The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-28

From YcrDsJs Philadelphia Press
Rhode Island was governed a. q Province
and State by charter granted by that
protiigate monarch, Charles the Second for
nearly one hundred and eighty years. II
was. in fact, a mere municipal charter, in
which the whole power was vested in the
freemcn Of the company. The right Of sui.
irage was, Therefore, practically confined to
free-hOlders, or owners Of real estate, and
their eldest sons thus conveying the RICH,
OF primogeniture into the elective franchise.
The people of Rhode Island, when fresh
from the revolutionary contest and deeply
imbued with the immortal principles OF the
Declaration Of Independence, in their ratifi-
cation OF the Constitution OF the United
states, communicated to Congress on the
10th Of june, 800, declared in plain and
simple language the great doctrine Of popu.
lar sovereignty. They declared That all
power Is naturally vested in, and consequent
ly derived from, the people" and THAT the
powers OF government may be resumed BY
the people whensoeyer it shall become neces.
sary to their happiness"
Under the Charter Government, any per-
son dining at the public table of hotel in
Providence, with forty or fifty Of its free 10
habitants preent--some clerks, some mer-
chants, many Of them men Of independent
means, and all people Of intelligence and
intellec,--would perhaps find not single
individual among them entitlecl to vote he.
cause be- had no land in this little State, and
was not fortunate enough TO be born with
the spoon Of an eldest sen in his mouth.
This placed the Government of the State,
or rather colony, in the bands of landed
arlstocracy, who refused all redress, either by
convention, by law, or by the adoption of a
truly republican form Of government
Under these circumstances, the people OF
Rhode Island held immense mass meetings
elected delegates TO Convention, who
framed liberal Constitution, which was
adopted by an actual majority Of all the free
white male citizens Of the State. Under
this Constitution they elected Governor
and Legislature, aud State officers. which
has been popularity known as the Dorr Con
stitution and the Dorr Government. The
Legislature met AT Providence on the ID OF
May, 1872, and was clearly the true and L.
climate Government Of l:hode Island.
On the 18th Of june, 1912, the Charter
Government declared martial law, and the
Charter Governor issued proclamation
against the traitor, Thomas Wilson Dorr,
and his associates. a large military force
was raised by the spurious Charter Govern
ment the whole State was made q vast
camp; the forces Of the peoples Govern
ment were defeated and one or two hun.
dred prisoners, citizens Of Rhode Island.
were para,lcd through the streets of Proyi.
dence with their hands and limbs iciterel
like convicts.
The then President OF the United States,
contrary TO justice aud the feelings Of the
whole Democratic party. recognized the
Charter Government. and held the army
and navy Of the United States ready to
march to lis suppori.
Governor Dor was convicted under the
Algerine law. and confined in the common
peniten'iary, and the Supreme Court of the
United States refused writ of hobns cor.
pus to enable him TO sign the petition for n
writ of error, all access being refused to
him by tie Charter authorities and finally,
in ls49, they decided that the question,
which was the lawful government, was a
political one, and not for the courts OF the
United States and that the President.
having recognized the Charter Government,
there was nothing left Tor the Supreme
Court 20 act upon.
They also said that the courts Of Rhode
Island, the courts Of the usurping Charter
Goycrnmr NJ having decided in favor of that
Government, the Supreme Court of the
United States must ic|iom and a,iop their
dfcNOn.
The whole question was debated upon
principle in the House Of Representatives
with great ability. and most able report
was made by Mr., Burkcc, of New IIamp.
shire, against the usurping Charter Gov
eminent, which was sustained by the whole
united vote Of the Democratic party in
that body.
let us apply this to the minority IecomT-
ton constitution suppose it (which is i'm
poSslbel recognised by Congress, pro slavery
clause and all, with its State officers and
State Legislature no amendment can I've
made by the constitution until lSsl Of
course the majority, for six years at least.
must submit 10 The VIII OF poor. miserable,
INSCRIPTIONS minority. Bat il is said you
may call convention. Bat how. The
pro slavery legislature will pass no act
Wba, then Oh the people may move
for themselves. Yes, aud when they do, the
Legislature dec'arts martial law. brands the
majority as traitors, and call, upon the
President for the forces OF the United
States to pu, down the rebellion III. Pre-
,icnt oheys the rcqa4ltion. Recognises the
EXISTING Government. and the court, OF the
Cuitei states are powcr!,ss. becaass it i, a
political question.
There is therefore. but one course for
every patriotic Democrat believing in ~
great aud fundamental doctrine OF popular
sovereignty 10 vote against the Lecomptop,
or any other pretended Constitution which
has not been Submitted in full, acccrling 10
the instructions to Goyernor Walker. 10 the
tree and uncontrolled vote Il tie iree eth.
zcns OF 4 ansas