Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-18
RHODE: ISLAND

~ ''''V""s ie'teE from the President OF the u
states 10 the Governor Of Rhode Island was pub.
shed at Providence. yesterday, in a second I'd ton Or
the Journal OF course we have not. as We, ,rv
information of the effect produced or likely n bo
produced by IT, We may hope, however. that
such effect will be most snu,nry.
10 Ills Ere'iIeney the Governor Of RhoS, Island
S"-i our letter dated the 4th inst. was handed
me ON Friday, 10y Mr. whipple, who, in comnanv
WIN n't FRANCES and Mr. Potter, called upon me on
saturday, and placed me both verbally and in vri,
ing IN possession of the prominent facts which
nave ed to tire present unhE ppy condition of thinss
III hhode lslnnd state OF things which every lover
OF peace and good order mus, dep'ore. shall no,
venture the expression Of on opinion upon those
questions Of domestic policy which seem 10 b,v.
gwen rise to the unfortunate controversies betw,en
a portion OF the citlzehs and the existing Govern.
ment OF the State
They nrc questions Of municipal regulation tho
adjustment of which belongs exclusively To- the
people OF Rhode Island, and with which this Go
'erhment can have nothing 10 do. For the reouln.
lIoh OF my conduct. IN any in,erposi,on which
may oe called upon to make, between the Govern.
ment oil State and any portion of its citizens who
| may nssa IL with domestic violence or n,,y ho IN
actual insurrectiOn against IT, can only look to IN.
Constitution and laws of the United states which
plainly declare the obligations of the Executive
Department, and leave il no alternative ns 10 ,bo
course II shall pursue.
By tho 4th section If the 4h nrclc Of the cons,i
tnuon OF the United States, It is provided that the
United States shall guaranty to every state in This
ohloh hepuhlican form OF Government and shall
protect each OF them against invasion. and on the
application OF the legislature or Executive fwbon
the Legislature cannot be convcned) against domes.
tic violence. And by the net Of Congress npproved
on the 2sh February, 1895, 1t is doolared-that in
case OF an instruction in any state against the sov
eminent thereof 1t shall be lawful for the President
OF The United States, upon application of the .sis
latute OF such state or Of the Executive (when The
Legislature cannot be convened 10 call forth surb
number Of militia oany other state or states as NAV
be applied FOR, as he may Judge sufficient To sun.
press such instruction. BY The 81 section Of Inc
same act, u Is provided tina, whenever il NAV Il.
necessary IN the judgment of the President IN use
the military force hereby directed to be called forth
inc PRESIDENT shall forthwith, by proclamation
command such insurgents to dis perse and retire s,
ceably TO their respective abodes within a reasona
blc time
by the net Of March 81, 1907, il is provided tha,
m oil cases OF instruction or obstruction 10 the avs
either OF the United States or any iddividuaI stare
or territory where 1t is lawful for the President of
the United States 10 call forth the militia for tho
purpose OF supprcsstns such Instruction or Of
causing the laws to be duly executed IL shall II.
awful Tor nun TO employ for the same purposes
such part Of the land naval force of the United
States as shall be judged necessary having first OH
served all the prerequisites Of the law in that re-
spec."
This IS tho first OCCASION so flr as the Govers-
iH'ut OF S'htc ana us people concerned on
which 1t has become necessary To consider of the
propre'Y OF exercising these high and most in,nor,
amt constitutional and legal functions. By careful
consideration OF the above recited acts Of Consress
your ENceiency Will not fail 10 see that no power
IS vested IN the Executive of the United States 20
anticipate insurrecuonnry movements against the
Government OF Rhode Island. so rs 10 sanction the
interposuon ol the military authority, hut that
there must be an actual Instruction manifested bv
Ia"less assembl'ges OF the people or otherwise to
| " nj = NJ OPI 1rnnft L.,
may bc required To betnke themseive 10 thei, 70
| spectve nbodes. ] have, however, to assure vour
ENccllency that should the time arrive and NV fer
vent prayer IS that It may come when an IN
surrection shall exist against the Government or
Rhode Island, and a requisiilon shall he made unon
the Executive Of the United States to furnish Thai
protection which IS guaranteed to each State by The
| Constitution and laws, | shall not Ice found 10
shrink from the performance Of ju.y, which. wbic
II would bo the most painful is at the same tin,e
the most imperative.
have also TO say that IN such a contingency the
Executive could not look into real or supposed
detects oi the existing government IN order IN
ascertain whether some other plan Of government
proposed Tor ndop ion better suited To the wants
and more IN accordance with the wishes NJ ans,
portion OF her citizens. To throw the Executive
power Of this Government into any such contro-
versy, would hc 10 make the President the armed
arbitrator between the people 9th, different states
ana their constituted authorities. md might lead TO
an usurpcd power, dangerous alike 10 the stability
81 The sintc Governments and the liberties of The
people. IL will be my duty, on the contrary 10
respect the requsliions nj that Government which
has been recognized nc the existing Goycrnment of
the state through all time past until shall be al
vsed, IN regular manner, that Il has been aI,ercd
and abolished and other substituted in IFS plocc
10y Legal and peaeCnhie proceedings adopted and
pursued ~ the authorities and pcorlc of Tho s,,,,
Nor can readily bring myself To believe that anv
such contingency will arise rs shall render Inc IN
terleTenco Of this Government at all necessary.
The people OF the State of Rhode Island have
been too long distinguished for their love of order
and Of regular government 10 rush into revolution
m order 10 obtain redress Of grievances real or
supposed, which Government, under which their
fathers lived m peace, would not IN due season
redress No portion Of her people will be will !
ing TO dfeneh her inr fields with the blood Of their
own brethren, IN order 10 obtain redress Of erie
vances which their constituted authorities canno,
Tor any length OF time resist, # properly an.
poned TO by the popular voice. None Of them will |
he willing to set an example in the bosom Of this |
Union, Of such ffightlul disorder such needless
convulsOns Of society such DANCER TO life lbo,,,,
and property, and likely 10 bring discredn on the /
character Of popular governments NV reliance on !
the virtue, intelligence and patriotism Of her Cit.
zens' ls great and abiding. and s not doubt bu, /
Tint spirit Of Cancellation will prevail over her /
rash oounscs, that NIL actual grievances will be |
promptly redrcssed 10y the existing Government 1
and that another fright example " iIl he added To- /
inc many already prevailing among the North Ame- |
lvan hcpupucs, oi change without revolution, and /
redress Of grievances without force or violence.
tender TO your Erceency assurances OF my |
high respect and consideration.
JOHN TYLER. !
Washington, April H. 1919.
Mr. Whipple writes 10 tho Governor a. n the
opinion Of the Presidents in accordance with ,ho
unanimous opinion Of tho members or tho c, linet |
and, he believes, with that Of every member Of
Congress,o whom the case has been fairly stated.
POSTSCRIPT.
twas o'clock, y. NJ. before tho P,ov,t.,eo
Evening paper, the Chronicle, was received bv u,
from the Post Office.
We learn from tho postscr pt Of that p,p-r tia, |
tho revolutionary party arc determined not 10 |
change their course IN consequence Of the Pre,i |
dents letter, but will persist in holding their cleo
lions I'M lsr the pretended new constitution, on |
Monday next.
The election will Of course he Illegal, and the
parties acting therein will subject themselves To
condlgn punishment under tho laws Of tho slate.
Whatwill DO tho result will now soon be known.
NEW YORK MARKETS. Arrni5.
CoTTON-Tho sales yesterday amounted TO