The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-21
From The Journal Of Commerce
REFORM BY REVOLUTION.

REFORM by hENOLulloN,
We have been accustomed to place great conn
dence in the institutions Of liberty. We have seen
our own State and National Constitutions pass through
some fiery trials, and come out rather seasoned ana
strengthened than burned. We have always iounu
that although parties might rage and rave yet wheh
the contest was about to put in jeopardy the iNes
of our citizens the stability OF our INSTITUTIONS,
the good sense and good feeling of the sober part
of the community have always come rma,u 70
calm the agitation But amid all the conflicts oil
opnion in our country, have never seen any
thing more strange, more dangerous OF more u'eiy
anti-American, than some movements ~ ~
in sympathy with the reyoutionsts oil hhoue sianu'
The question IN Rhode Island is not, whether the
rh, of suffrage shall be extended or not II IS
agnrad an an hands, that il should be. The existing
government of Rhode Island have already proposeda
2onstitution extending the right oil suffrage 10 the
whole people with less exceptions than are customa
~ IN The States where suffrage is termed universal,
lI native-born citizens were authorized TO vote with
ont any property qualification, and all foreigners al
ter short residence in the State. This liberal Con-
stuton the Dorr party voted against, and SO caused
to be rejected by some SIX hundred votes ana now
they 20 on to camor for "ther rights, and claim our
sympathies, as oppressed, who have no remedy
but in revolution. The question IS not therefore, at
ALI whether the right of suffrage shall be extended to
all the citizens Of Rhode Island, but whether II shall
be secured by reform or by repoution The Dorr
marty refuse to take what they demand, when II Is
freely offered in peaceful manner but insist ON TAX
ing the same thing sword in hand We should like to
ask Mr. Stephen Allen, MIR. Aaron Vanderpoel, Mr.
C. c. Cambreleng and other such ike gentlemen
who are sustaining this imaginary Governor at the
noint of the bayonet which OF the two ways OF accom-
plishng the end desired most judicous, most manly
most American, most Christian These gentlemen
not only refuse all recognition OF the Government OF
Rhode Island, but the Government OF the u States
The Federal Constitution requires the Natonal TO-
yernment to suppress Instruction and sustain the Go
IF Ihp ii
the ips,rrection in Rhode Island proceeds to vi
client measures, the President Will have no alter
native. He cannot investigate the controversy be-
tween the parties. The Government, IN fact, he is
hound TO support. Yet this interference of the con-
stued authorities Of the nation, IN accordance with
the provisions of the Constitutions is called foreign
interference, as if it had come fom France or ur-
kew aud to be repelled by other foreign forces from
our city. The gentlemen neither recognise govern
ment IN Rhode Island, nor In the United States.
Thew set up the will o. the people the supreme ana
only government, just IT society were IN It's og
nal elements and for the first tune TO be brought
into form and order But is not the existence OF go
vernment in Rhode Island and at W ashingon fact
of some Importance in he case We have great
machinery of government, winch we have found capa-
Bile of working out ali the reforms which the advance
ment of public opinion has dictated Is this fact TO be
entirely overlooked, and every movement of the popu
lar will TO proceed upon radical principles There
have been great many cases in which the Will OF the
majority has been for while suppressed and yet, So
far the people have not resorted TO revolution Il
remedy President Pyler holds his place, It may
be- with the appreciation OF only minority OF the
ptople of the country. What, then Shall We have
rey1lutinn and put him out OF office, sword In hand
Or suppose countng up the aggregate 81 votes, IL
should appear that minority If The whole number
had elected the majority OF our Conmon Council
The will of The mtjoilty Is the supreme law. Would
not government so constituted, De usurpaon; and
ought il not to be overridden by new government,
instituted by going back to the chaos Of society; We
saw no: and we say no to all the disorganizng and
chaotic doctrines which have been set up reference
to the Rhode Island affair Our hresdes, our proper
ty and our lives would be utterly Insecure, If the
fact of an existing government IS not to be recognized
as the fact by which all reforms to be attained
Least of all in the case of Rhode Island Is there any
excuse for setting up doctrines so dangerous for
we have said, the existing government is ready to
grant and has already rendered. all that is demanded
There may be some gentlemen who think little Rhode
Island pony which they could ride all the way to
Washington. Reasoning would of course not reach
their understandings. But such men MIR. Allen,
are known not TO be governed by motives Of this
sort We ask all such men respectfully, to consider
well whether they may not be unsetng the principles
upon which their own dwellings stand, and which are
essential to the security of society, From all we can
learn the Dorr party numbers III its ranks but small
portion of the cool wisdom ofltle Rhode Island and
is daily numbering less Yet there certainly some
men Of worth who still attach themselves to that par
ty 1t not strange that they should insist the
tension of suffrage but do not understand how pa
trots and wise and Christians can prefer to gain
by the sword that which they may take in peace
The principles involved in the controversy are inn
poltant to US all We are all in ship, and il
part of the scuttle her they will so to the bot
tom just as certainly the rest,
Next to the effrontery of the Rhode Island usurpa-
ton which bids defiance to the government of that
State the eirontery of the sympahsers in this ci
ty who bid defiance to the Government Of the nation
Because the National Government is disposed tc
obey the Constitution, which requires it, on applica
ton to the Legislature of any State of the Execu
tive (when the Legislature cannot be convened,) to
protect such State from domestic violence therefore
the sympathisers propose sending an armed force to
prevent the required protection from being afforded
No wonder there should be sympathy between mer
so entirely agreed in tramplng upon the governments
under which they live