The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-18
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RHODE ISLAND.

RHODE ISLAND.
The Providence Journal Extra of Thursday con-
tans brief Proclamation by Governor King,
nouncing the receipt Of the annexed communication
from the President of the Unitee States and calling
upon the people Of Rhode Island to 4" take heed
thereof and govern themselves accordingly"
To His Ereeiieney,
The Governor Of Rhode Island
SR-Your letter dated l4th inst was handed me
on Friday by Mr. Whippe, who, in company with
Mr.. Francis and MIR. Potter called upon on Sa-
turday, and placed me, both verbally and by writing
in possession OF the prominent facts which have led
to the present unhappy condition of things in Rhode
Island "a state of things which every lover of peace
and good order must deplore. | shall not adventure
the expression Of opinion upon those questions of
domestic policy, which seem to have given rise to the
unfortunate controversies between portion Of the
citizens and the existing Government of the State.
They are questions 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 lnterposltion which may be called
upon TO make, between the Government of State
and any portion OF its citizens who may assail il with
domestic violence, may be in actual insurrecton
against it, only look to the Constitution and
Laws of the United States which plainly declare the
obligations of the Executive Department, and leave
it alternative TO the 1t shall pursue.
BY the 4th Section of the 4th Article Of the Con-
stitution of the United States, it is provided that the
United States shall guaranty to every State in this
Union Republican form of Government, and shall
protect each OF them against invasion and the APP
pcation of the Legislature Executive, (when the
Legislature cannot be conyened) against domestic pio-
ience. And by the Act of Congress approved on the
26th Of February, 1885, II is decared-that in of
insurrection in any State against the Government
thereof il shall be lawful for the President Of the U.
States upon application of the Legislature Of such
State OF the Executive when the Legislature can
not be convened to call forth such number of the
militia of any other State States may be applied
for, as he may Judge sufficient to suppress such isur
reclion By the Sd section OF the act pro-
vded that whenever il may be necessary in the judg
ment of the President to the ary force hereby
directed to be called forth, the President shall forth
, with, by proclamation, command such Insurgents TO
dispense and retire Peaceably to their respective
abodes within reasonable time.
By the act Of March 3 1897, it is provided that in
all Cases of lnsurreci1n Obstruction to the laws
either of the United States any Individual State
Territory where is lawful for the President of tie
United States to call forth the Militia for the purpose
1T suppresslng such Insurrectiop or OF causing the
laws 10 be duly executed it shall be lawful Tor him
employ for the same purposes such part of the land
naval force of the United States shall be Judged
necessary having first observed all the prerequisites
OF the law in that respect"
Thiss the first occasion, so far the government
of State and ils people concerned, on which
has become necessary to consider of the proprety of
| exercising these high and most important constiiu-
| ional and legal functions. BY careful considera-
ton of the above recied acts of Congress- your Ex
cellency will fail see that power vested in
| in the Executive of the United State. to anticipate
IInsurrectlonary movements against the Government
of Rhode Island, to sanction the interposton OF
the military authority but hat there must be an
tua instruction manifested by lawliss assen,blages
of the people otherwise, TO whom proclamation
may be addressed and who may be required to hetake
| themselves to their respective abodes have, how
ever, TO assure your Exceency that should the time
arrive, and my fervent prayer is that it may never
come, when instruction shall exist against the
Government of Rhode Island and requisltion shall
be made upon the Executive Of The United States to
| furnish that protection which is guaranteed to each
State by the Constitution and laws, | shall not be
| found TO shrink from the performance of duty
which, while it would be most painful is al the
time the most mpei alive. have also to say that in
| such contingency, the Executive could not look in
to real or supposed defects of the existing govern
ment, in order to ascertain whether some other plan
of government proposed for adoption was better suit
ed to the wants and more in accordance with the
wishes of any portion of her citizens,
To throw the Executive power of this government
into any such controversy would be to make the Pre-
sdent the armed arbitrator between the people of the
different States and their constituted authorities and
might lead to an usurped power, dangerous alike to
the stability of the State Governments and the liber
ties of the people. 1t will be my duty on the contra
ry, to respect the acquisitions of that Government
which has been recognised the existing Govern
ment of the ate through all time past, until shall
be advised in regular manner, that has been altered
and abolished and other substituted in its place, by
legal and peaceabe proceedings, adopted and pursued
by the authorities and Peep of the State. Nor can
readily bring myself to believe that any such contn
gency will arise as shall render the interference of
this Government at all necessary. The people ofthe
State of Rhode Island have been too long distinguish
ed for their love of order and of regular government,
to rush into revolution in order to obtain redress OF
grievances, real or supposed, which government
under which their fathers lived in peace, would not
in due season redress,
No portion of her people will be willing to drench
her fair fields with the blood of their brethren, in
der to obtain redress of grievances which their own
constituted authorities cannot, for any length of time
resist, if properly appealed to by the popular voice
None of them will be willing to set example, in
the bosom of the Union of such frightfu disorder,
such needless commissions of society such danger to
life liberty, and property, and likely to bring discre-
dit on the character of popular governments. My
reliance the virtue, Intelligence and patriotism Of
her citizens, is great and abiding, and will not doubt
but that spirit of Cancellation will prevail over
rash councils, that all actual grievances will be
promptly redressed by the existing Government, and
that another bright example will be added to the
many already prevailing among the North American
Republics of change without revolution, and re-
dress of grievances without force violence.
tender to your EXcellency assurances Of my high
respect and consideration.
| JOHN TYLER,
Washington, April IL, 1912
|