The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-15
VIM. SIMoNs, esq, secretary, &c.
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. 80, ls4s

SIR have received your letter on behalf of the
committee of arrangements, inviting me to partic-
pate with the friends of Thomas w. Dorr at a liber-
alton fete to be given in his honor on Wednesday
next. l regret that my public duties will prevent
my uniting with you on this interesting occasion.
The patriot whom you thus design to honor was
imprisoned for defending the rights of the people,;
and history will enrol his name among those who
have nobly contended and suffered in their cause.
Although cannot be present. permit me to ask you
TO present the sentiment you will find below to the
assembled company.
Very respectfully,
R. J. WALKER.
w. SMoNs, secretary ofthe committee.
The right Of the people 10 abolish royal charters and
establish in their place free cosiit,ionsA right pro-
estimable to freemen and formidable TO tyrants
only" 1t must and will preserved.
TAUNTON, Sept 2, 1645.
DEAR SIR: delayed answer to your kind note
Of the 26th ult. to this late hour in the hope that
should be able to Join my feow-ctzens of Rhode
Island in their CELEBRATION fete." Who, in any
age or country, evinced more sef-sacri6cing
devotion TO the rights of the people, or more martyr
like perseverance in their support, than the distin-
guished individual in honor Of whom this celebra-
ton is made,
have ever sympathized with your suffrage party
in the great principles for which you have so nobly
commended, and which you have SO ardenuy strug-
gled to establish. now tender you my congratu-
ations upon your success and triumph, though par
tal they be- Although you have been defeated, yet
you victorious Although down-trodden and OPP
pressed yourselves, you have, by your persever-
ance, with the aid of an all powerful public opinion
compelled your oppressors to acknowledge the es-
sental principles Of free government, and with their
own hands to knock OFT the shackles with which
they had undertaken to degrade and disgrace the
cause of free suffrage, in the of it's representa-
tive. It is true that Justice was tardy, and imper
fectly done. But the inability to execute, shows
the unrghteousness Of the sentence; and the power
which required the first step towards restoration
will not cease till the work be completed
Although the constitution which your efforts
wrung from the reluctant possessors of arbitrary
power is less perfect than that devised and adopted
by the free voice of the people, yet that is i'm
mensc improvement upon the unequal and unjust
principles of your old royal charter. II contains the
essential doctrines of free government, and opens
the door for future amendments. 1t practically ac-
knowledges the right of the people to FORM abolish
and amend their own constitution of government,
and the right of man to have voice in making the
law by which he is to be governed. What can be
more unreasonable and absurd than the notion that
the iCh0le community cannot alter their fundamental
laws, without the authority of minor part-or that
few acres of land only give those moral and
intellectual qualities necessary 10 enttle to the
right of suffragei
l believe may safely add, that no man out of
your State took earlier or holder stand in favor
of your efforts to establish and exercise the rights
Of FREE SUFFRAGE and of sELF-GovERNMENT, or
more uniformly and earnestly defended and sup
ported your struggles to accomplish these great OBJ
jects. Whether my exertions have been in any de-
gree successful useful to you, better be de-
termned by yourselves than by me.
With my regret that am unable to be with you,
tender to you and those whom you represent the
assurance Of my high consideration and respect
MARCUS MORTON.
VIM SImoNs, esq, secretary of the committee Of
arrangements.