The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-21
RHODE ISLAND-THE ABOLITION
DICT


within the last ten days. We are SATISFIED
that the great mass of the Suffrage party, the
conscientious and peaceably disposed citizens,
have not consented to- nor will they IN any
wise encourage the nefarious scheme Inc
conspiracy Is headed by batch OF ianatcai
Jack Cades, who have nothing on earth 10
lose (bul their heads,) and would gain IN
they could every thing OF value belonging TO
others.
No one who has been calm observer of the
times for the last two years, could fall TO see
that the vast body of Abolitionists scattered
throughout the Union, have been meditatng
a simultaneous and grand assault upon the es-
tablished institutions of the country. The pei
ncious doctrines which were at first circulated
clandestinely, have recently been promulgated
openlu, both on the floor of Congress and
through the columns of some forty newspapers
Chief among the Abolition writer's at Wash
ington is Mr.. Joshua Leavitl the editor and
proprietor of the Emancipator, and correspon-
dent of the New FORK American r.. M. L. H.,
who is daily permitted to have seat IN the hall
of the House of Representatives, on the side OF
the Speakers chair. 1t was he who boldly
launched his thunders against the constitutions
of the Southern States, and the rules OF the
House, when Mr.. Giddngs was censured, and
when Mr. Adams presented the petition for
DIssoLUTIoN OF THE UNION. The strain was
caught up by all the fanatics Of the North
Meetings were held and resolutions of the most
reasonable nature passed by them all. Some OF
them went so far as to threaten to drive, by
physical force, the Southern members from the
Capitol
But these were only threats, though made
with determination to put them In execution
the first opportunity. The opportunity they con-
idently believed would soon arrive, and hence
they held themselves in readiness to take adj
vantage of any propitious event that might oc-
cur They saw majority in both Houses OF
Congress striving in every manner to embanass
and destroy the Executive From the frequent
collisions of politicians, and the suicidal po-
Iicy pursued by the different factions they
believed that the time to strike blow for 'hW-
man 1igAts' was close at hand. But yet. amid
all the jarring contentious in the House, 1t
seemed that the utter detestation entertained by
all parties for the disorganizing and destructive
doctrines ofthe fanatics, would continue to doom
them to disappointment or at least hold them
long in suspense.
AT last fortune seemed to favor them, The
troubles in Rhode Island assumed a serious as
pect. They waited patiently 10 see If there
were any bold spirits among the Suffrage par
ty capable of putting law at defiance, and over
turning civil institutions by brute force. When
ii was ascertained that some of the leaders were
naturally fanatics, and Abolitionists in princl-
pie, the pIotters Immediately put in operation
their secret plans to prerent an amlcable ar
rangement of the difficulty. They at once de-
termined to solve the grand problem (the main
lever of their contemplated murderous exploits)
whether the laws of State could be annulled,
and tramped under foot by reckless mob. 1t
was also we'll to try the experiment in the North.
AS soon as this idea was conceived by the lead
ers, it was communicated to all the Abolition
societies in the country, and eagerly seized up
on by them all They were willing TO furnish
arms and money, upon the express condition
that ceaseless resistance should be made to
the existing Government. This was agreed 10
by some of the insurgent leaders, but the PEo-
But the startling acts of the leaders soon be-
gan to open the eyes of the People They are
now abandoning these armed disorganizers
daily. Many Of the officers also resigning
their commissions in disgust. The honest cti
zens will 60 for the right of suffrage, but not
for the right to murder, burn, and pillage
Mr. Dorr entered Providence on Monday, at
tho head ar rear-We don't remember which
of an armed band of men-men they were, but
the citizens aver that most of them were never
seen in Providence before. Their leader, with
his suite, took possession OF a spacious man
sion, which was guarded by several hundred of
his armed followers. Two brass cannon were
planted at his door to defend him. The next
day two pieces of artillery belonging to the
State were seized by the insurgents and orders
were issued to make an attack on the arsenal
To all suggestions that the difficulty could
be settled amicably, Dorr turned deaf ear. He
declared that no offers of compromise would be
listened to that did not acknowledge "hWn1dn
rights" the right Of the majority not only
10 govern, but TO alter and abolish Govern
anents al their pleasure" This is the vital
principle of the AbolitionIsts. Dorr Is rank
Abotionist himself Were this principle es-
tablished, the Abolitionists would have trl-
umph indeed. They would only have to creep
through the Southern States, take down the
names of all the blacks over twenty -one years
of age, and all the reckless, miserable white ia
natics-men who have nothing at stake, and
would, at moments warning, engage in any
lawless enterprise that promised booty-and