Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-09-26

MEETING OF DORRfTES.

dence r. l., on the 4lh inst, was numer.
ously attended. The delegation from the
city of New York, which went in one
steamboat instead Of two, as was first con-
templated, was abandoned by the Com.
miitee of Arrangements" al contiguous
landing place after the boat had started
for Providence. at was just the same
thing" says tie Express. "when the
"Sympaihsers" made preparations to
stand by Dorr when he was in arms and
most needed the sympathy of his friends.
Here in New York the party was most
valorous, bold, noisy and determined;
but when the hour of trial and trouble
came, the noisiest were the farthest off,
and few men, mere honest and perhaps
more wrong headed than the rest, had to
bear the heat and burden of the fray"
The meeting on the 4th passed off with
out disturbance. Addresses were made
by Gov. HUBBARD, Of New Hampshire,
Elk. Governor MORTON. of Massachusetts,
and others. Letters were read from sew.
eral distinguished personages who had
been invited to be present. We quote
passage from Genl. JAcKsoN's letter:
'If understand the issue presented in
the trial and condemnation Of Gov. Dorr,
he can have committed no offence except
that Of endeavorIng TO supersede the Royal
charter by Constitution emanating d.
rectly from the people, and based in this
respect on the great principle which runs
through all Constitutions ofthe American
Gr.,4,ar 10 .r.nJ
10 the means adopted, either in reference
to time or form, it is difficult to conceive
how the severe punishment inflicted upon
him can be justified"
The fact that Mr.. Dorr "erred as to the
means adopted in his movement to change
the government of Rhode Island, is the
important fact which Gen. JACKSON might
have made the starting and concluding
point Of his letter. To attemp, to carry
on. by force an erroneous idea in political
matters constitutes the party SO attempt
ing rebel against the legal authorities
which he seeks to subvert. Mr.. Dorr
might have awaited himself of oil the con-
stiiutional means at hand to accomplish
the change in the Constitution which he
thought ought TO be made, and no one
could have found fault with him. Ii was
his crime that he undertook TO gain his
purpose by unconstitutional meaus--by
force, by waI--in other words, by trea.
son.
Mr.. VAN BUREN, also wrote letter 10
the Committee Of Invitation, from which
we quote:
"Wth no motive to look upon Gov.
DORIS case in any other than an impair
tial light, am constrained TO regard it as
one Of oppression alike severe, humiliating
and unjust. / cannot, therefore, do other
wise than wish success, earnestly and SIN
cerely to all efforts of the character you
have described, which may be made for
his release, and shall look forward with
anxiety and hope to the happy moment
when, through their agency, backed by
the united sentiment of the democracy of
the nation, he shall be restored to bis
freedom and TO those political rights,
which am persuaded it was never his IN
tention TO PROSTATE to unworthy, much
less to criminal objects"
The "efforts" for DORIS release to which
Mr.. VAN buren, refers are elsewhere spo.
ken Of as "legal." Yet the efforts which
the great mass the Dorrites contemplate
are not restricted within such a limited
sphere. The evidence Of this is to be
seen in one of the resolutions adopted
unanimously on board the boat which
conveyed the New York mass.delegation
TO Providence--it is in these words: Gre.
solved, That we hold ourseheS, one and al,
in readiness to 60 TO Rhode Island a0heR-
erer the people ofthat Stale shall require
oar SympathieS or our services an the cause
of Constitutional Liberty and Equal
Rights" The cause of Constitutional
Liberty is not the cause OF Dorrsm--but
the meaning OF the resolution is apparent
enough. The following resolutions were
adopted at the same time:
"Whereas, we have no doubt that the
paper money Of Rhode Island is power
full means in the hands of the land lords
of that State TO amass wealth without la
Dor, and to maintain usurped power in their
hands, as they are drawing interest from
the people for all they circulate--in other
words, for all they owe TO the cemmuai-
ty--therefore,
"ResoIvcd, That we pledge ourselves
not to give the bankers of Rhode Island
any further credit ill Gov. Dorr is lber.
ated, and the Peoples Constitution restor
ed; ard that we recommend to every
friend OF Dory and Free Suffrage through
out the Uuon TO refuse to take Rhede
Island paper money in exchange for pro-
ducts Of their labor, and Immediately TO
demand specie for what they hold.
Resolved, That we hold the right of
the people in possession Of arms TO be
one Of the mos. sacred conservative pow
ers of the constitution"
This Providence mass-meeiing was CALI
ed ia the names of POLK and DALLAS as
well as in that Of DoRR; so that upon the
very face Of this movement the identified
ton OF the Polk and Dallas party with the
Dorrtes is proclaimed. The great oh
iect Of the leaders in the whole affair is 10
induce the impression that Dorr is mar
tyr TO the freedom Of political opinion
This idea is set forth 10 Gen. Jackson's
letter. 1t is also urged in letter from
Mr.. BANCROFT, who, after declaring that
his heartiest sympathy goes for the lbef-
ation nG Dorr eavs-GtIF Fer the first time in