The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-28
From the Statesman.

From the Statesman.
GOV. DORR ANU HIS TREAT
MENT IN PRISON THE VIII
LAlNY AND FALSEHOOD OF
HIS PERSECUTCRS.
Much studied Misrepresentation
about the treatment which Gov. Dorr
has received from the hands of his
worse than Algerine oppressors, has
been exhibited by the federal press of
the country. In this crusade of false
hood, the Providence Journal, the or
gan of federalism in Rhode Island, has
taken the lead, and has found a willing
echo of all its falsehoods in the Journal
of this city. To show what lengths
federalism will 90, in its efforts to de-
ceive, we publish below, correspon-
dence between Charles Jackson, who
was recently elected governor of Rhode
Island, and the Inspectors of the State
Prison, where governor Dorr is now
confined in a felon's cell under sem
tence of hard labor for life, for daring
to demand a republican form of gov
ernment for his native State.
Gov. jackson was invited to visit
the prison by the nspectors, and trus-
ting that he would misreprasent the
facts in relation to DORIS treatment,
for the purpose of shielding his whig
friends from blame, they addressed to
him the following letter:
PRovIDENcE, June 3, 1845.
Sir:-The Inspectors OF the State
Prison, having learned that you have
visited that institution and examined
into its mangement,respect y request
you to make any suggestion you may
deem proper, that may advance its in
terest and promote the objects oflts es-
tablishment.
The Inspectors are the more desi-
rous of communication from you, be-
cause they have been SO often accused
in the newspapers of party whose
confidence you possess, OF cruelty and
mismanagement.
If there be any thing wrong in the
establishment, they wish to correct it,;
if not, they desire to have the public
mind rightly informed.
remain, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS NJ. BURGESS.
Chairman Board Inspectors, r. l..
State Prison. His Exc'y, Charles Jack
son. governor, &c.
in answer to this note, Gov. Jackson,
two days after replied. His letter,
shameluIIy garbled, was thus published
in the Providence Journal. the organ of
Rhode Island AIgerine whiggery:
Pro vIDENcE, June 5, 1845.
Sir:-I have your note ofthe Sd inst.
In reply, permit me to say, &c.
[What Immediately follows, relates
to certain statements made to the gov
ernor during his visit, and which can
not be published with propriety, as such
publication would be breach of the
official confidence which must protect
conversations between convicts and
Official VisiterS OF the Prison. The
governor recommends that two pris.
oners, whom he mentions, should "be
hereafter allowed the benefit of exer,
else at frequent intervals in the open
air."
further suggest, for your consider.
alton, whe therit may not be advisable
70 grant occasionally the same privil
ege to every convict, whose deport
ment is uniformly proper and praise
worthy.
1t gives me pleasure to say, in con
clusion, that the cells, workshop and
other apartments Of the prison, appear
to be clean and comfortable, and that
the prisoners, so far as ! observed, were
judiciously and proftably employed.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
CHARLES JACKSON.
Thomas NJ. Burgess, esq, Chairman
of Board Of Inspectors Rhode Island
State Prison.
Indignant that his letter should thus
be given 10 the public in Il shape so
shamelessly garbled, with all that por.
ton relative to DoEr omitted-Gov.
Jackson, on the morning of its pubica
tion, addressed q note, which is given
below, to the editor Of the Journal, ac
companicd by copy Of his lie tier to
the Prison Inspectors, that the whole
might be published, in order to set the
matter in its true light, before the pub
lie. The reader, at u glance, can see
by what follows, how vilainously the
letter was falsified in its first publica-
ton:
To The Editor of the Journal:
observe in the Journal this morning
a portion Of my letter in reply to one