Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-06-26

the memorial OF sundTy citizens OF The town
Of Newport adverse to the unconditional
liberation and restoration Of Thomas W..
Dorr, respectfully
Report,
That they have given to the matter Of
these memorials ,ha, dispassionate consdera.
ton which is demanded by It's Importance to
the peace, prosperity, and honor Of the State.
TO what extent an act Of Amnesty and Par
don for reasonable offences may be made
consistent with The sancti,y Of the laws and
with The safety Of those great constitutional
principles which the government and people
of Rhode Island for years have struggled to
maintain, the Committee leave the wisdom Of
The House to determine. Your Committee.
however, seek no disguise for their own
opinions. Adopting the sentiments nnd tho
language Of the Newport momorlalis,s, they
dcprecate as disastrous To our prospects, ns
an orderly aud well regulated community,
and os fatal To the best interests of tho
Union itself, any action in tho premises by
this General Assembly, which would tend TO
unscl!le the great conservative principles
established by the recent events IN lhe hi.io-
~ Of This Slate. Your Committee are Of
opinion, that such would be the inevitable
effect of the unconditional llbcrai ion and
restoration of Thomas w. Dorr. lie has ap.
pea'cd from the judgment Of the Supreme
Cour! Of this State to higher tribunal u.
Washington, While. therefore, said appeal
remains undecided, your Committee, in COM
mon with the Newport mcmorals,s, would
dcprccac any action m relation to his case,
which would betray a dislrusl IN the sound
ness OF our canse or IN the rcctiiude Of theSu.
prone Court of the United States. IN tho
exercise of his rights as citizen he has
chosen to submit grave questions to that el,-
waited tribunal. To the full and prompt de-
cis'on OF these questions tlvs General As
scmb'y ought, in the opinion Of your Com
iDn'ee. to oppose no obstacles. Calmly TO
await The final judgrncn, Of the highest Judi.
cinl tribunal known to lhe Constitution and
the laws Of The land, seems to be the course,
which, under existing circumstances, your
Committee can most confidently recommend
as honorable and safe fo- the government
and people of Rhode Island.
\ All Of which ~ respectfully submitted by
\ VIZ. q. GoupAsn. For the
RoseNr q CRANsroN, COMMITTEE.
4 oumo60ry ofR- .'-,l '',|'.
ID byJ :. yourhl'ot Esq If Gloucester.
| !. That q MINORITY Of the electors Of this
4 State are in favor of the unconditional liber-
alton Off. w. Dorr and of his restoration 10
his privileges. This Mr.. T.. infers from the
election of Gov. Jackson, who was pledged
to support this measure. md from the fact,
asserted by him, that large number of the
! opponents Of Gov. J. have peilioned for such
| an act.
.. That unconditional liberation &c. would
not be an acknowledged by the State, that
its proceedings against Il. w. Dorr, had
been wrong or unjusIifable, but merely an
nc, Of mngnOnImty & llberalny on the part
of its authorities.
j. Thu, Mr. Dorr objects to taking the
oath of allegiance required by the act of jan
nary lasi,ns conc eding that he has been gull
\ iy Of the offences imputed to him, nnd not
from any hostility to the present Constitution
of this State.
Il q. In conclusion, Mr.. Il. recommends the
passage of an act Of Amnesty and for the
liberation Of T. W.. Dorr. The principal
provisions of this act are to forbid any pros
ccu,ions hereafter under the nc, in relation
to offences against the Sovereign Power of
the s,ate--to noIlc proscqui all prosecutions
now pending under said act and finally to
dec lare that 4. w. Dory is restored as fully
10 oil his rights s. privileges as if he had new.
er been convicted aud ,ha, The Warden of
the State Prison be directed forthwith 10 dis
charge him,