The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-02

Samuel W. .NoN, Secretaries. sp8
From the New England Democrat.
IMPRISONMENT OF MR.. DORR-LIBER-
TY OUTRAGED-THE DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE TRAMPLED UP
oN-TYRANNY TRIUMPHANT--THE
PEOPLE SLAVES.
II has never been our lot to record such mon
strous outrage upon rebulican institutions and ind
vdua rights, such palpable violation of the princ
pies of the great Charter of American Freedom, as
we do this day-JULY FOURTH, ls44-he Ami.
persUy of the Declaration Of Independence, which
struck terror to the heart of yrants and gave ber
ty to the New World. We have now to record a
gross violation of the spirit and letter Of that go-
rious instrument in the conviction and sentence OF
Gov. DoRR for treason!
The deed is done; the work Of tyranny is con-
summated; the cup of Algerine nfamy is FULL
THOMAS WILSON DORR has been sentenced
to Imprisonment and hard laborin the State Prison
of Rhode Island, during his natural life, The soul
less individuals who have aided in this work OF
cruelty and oppression, the judges who sat on the
trial and delivered the sentence, will go down to
posterity side by side with the black-hearted ty-
rants offormer times, who trampled upon the rights
of the people and sacrificed the best, the purest,
and the greatest men their times; while the name
and character of the brave, virtuous, and uncom-
promising patriot, DORR, will rank with the great
est and best men that have adorned and elevated
Humanity. The dungeon, the stake, the cross,
have had their victims, who have shed light and
glory, christianity and immortality upon man.
The immortal spirit, true to ITS great mission, per-
forms its work earlessy bears persecution cheer
fully, and gloriously trumPhs in the end over all
opposition
! On Monday, the 24th Of June, the Court refused
| Mr. DORIS motion il arrest OF Judgment Tor want
of jurisdiction The Attorney General then NOV
ed that "sentence be pronounced upon the prison.
er." Mr.. Atwell counsel for Mr. Dorr, moved
that ",recutiOn of the sentence should be suspend
ed until the case could be heard before the SUI
preme Court ofthe United States" This the
Court decided COULD not be done, aud adjourned
to Tuesday morning, at which time Mr. Dorr was
| brought forward to receive the sentence OF the
Court. The Clerk having asked the usual ques-
to,l-"P Prisoner, what have you to say, why SEN
tence should not be pronounced against your
Mr.. Dorr arose and addressed the Court for about
thirty minutes in calm and digniied manner,
briefly reviewing the case. In the course Of his
remarks he said to the Judge, (and who that has
spark Of pure patriotism burning within him will
not respond to the sentiment) that, under the CIR
cumstances ofthe case, he ,ootkf not "erehange
the place of prisoner at the bar for seat byy
side upon the bench" ChiefJusice Durfee brief
ly replied, and then pronounced the following sem
tence-"THAT THE SAID THOMAS w.
DoRR BE IMPRISONED IN THE STATES
PRISON, AT PROVIDENCE, IN THE COUN-
TY OF PROVIDENCE, FOR THE TERM
OF HIS NATURAL LIFE, AND THERE
KEPT AT HARD LABOR, IN SEPARATE
CONFINEMENT"
In accordance with the sentence, Mr.. Dorr was,
on Thursday erening, brought up from Newport
to Providence and lodged in the State Prison
We learn that he entered the prison with a firm
step, eheerfully submitting to his fate. And thus
has terminated his trial in sentence which for
wickedness and cold hearted oppression. has no
parallel in this country. Mr. Dorr was tried for
treason against the charter government Of Rhode
Island, which is already defunct, and which the
very men who tried him had REASONABLY over
thrown--without law or the color Of law, as that
instrument contained no provision for amendment
or repesl--and set up another government in its
place Mr.. Dorr was chosen Governor under a
constitution adoptedby large majority ofthe peo-
pie, in accordance with the principles ofthe Dec
laraton ofIndependence. The treason which he
had committed consisted in his endeayors, IL ac-
cordance with the oath which he took upon enter
ing upon Office, 10 administer to the best of his ab
ity, the government which the people had right
fully established. 1t will be recolIected that the
acting President ofthe United States interered by
promising the aid Of the United States forces to
the Old Charter or Algerne party; this alarmed
the Free Suffrage party, and thus was the Peoples
Constitution, and the Peoples Governor, (Mr
Dorr) by the military force Of the United States,
oyerpowered and put down. Herein was Mr..
DORIS treason-glorious treason --lreason which
viii immortalize his name and endear it to the
friends Of Liberty throughout all time.
Compare the case Of Mr.. Dor with that Of
o'connell. the celebrated repealer. The latteris
convicted ofreason and sentenced to tpelps months
imprisonment in the Richmond Penitentiary," "a