New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1842-04-15
LITTER or President Tyler.

JOHN wuIPPLE, For the committee
LITTER OF PRESIDENT TYLER
To III, Efceiency the G.g. ofR T.:
SIR: Your#leltcr Of the 18th inst. was handed
me on Friday by Dir, Wlipplc who, III company
with Mr. Francis and Mr. Potter, called upon me
on Saturday "' - 20 ofh verbally and i!
which have led to the present uninpPy cond ion
Of things in Rhode Island; state OF things which
every lover of peace and good order must dcpiorc.
I shall not adventure the expression of an opinion
upon those questions Of domestic policy, which
seem to have given rise to the unfortunate conro-
vcrses between IA portion of the citizens and the
existing Government of the Slllc They arc
questions of Municipal regulations, The adjustment
Of which belongs exclusively to the people of
Rhode Island and with which this government
can have nothing to do. For the regulation of
my conduct, in any inierposition which may be
called upon 10 make, between the Government OF
a State and any portion of its citizens who may
assail it with domestic violence, or may be IN ac-
tual instruction against it, | can only look to the
Constitution and Laws of the United States, which
plainly declare the obligations OF the Executive
DEPARTMENT. and leave it no alternative DE- to the
course it shall pursue.
By the 4lh Section of the 4th Article Of the Con-
sttuticn Of the United States, it is provided that
the United States shall guarantee to every State in
this Union Republican form of Government, and
shall protect each of them against INVASION: and
on the application of the Legislature, or ENecu-
tive, when the Legis stature cannot be convened)
qainst domestic a1olence. And by the Act OF
Congress approved on the 9lst February, 1875, il
is declared-,hat in case of Instruction IN any
State againstMG Goyernaaeut thercot, it shall be
lawful for the President of The Untod States
upon application of the Legislature Of such State,
or OF the Executive. (when the Legislature cannot
be convened, to call forth such number OF The
militia Of any other State or States Is may be APP
piled for, he may ud &c sufficient to suppress
such nsulrcction By the 3D. section of the same
| act i; i. provided that whenever it may be ncces
sarv in the judgement of the President, to use the
military force hereby directed to be called forth
the President shall forthwith by proclamation,
command such Insurgents to dispersc and retire
peuceably to their respective abOdes within a
reasonable time
By the act of March 3, 1897, is provided
that in all cases of insurrecton or obstruction
the laws either of the United States or any indi-
vidual State or Territory where it is lawful for the
President of the United States call forth the mi
lita for the purpose of suppressing such insurrec
tion or of causing the laws to be duly exercised,
il shall be lawful for him to employ for the same
purposeS, such part of the land naval torse o:
the United States shall be judged necessary, hay
ing first observed all the prerequisites Of the law
in that respect.
This is the first occasion. far the Govern
ment Of a State and its People are concerned. on
which it has become necessary 10 consider of the
proprietv exercising these high and most impor
tant constitutional and legal functions. By
full consideration OF the above rrcltcd acts of Con-
gress, YOUR Executive will not iail to see, that no
power il Invested III the Executive of the United
States TO anticipate insurrcctonary= movements
against the Government o.! Rhode Island, 50 as TO
sanction the interpretation oi the military authority
bu, that there must be actual ns.;rre.iion mani
tested By lawles. assemsuges O.. the People o.
otherwise, 10 whom proclamation may be adj
dressed, and who may BE required 20 betake them
selves TO their respective abodes. l have how-
ever. to assure YOUR Executive that. should the time
arrive. and my tcrvent prayer is that il may
come. when in.urrectIon shall exist against the
Government OF Rhode Island, and reauistion
shall be nude upon the Executive OF The United
States TO furni.h that protection which Is gnarun-
teed 10 each State BY the Constitution and laws
.hal! not be found to shrink iron. the performance
OF u duty, which while it would bc the most painful
is at the same time the most i,nperati.s. haze
also 20 say thai in such u contingency, the Execl-
tive could not look into real supposed defects OF
the existing Governments &C ascertain wheihe.
some other plan Of Government proposed fer adop-
ton wn. better suited TO the wants and more in I
accordance with the wishes OF any portion Of her
citizens. TO throw the Executive power of this
Governnsnt into ans such controversy would be I
TO make the f.e<i..ent the srrned arbitrator be-
tween the People OK the different States and their
constituted authorities, and Inignii Lad TO an
usurped power dangerous alike to the stabil;:s Of
the State Governments ard the liberties of the
People. 1t will be my duty. on the contrary, to
respect tie acquisitions of that Government, which