Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-05-03
SAMUEL WARD KING.
By his Excellency's command:
HENRY Bowen, Sec. of State.
To His ErcelieaCy

the Governor ~ IChOde IddRd
SIR: Your letter dated the 4th inst
was handed me on Friday by Mr. Whip
ple, who, in company with Mr. Potter,
called upon me on Saturday, and plac-
ed me. both verbally and in writing, in
possession ofthe prominent facts which
led to the present unhappy condition of
things in Rhode Island; a state ofthings
every lover Of peace and good order
must deplore. shall not adventure
the expression Of an opinion those
questions of domestic policy which
seem TO have given rise to the unfortu-
nate controversies between a portion
of the citizens aud the existing Gov
eminent ofthe state. They are ques-
lions of municipal regulation the adj
justment of which belongs exclusively |
TO the People Of Rhode Island, and |
with which this Government can have
nothing to do. For the regulation of
my conduct, in any interposition which |
may be. called upon to make, between
the Government ola State and any por-
ton Of its citizens who may assail it |
with domestic violence, or may be in
actual instruction against it. | can on.
ly look to the Constitution and laws
ofthe United States, which plainly de-
clare the obligation Of the Executive
Department, and leave it no alternative
as TO the course it shall pursue.
By the 4th section Of the 4th Arti-
Gle Of the Constitution Of the United
States il is provided that the United
States shall guaranty to every State in
this Union Republican form of Gov
eminent, and shall protect each of them
against invasion; and en- the application
of the LegisIuture,o or Executive, (when
The Legislature cannot be convened
against d,mcStic Cioicnce. And BY
the act of Congress, approved on the
26th February, 1885, it is declared,
that, in case of an instruction IL any
State against The Government thereof,
it shall be lawful for the President Of
the United States, upon application
Of the Legislature of such State, or of
Executive, (when the Legislature can.
not be convenel,) to call forth such
number Of the militia orany other State
or States as may be applied for, as he
may Judge sufficient to suppress such
insuTection. BY the third section OF
the same act it is provided that when
ever it may be necessary in the Judge
ment Of the President to use the mill
tary force hereby directed to be called
forth, the President shall forthwith, by
proclamation, command such insur
gents to dispense and retire peaceably
to their respective abodes within rea
sonable time.
By the act of March 3, 1907, it i
provided ''that in all cases Of insurrec
lion or obstruction TO the laws eithe
Of the United States or any indivld
ual State or Territory, where It is law
ful for the President of the Uniteu
States 10 call forth the militia for tn
suppression Of such Instruction, or {
causing the laws to be duly executed
II shall be lawful for him to employ fo
the same purpose such part Of the Ian
or naval force Of the United States a
shall be judged necessary having hr'
observed all the prerequisites olthe la
in that respect.
This is the first occasion, so far q
Government ola State and its PeopI
are concerned, on which it has becom
necessary 10 consider Of the prophet
Of exercising these high aud most in
portant constitutional and legal funt
lions. By a careful consideration
the above recited acts Of Congress
your Excellency will not fail to sc
that no power is vested in the Excel
tive Of the United States to anticipat
insurrectionary movements against III
Government Of Rhode Island, so as
sanction the interposition Of the militar
authority, but that there must be an az
tual Instruction, manifested by Law
less assemblage Of the people or OIL
erwise, to whom a proclamation ma
be addressed, and who may be requi
ed to betake themselves to their respec
tive abodes. | have; however, TO a
sure your ExceIlency that should II
time arrive-and my feavenI prayer
that it may never come-when an ii
surrection shall exist against the Go
eminent Of Rhode Island, and requ
sition shall be made upon the Exec
tive of the United States to furnish tn
protection which is guaranteed to sue
State by the Constitution and laws,
shall not be found to shrink from Il
performance Of duty which, while
would be the most painful, is as Il
same time most imperative.
l have also to say that in such cont
gency, the Executive could not look in
real or supposed defects Of the existiI
government, in order TO ascertain wheth
80 ~'har nlan of government pronos