The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-02

The delegates appointed by the disorgani-
zers now met to prepare constitution Tor the
State. There was no legal authority for :heir
appointment, nor any law to determine who
might vote in their election. Non-resdents
and unnaturalized foreigners, could vote Tor
delegates as well as citizens OF the State
Soon this body put forth what they termed
"the Peoples Constitution" and named
time for submitting it TO their constituents for
their appreciation. Boxes were provided in
all the towns, several days in succession, for
all who chose to deposit their votes IN person,
and afterwards liberty was given to every one
who wished to vote by PROXY. Men went all
about the State collecting votes in favor of
their constitution, from those who would au-
thorize them TO carry them in their name. OF
course there was nothing to prevent any ones
voting a hundred times, if he chose to do so,
and the fact would remain unknown, ifhe as
sumed different name at each time. This,
it was afterwards discovered, was done to a
great extent, and mullitudes of votes were
given under fictitious names.
In this way the radicals were able 10 show
an immense number of votes in favor OF their
constitution, and as the friends of law and or
der did moi, of course,vote at all, it was declar-
ed by its makers as adopted and become the
law of the State. An election of State OIL
GERS was then held under this so called con-
sttutiou-its friends, of course, having 1t all
their own way, without any opposing votes
from the friends of law, and Dorr was chosen
Governor, and qualified in the forms prescrlb-
ed by the instrument under which he was
elected. Other officers were appointed-a
legislature assembled-laws were passed, and
an attempt was made to eject the legal gov
eminent and 10 take possession of the proper
ty of the State.
This brought matters to a crisis, and Dorr,
aided by some of the refuse population Of 9TH
er States, resorted TO arms and made an at
tempt upon the State Arsenal at Providence.
He was, however, affrighted at the prepare
tons made to resist him, and after he had APP
piled match TO gun which missed fire, he
fled. He again assembled body of armed
miscreants from New York and elsewhere, at
Chepachet, r. l., to make another attempt to
take possession of the government; but upon
the approach of the State troops he again
made his escape, and this dangerous treason
against the legal government was efeutually
defeated, and reward was offered for the APP
prehension of Dorr, and his delivery to the
officers Of the State.
This rebellion against the government
being now defeated, the legislature again
provided for the election delegates to a
convention, to form constitution Tor the
State. They were elected-the conven
ton met and drafted 4 constitution, which
was submitted to the people, and approved
by a majority of votes, legally given and
ascertained.-many of those who had
been at first in favor of the so called
peoples Constitution" but who had
disapproved of DORIS movements, voting
for it. Under this new constitution the
government was organized and is now adj
ministered, by officers chosen according
to its provision.
After wandering about for several
months, Dorr returned to Providence and
was arrested and committed to take his
trial for leaveing war against the govern
ment and people of the State. 1t was
fully proved on his trial that he assembled
an armed force and marched to the State
Arsenal, and that he applied match to a
gun heavily loaded, which aimed at that
II W dS dlSO DlOhC0 Nhob III W Do
in command of the mob which met at
Chepachet, to overthrow by force the
government of the State, and that his de-
clared intention was to make war upon and
destroy all who resisted him; and he was
found guilty by an impartial jury, of the
crime of high treason, and sentenced by
the Court to Imprisonment for life. A
free pardon, however, has been promised
him whenever he will take the oath of all
egiance to the legal government of the
State, which he has thus far refused to
do.
Upon a review of all the circumstances
connected with these transactions, we can
discover nothing which should entitle this
man to the sympathy of any friend of law
and order; nor can the principles conten-
ded for by him and his friends be admitted
and practiced without the certain intro
duction of anarchy. If any body of men
who are dissatisfied with existing forms
can assemble without any authority of law,
and adopt new system of government,
and call upon the people by their votes, to
say whether it shall be adopted or not,
there is an end to all stability in our in
stitutions 4: and if the same body of men
after having manufactured votes enough
to show an apparent majority in its fevor,
could abolish the existing government
and introduce their own, there would soon
be an end of all law, and no security for
the property, the liberty or the lives of
our people.
1t is one of the most dangerous devel-
opments of locofocoism, that the party
has so readily adopted the disorganizing
principles of Dorr and his associates, and
it should stimulate every friend of our
Institutions to renewed exer-
ertions to put down once and forever,
party whose success would leave us Of
freedom nothing but the name.--NeU
Hauen Palladium.