The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-17
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON Cry. May 7, Il
By his Excellencys command:
HENRY Bowen, Secretary Of State.

WASHINGTON Cry. May 7, 1912.
Sir Your letter of the 4th instant, transmitting
resolutions of the Legislature of Rhode Island, in
forming that there existed in that State certain
awless assembages Of portion Of the people for the
purpose OF subvering the laws and evertnr0Nlng the
existing Government, and calling upon the Executive
forthwith to Dterpo>e the power and authority of
the United States to suppress such nsurrectionary
and lawess assembages, and to support the existing
government and laws and protect the State from do
mestc violence, was handed me yesterday, by Messrs
Randolph and Potter.
| have to inform your Excellency in reply, that my
opinions as to the duties of this Government to pro-
tect the State of Rhode Island against domestic vio
lence remain unchanged Yet, from informatlan re-
ceived by the Executive since your dispatches came
to hand, am led to believe that the lawless assem-
bages to which reference is made, have already dis
persed, and that the danger of domestic violence is
hourly diminishing, if it has not wholly disappeared.
have with difficulty brought myself at any time to
believe, that violence would be resorted to-
igency arise, which the unaided power of the State
could not meet; especially as have from the first
felt persuaded that your Excellency well others
associated with yourself in the administration of the
government, would exhibit temper of Cancellation
as well as of energy and decision To the insurgents
themselves it ought to be obvious, when the excite
ment of the moment shall have passed away, that
changes achieved by regular, and II necessary, re-
peated appeals to the constituted authorities, IN
country so much under the influence of public opn-
are more likely to ensure lasting blessings than those
accomplished by violence and bloodshed on one day,
and liable to overthrow by similar agents on another.
freely confess that should experience great reluc-
in employing the military power Of this Govern
ment against any portion Of the people; but, how
ever painful the duty, have to your Excelen
cy that if resistance is made to the execution of the
laws Of Rhode Island by such force the civ posse
shall be unable to overcome, it will be the duty OF
this Government enforce the constitutional guaran
tea guarantee given and adopted mutually by all
the original States, Of which number Rhode Island
was one, and which, in the same way, has been given
and adopted by each of the States since admitted into
the Union And if an exigency of lawless violence
shall actually arise, the Executive Government OF
the United States, the application of your Excel
lency under the authority of the resolutions of the
Legislature already submitted, will stand ready to
succor the authorities of the State their efforts to
MAINTAIN due respect for the laws. sincerely hope,
however, that no such exgency may occur, and that
every citizen of Rhode Island will manifest his love
of peace and good order, by submitting to the laws,
and seeking redress of grievances by other means
than intestine connections.
tender to your Excellency assurances of my dis
tinguished considerations
JOHN TYLER.