Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-08-23

O'CONNEtI, AND DORK


MI Eiiior-1he article in the Evening Post the
other day. on the imprisonment Of MIR. Dorr of Rhode
Island, contains an error IN relation 10 a matter Of
fact which deserves To be corrcciei In that part of
the article IN which the so-s,vlcd lenency of the
British Government towards O'Connell is conttasicd
with what is called tho barharous seventy of the
government of Rhode Island towards Mr.. u rr it is
asserted that Mr.. O Connc was convicted of :" trca-
Con" 5 FIR. sin is this from being correct that the
truth IS. q, Council was not even charged with trca-
sln, but simply with mislcmpanor technically tenn
ell n conspiracy, and which involved nothing mere
than charge against the courso pursued by Mr.. o.
Counell and his fellow prisoners OF having n 'cnden-
cy 10 excite 10 II breach Of the peace. Iou will per
therefore that II s absurd, to institute n COM
prris)n etwecu the punishment Of OConnell and
that of Mr. Dor any more than between the guilt Of
each. O'Conn,ll in seeking the reforms nj which he
AIMED s;realusy an stea lastly recommended
strict Observance Of the letter and spirit of the
e,ltuon and laws Of Great Britain and Ireland ard
deprecated IN ,hr strongest terms any resort whatcs.
er 10 violence and disorder.
Mr.. Darr, on the contrary, while cndcavornr %
cec, very desirable and ssarv reforms in the con-
.tltutnn Of Rhode Island sought to obtain his purpo-
scs, not in the mode pointed out by the laws. but in
utter disregard and violation OF all the torns of law
md order, anu IN n matter utterly inconsistent with
the great principle upon the strict Observance only
Of which the prtpClujiv Of orr institutions depends.
o1i u the growing of which are owing the Ia
mnntahc circumstances, that already have the streets
Of \ nrighhornE city been ctirsnncd with the blood
of lis citizens and the mllnuht hravcns iunina ed
hv the ur Glaze Of the blazing rrwults Of the living
Gu devoted 10 the fumes hv tAc bind vengeance of
nrrhlc s. nwles> and sncil ai,us mob. | mean,
Mr. Editor, the s7uiarv and truly American prnci-
pie of respect for the laws and the constituted author
tiles. llnd Nj. O'Conne been charged with, and
f. nI guilty nf treason, he would unQlcsnnablv. ere
this have paid the forfeit of his life upon the naows,
unless that catastrophe were prevented by
fll revolution in ireland but he was clnrnel with
mil convicted Of simple mlsdemcInor his punish
mont is ola i,hter nature, although far more severe
than the offence Of which he was convicted deserves,
even ndmitng-wh.cl | cannot and do not-lhat he
was Justly convicted.
Il was not my Intention On commencing This 10 ex-
rrc7s any opinion respecting Mr DORIS guilt Of pun
ishmen'. but simply TO correct the erroneous state
ment made respecting II e offence of which OConueIl
was convicted. Having however takcnnp my pen the
sr Jet has crown upon mo, and in addition to what
have sad, ] cannot avoid remarilng that consider
Mr.. DORIS OIL nee 10 have been one of the most Grim
nal nature and the highest known To the laws Of t,
any other country; and therefore regard his pun
shment more than proporrionnc 10 his guilt
In ICED would have been only observing strict Justice
towards him If he had been made TO cXpn'e his crime
with his lie, What, in fact Mr.. Editor, is the offence
Of which Dorr has been accused and Justly found gull
tv? Nothing less than raising the standard Of re-
bcllion against the constituted authorities of the state
of Rhode Island. and cndeavnrinn to excite violence
bnodshcd, anarchy and revolution. Instead Of seek
ing 10 have the constitution altered in the manner
poin'e1 ont by lh- laws md by appeal to the
s1nn;ellIcncn and good feeling ri his fellow citizens,
he wished TO OvCr-rlIe and 'rTmplc upon the laws
and hv pnnnjna his native state into all the horrors
Of civil war iG accomplish his purposes by terror and
the force ofarms
1t Il, therefore With deep regret and nstonshmcni
Mr.. Elllor. that see men Of known respeclahiliv
and Acknowledged worth and micllnen prominent
democrats and pcrsnns for whose Judgment on most
public questions entertain the highest respect, using
etl II tn enlist the srnnnthieS Of the democratic
party on behalf Of the Rhode island traitors. and cs-
recilly The arch traitor nnl dcmaGorue Dorr, who is
now UNDERGOING the punishment so justly due to his
ofl'nce Ry the way. il is well IN prs'nnd that on
expressing rcGrct for his guilt, and asking FIR mercy
in y proper manner. Dor would he released, and
mill he manlits's sincere ntance Of his wicked
he shonld be. and rust never will b. re-
leased. Should the principles laid dpyn By the Dorr
svmpn,hzers he a"inow cdrrl correct nv and meet
the support and approval Of any lnrre party in the
country then indeed should despair of my country
md her insilturnns. Then ml,'t we hid frewe TO
law and orders nnl expect only nulliir1rion. dish.
MON disorder 9nd in short the vii 'esr anarchy to reign
supreme from on" end of the country to the oher.-
A. one having the interests of that country the PEI pc
tui'y Of her institutions and consequently the success
and pcrnancn"e of the democratic principles deeply
ni heart mus, protest loudly and indirnantlv noan>r
the fir's tn ma, inT to enlist the svmr1thes of
the democratic party on the side of Dnrr and fa
low traitors. 4 DEMOCRAT.
New York hur,s, 1874.