New-York daily tribune., 1844-07-02
O,Connell and Dorr.

The Extension Of Suffrage in Rhode Island, wheIe
none but Freeholders 10 the value OF Sl34 were
entitled to vote under the old Charter. OConneA
vas likewise in favor Of extending the franchIse
in Ireland and restoring to that Country her o"n
Parliament. So far both were right, and deserv-
ing Of the appreciation and sympathy Of all inends
of Freedom and Justice.
3 Dorr undertook to subvert the existing lorm
| nj Government through Convention called with
out a shadow or pretext OF legal authority, by a
Providcnce Town Meeting composed In large
,reponderance of non.voters: This Convention,
elected by persons not entitled TO vote, and mold
,ny It's sessions at a time and place wholly IN
| known to The law, produced what was termed a
! Constitution. which was assumed to be adopted
by majority Of the free males in the State, at
an election appointed without legal authority. II
was precisely the same as though the Aliens, be-
ing majority in some County or City, should
call mass meeting, resolve to abolish the Ma
uralization Laws and make themselves all voters
and should thereupon gravely contend that the
| Naturalization Laws were dead and themselves
all lesal voters, with all new corners from the day
of their arrival.
Mr.. O'Connell, ardenuy battling for Catho-
lie Emancipation, Equal Representation and a
Reoeal of the Legislative Union, has never
dreamed of carrying either of these measures by
any other means than through the action OF the
Imperial Parliament with the assent OF the
Crown.
2 The Legal Voters Of Rhode Island, acting
through the Legislature called Il Convention and
framed a Constitution which extended the Fran
chise nearly as far as the Dorr insirumen; did.
and thus surrendered to the new voters 1t created
the power to make any farther change they de
sired The question arising on the adoption of
this CONSTITUTIONS Ohc Suffrage being extended
lor that purpose,) Dorr rallied has mhoie party
and coied II DORM In doing this, he not mere
" drove the Government back upon the old
Charter he pretended to abhor, but clearly pro-
claimed his own Constitution legal nuty,
moo - tho, "are the paramount law Of the land,
The other must have been mere waste paper, ana
the appointment of an Election TO pass upon II
was wholly unauthorized
-O'Connel has always adhered to the Prln
ciple of taking readily and gladly any lnstalment
of Justice to Ireland. He received Catholic
Emancipation from the British Parliament, and
never dreamed of dsputing lis validity; he Is
now ready 10 take cordially Equal Representation,
Extension of Suffrage or Repeal from the same
source. He would gladly take half concession,
rather than nothing.
4. Dor was chosen Governor under has Con
sti,ution-nobody voting on ii or under ii but his
own party--and was inaugurated with great
oomp, and opened his Legislature. Yet 1t did
not venture TO take possession of the State House.
hut held its Sessions in Foundry. The old
Government still remained, and of couse did not,
coud not recognize this sci-crcated rival. DOR
went to Washington TO settle matters, and went
home amid = universal expectation that he would
do so. But his head was turned by certain dc
magogucs of this City, who fattered, caressed
and icasted him, gave him a sword, &c. and
orped him to 90 home and overbcar the regular
Government by force He went in that splrlt,
tried the game urged upon HIM, assembled a
motley Military force and made midnight at
tack on the State Arsenal but his guns missed
fire his troops skulked away, and the next DAY
bc WAS driven from the Stale and his rabbe Ut
terlv dispersed without the loss OF a life.
Not satisfied with this, and stimulated by re-
newcd promises of support from this City ano
elsewhere, he made another warike attempt re-
turned clandestinely to the State, and assembled
another speckled host on Acote's Hill, IN the
rugged North part of the State, IN the ni'osl oi
his followers. Here lie was again pursued; his
force crumbled and fled, and he himself ran away
before the first soldier OF the regular Government
came in sight. THIS was the end OF his belllge-
rent operations. He kept out OF the Stale ior
more than year, but at last returned was ar
rested on Il charge of treason, tired, convicted
and sentenced To the State Prison ior life. In
that prison he now is and will probably remain
there unless he sues for pardon, which he is re-
solved not TO do.
MIR. O'Connell has always scrupuously
obcyed every requlsiton OF the Government even
when palpably illegal. He ordered village
which proposed ii refusal to pay rents as means
of promoting Repeal to be erased from the map OF
Ireland He refused money contributed to the Re-
peal Fund by the physical. force Chartlsts OF Eng
land. He has repeatedly declared that the first
act of rebelion or sedton the first drop of blood
shed in pretended championship OF Repeal, should
nc promptly followed by his abandonment OF the
Cause. Political Reforms" says ne, are too
dearly purchased when their price is human
blood" In this spirit he has achieved Catholic
Emancipation and many other Reforms IN this
spirit, we trust, he will yet carry Repeal.
Such are the principles and measures re-
soec,ivelv of O'Conncll and of Dor. Could con-
trasl be broader
IL The Boston Atlas, commenting on the
late change of Collector at tins Port. says:
I'VE have for the removal Of such man as Ed
wnr Curtis lie has been the ubefvicn tool o Tyler, and
ha stopped do all the dirty work that been required al
h hands, He ha. himself low for the sake oi place
10 iuTl-li good and