The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-22
Revolution in .s,loi,e ISLAND.
From the n. Y. Herald of the S,h ms

From the n. y Herald of the S.h inst
We learn that civil war has broken
out in Rhode Island, and that special
messengers passed through this city last
Wednesday with dispatches thcrclrom
for the government. If President Tyler
does not hide the little state from the
world for a week or two with the palm
of his hand, its inhabitants may do some
mischief
The State has been in the greatest ey-
cicmen, all this week about adopting Il
constitution. In Providence, what are
called the legal people, the few, have
placed 4 guard over the State ar5cnals,
and the Illegal people, the mass, guard
over the arsenals Of the independent com
panies. All these companies are for the
ilIcgas, and have had their ranks filled up
to a complement. The guard stationed
over the State arsCnals being alarmed last
Monday night by a noise, hailed three
times, and then lirel in the direction
whence the noise proceeded, and killed,
not human being, but very fine mich
COW. And this is the first bloodshed in
this civil war. Immediately thcreupon
messengers were sent TO Boston to pro-
cure 2000 stand of arms for the people,
the Governor issued his proclamation
and little Rhode Island is in a dreadful
!erment and fever.
Ilappcars that all this great commotion
began about two years ago, when the
people of that state first formed suffrage
associations. But little attention was
paid to them during the first year. On
the l7lh of April 1911, however, about
5000 illegals met together on Jefferson
Plains, Providence, had roast OK and
other animals cooked whole, a loaf OF
brown bread weighing 700 lbs, and hhds
of hams, &C., for the purpose Of upsctting
the old constitution granted by Charles
the Second.
This mass convention attracted the at
tcnion Of the legals, then in power, but
they refused to pay any regard to the Pc
.iton of the illegals. The latter then SET
about making a government for them.
selves and the whole people. They
were determined to participate III the at
fairs of the government for the future
called another mass convention at New
port, May 5, 1871, chartered steam
boat at an expense Of $1,000, to convey
the people thereto, and about 1000 repub
licans met together. They passed strons
resolutions, declaring their future inten
tons, and appointed State Commltte,
TO draft constitution.
The next public demonstration of til,
illegals was on the 9th of July, 1871
when 600 or 500 assembled in Provi
dence with music and banners, marched
to Dexter training ground, and had a,
Grafton delivered by the Rev. VIM 5
Bllch, now of this city. Other rcsolu
tons were then passed similar to thos
adopted at Newport, urging the Stat
committee to call State convention at 4
early day. The committee thercupo
issued an order, requesting the lnhab
tan's &c every town to send delegates
Providence on day specified. Th
said delegates were elected in every tow
in the State, and the convention me
After a session of one week, it adjournc
to meet again in a few weeks aIlerward
when constitution was completed, sc
to the people, and adopted by near
4 ,n
than onc-half of all the American ctlzcl
over 81 years of age residing in the Stat
The convention again met, and declare
the said constitution TO be the paramou
law OF the State, to take effect after Il
expiration of the present political year.
All this was done, however, witho
any law, but on the sovereign right of Il
people, to establish republican form
government, in place of an aristocrac
which held the reins of power under t
charter, granted by Charles the Secon
long before the revolution, which eXclu
ed two thirds of the American citize
of the State from participating in
affairs of the state.
In the meantime the legal people lie
ing their power slip out OF their han'
set to work and made a constitute
which they called the only legal OF
This was sent to the people to be vol