Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-12-17
On Dallp pp.
popnInr sovereignty.

pendent of the action of the general government
or of the sef-styled Legislature which has been
imposed on them by the people OF Missouri is but
literal carrying out of the policy adopted oy
the g free suAraQists" Of Rhode Island, in tue
famous contest of lS4l-2, when the Democrats oil
the country, throughout the Free States, and IN
many of the Northern slave States, all supported
Governor Dorr Extracts from the journals anu
orators of the party, in Congress and out, from
President Pierce and his organ, down to the num-
blest subaltern in their ranks, might quo'eu a'
any length in the fullest viudication OF the doc-
trine OF popular sovereignty as now attempt
ed to be carried out by the people OF hsn2as'
We NAV give, hereafter, some extracts from
the speeches of the Presidents District Attorney
for Massachusetts, on this question. For the
present. we wish to be ndulged a few rerninis-
cences in regard to the position Of the President
himself The Boston correspondent of the New
York Evening Post has, since our reference to
the matter, had some well-timed remarks on this
point, which we quote. He says" The people
OF Kanzas have done neither more nor less than
the Rhode islanders, only that the latter had not
half the provocation that is peadable in the case
of the former There never was question on
which the Northern and Western Democracy were
more firmly united than they were on that which
grew out of the Rhode leland affair, and the mem
ory of Governor Dorr is held by them in the ut
most generation, as that of man who made r6at
exertons in, and sacrifices or,the cause OF popu-
lar sovereignty, by which the democracy then
meant. not the power to misgoyern others, but
the enjoyment of their rights, by the people te
govern themselves. No where was the feeling
in favor Of the suffrage party stronger than in
New Hampshire, the naturally sober people Of
which were reused thereon to a pitch OF enthusi-
asm that has rarely been equalled in that State
The democratic leaders all shared in that enthu-
siasm, and none more so than Franklin Pierce
who was, down to the hour of the Governors
death, a warm personal and political friend Of
Mr.. Dorr."
1t will be remembered that Governor Dorr,
knowing that the whig government of Massachu
sets would surrender him to the authorities of
Rhode Island, took up his residence, for some
time, in New Hampshire, of which Henry Hub
bard was then Governor. 1t is well reccllected
that the wings were so much enraged at this cor
dial welcome which Governor Dorr received in
that State, that, could plausible excuse have
been given for it, they would gladly have had
New Hampshire invaded, and Governor Dorr
seized. "But it is well known adds the Posts
correspondent, "that the government of New
Hampshire stood ready to defend its guest with
the whole military power Of the State, which, as
that power was well organized, could not have
been successfully attacked by any force at the
command of the general government A few
days after General Pierce was nominated for the
Presidency, he made a visit to Governor Dor,
which was the first visit he made upon being
placed at the head of the democracy OF the Union.
The occurrence was thought to be significant, and
at the time was much commented on by both the
foes and friends Of the General, the wings being
much shocked at the sight of candidate for the
Presidency visiting one whom they regarded as
highly gratfed to see that their leader was ~
prompt to recognize the popular sovereignty
doctrine in the person of its first living champion
Well, we now see the President at the head of
psrty which scorns that doctrine, and ready to
put down its assisters by the force of the general
government, just as Mr.. Tyler, at the instigahon
of Webster and Calhoun, was ready to do the
same thing in the Rhode Island controversy
The wings who now propose to join the demo-
Gratis, are the very men who were the most fierce
in their opposition to and hatred of Governor
Dor. What say the nuethern democrats to these
things, and particularly those of New Hamp-
shire? Are they prepared to shake hands with
their old revilers only that their powers may be
combined for the purpose Of putting down the
friends of freedom and upholding slavery in Kan
cas-? We shall see.''
Let those distinguished democrats of the coun-
try, who were rampant in favor of popular
sovereignty" in Rhode Island, as to call upon the
arm of the general government to sustain the
movement Of Thomas w Dorr in opposition to
the old established sauthorites' there, now show
their consistency by vigorous support of the
present popular movement in Kanzas. Let the
President lead of, by the Immediate removal of
the infamous "Algerine" Shannon from the Gov.
ernorship, and the appointment of man to that
post in favor Of popular sovereignty" practical.
ly carried out Then let Cass, Douglas, Hallett,
and,the rest, in Congress and out, who have been
30 eloquent for popular sovereignty" in times
past, pay enough Difference to the sentiments of
their own speeches, to back up such action of
the President. But we fear they are all now bound,
manu- anu iOOts " Sudl slave pONSf3 which, unlLfQ
with the wings, during the Presidency Of John
Tyler, succeeded in "crushing out the peo-
Plies movement in Rhode Island, against the re-
monstrances Of the Northern democracy. For,
to their shame be it said, that same Northern de-
mocracy are now united with the South in tramp.
ling under foot those same doctrines of popular
right, which they once SO loudly professed to
hold.
DEAD LErTERs.-Nearly one and half mil
lions Of dead letters were opened at the office in
Washington during the last quarter Three
thousand letters FOR that period contained money
70 an amount not exceeding Sl8,OOO about sew
en-eighths Of which has been promptly restored
to its owners. Dead letters from foreign coun.
tries to the States are mailed back but all other
letters, except those containing remittances--
(three or four million per annum-are destroyed
VIRGINIA AND HER FINANcEs.--It appears
that in Virginia, the disbursements next year lin.
GLIDING large deficit this year, will exceed the
receipts by gl,455,25l. To meet this, the Audi
tor states that an average increase of 100 per
cent to the taxes will be necessary. And this 100
per cent. increase does not admit of dollars APP
preparation TO Internal improvements 1t is ab-
sorbed by past deficits and current expenses