The Arkansas banner., 1844-07-17
GOV..D DORR.

We learn from the Eastern papers, that the Su preme Court of Rhode Island has sentenced THoM- As WILSON DoRR 10 IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE AT t4-fsD f-tB07 IN THE STATE PRIsoN The people of the United States will receive this intelligence with feelings of surprise and indignation If the pages of History record a greater outrage against the popular right of elf-govenment--agains the sacredness of the elective franchize-or against the personal liberty of the individual citizen, we have no where read it. What has Gov. Dow done, that he has been thus punisheda Nothing which an honest man should blush to own-nothing of which patriot may not be proud In the just and elo- quent language of the Boston Post, he is punish ed-For no act that he did to violate any law; but for upholdng the doctrines of the Declaration of h. dependence, and avowing the same principles that Jefferson, Adams, and Hancock held, in their struggle with Great Britain to maintain the right of the people to self government
 The people of Rhode Island had been organized
 into a colonial government by Royal Charter de- rived from Charles IT, of England Under this charter, the government vested in the hands of the property holders; while the larger mass of the people was deprived of the right of voting and all other participation in the administration of public aairs-ercepi 10 do military duty-lcorc on Ae roads and pay taGes. Moreover by the terms of this old charter the Legislature of Rhode Island could pass no law-s'not in accordance with the laws of England" Such charter was virtually abolished by our declaration and achievement of National h. dependence. But even had it survived that, it was certainly rendered utterly null and void by our Fed eral Constitution, which solemnly guarantees to each State in the Union ga Republican form of go- vernment." Win any one pretend that such char ter was ga Republican form of government? Never theess the people of Rhode Island continued 10 live on under this miserable apology for e government, until the inequality end oppressiyeness of it's opera ton, became intolerable. From time to time it is true, they had spetitioned for redress but, was the case with their Revolutionary fathers their re- peated petitions were answered by repeated nury.' They resolved to submit no lenger-they resolved to have, what the Federal Constitution guaranteed to them-"a Republican form of government To accomplish this, convention of the people was as- sembed-a "Republican form of government was instituted, by means of State Constitution--this Constitution was adopted by a majority of the peo- pie of the state-under this Constitution, THOMAS WILSON DoBR was elected Governor by a majority of the peopIe-and, thus authorized, he entered up- the duties of his office.
 "This is the head and front of his offending No more.' Yet, for this, he was attacked and over powered by the Royat Charier party, who had com Inaud of the military force, and driven from the state
 Meanwhile, the more liberal and sagacious of the Charter party, finding that the people would have reformation, united with the Constitutional party, and by common consent adopted still another Con stitaton, which, although not so liberal the one proposed by DoRR, was at least Constitution, un- der which freemen might agree to live, and great improvement upon the old Royal Charter. This was the result of compromise, and for the purpose of harmony. Under this new Consultation, the fune- lions of government were resumed And under what seemed to be its protection, Gov DoRR, not in his capacity as Governor but as plita'c citizen.