The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-05-21
WASHINGTON, May 5, 1912.


SIR:--Y our letter of the 4lh inst, trans
hitting Resolutions of the Legislature Of
Rhode Island, informing me that there en-
istcd IN that State "ccra!n lawless assem-
bla@es OF portion Of the peoplen for the
purpose of subvcrtng the laws and over
throwing the existing government, and
calling upon the executive "lorthwilh to
lnierpoSe the power and authority OF the
U. States 10 suppress such insurrectionary
and lawless assemblagcs, and to support
the existing government and laws, and
protect the state from domestic violence,n
was handed me yesterday, by Messrs.
Randolph and Porter.
have to inform your Excelency in
reply, that my opinions as to the duties
OF tins government to protect the state Of
l.hode Island against domestic violence,
remain unchanged. Yet. from inlorma-
ton received by the Executive since your
dispatches came to hand, / am led to be-
lieve that the lawless assemblagcs to
which reference is made, have already
dispersed, and that the danger of domes-
TIC violence is hourly diminishing, it it
has not wholly disappeared. have with
difficulty brought myself at any time to
believe, that violence would be rcsorted
to, or al cXlgency a,Ise, which the unai.
ded power OF the State could not meet;
especially as have from the first felt per-
suaded that your EXccllencv, os well as
others associated with yourself in the adj
mln'stratlon Of the Government. would
exhibit temper Of cancellation as well as
OF energy and decision. TO the insur-
gents themselves it ought to be obvious,
when the excitement Of tie moment shall
have passed away, that changes achieved
by regular, anG- if necessary, repeated APP
pea!s to the constitutional authorities, in
country so much under the influence of
public opinion, and by recourse to argu-
mcnt and remonStrance are more likely
to ensure lasting blessings than those ac-
complisled by violence and bloodshcd in
one day, and liable to overthrow by SINH
lar agents in another. freely confess
that should experience great reluctance
in employing the military power of thus
Government against any portion of the
people; but, however painful the duty,
have to assure your EXcellency, that
If resistance is made to the execution of
the laws of Rhode Island, by such force
as the Grill posse shall be unable 10 over
come, it will be the duty of this Govern
ment to enforce the constitutional guaran-
ty--a guaranty given and adopted mutu-
ally by all the original States, of which
number Rhode Island was one, and which
In the same way, has been given and adop-
ted by each Of TIL States since admitted
INTO the Union. And if an exigency of
iawless violence shall actually alise, the
Executive Government of the L. States.
on the application of your ExceIlency,
under the authority of the Resolutions of
the Legislature already submitted, will
stand ready to succorthe authorities of the
State in their efforts to maintain a due res
pect for the laws. Isincerely hope, how
ever, that no such eXlgency may occur,
and that every citizen of Rhode Island
will manifest Of his love of peace and
good order, by submitting to the laws, and
seeking redress of grievances by other
means than intestine connections.
tender to your Excellency assurances
Of my distinguished consideration.
JOHN TYLER.