Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-04-22
BY his Excel'ency's command,
Henry BowES, Secretary of State.
LETTER OF JOHN WIIPPLE.

LETTER OF JOHN wHIPPLE.
To his Erceiicncy SAMUEL w. KING,
Gorernor Of Rhode Island.
We transmit 70 your Excccncy the letter of the
President of the United States, in reply yours of
the 9th instant, in relation 10 revolutionary
mcnt, in Rhode Island. You wi observe wi h
p e,surt, that The opinion Of he Presi ent is firm
clear and decided. 1t was expressed after state
meni of facts, accompanied BY a number of doru
ments from both parties, and is in accordance with
the I'm 1ninons opinl n of the members of the Cab-
net, and we believe with that of every menber of
Congress, to whom the case has been fairly sta
ted.
At the same time observe that great and I'M
we rcl pain, have eel taken by the surreco his Is
to foresall public opinion, by loading the newspapers
in the diircn; cities with statements 50 unblushng
lyfllsa, that we refer 10 yonr Eycecncy the cxped
elcy Of adop'lng come mode Of giving publicity TO
the truth. They represent in most the newspapers
that have come under our OBJ ervaon tina, the pnrv
in favor of the Peoples Constitution hare large
majority of the whole people in lis favor; aud that
very small portion Of the people have pertnaciously
adhered to the old freehold qualification, thus render
ing penceable and legal change of government
| wholly imprn ',icablc This is their case as they
have caused II 10 be stated in of the cities in the
Unpn. They seek TO jnstif, revolution upon the
facts that majority of the ?? 600 of the State
Gin favor of their Constitution, and that there is no
| other mode of re lress than by revolution
| Your Ev cheney well KIN rvs that both these
statements are wholly fhlse That party rourht
every man to he polls who was in favor of III /.
Cnns.tntion in order 10 vote against the 'era' Ton
| s tuition in March last The whole number Of ,o,cs
polled against it was 6, GOO or iherenbous II wei
known that at least l,ooo frceho'ders voted agnnst
the legal Constitution, not because they were in favor
o. the Peoples Cons,i uton but being opposed to any
| extension of suffrage, they against both Con-
| st,u'ons. reduct these 1000 votes, and there re-
main but 7c0n in avor Of the Peoples Constitution
or about one third Of The rioters Of The state.
| But their case woul! stand upon no better ground
were their mojr'i'v clear and urdispued. Nothing
bu necessity will justify revoln ion This they ndmi
and ihnref,re they ATTEMPT II their different state
nents ir varou parts of the Union 10 impress upor
the public mind another gross and malicious false
hood, which is h1t the frrehoders refuse rx,en
son Of the elective franchise; whereas every Rhod,
Island man knows tina, there il no snbst'n al differ
ence between the extent Of that franchise under tn
legal Constitution, proposed TO the people by In
Contention IF .fre.io'd.rs, and the extent Of n,
same franchise provided for in the Peoples Const!
uor, admitting every native born white male cze
OF the United Ita'es with other qualification b,i
| residence, 10 the elective franchise The lcga Con
s,iturion required residence of two wears, and II
Peoples one year The legal Institution adlnitte
nati, allied foreigners who owned freehold estate
Sl3i in vaiue: the Peoples admitted them upon On
years residence
We believe that tic citizens of the other State
wi learn with surprise and adherence, that part
of men, generally, we believe orderly and we
lsnoseh, has been or ranlz"d in Rhode IsaHd, an
VIM to b,lieye. by n few selfish and ambition enC
belonging some to one and some 10 The other {
he two political parte. that they really and tru
| the majority, and tha, they have right bv force
us,,r, the = vpreianiv of the State in order esal
lish princ'le conceded by the constituted author
les, ana rel cted by them because the boon proceed
led fromn legal Convenipn, instead Of Is being Il
, work Of Their row liionnrv hands
Under the operation of such principles no Cover
$ ment can exist inne year. II s not merely rev
,ntinn hn revolution afi-r all the Obi cots hat rcvol
u ton can achieve hav' been affirmed. II is n PRIME
n pe I only sulvcrs of representative rcpub ci
G,vernmnn', bu, fatal I, the con'inuince If dem
S cracy in any and all lis forms Of real lancIed pc
feciion.
Ii revolution based upon such principles shou
- sncrcd in Rholc Island, the s1mc mere law of for
l. | will ircvitably p'ostra'e every State Government
~ the Inion for there is no. State in the unlou
% which actual grievances Of portions of the pcoI
N | compiained Of in 'ho Sio'a Of Rhode Island.
!, JOHN WIIPPI.E, for the Committee