The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-31
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TU ES DAY NJ Y 81 842.
Tue RHODE ISLAND REVOLUTION


The elements of dscord in Rhode Island are
hushed to silence, for tho present The threatened
revolution has resulted IN smoke, and most of the
men engaged in il have retrented in shame and dis
grace. |: in fact nothing more than despe
rate effort of The iocoFocos gain the political
tendency of the State A few years ago when
these same in power, they did not dis
cover any defects in the Charter Of Rhode Island.
All was well lhen-but when the Wings obtained
The power, they resur, to this game 10 overthrow
them.
We are glad 10 see one LocoFoco paper honest
in the ma,ier--and that is, the N. Y. Journal of
Commerce. In reference TO this subject AID also
in connection with sympahising meeting in N ~
City, the Journal speaks as follows;
REFoRM AND Revolution We have been
customed to place great confd ence in the institu-
lions Of liberty We have seen our own State and
National Constitutions pass through como fiery
trials, and come out rather seasoned and strength
ened than burned. We have always found that al
though parties might rage and tavo, yet when the
contest about to put in jeopardy tho lIves of
our citizens the stability OF orr institutions, the
good sense and good feeling of the sober part of
the community have always come forward TO calm
the agitation. But amid all the conflicts Of opin-
ion in country, we have never seen any thing
more strange more dangerous,or more utterly Anti
American, than some movements in our city in
sympathy with the revoluIionists Of Rhode Island.
The question in Rhode Island is NOT, whether The
right of suffrage shall be extended. 1T is agreed On
all hands, that il should he. The existing govern
ment of Rhode Island have already proposed Con
stitution extending the right of suffrage TO the
whole people, with less exceptions than arc custo
mary in the States where suffrage is termed univer
sal A II native born citizens were authorised to
vote without any property qualification, and all for
eigners after short residence in the State. This
liberal Constitution the Dorr party voted against,
and so caused 1t TO be rejected by some six hun
bred votes; aud now they go on TO clamor for their
'srghis," and claim our sympathies men oppres-
sed, who have remedy but in revolution. The
question is not therefore, at all, whether the right
Of suffrage shall be extended to all the citizens OF
Rhode Island, but whether it shall be extended by
reform or by reoolut,on. The Dorr party refuse
to take what they demand, when it is freely offer
cd them in peaceful manner but insist on taking
the same sword in hand. We should like to ask
Mr. Stephen Allen, Mr.. Aaron Vanderpool, Mr..
G. C. Cambreleng, and other such like gentlemen
who are sustaining this imaginary Governor at the
point of the bayone,, which of the two ways of &C
complishng the desired end rs most judic most
I manly, most American, most Christian. These
gentlemen not only refuse all recognition of the
! government Of Rhode island, but of the govern
ment of the u. States. The Federal Constitution
requires the national government to suppress insur
rection and sustain the governments of the several
/ States if need be- If the instruction in Rhode Is
land proceeds to violent measures, the President
will have other alternative. He cannot inves-
| tigate the controversy between the two parties;-
| the Government IN fact he is bound to support
Yet this interference OF the constituted authorities
of the nation in accordance with the provisions oil
the Constitution, is called foreign interference, as
| if it had come from France or Turkey; and to be
repealed by other foreign forces from our city
The gentlemen neither recognize government in
Rhode Island, nor in the U. States. They set ut
The will Of the people the sup,emo and only gov
ernnient Just as if society in its original ele
ments and Tor the first time to he brought in c
I form and order. But is not the existence of gov
| eminent in Rhode Island and at Washington fac
| Of some importance in the case? We have grea
machinery OF government, which we have found
capable of working out all the reforms which the
advance of public opinion has dictated. Is this
fact to be entirely overlooked,a and every movement
Of the popular will TO proceed upon radical princ
pies7 There have been great many cases II
which the will Of the people have not resorted e
revolution remedy President Tyler holds hi
place, 1t may be, with the appreciation of only I
minority of the people OF the country, What,then
aShaii we have revolutions, aad put them out of o
fec. sword in hand To suppose, IN counting uT
the aggregate OF votes, it should appear that a mi
rorsy OF the whole number had elected the maio
ty OF our Common Council The will OF the ma