Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-10-19
i From the Bay STATE Democrat.
IMPRISONMENT OF. Mr.. DORR.


The People Mares! /.
IL mas never been our lot TO record such mon
strous outrage upon republican institution and in
d'Vidual rights, such a palpable violation of the
principles of the great Charter of American Free.
dom, as we do this day-July Fourth, ls44-the
Anniversary Of The Declaration of Independence
which struck terror to the heart of tvrants and
gave liberty to the New World. We have now
to record gross violation of the spirit and let.
ter OF that glorious instrument, in the convc-
ton and sentence Of Gov. Dorr for treasoni
The deed is done; the work of tyranny is con-
sumated; the. cup of Algerine nfnmy is full -
THOMAS WILSON DORR has been sentenced
TO imprisonment and hard labor in the State Pris-
on Of Rhode Island during his natural life. The
souess individuals who have aided in this work
OF cruelty and oppression, the judges who sat on
| the trial and delivered the sentence, will 90 down
to posterity side by side with the black -hea rted
tyrants OF former times, who trampled upon the
rights of the people and sacrificed the best, the
purest, and the greatest men of their times; while
the ma me and character of the brave, virtuous.
and uncompromising patriot DORR, will rank
and elevated Humanity. The dun geon, the stake,
the cross. have had their victims, who have shed
light and glory, christianity and Immortality up.
on man. The immortal spirit, true to its grea,
mission, performs its work fearlessly, bears per.
secuion cheerfuIIy. and gIorousy triumphs in the
end over all opposition.
On Monday, the 24h of June, he Court refus.
cd Mr. DORIS
want of jurisdiction. The Attorney General
then moved that " sentence be pronou need upon
he prisoner" Mr.. AtwelI. counsel for Mr.. Dorr.
moved that "e1ecutiOn of the sentence should be
suspended until the case could be heard before the
Supreme Court of the United States" This the
Court decided could not be done. and 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 cues
ton" Prisoner. what have Won to saw, WHY SON
tence should not be pronounced against vou!''-
Mr.. Dorr arose and addressed the Court for abou,
thirty minutes in calm and dignified manner
briefly reviewing the case. In the course of his
REMARKS he sald 10 tie Judge (hnG VINO that has
a spark OF pure patriotism burning within him
will not respond 10 the sentimen) that. under the
Circumstances Of Tho case, he moud not exchange
the place Of prisoner at the bar for seat By your
side upou nte bench." Chief Justice Durfec briefly
replied, and then pronounced the following sen
tence "THAT THE SAID THOMAS W.
DORR BE IMPRISONED IN THE STATES
PRISON, AT PROVIDENCE. IN THE COUN-
TY OF PROVIDENCE, FOR TIE TERN OF
HIS NATURAL LIFE. AND THERE KEPT
AT HARD LABOR, IN SEPARATE CON-
.FiNEMENT."
In accordance with the sentence, Mr.. Dorr was
on Thursday erenining. brought up from Provi-
dence to Newport aud lodged in the State Prison.
We learn that he entered the prison with firm
step, cheerfuIly 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 agains: the charter government of Rhode
Island, which is already defunct, and which the
very men who tried him had reasonably over
thrown-w without law or the color of law. as that
instrument contained no provision for amendment
or repeal-and set up another government in its
place. Mr.. Dorr was chosen Governor under a
lCoHStluliOu duoptcu uy u idISC VI tilc
pc ople, in accordance with the principles OF the
Declaration of independence. Thetreason which
he had committed consisted in his endeavors, in
accordance with the oath which he took upon en-
tering upon office. administer the best of his
ability the government which the people had right
fully established. 1t will be recollected that the
acting Pre- sdent of the United States interfered
by promising the aid of the United States forces to
the Old Cha rter or AIgerine party; this alarmed
fhe Free Suffrage party, and thus was the Peo-
pIes Constitution, and the Peoples Governor,
(Mr. Dorr,) by the military force of the United
States. overpowered and put down. Herein was
Mr.. DORIS treason-glorious treason!--treason
which will imlnortalze his name and endear it 10
the friends of liberty throughout all ti'ne.s
| Compare the case Of Mr.. Dorr with that of o.
ConneIl, the celebrated repeater. The lattor is
convicted oftreason and sentenced to ticelre months
| Imprisonment in.the Richmond Penitentary, " a
vast pile of buiIdings,.in an airy and saubriors
part of the suburbs of Dubn.'' He occupies the
governors house, large and magnificent edifice,
with spendidly furnished rooms, and extensive