Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-26
POLITICS.

l>OLllICS.
PRESIDENT TYLER ON THE RHODE ISLAND CosTRo
yERsY.-Governor King, of Rhode Island, appointe
John Whipple, the Eon. John Brown Francis and Eli
sha R. Potter TO proceed TO Washington, for The Pnr
pose OF representing 10 The President of the w. D Tn
critical situation of our Stale affairs, and invoking n:
ard IN sustaining the existing government OF the Stall
against all attempts 10 overthrow it by "Domesic vo
lence These three gentlemen accepted the appoint
ment, and without unnecessary delay proceeded to tn
seat of Government The following correspondence
is The result Of their mission:
Tohs Excellency SAMUEL W. King,
Governor of Rhode Island
We transmit to your Excellency the letter OF th
President of The w. s., in reply to yours OF the al
inst, in relation 10 revolutionary movements IL
Rhode Island. You will observe with pleasure tina
the opinion of the President is rm clear and decided
1t was expressed after statement Of facts, accompa
MED by number of documents, from both parties
and is in accordance with the unanimous opinion o
the Members of the Cabinet, and we believe with tina
of every member of Congress TO whom, the case no
been fairly stated.
At the same time we observe that great and unwea
ried pains have been taken by the insurreconists Il
foresall public opinion, by loading the newspapers il
the different cities with statements unbushngly
false, that refer TO your Exceency the expediency
Of adopting mode ofgivng publicity to The truth
They represent in most oil the newspapers that have
come under observation, that the party in favor Of
the Peoples Constitution haze large majority of the
whole people in its favor; and that very small por
ton OF the people have pertinaciousy adhered TO the
old freehold qualification, thus rendering peaceable
and legal change of Government wholly impractical.
ble This is their case, they have caused il TO be
stated in of the cities in the Union. They seek
TO justify revolution upon the facts that majority o!
the $4,000 voters of The State are in favor of their Con-
stution, and that there is other mode of redress
than by Revolution.
Your Excelency well knows that both these state
ments are wholly false. That party brought every
man 10 the polls who in favor of their Constitu
,ion in order to vote against the legal Constitution, in
March last. The whole number OF votes poed against
il $500 or Whereabouts 1t is well known that at
least 900 freeholders voted against the legal Con-
sttuon not because they in favor of the Peoples
Constitution but because being opposed TO any extern
sion of suffrage, they against both Constitutions
Deduct these 900 votes, and there remain but 1900
i'll favor Of he Peoples Constitution about oaethird
Of the roters Of the State.
But their case would stand upon no better ground
we're their majority clear and undIsputed. Nothing but
necessity will justify revolution. This they admit,
and therefore they attempt IN their different statements
various parts OF the Union TO impress upon the pub
lie mind another gross and malicious fnlsehood, which
H. that the freehoders refuse extension of the cleo
tive franchises whereas every Rhode Island man knows
that there is substantial difference between the ex
tent of that franchise under the legal Constitution pro-
posed 10 the people by the Convention of ireehoders,
and The extent of the same franchise provided for in
the Peoples Constitution. Both Constitutions admit
with no other qualification but residence, TO the cleo
tive franchise. The legal Constitution required resi-
dence Of two years, and the Peoples one year. The
legal Constitution admitted naturazed foreigners who
owned freehold estate Of Sl:4 in value; the Peoples
admitted them upon one years residence
We believe that the citizens OF other States Will
learn with surprise and adherence that party OF men
generally, believe, orderly and we'll disposed, has
been organised in Rhode Island and made to believe by
few selfish and ambitious leaders, belonging, some 10
al,
that they are really and truly the majority, and that they
have right by force TO usurp the sovereignty of The
State in order 10 establish principle conceded by The
constituted authorities, and rejected by them, because
the boon proceeded from legal convention, instead OF
It's being the work Of their revolutionary hands.
Under the operation Of such principles no Govern.
ment can exist single year. II is not merely regolu
on but re youton after all the objects that revolution
can achieve have been attained. il is principle not
only subversive OF a representative Republican Co.
vernmen but fatal to the continuance of Democracy
in any and all its forms of real fancied perfection
lfarevolution based upon such principles shoudsuc-
coed in Rhode Island, the same mere law of force will
inevitably PROSTATE every State Government IN the
Union; for there is not State in the Union in which
the actual grievances of portions OF the people are not
quite as numerous and quite great those complain
ed of in the State of Rhode Island.
JOHN WHlPPLE, for the Committee
LETTER or PRESIDENT TYLER
To his Ereeiieney The Governor Of Rhode Island:
Sir-Your letter Of The 4th instant, was handed me
on Friday by Mr.. Whipple, who, in company with
Mr. Francis and Mr.. Potter, called upon me on Sa-
turday and paced me- both verbally and in writing, IN
possession Of the facts which have led 10 The
present unhappy condition Of thngsin Rhode Island
state OF things which every lover of peace and good
order must deplore. shall not adventure the express
sion of opinion upon those questions OF domestic
policy which seem 10 have given rise TO the unior-
tunate controversies between portion of the citizens
and the existing Government of the State They are
questions of municipal regulation, the adjustment oil
which belongs exclusively TO the people OF Rhode Is
land and with which this Government can have
nothing to do For the regulation OF my conduct, IN
any inerpostion which may lie called upon 10 make
between The Government of State and any portion OF
lis citizens who may assa it with domestic violence,
or NAV be in actual Instruction against IL, can only
look to the Constitution and laws of the United States,
which plainly declare The obligations of the Executive
Department and leave it alternative as to the course
it shall pursue.
y the fonrth section fthe fourth article of the Con.
.ttnton the u. S. it is provided that the u $ shall
guarantee TO every State in this Union Republican
form of Government shall protect each OF them against
invasion; and on application of the Legislature or
Executive, (when the Legislature cannot be convened)
aganst domestic rioenc And by the act OF Congress-
approved on the 2lst February 1913, it IS declared,
that in case of instruction in any State, against me
gorernmtat Meren il shall be lawful for The President
Of the u s. upon application Of the Legislature oil
such State, or of the Executive, (when the Legislature
cannot be convened) call forth such number of The
militia of any other State or States as may be appeo
for or as he may Judge sufficient to suppress sucn m
surrec,ion BY the third section of the same act is
nroyded that whenever it may be necessary, IN the
udrmen, Of the President, 10 the military force
hereby directed be called forth, the President shall
forthwith, by proclamation, command such insurgents
to dsperse, and retire peuceaby TO their respective
abodes within n reasonable time.
By the act of March 3, 1907, it is provided that Tin
all cases Of instruction obstruction to the laws either
of the IT, States any individual State or Territory
where it s lawful for the President Of the u States TO
call forth the militia for the purpose ofsuppessing such
nsurrecto or causing the laws 10 be duly exercised
1t shall be lawful for him to employ for the same pus
poses such part ofthe land naval force OF the .
as shall be judged necessary having first observed all
the prerequisites Of the law in that respect
of State and lis People concerned, on when II