The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-27
THE PRESIDENT AND RHODE ISLAND.

THE PRESIDENT AND RHODE ISLAND.
We copied, some time since, with expression OF
doubt as to its correctness, paragraph from the
Washington correspondence of the New York Amer
lean, charging upon President Tyler duPlicty and
treachery in regard to the affairs of this Stateaccu-
sing him with nothing less than tampering with the
insurgents, and holding out to them the assurances of
non-interterence at the very time when he was CIV
ing the strongest promises to the representatives of
the government of the State that he would not hes-
tate in the discharge of his constitutional duty
The following paragraphs, however, from the Mad
isonian, the organ of the Executive, to confirm
what we dscredted. Journal.
From the JMadisonian.
In the BEGINNING of the Rhode Island difficulties
deprecated r. DORIS attempt to take possession of
the Government by force, and approved, and still
approve f the of the President to avert the
consequences of civil war. We know that be was
actuated ~ sense of duty, well benevolent
feelings-3ut his sympathies were, and always have
been, with the suffrage party. The majority should
rule-ay piH rn!e-and he hoped that they would
soon obtain justice in peaceable manner. This
was his object; but he has been misunderstood and
unjusty censured. We have much to say on this
subject.
From the accounts that have recently reached us
from Rhode Island, we believe the friends of free
suffrage have been " much more sinned against than
rywhere else, will find that all FREE in this
country, and that JUSTICE though delayed, SURE to
be meted out to the oppressed.
The calumny alluded to was, we believe, first
published in the New Y rk American. 1t is un-
worthy Of notice. But, as we intimated in the
paragraph quoted from this paper, we haze
much to say on the subject of the Rhode Island
difficulty.
We repeat that the course Of the President
was dictated by the Constitution, by common
sense, by patriotism, duty, justice; but he was
misunderstood, misrepresented, and unjustly
maligned by many of the friends of the suffrage
party.
1t was merely the Presidents design (and he
could do nothing more) to interfere, if absolute
ly necessary, to prevent the spilling of blood
| to stand bett0een the parties and keep them
| asunder. He had no right, no power, to decide
the question in dspute-to enforce, set
aside a principle; he could only main
tain the peace Of the State. He must have
done the same thing if nine-tenths Of the Peo-
pie of Rhode Island, the Charter party and all,
had been arrayed against the acting Governor
when the government is possessed by Governor
Dorr, (should.h he be elected,) if party of Fee
deralists or Chartists attempt to overthrow the
Government by force of arms. Nor can he in
quire which party is right-it is his duty merely
tosee that peace is preserved. Such is the in
depreciation we put upon the Constitution.
Itmay follow, then, very naturally, that even
while the Executive of the Federal Government
interferes to prs peace. the party which. in
appearance, he opposes, may have his sympa-
thies, and may, in his estimation, be perfectly
right in principle, and, at the same time, pal
pably wrong in the mode adopted to obtain JUS
tice. A precipitate or imprudent act cannot
alter or demolish just principle.
1t has been repeatedly asserted that the Pre-
sdent was opposed. in principle, to Free Suf
frage. In this, injustice was done him. He
was merely opposed to its being put in opera
ton by force He was in favor of it. He
merely wished to stay all violent proceedings,
and avert the shedding of blood, until the cur
rent of public opinion should place the Govern
mentin the hands of the majority of the People
This, he knew, could be done, and he believed
it would be done peaceably.
And it will be done peaceably. The mprl-
sonments and prosecutions resorted to by the
leaders of the Charter party, will precpitate
the result. Public justice is speaking through
the columns OF enlightened and liberal journals
Eternal justice knows no distinction of classes
in the great community Of freemen If the SUI
frage party is right in principle, Gas we believe
it to be,) it will have justice even at the hands
of the honest and patriotic portion of the Char
ter party at the ballot boxes. If any undue ex-
element shall prevent this consummaton at
the approaching election, it will be done at the
next. 1t can be done best without violence and
bloodshed.