The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-09
DORR,9 REREIJJON


Though insignificant affair its natural aspects,
regards either extent influence DORIS Rhode
Island may be ranked among the sshocks" which have
been experienced by the body polite since its ogauztion
and such brief history Of the is here inserted
The circumstances briefly these-Ihc COVER ment
Of Rhode Island, in 1885, based upon a charter
granted by Charles H. in 186a and the apportionment
Of representation in the Legislature greatly at
variance with the distribution OF population The elective
franchise limited 10 the holders OF certain
real estate and 10 their eldest third
only of the citizens voters About this time
Thomas W. Dorr, a lawyer, born in Providence, ap
peared upon the stage, and, being elected mem
b,r Of the Assembly, exerted himself for
Der OF years 10 procure the substitution or a
liberal constitution in place Of the old charter; but his
movement for reform obtained in the Legislature only
out Of seventy votes He then resorted to popu
lar agitation and organized suffrage party in opposition
to the charter party After hodiog several large
conventions in lS4l this suffrage party called delegate
State Convention TO frame constitution, which
submitted for ratification to the popular vote. tire
Ceved fourteen thousand clear majority Of the
citizens Of the State The charter party however,
tended that the whole proceeding sedous and that
a. large proportion Of these votes fraudulent.
Mr.. Dorr thought differently, however, aud assuming
that the constitution was the fundamental law Of the
State proceeded in accordance with hold election
for state officers Mr. Dor was chosen Governor and q
Legislature composed exclusively Of his supporters
elected 10 meet at Providence on the first Monday OF
May 1872 The charter party also held election for
State ofisers polling $500 votes. while the suffrage
party claimed to have poled 1900.
On the Sd OF May Dorr attempted TO
lie at and seize the rens OF They
resisted by the legal state nent which assembled
at Newport the same day. and at tue head OF which
was Gov. Samuel King Both sides appealed to arms.
The excitement intense, and the people hocked to
the respective standards IN large numbers from various
Gov King proclaimed the State under marital law call
cd the militia and asked and obtained the aid Of the
United states to suppress the treason. On the 18th Of
May portion Of the suffrage party assembled At Provi
dcDce under and attempted TO seize the but
dispersed by Gov King and military force.
They assembled again, 10 the nun Dor o, several
hundred, MAY 90 1912, ut Chepachc Ill., ten miles from
Providence but dispersed the approach Of the
Dorr fed from the state, and took refuge first in Con-
necticut, and then in New Hampshire. reward Of
Island, he voluntarily returned home, tried
victed Of high treason and sentenced to imprisonment
gslature him his civil rights ordered the
record Of his sentence TO be cxpupged He lived N
liberal constitution and his party in possession OF the
reins Of government.
THE COMPROMISE MEASURES OF 1850.
Down 10 this period our country more dis.
turbed by excitement threatened with dvision than
during the legislation which followed the Mexican war
in 1885, 1910 and 1880 with reference 4, the Organization
Of the territory acquired by that contest Utah. then
under a spiritual despotism, and New Mexico, under
military rule 10th waited the application OF the great
pSircIpe which 10 determine their future govern
m,nt and destiny. California, already occupied by a
large and cntorprisng population, who had imbibod
their ideas Of progress in every section Of the
Union, tired Of the delay Of Congress, hal
had gone forward, formed State constitution OF their
and knocking At the doors OF Congress- for ad
mission into the confederacy. Tho South however dis
appointed at tho result OF this action by the psopc OF
that State 10 debarng slavery forever from i's limits,
and nctcd BIZ the repeated attempts upon thom
the wrnot prov so which aimed at the total exclusion OF
the institutions except for crime from oil this freshly ac.
CURED country refused TO acknowledge the independent
sovereignty 81 the new applicant II was the first over
throw OF that strict balance between the two sections Of
the country which had been carefully obssrv-
cd since tho formation Of the government,
and which would give the free States preponderance
IN both branches Of Congress, TO which the
exensA0n Of slaverythe entire Union convusod to
ssvsry centre. lie North strongly pemeatei by abo
lon sentiment through It's representatives. in Congress
rcfused 20 recedc from the position u had assumed The
South rStatcd by the diatrbes that poured forth
from press and pulpit and halls Of legislation, main
takad tkeir gresnd with equal pcrtnacity. The
sion af ther rights Meetings were held IN nearly
all &C che eouthern States, resolutions ado atsd
expressive al determination 10 pesent the Injury
IL redress had, 20 ecccdo the Union ard
Ms they hsyelIsaIy DONE establish asef protecting
federacy ef their own.
CLAW sQaip aSpearsd the fsld with compounds,
uhcrchy the sexed question Of slavery wks lett 10 the
win Of the people orc epectual saeasrrcs adopted for
In recovery q foghve slaves, tb< bounduv Of Texts
and Vow Mex os estab the srganisslon of the
new Territorial governments provided
In rcceu article have allnded a,ore fuRy 10 tho
n ecediog an following this evsetthc
,brou. bout the land ths crazy <anstcsu of
oortoo of H. peo the North abe reastance 10 the
iaws cAepce N fce al authority ssd ohes acts result
i nrpecssa,y q revert further them 10 this lAss D.
IL sulc'ent 10 say that III. Cpromts pour oil upon
the troubled wa err . and due time the country tcsH
into its bsbitusl quietpde