Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-07-28
Pierce I'm favor ofDorrism.


1t was observed that on a late visit Of Pierce
to Rhode Island, The fret man he called upon aoas
The infamous Governor Dor. The Alexandria
Telegraph publishes an extract from the Proyi.
dence Herald paper edited by Dorr, in which
he refers to his interview, and speaks Of the
friendship Of Pierce for his cause in Rhode ls-
land He says: ave had the pleasure Of an in
teryiew with him. He is in fine health and in
high spirits, and has an excellent campaign in
him. Being thoroughgoing, practical Demo
cract, and a man of and among the people, and
knowing what united Democracy can do, he
commits himself cheerfully to their hands. Wien
our conversation toas turned 10 some ofthe ddirs qf
1912, and his acet-hnopn friendship for the Rhode
Island cause Of sovereignty md subrage, ve took
tie Hberty--peahingfo for our Democratic tretRyen-to
assure him tat lis friendship fr ha caUse aoas not
| forgotten, and that ,eould uge The ranh and file
Of our purity to unusual ercrtions. Democrats
viii you ratify this promise by your exertions aud
votes i'll the present campaign ?"
| 1t is possible that our readers may have for
gotten some of : the affairs OF lSi2 to which
Governor Dorr refers, and the progress of that
Rhode Island Gauge " Of which General Pierce
was such fast friend Wo will give brief
summary of it, that the people Of the South may
keep fresh in their minds the disorgauizing doc
trincs and revolutionary cause of which the DEM
ocratic candidate for tho Presidency is the advo-
! .
upon a petition signed by five or six hundred
male inhabitants for such an extension of suffrage
as the legislature might deem expedicnt to pro-
pose, called convention TO frame written
constitution.
After this legal convention had been provided
for by the legislature, meeting was held by the
peoples party" as it was called Mt Newport,
and committee appointed who were authorized
by the meeting to take measures for calling II
! ti,,, ~ f., ittin,
ventions met, and a written constitution was
! framed by each
Both parties voted upon their respective plans,
and the peoples constitution was in minority by
o large vote. But illegal, null, and void as their
whole proceedings were--even if they had OBJ
tanned a majority-yet, although they were in 4
decided minority. the officers of the porr faction
proceeded rs if they were entitled to full author
ty; they met under an amendment, and proposed
to govern and officer the State at the bayonet'
point! The offensive difference between the pro-
visions of the two constitutions was simply that,
by the legal constitution, "eycTy white male ma
tive citizen possessing the freehold qualification,
and over twenty-one years OF age may vote upon
q residence of one year, and, without any free.
hold, may vote upon q residence of two years,
except in the case of voters for town taxes, in
which case the voter must possess the freehold
qualification, OF be taxed for other property of
the value of $780," and by the peoples con-
stitution, as it was called every white male
citizen of the United States of the age of twenty
one years, who has resided in the State for one
year. and in the town where lie votes for six
months shall be permitted to vote, with the same
exception us to voting for town taxes as is con
tanned in the other constitution"
The whole proceedings of Dorr were of the
most revolutionary and disorganizing character
He raised armed force, entrenChed them il
regular military style, loaded his cannon TO th
muzzle, and Rhode Island was on the very cyo o
, a bloody fight when he ingloriously took to hi
, heels But for the coNardicc Of this miserable
demagoguc, not only Rhode Island, but the whole
: country, might have been involved in civil war
II The disorganzers Of other States were about tc
rally TO the side of Dorr, aud the friends of law
and order in other States would no doubt have
FASTENED to the side OF the constitutional govern
ment of Rhode Island. Such was the cause for
his "wELL KNOWN FRIENDSHIP" for which Gca.
Pierce is complimented by Gov. Dorr, and the
remembrance of which is to animate the Democ-
racy of Rhode Island to new cxcrtons in his
| support!
Dorr was aiming at the overthrow of the con-
lttutional government Of his State, seeking TO
involve her in civil war; and was prepared to
tramplc under foot the rights of person and prop
erty. What do Southern men think Of such a
cause as that: What do they think Of the car
dinal principle of Dorrism, of which Pierce was
" weil-kaouR friend, " that a portion of the com.
munity may assume to he majority, subvert eX
isting constitutions and laws make new laws tC
suit themselves, and call in the rowdies Of othel
States to support theu by force of arms In thci
pretensions! Dorr has told us what Pierce
thinks of this doctrine What do the people 0
the South think Of it and of Pierce /:
Richmpnd RYn!hco"