The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-07
AS,:'.ssE
From the .\sr York Tribune Extra.
RHODE ISLAND.

Correspondence of the Tribune

Providence, May 3, 1912
The day has passed off without any outbreak as
yet Is o'clock r Nj and do not apprehend that any
will occur The streets have been very much crowd
ed and considerable excitement has prevailed. The
General Assembly, under the Peoples Constitution,
has organized in building intended for foun-
dry the Dorance street lot Slxty-six OF the egh-
ty members Of their House Of Representatives were
present and took the oath Of Office They adjourned
till afternoon, when they met 10 count the votes for
Governor, and the salute of artillery has just an
nounced the Inauguration Of Mr.. Dorr. The process
sion numbered about $50, including about GOO who
were armed.
The Governor and the Board of Councillors have
been in session during the day. The result Of their
deliberations has not been made public; but think
can assure you that it is determined upon to arrest
the principal men who violate the law
The General Assembly meet tomorrow at New
port 1t is not improbable that the Governor may
communicate message and it would not be strange
if requsition should be made upon the President
for assistance. This will depend, however, upon the
course taken by the Suffrage Party The General
Assembly will probably adjourn by Friday Satur-
day, to meet again in June do not know that any
thing besides the usual election Of officers will be
done, unless it should be deemed advisable to make
requsition upon the President.
The Companies dsafected toward the Government
that were ordered to send to the arsenal the arms
loaned to them by the State did not comply with the
order. Some of the arms, ii is said, in the pro-
cession to-day.
Committee of the Suffrage Party waited on Gov
King yesterday, and proposed that Committee OF
Conference should be appointed by the General AS
sembly and another by the Suffrage General Assem-
bly,, to agree upon compromise. Gov King re-
piled that he had no power to act in the matter
The records of the courts and of the Office Of the
Secretary of State have been removed to Newport
for safety, measure of precaution which can do no
harm, although it was hardly necessary.
CANoNIcus
Gov DoRR's MEssAGE.-The Inaugural Address
of Thomas w. Dorr, the Governor according to the
Suffrage Party, alludes 10 the extraordinary crcum-
stances under which the Legislature assembled, and
is entirely occupied with the discussion Of the main
question at issue He says that by the recent election
at which was adopted the Peoples Constitution the
distinctions Of caste and privilege have been abolish
ed, the sacred fire, so long extinguished has been
re-kndled on their altar and their institutions are
rendered conformable to those of their sister Re-
publics.
1t gives an extended historical sketch Of the gov
eminent Of Rhode Island declaring that the Char
ter which its only rule Of action contains no
prescribed mode of amending the form of Govern.
ment, which therefore be effected only by the
reemen of the State in the exercise Of Their On
power and without gard to the legal other provi
sions of the Charter Assembly. The People, he says,
have right to change the Government when neces-
sary to their welfare and of that necessity they are
the sole judges; and he says that even if n pas,
generation had surrendered to minority their polti-
cal rights, which they had done, they did not
and could not bind their successors prevent them
from re- assuming their sovereignty This opini n he
supports at considerable length; and the principles
involved in it be contends are not revolutionary
The late election, he says, was conducted with per-
feet fairness and in his mind there is not the slightest
doubt that large majority of tho whole People fairly
voted for the Peoples Constitution He proceeds
to speak of the various provisions Of that Consliiu
ton-saying that there will be found few objections
against it.
The attention of the Legislature is called to the
force law and resolutions recently adopted by the
General Assembly for The suppression of the Constr
tuition" Laws like those, he says, can hardly find
favor in the land of Roger Williams The military
preparations made by the Assembly he thinks, can
not overawe the will Of the People--who have been
put the defensive. He says there is to be-
ieve that the letter of President Tyler to Gov King
was written under mistake caused by misrepiesen.
tation. Hon. j. C. Spencer, Secretary of War, has
written letter fatty contradcting statements in the
papers of similar purport with this
With the following paragraph, and few brief al
lusons to the general administration of State affairs
the Message concludes
We are assembled in pursuance of the ConstiIu-
ton, and under sacred obligation to carry its provi
sons into effect. Knowing the spirit which you have
manifested throughout this exciting controversy the
moderate but determined course which you have pur-
sued, your love of order and respect for all consttu
tona laws, and for the lights ofa other PERSONS while
engaged in the acquisition of your own, | hardly
need to remind you of your duty to cast behind you
all injuries provocatons, and to leave them to the
retributive justice of public opinion, which will ulti
maey appreciate every sincere sacrifice to the OF
TRUTH of freedom and humanity. Entertaining the deep
and earnest consideration that engaged in such
cause, and conscious of our own imperfecions let
impIore the favor of that gracious Providence,
which guided the steps of our ancestors upon this
our attempt 10 restore and permanently secure the
blessings of that well ordered and rational freedom
here established by the patriotic founders of our
State.