The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-23
From the ~. Y. Jurndl Of Commerce.
THE SYMPATHlZERS AND THE FEDE-
RIAL GOVERNMENT.

When honorable gentlemen 60 into so large 4 held
| as the Park to proclaim American principles, they
should at least first be that they understand
those princp o., SO far they are wften in thu
Federal Constitution. II 90 US the gentlemen
who headed the meeting on Tuesday, were not suft
cientIy cautious in this respect. Here are two o
their resolutions:
Resolped, That we respectfully, but most so'emnly
call upon the Executive of the United States to pause
to beware how he treats the great popular movement
in Rhode Island as instance of INSTRUMENTATION tc
Just authority and we most emphatlcalfy declare
that we can not and will not felow-cltlzens
Rhode Island shot down by the soldiers of the Gene
ral Government, for seeking in manner which a
our institutions recognise, rights which we ourselves
enjoy.
Resolred That this meeting deem it desirable tina
se IF the great mass Of the people Of TIM
rest Of the Union should be awakened to alike sens
bity relative to any Interference by the armed powe
OF the Central Government to crush the people an,
overthrow the rights Of sovereign State, and tina
| full knowledge should be acquired and disseminated il
the present fearful crisis, of the views, wishes an,
proceedings of the con'ending parties in Rhode
! Island and that corresponding committee of twelv,
persons be therefore appointed by the president o
this meeting for and on behalf of the city of New
| York.
For the benefit of comparison, we will here quote
two American principles from the Constitution
Article LIST, sec. 9Th, paragraph l4th-among the
powers OF Congress, is this ITO provide for calling
forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union
suppress instructions, and repel invasionsn Con-
gess have by law provided for these emergencies and
imposed on the President Of the United States the du-
ty of executing those provisions.
Art. WITH Sec. 4th of the Constitution. is as fol
lows:
The United States shall guarantee to every State
IN the Union republican form of Government, and
snail protect each of them against invasion and on
application Of the, Legislature or of the Execu,iv
(when the Legislature can not be convened) against
domestic violence"
1t must be obvious TO every one that the line of M
icy imposed the President by the Constitution, is
quite opposite to that laid down by the resolutions -
Dorr 10 Governor of the State of Rhode Island, or he
is an insurgent. His Legislature and executive Off
GERS are the Legislature and executive of the State or
they are engaged in Instruction There can not be
two Supreme Governments in Rhode Island Very
few people will doubt which organization would be
held to be the government Of Rhode Island by the SUI
preme Court Of the United States There is no foun-
dalton for doubt on the subject. Dorr and his fol
lowers, whether supported by majority or minority
OF the people, are from the nature and form of their
movement, altogether insurrectionary revolutionary
and reasonable But even if judicial trial mipIt
possibly come TO different result the Federal Execu
tive would be obliged to recognise the government in
fact. There is in Rhole Island now existing the
the same government with which she came into the
Union, and received the pledge of security. That
government is in pos esslon Of all the public property
the records of the State and every thing which the
government ought to possess There is doubt that
all these things by the regular workings of the
Charter which as been sanctioned by the State and
the Nation the basis of government in Rhode
Island. In what the President has done or rather
has not done, in this business he has confined him
self within his imperious duty. He was called on by
The government of Rhode Island TO take measures for
The pr erenton of instruction. This he dec led and
he has absolutely done nothing in the case He has
simply recognised his duty, as explicitly commanded
n the Constitution, and declared that he should be
1900 49,. " ,nie,
If Gotham talk Of foreign nteiferenceofthe violation
II American principles! Truly must look some
where els than in the Park for constitutional law
,ers, or the defenders of American principles The
act is, that according TO American principles the
movement of Gov. Dorr and his party is Instruction
Try and if it proceeds to overt acts, will be treasona-
lie. If any men should 60 from New York to inter-
ere with, and oppose with arms, the constitutional
elton of the United States Government thew will ey-
IDENTIFY be guilty of treason, and their lives if they do
lot lose them in battle, will be forfeited to the laws of
heir country These the American principles in
he case. What fearful responsibility, then, did the
entlemen ass, mbled in the Park, take upon them
elves But for their advice and countenance, the
controversy il Rhode Island would have ended be-
IRE this. Ii in consequence of their most erroneous
nd improper interference, then endorsement in fact,
nd cooper alton in rebellion against the government
Rhode Island and Of the United States, the blood
American citizens should be shed, what must be
ler reflections and what the feelings of their fellow