The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-31
TIE TRIUMPH OF THE CONSTITU.
TON

The contest IN Rhode Island was hinge, as
IL were, upon which we believe turned great
events that interest The whole of the United
States as well as Rhode Island. By brutal force
The whole organization of this government
would have been resolved into the right of force
The night Of the strongest; and ins'ead of this
being government Of laws aud of constilu-
lions, It would have become a mere govern
inent of numbers, that is a government of des-
poiIsrn. In little Rhode Island thus, and in the
heart of New England, among her scdale and
intelligent pOpul iion. was ies:ed the greut
question whether law was lar, Constitution
The paramount law, and yhethrr society would
force obediencefo it. The question has been
tried every way Forms were resorted 10 in
order to cloak revolution. Force was next tri-
ed; but society resisted and triumphed and the
victory has been complete.
if the result Lad been otherwise, in the eve,
al all sound thinking men at home and abroad,
The conclusion must have been, that republ
can government was at an end in the United
States, and that popular despotism was to
succeed 1t, TO end as usual in an Emperor or
hihg or Consul, mo matter what we call him)
the military despot in fact. That genius of dis
order and revolution that slumbers in all GOV
ernmcnts, here embodied under the name of
Locofocei5n, seized upon the Rhode Island
question: to make Il general issue Of In New
York City, II was presented to us in the strong
est FORM The personified essence of it, called
"oVernor Dorr, was escorted from this city in
great pomp and parade, sword in hand to en-
Ter Rhode Island, and to claim by force the
possession of the Government. He was prom
red here men, arms and money. Under the
Stimulus OF that encouragement he fortified a
house IN Providence, seized cannon, collected
arms, and actually proceeded TO open war up
on the only the only legal and constituted gov
ernment. To these insurgents and TO this re-
bellon, Cambreleng, who had held the rank of
a Minister Plcnipotentiarv to 4 Foreign Court,
and Fanderpoel and Moore, two ex-Members
OF Congress, with several Of our city Represen-
latlVes to the Legislature, and to the common
Council lent their voices, and their promises of
encouragement. They did all they could in o.
pen public meeting to encourage and ennohle
the cause of Dorr in his violence, folly and
war.
The question then resolved itself into this,
ShGU IN old Government be reUOlutioni-ed bu
force. Dorr and: Tammany Hall generally at
tempted it, and did their best to bring it about
1t was the first time in the United States, an
attempt has been made to subvert an American
Government by force, and hence the greatest
interest was attached to the experiment. The
ballot box, through the forms of law, and act
ing under Constitution has hitherto been the
only means attempted for altering Laws and
constitutions, but here was new instrument of
action in America, the cartouch box and the
bayonet. The loud-mouthed cannon too were
introduced in the onset. According to all &C
counts, Dorr touched off piece of
cannon directed against the arsenal. and it was
by the merest chance, that it did not explode.
/ his mode of reform is SO new in America that
it naturally commands public attention. The
argument is a novel one to the American
=nind. There is logic NOT of American cul-
fure.
Now if such logic as this is only necessary
20 change a government in Rhode Island, it
can be equally as effective in New York city as
in Rhode Island. If mere numbers are to set
ne questions, Messrs. Cambreling and Wander
peel would live in fine houses, and wear fine
clothes but short time. If the cartouch box
Is to take the place of the ballot box, when the
people want change, there is an end at once
to Republics in these United States. The 60
'ernlnent is changed TO government of Force,
government of Numbers, government of
Arms and not of Reason Order, Laws and Con-
stItution
1t was therefore of the highest importance,
mat revolutionary Loco Focoism was so sig
hally rebuked in Rhode Island. We shall have |
NJ hio1 E, sucn experiments any where very |
soon- Inc Rhode Island lesson is a general |
lesson to Loco focoism in the United Stares
The ridiculous attitudes in which such mon as
Dorr, Cambreleng and Vanderpoel stand he.
fore all society, the universal howl and lauSb
thrown upon them, are rebuke which will
make all embryo DORIS, Cambrelengs, and
'anderPoels very careful how they start again
On o. such expeditions or experimenls.-N. Y !
Express.