Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-08-20
From the N. Y. Evening Post.

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mas excited the fc Of some of the Wing
presses, and particularly of the American
and Commercial Advertiser, which do NOT
hesitate 10 assall very bitterly some Of the
gentlemen concerned in it. he Journal
of Commerce. also discou!ses in nearly
The same strain, and compares the Phi!a-
delpha riots 10 The Rhode IS and contest.
al d would have the world think that The
rioters there had as much right on their
Sde as The parts rs of Gov. Dorr, ana
lie Tree suffrage party, which elected him
Governor. Perhaps these misrrpresenia-
Ions are harmless. " neither they are or
uot, we will take this occasion once Tor all
10 answer them
fir>;-As TO the Parallelsm between
the PhIiadei phia riots and the establish
ment OF the constitution Of Rhode Island
IN what does il consist! Will the wings
please 10 inform usl In Phlladelphia
there was mob. composed OF verv
small portion Of the inhabitants OF Il SIN
sc town, the merest fraction of state,
assembled without any pretence of legal
o ganzatlon rs authority, in defiance o.
the laws. In Rhode Island, u majority OF
the inhabitants Of the state assembled
peacefully, chose delegates 10 n cunyen-
ton to frame constitution, there being
40 provision IN the existing charter for ifs
amendment when the constitution had
been thus framed, it was accepted bv y
majority of the inhabitants. The const
tuition thus framed, ii was maintained. va2
the organic law of the state superccdiry
the charter. Upon this opinion the auyo-
Gates ct the constitution acted, aud til,
par ISans of the opposite opinion resisting,
Il conflict arose III which the free sufrart,
party was overcome. Now we sec not5l
ing i'll the Two cases, ut III! similar. One
was the case Of admitted resistance of law:
the other ot dissent, as 10 what was tht.
law That Mr.. Dorr supposed himself
ght, no man who k!!9ws him, doubts. II
he was right in his opinions, that he was
bound TO enforce the constitution, is equa!-
~ clear.
The democratic party IS the friend Of
law aud order. it would enforce these
with untinching Grmness. Instant ami
constant obedience 10 the laws is lis doc
trlne. 1t gives no countenance 10 riots,
or TO any illegal proceedings. 1t does not
believe that a portion Of the iuhlbrauts al
Philadelphia, or all Of them, can make or
change the laws of PcnnSytyania; but il
believes that The prcscn; constitution o.
Pennsylvania is valid and binding ia
sttument, though il was. established by lht
people. not only not in accordance with the
former constitution, but in plain defiance
OF ii. Can our whig friends understand
this Dist ctioa Next 10 the punish
ment OF Mr.. Dorr, and the proprety Of
denounclng 1t. Ii he was right, his pun.
ishment is an act Of mons,rous tyranny
ii he was wrong, still ii is an act of unnc-
cessary and cruel severity. Is no dislinc-
ton be taken between crimes of state
and common felony Talk about it as
you will, Tie sentiment of mankind revolts
at contoundng Mr.. DORIS case with rob-
berry and arson. What would have been
thought of the English government, it
| OConnelI had been put into ielon's cell,
a! hard LABOR. hs bead JShavPeds egd> % fahr
/ in Il bucket, and his keepers allowed 10
whip him as much as they pleased! What
would be thought OF any government in
I ChrlStendom treating state prisoner so z
! What Christian government, but the petty
government of Rhode Island, wonld 10 ia
->Githei 'Ic CoHS plTdloTs against Inc pres
ent Emperor of Russia, nor the ministers
of Charles the Tenth, who brought death
to thousands of Frenchmen, and eonspircd
against the liberties of all, were treated
like burglars or asSassIuS. The yocc Of
Europe would have exclaimed against il.
We have sand that majority Of the in
habitants OF Rhode island adopted the peo-
pies constitution. We have done so be-
cause in the various prosecutions growing
out Of the troubles, repeated offers have
been made in cou:, TO prove it so, whic,
offers have been overrulcI by the court ~
lmmaterlaL In passing sentence upol,
MIR. Dorr, The Supreme Court of Rhode
Island, oyerrulcd his defence, assuming
the fact of Il majority in other words.
they have sent him into dungeon, us il
he had been highwayman, simply be-
cause he held that government might bo
changed by majority Of the people Of Il
state, without leave OF the existing lcgis-
lion-a doctrine which some suppose lies
at the foundation of American freedom
II Is no use TO say that he might be
pardoEed on making confession Of h
wrong. If he believes himself right, hom
could he admit himself wrong The vcty
defence which he sets up for himself makes
his release OH any such terms an imposs..
bIlity.