The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-26

whites, natives, denixens, and aliens. HE
names Of the United States troops, temporarily
stationed in the State, put down as voters for
the constitution and the names of large NUM-
Der were also put down, who were not to be found
anywhere in the State. The convention of dele
gates, upon these votes being returned to them,
resolved that the constitution had been adopted
| by majority OF the people of Rhode Island, and
was then the supreme law of the State
The sagacity of these patriots was about
equal to that of the Mormons, who resolved that
the earth was the Lords, and the fulhess thereof
that the Saints were the rghtful inhertors OF the
earth-that they were the Saints-therefore the
earth and all it contained belonged to them.
TIE polls were now opened for the election OF
officers under this new constitution. A portion
of the people cast their votes for Thomas w.
Dorr as Governor, and other officers, who were
declared duly elected, and who then attempted to
organize the new government Then commenced
a struggle between these revoluticnlsts and the
regularly constituted authorities which, fortu-
natey for the country, without the effhsIon of
blood, resulted in the omplete prostraton OF the
reckless demagogues who attempted to destroy
the government by faction and violence
Here, it was to be hoped, that this mad attempt
to substitute anarchy for law and order wonld
end. All the horrors Of civil war had only been
averted by the firm, but temperate. action OF the
State authorities. Many of the deluded follow
of the desperate leaders in this attempt at in
surrecton, had returned to their allegiance-the
dark clouds which had obscured the horizon had
passed away-peace was restored-the law was
triumphant But, sir, new attempt IS TO be
made to rekindIe and fan into fame the expiring
embers of faction and anarchy. The leaders IN
this attempt have appealed, as I" Democrats" to
this Democratic" House of Representatives for
its countenance and support. Should any action
OF ours give encouragement to these lncendiaries
L.Jz Il fE10F
efforts, fearful responsibility must rest upon u.s.
The innocent blood which may be shed must be
Justly chargeabe to our account.
/ did hope, MIR. Speaker, that the actlons and
opinions of the Dorrites of Rhode Island would
find no advocates or apologists in this House, But,
sir, find this hope is groundless. My honorable
colleague, MIR. Kennedy has told us thai ne
believes Dorr is the lawful Governor Of Rhode
Island while the gentleman from New York.
| (Mr Rathbun,l says, they have only exercised
the right which the God Of nature gave them"
Sir, these are sentiments which are, In their
| tendency, destructive of all government II car
ried out, they would destroy this Republican TO-
vernmenr, which is the pride and boast OF every
American and PROSTATE in the dust the far
temple Of liberty, which has been cemented by
the blood of our patriotic sires. could not SIT
sllently IN my seat and hear such sentiments
avowed in this Hall.
My colleague has assumed that the night OF
| suffrage is natural right" and, because some
| restrictions were imposed upon 1t by the govern
ment of Rhode Island. majority OF the people
had ''natural right" to assemble IN public
meetings, and by mere expression OF their will,
destroy the government, and institute such an one
as they chose. If the right of suffrage is : nat
| uraI "a gAt," let me ask my colleague by what
means lie arrives at the conclusion that nature
has conferred this right upon the white pOPula-
| ton alone2 Are not the blacks endowed with
this right, by nature, equally with the whites
\ Have they not, equally with the whites, NAT
ural rsght' to resist and subvert the government
under which they live, whenever they may be
come dissatisfied with it g The Dorrites OF
Rhode Island admit this right on the part Of the
coored population and, their attempt to subvert
the government, numbered among their pretended
majority, all the blacks who were disposed 10
take part with them. Apply this doctrine TO the
States of Georgia, South Carolina, and other
States In this Union, In which the institution OF
slavery exists. In some OF those States the
colorsd population out-number the whites Will
any man contend, that in any one OF those States,
in which a majority Of the population consists OF
blacks, that the black population may assemble,
in public meetings, put down the existing govern
menr, and adopt new one, more congenial TO
their feelingss Ii the Dorrites are correct In
their opinions, if the opinions of those who have
defended them here are correct, it follows as u
necessary consequence, that the government OF
Georgia, Of South Carolina, and OF every other
slave State in this Union, is liable, al any mo-
ment, to be subverted whenever a majosity OF
the people of such State, including blacks, may
will It's overthrow.
Again would inquire if the right Of suffrage.
and the right to overthrow and change govern
ments, are % natural rights" why should the fe-
male sex be denied their exercise Has n0fxre
aud Sc natures God" conferred upon the male
sex rights which are withheld from the fairest
portion Of his creatiou2 If they are natural
nghss, how do gentlemen arrive at the cOnelu-
sion that they can only be exercised by males
after they attain the age Of twenty-ooe years
Why may they not exercise them 1t eiehtesn o.
twenty as well as at twenty-one9 Has nature
drawn this line to prescrice the time when this
right commences Et d5 ttssN
| If majority Of the people have nssxra
righ" at any time to assemble together and
overthrow their government, aud alter OF aunen<
hav ~ ~