The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-15
:. W AS Il | N & TON.
MONDAY EVENING. JULY Is. 1874
DORRISM.

"
three columns, the object of which is TO justify
the Dorr rebellion. The editor in the first place
quotes statement of the case from speech Of
Mr.. .McClernand, of Illinois, which he says gives
fair account of the transaction. From that
statement we make an extract below, which es-
tablishes as clear case of rebellion and treason
as ever occurred in any country. We by no
means approve of the Charter Government of
Rhode Island. 1t was doubtless exclusive ard
arbitrary in its spri,. and gave but little political
influence to the masses of men. But there was
legitimate way Of rectifying the evil, by repeated
and untiring circumstances with the Legislature,
and BY constant "agitaton" among the people.
No better evidence could be desired of the prac-
ticabiiity ora peaceful remedy than is furnished
BY Mr.. McClernand himself Speaking of the rati-
fcation by the people of the Dorr constitution, he
says that 1904 votes were given for it, which
number constituted a majority Of the adult male
citizens. and among the number were 800 legally
qualified voters, which were at the same time a
majority who were thus qualified. So that it is
quite apparent. according to the statement of Mr..
McClernand, the warm friend Of the Dorr party.
that that party Numbered majority Of the legally
qualified voters. and might, by irmness and pru-
dsnce, have had Tin their power after the next
legal State election TO remedy every grievance of
which the people complained. There could, there
fore. hare existed excuse for The revolutionary
course pursued by Dorr. He could have only
been actuaied by the faciious spirit Of dema.
gogua: The grievance, at most, was but the de-
NAL Il political privileges-no oppression, no ty-
ranny Had been rracticed All that could be
chafgst agsinet the ruling party was a refusal to
part WSlA the power which they had enjoyed i'm
memorially. That there existed the means Of
exerting sufficient moral influence upon the
elect6rs 70 produce the change desired will at
oncs be made apparent, by considering the i'm
mense changes that have been effected in the
British constitution within the last hundred and
fifty years, without revolution violence Of any
sort. Those great measures of melioration have
been each and all of them brought about by the
disfranchised people Of Great Bfitain, operating
by the legitimate mode of remonstrance and petit
ton to the Parliament. Revolution is the right
Of every people, but it is remedy for great and
permanent evils, not for every temporary grievance
which may incommode the people. The auhori-
ties quoted by the Globe are all mal.apropos.
Those authors contemplated cases of great OPP
preston aud tyranny when they laid down the
right of revolution as the remedy. They never
dreamed Of having their names dragged in to
sanction a "storm in teapot" such as had been
kicked up in Rhode Island
Sanction the principle that the people have the
Fight to remedy every grievance by revolution,
and there will no longer exist the slightest guar
anty Of private property. Let the principle of
revolution be sanctioned as an ordinary means of
feoress Tor every imaginary !" i'll that fl sh is heir
TO- and It would not be ten years before men
would pc found openly advocating an equal dis.
tribution OF lands and chatels. and denonnc,no
the monopoly of individual proper,v. with az ,nncn
reckless boldness as is now displayed nv the
friends of DORIS rebellion.
Therefnarks of the Globe to which we have call
Cd attention, a. evincing the tendencies of ,,coo.
coism, were made in reference to the speech Of Mr.
Clay At Rsisifk. The editor of that prin, has been
Allowing or his snstomical skill for some days BY
dissection Of the speech, but 50 for from iujur-
ing the Wings or Mr.. Clay, his knife has only
served to lay open the sound heart and conserva-
tive tendencies Of Whiegery, and by contrast, to
expose the anarchical unprncipled character Of
Locofocoism.
At the South the Locofoco party, at least large
portion of il, claim the right TO nullify law Of
Congress whenever any State may think it con-
Aicts with it, local interests. AT the North the
Locofocos sanction open rebellion to all govern
nsnts, as the ordinary remedy tor political griev
saees The Southern wing of the party. in con-
fssmity with their sentiments, have declared law
II ths Federal Government null and void while