the
Insurgents and holding out to them the assurances of
noninterference at the very time when he was CIV
ing the strongest promises to the representatives of
the government of the State that he would not hest
tate in the discharge of his constitutional duty
The following paragraphs, however from the Mad
sonian the organ of the Executive seem to confirm
what we Observation-Disclosures Journal,
From the .Nadisonan.
In the beginning of the Rhode Island difficulties we
deprecated Mr. DORIS attempt to take possession of
the Government by force, and approved, and still
approve of the of the President to avert the
consequences Of civil war. We know that be was
actuated by sense of duty, as well as benevolent
feelmgs-but his sympathies were, and always have
been, with the suffrage party. The majority should
ruIe-ay, wiA rule-and he hoped that they would
soon obtain justice in peaceable manner. This
his object; but he has been misunderstood, and
unustly censured. We have much to say on this
subject.
From the accounts that have recently reached us
from Rhode Island, we believe the friends of free
suffrage have been much more sinned against than
shining" The Federalists Of Rhode Island, and eve
rywhere else, will find that all FREE in this
country, and that JUSTICE, though delayed is to
be meted out to the oppressed.
The calumny alluded to was, we believe, first
published in the New York American Ii is I'M
worthy of notice. But, as we intimated in the
paragraph quoted from this paper, we have
much to say on the subject of the Rhode Island
difficulty.
a hat hp nff no ont
was dictated by the Constitution, by common
sense, by patriotism, duty, justice; but he was
misunderstood, misrepresented, and un Justly
maligned by many of the friends of the suffrage
party.
1t was merely the Presidents design (and he
could do nothing more) to interfere, if absolute
ly necessary, to preuent The spiliing of blood
to stand betweem the parties and keep them
dsuader He had no right, no power, to decide
the question in dispute-to enforce, or set
aside principle; he could only main
tain the peace of the State. He must have
done the same thing if nine. tenlhs of the Peo-
pie of Rhode Island, the Charter party and all,
had been arrayed against the acting Governor
and his Council. He must do the same thing
when the government is possessed by Governor
Dorr, (should he be eectedD if party of Fee
deralists or Chartists attempt to overthrow the
Government by force of arms. Nor can he in
quire which party is right-t is his duty merely
to see that peace is preserved. Such is the in
depreciation we put upon the Constitution.
| 1t may follow, then, very naturally, that even
while the Executive of the Federal Government
intereres to preserve peace, the party which, in
appearance, he opposes, may have his sympa-
thles, and may, IN his estimation, be perfectly
right in principle, and, at the same time pal
pably wrong in the mode adopted to obtain JUS
tice A precipiate or imprudent act cannot
alter or demollsh just principle.
1t has been repeatedly asserted that the Pre-
sdent was opposed. in principle, TO Free Suf-
trdge. In this, injustice was done him. He
was merely opposed to its being put in opera
ton by force. He was in favor of it, He
merely wished TO stay all violent proceedings,
and avert the shedding of blood, until the cur
rent OF public opinion should place the Govern
menti in the hands of the majority of the People
| This, he knew, could be done, and he believed
it would be done peaceably.
And it will be done peaceably. The impri-
sonments and prosecutions resorted TO by the
leaders of the Charter party, will precipitate
the result. Public justice is speaking through
the columns of enlightened and liberal journals
Eternal justice knows no distinction of classes
in the great community of freemen. If the Suf-
frage party is right in principle, Gas we believe
it to be J it will have Justice even at the hands
of the honest and patriotic portion of the Char
ter party at the ballot boxes. If any undue ex-
element shall prevent this consummalion at
the approaching election, it will be done at the
next. 1t can be done best without violence and
boodshed
~ by particular request of the company to whom
he lectured on Wednesday evening, Rev. Mr. Shell
DON will repeat his lecture upon Moral, Intellectual
and Physical EDUCATION at the 9th street Mctbodis