The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-19
THE MADISONIAN.
THE RHODE ISLAND DIFFICULTY
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.

The letter of the President to Gov hing |
will, we think, meet the appreciation OF the
country The press, so far as II has YET SPOKEN
is unanimous in support Of the grounds taken
by the Federal Government. And this without
regard to party. OF course, we except one or
two ultra Democratic sheets. The Philadel
phia North American says:
"The decision of the National Executive, it will
be seen is clear pcit and firm, yet temperate and
conciliaiory in its lone. The decision, We in
ormed is sustained by the opinion of the
Cabinet"
From the N. Y. American Of Friday.
The President rightly avows his determine ion
10 stand by the constituted authorities of Rhode
Island"
The Friday New York Courier & Enquirer
says:
"The letter of the President rs in all respects just
such became hm to write full and ex plic
III declaration OF his duty and has determination TO
The letter Of the delegation to which we
have alluded that the members of The National
Cabinet were unanimous in their concurrence with
the expressed in the Presidents letter"
From the Courier q. Enquirer Of Saturday.
90 Rhode Island.-The Providence papers received
this morning do not furnish much additional inor-
mation with respect TO the movements In Rhode
Island. The macontents persist, it seems, in their
determination to proceed to the election Of the
lutioDary candidate; Notwithstanding the unequvo-
cal from the President of the United States
that he will use tie whole power of the nation it
is his constitutional duty to do-in protecting the
constituted authority of Rhode Island, against the
violence that seems be meditated by the mob
He will do SO undoubtedly, and there is not good
citizen from Maine to Mississippi that will sustain
him in it.
:" The Providence Journal appears to be of opinion
that there rational men enough even in the sui
frage party to prevent anything very serious from
occurring. The following paragraph fir m that pa
per places the conduct OF one OF the prominent Of
the mouementpary in light honorable that copy
1t entire:
"' Samuel Y. At,ceH.-Ths gentleman, we under
stand, has with the true spirit OF Rhode Island nan,
aud with with proper regard for the duties aud obi
cations OF good czen counselled the friends OF the
Peoples Constitution, not to proceed any further
In their torclble attempts to carry the into opera
ton and has recommended The Candidates their
PROF. not to allow their to be used any longer
We trust the moderate sober aud rejecting portion
otthe party, will take heed of counsel from one W hose
sincerity they cannot doubt, and who can have
tive but their own good, In offering it."
From the N: Y Express.
PRESIDENT TYLER's LETTER TO THE Executive OF
RHODE lsLAND.-No one read this manly and
able production without yielding it his entire assent
and appreciation. 1t must not be overlooked that
the moment illegal and unconstitutional outbreaks
even on the part of the majority, permitted they
will certainly overthrow our government. There
being no force to compel obedience to the laws other
than the laws themselves, it is evident the moment
we tolerate any power greater than these we are i-
revocaby lost and it far better to submit to tenn
porary disadvantages, and even oppression itself
than to risk the coming of greater evils and greateg
oppression, by unsettllng confidence in exstinr
authorities, where they legally constituted
Time, and reason, and public opinion will easily
enough correct any lmperfections in our poty
through the legitimate operations Of the ballot box
To take any other mode of correcting them will
throw us into irretrievabe anarchy.
Would it be tolerated for moment in this State
to allow self-consttuted convention to overthrow
our present Constitution, although all may admit
there are some errors in its provisions? Certainly
not for if that should be once allowed, we should
have constant succession of Conventions and Con-
situations, which would cut every thing adrft and
there would not be guarantee left us for day OF
the enjoyment of liberty or life.
The view taken Of the question by the President
is the only sound and safe In his sagacty
hrmness, and candor we may fully rely, and al
though should be very glad to see the Constitu-
ton of Rhode Island amended to the greatest ex-
tent desired, yet it must not be done at the expense
of those great principles, the sacrifice of which
would reduce our political system to chaos. We
that all good and all true patriots will
take the same view of the sub iect.
From the NJ Y. Sum-
adoDE IsLAND.-We stated few DAYS ago that
President Tyler had given the present authorities of
Rhode Island an assurance that they would be sup
ported by the General Government. This decision
is based upon the ground that the existing govern
ment of Rhode Island, however defective has been
recognized as State government in all time past
and that by the Constitution and laws of the United
States 1t must be protected from Instruction This
dnno nnto fho Dfofxl
time or room to discuss the question length to-day
But we implore the people of that State of all par
tbs not to proceed to extremties There is rashnes
on both sides; let them pause and become calm be-
fore they cross the Rublcon. The friends of the "
Constitution have a righteous cause; let them no
stain it with blood They will succeed at last with
out this dreadful resort. The present government
wrong in principle and ant-republIcan in its tenden
ces; still its immediate practical evils are not S,
great to require the shedding Of human blood 70
their removal. The President in closing his lette
forcibly remarks
"No portion of her people will be willing to drenc
her fair fields with the blood of their brethren in or
der to obtain redress of grievances which their owl
constituted authorities cannot for any length of TIM
resist if properly appealed to by the popular voice
None of them will be willing to set an example, il
the bosom of the Union, of such frightfu disorder
such needless commissions of society," such danger
life liberty, and property, and ely to bring discre
dit on the character OF popular governments My
reliance on the virtue, intelligence and patriotism o.
her citizens is great and Abiding and will not doubt
but that spirit of Cancellation will prevail over
rash councils, that all actual grievances will be
promptly redressed by the existing Government and
that another bright example will be added to the
many already prevailing among the North American
Republics of change without revolution and re-
dress of grievances without force or violence"
The crisis of this momentous controversy is near at
hand. The elections under the Constitution, which
have been forbidden by most tyranncal law of the
Legislature, are to take place on Monday ANY at
tempt TO enforce the severe penalties Of that law will
most assuredly produce violence 1t is against the
spirit OF the age for minorities to nct such punish
ments upon majorities