The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-02
Thomas w. Dorr Restored TO Citizenship.
Almost.

Thomas w. Dorr Restored TO citiIenship.
Almost.
It will be rscolle sted thai Thomas W. Dorr, who
was the leader Of the free suffrage marty in Rhode
Island In lS41, and was as candidate for Gov
ernor under the called peoples constitution OF tha'
State and elected, was proceeded against by the sn
thorities, for endeavoring TO establish his claim On
charge of high treason, and was compel ed 10 t'Ao
refuge outside the confines of Providence plshsa'
tons. In 1914 he returned TO bis home and aeilVer
ed hi nself up to the oc ais wh composed WINS. was
called the Algerine Supreme Court ana Nis N'isu
for the alleged crime, which was In substance aus ~
tempt to resist the cd charter OF Charies IL, OF
England with Its property qualification tor yoEers,
and desiring 20 substitute instead Tree constitution
and free suffrage. la political point OF view II Was
a ontest between the whig and democratic parties
the former supporting the old charter, while the
latter sought to establish o State government
more In consonance with the spirit Of republican
institutions and the advancing age OF civilization He
was tried before the supreme tribunal, the jury as
it was stated being composed entirely of political %.
popents, and found guilty and the Judges senepcsi
him to be confined in the State prison for life Public
sentiment subsequently set rather strongly towards
the individuals who had pronounced 30 harsh iadg-
ment and after being in prison year nc was re-
lowed TO remain, which left him, according to tae
code, an outlaw.
The Legislature of Rhode Island now in session
in Providence, have had before it a bill aauuiing
the judgment OF the court ABOVE referred -, and
restoring to Mr. Dorr the rights of a citizen which,
on the oath ut. was passed By the Seua.e
by majority Of one vote II must os borne ia iniuI
that the govern ment Of Rhode Island for the hrst
time since the DOR and Algerlne di1lcatessis de-
mocratic. On the 2sth the act came up in the
House OF Representatives. and was there amended
by placing before the sting clause long pre- IA.
be- aud adding another se CON 10 the BID, causing
l. to take effect im medaey after It's passage, aud la
this state II passed by vote % 80 20 q. 1t
coutended thar tbe Legislature has no power t. ao
null the acts OF the Su Court, as that tribunal
l. coordinate branch VI tne State goFernmeut,
aud not subject to legislative authority but ii the
bill as amended passes the >enie, Al Is sgued by
the Governor, we are ipclined 10 think the Judges
will have to obey it, The fo)n ing is the act as it
passed the House OF Representatives -
Whereas the General assembly OF his state hath from
time TO time exercsd tse posers conferred upon by
the Charter OF Kioe Charsh shs Scsond 40 alter
verse, snrul or pardon, uo-sr tas'r comnon seal or
otherwise, su ia hnOs, musts i'm risoameuts sertpes
Judgments and sonaemnStions hal thought A."
And whereas the ssne possfs ssro continued 70 the
General Assembly unc.r tha existing consultation Of s5s
State by TIE teime thereof uhca provide thst tbs
General ASS, mey shall o1ItisEs 70 exeIcse tn powers
they have heretofore osed, ,sls prohibited oy this
constitution and by the provta that sthe Supsns
Court established By tbs coosdsGtion ahIl havs ths
same Jurisdiction the supreme judicial Court" there
And whereas sp alleged political cGssas OF Shioh n
judgment hath bets cred in % the STATE may
In certain oecAson for hs exercise
OF such high powers:
And whereas upon the trial Q, Thomas Wilson Orr
for the alleged crime a. there WAS an na-opsr
and ni~ga return .; Jurors 10 this hst hundred sad
seven juors ON one plricai ptsty We de1Snsdy
Of persons sctiEg in behalf Of sas STATE And only
juror from tbs ohtr pocosi party, And tbs se5u.d
trled In county oihsT ihaa Or IN Saicn tas Aged
allowed hut too tSys vi any, and but few hours
with some Of the pssel jaro1s in sbich 10 Inquire 10
fhafr So nNs e-.N
not sowed ate. the rsmpicry chaepgt OF stvsrR OF
such jurors ard ate. ooieies proof Of sush d4 lla
eafona TO WITHDRAW said psIeG ptoFy claspges snd 10
challenge sad Jurors for cause or 70 hsya ne tliS "a
consequence thereof:
Ard where,, Il court dsolsd tbs jury The right TO
pass upon the que tons o. e thoush said oouct had
previously in xecodance with the Law held chat
the jury might In ctiuns "tats tn asslyss
the responsibility of ssSid Questions q .r' and the
not towsj tn snox, in pshsation Ia
plarG ion Of his motive, intent hat ae seed Ter
constitution which 50 been aaoyted by isge majority
OF the people the STATE seotioa the
Governer OF the State and la aSsorisnoo WITH what
thereof:
And vberess the said Tbouap wilson Dorr Was thereby
wrorgfplIy oobyiet'd
And Whereas cssir, BILE for tss bsst OF this
State that the thereby Indicted said DJrr,
and upon people Of lie should be- rsres ed and
that the animosires cIea,so by tia civil otion.
which preceded and accom- sned said trial should ess,
And whereas it hiss been the oastooa of our ,sl.h
forefAhers fbut tor wi ia there nAth besu happily
occasion heretofore in tn history of th connty) Wien
Judgments for treAson have taas Illegally Aad
gully Obtained 10 BY &C. Of P.ramsp tsdcA
iutemns and to direct to the end that lstis, os doas
those who have been thus c5nscte thai the soeords
thereof be canoe led destroyed
lei enacted b. the General Asserbly as follows
rec. i The Judgment Of th- Supreme C1ert, shercby
Thomas WILSON Dorr. of Providence the twsn itth
day Of June, A. Is44 WAS sentenced 10 imprisonment
for % 1t hard labor, in separate sondasmsS is hereby
repealed reversed spnule Ard dsalIed In all respects
70 BE- as II IL hal been rendered.
&c To the end tssS right b, dose to tbs said
Thomas Wilson Dorr the rrx of ths supreris Court "
the county OF Newport is hereby treosd 20 ws
the face OF the I'd Of shid udsmen. tbs words RS
vsrsed and spnulled BY of the General Assembly
Of their Janusr, session, A. - 1854"
See g. The Secretary OF Stste Ia hereby directed u
ixkpsnt COPY OF this Ast TO each o. tbs Governors
Of the several States snd TO the Congress OF the unssd
States.
seo 4. This act .hAn take effect from and altar Its
passage.