Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-21

cd IL to be submitted to the people Of the State
permitting every white male inhabi(ant twenty one
years of age TO vote on II, and allowing those no
could not be present at the polls TO send their BAL
Tots. Under these circumstances, n m iority OF
votes were reported to be IN favor OF Il. and orders
| were given to elect Governor and Legislature
under the new instrument, which has been done
| that is 10 say, nearly six thousand votes were
thrown OF purpottins to have been thrown IN favor
of certain candidates presented to their suiitages.
In the meantime the lawful Legislature OF the
State had passed law calling Convention for the
purpose Of framing Constitution. That body met
and piD frame of the most liberal forms Of Go.
Nornment TO he found in the world, and submitted Il
To the people. This, though It granted moro than
the real people OF the State had thought of SIX
ing before. was oppo ed by the demagogueswho had
made a Constitution OF their own. and by n system,
OF very Outrageous deception and uniaitncss of all
Sorts It was rejected bv about SIX bundled majority
of the voters. This being the case Of course there
was no NEW Constitution. but Rhode Island remain.
/ cd precisely where she was bctore-under her old
one The people have met and elected their Co
venor and State Officers and Legislature accordng
to legal and 'mmemorial ussge-by more than 81
WIN THOUSAND vorEs. This clearly showing n
majority of upwards OF . thousand over all that
could be mustered tor the unlawful ticket, allowing
that ticket every possible latitude.
Now totsooth, the rovo 'utionsts declare their
determination to take possession of the Government
aud to maintain it by force, against the regularly
constituted Government OF tho State And with
tins view they are organizing military companies,
training them for war, aud calling for assistance
! from other States.
They pretend To be contendng for the extension
o. suitcase. They coneuding for no such
thing. They are resisting that right; for the Com
sh'uiion submitted to them by the only power on
earth tina, had the authority TO present it, accorded
universal suttrnge-to every body but naturalizcd
foreigners; and to them, after three years residence
IN the State, with the merely ooninal property
qualheation of one hundred and thirty four dol
lars.
That Rhode Island has legitimate Govern.
meht and one that mnst be recognized as such Till
another itgiiimafsy takes its place. we will not un.
dcrtake TO areue
IL the Government of Rhode Island has been OF
oindng authority Tor one purpose is binding Tor all
Others ami II its sanction is necessary for the esab
ishment OF mans title 10 his property it il neces.
sa'y TO the authorization of all other acts and dee
and IT'S preposicrous TO suppose that the mere per
Sona votion of individuals in their natural capacity
can set aside and inva datc deed Of bargain SALE
as that they can in that naked abstract exercise
authority, set aside the entire legislative Executive
and Judicial power Of the State, acted upon and
submitted TO for nearly two centuries. The absur-
dty is too profound for arsument-nlmost too deep
for rldcule; and still, ridiculous as IL is, a public
meeting is held in this city, respectable alike for the
numbers in attendance and the character of those
who called It, at which it is gravely contended that
Rhode Island is quite right, rather that the bad
men who assume the privilege OF 1isgracing Rhode
Island, quite right IN their rebelous movements
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PRovrDEvcE PLAN
rArIoSs-.4 Proclamation BY Thomas ". DOrr,
Gopsrnor and Comniandsr-in- Chief Of the same.
FELLOW CITIZENS Shortly after the adjourn
ment OF the General Assembly and the comp elton
OF indispensable Executive business, was induced,
by the request OF the mos, active friends of our
cause, IL undertake the duty, which had been pre-
vlousy suggested, OF representing in person the in
ieres's OF the Peope OF Rhode Island in other States
and al the seat OF the General Government. By
virtue of a resolution Of the General Assembly, |
appointed Messrs. Pearce and Anthony commits.
sioncrs for the same purpose.
OF the proposed action OF the Executive in the
affairs OF the State you have been already appris-
ed. In case Of the failure of the civil posse (Which
expression intended by the President, as | have
been informed, 10 embrace the military power,) to
execute any Of the laws OF the Charter Assembly,
including their law Of pains and penalties, and Of
treason as !; has been for the first lime defined, the
PRESIDENT animated an intention OF resoTtng 10 the
forces Of the United States, to check the movements
OF the People OF this State in support of their Re
publican Constitution recently adopted.
From decision which conflicts with the right Of
sovereignty inherent in the People of this ate and
with the principles which lie the foundation OF a
Democratic Republic, an appeal has been taken
10 the People of our country. They understand
cur cause; they sympathize IN the injuries which
have been inflicted upon us; they dsapprove the
course which the National Executive has adopted
ltCF assure us OF nelr OlspO-
siuon and intention 10 iaierpose a barrier between
the supporters of the Peoples Constitution and the
hired sodlcry OF the United States The Dcmocrl
cy OF the country are slow to move in any matter
which involves an issue momentoUs as that
which IS presented by the controversy in Rhode
Island. But when they have once put themselves
IN motion, they are not 10 be easily diverted from
their purposes. They believe that the People OF
Rhode Island are in The right that they contend
M Tor equal justice IN their political system: that
they have properly adopted Constitution OF gov
eminent for themselves, they were entitled TO do;
and they cannot, and will remain Indifferent
TO any act, from whatever motive it may proceed,
which they deem TO be an invasion Of the sacred
right OF se-government, OF which the People of the
respective States cannot be Invested.
As your representative, have been every where
received with the utmost kindness and cordial
To the People of the city of New York, who have
extended IN US the hand Of generous fraternity, II
IS impossible to overraIe our obligation this most
important crisis.
IL has become my duty to say. that, so soon ms n
soldier OF the United States shall be set in motion,
hy whatever direction, to against the people Of
this State, IN aid Of the charter government shall
cal. for that aid to oppose all such force which
am fully antnorz "a 10 say, viii bc Immediately and
most cheeduiIy rendered the service Of the Pen-
pic Of Rhode Island, from the city OF New York
and from other places. The contest will thee be
come national and our State the battle ground OF
American freedom.
A. Rhode Island man I regret that the Con-
stiu iona question in this State cannot be adjusted
among ouro~n c.zsn. But, the minority hive
asked that the sword Of the National Executive
may he thrown into the scale ngans, the People, II
10 imperative upon them TO make the same appeal
TO their brethren Of the States; an appeal which,
they are well assured, will not bc made in vain.
They who have been the first to ask assistance from
abroad, can have no reason TO complain Of any con-
sequences which may ensue
No further arrests under the law OF pains and
penalties which was repealed by the General As.
semby Of the People at their May session, will he
permitted. hereby direct the military under their
respective officers promptly to prevent the same,
aud to relieve all who may lie arrested under said
law.
AS requested 10y the General Assembly, cnioin
the militia forthwith TO elect their company officers;
and call upon volunteers to organize themselves
without Decay. The military are directed TO hold
themselves IN readiness for immediate service.
Given under my hand, and tho seal Of the State.
T., 81 a, the city Of Providence, this 10th OF
'-''I May, a. -. 1912.
THOMAS w. DORR,
Governor and Commander IN Chief Of the State Of
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Wy the Governors command,
WIS.,. II. SMITH, Secretary Of State.
Fromihe New York Courier a Enquirer.