, 1861-03-07
.E'y:, v.x Chereiou.

John Tyler Of Virginia has great deal to say
about what is called the coercion OF etate, |
and he asserts TINT nll the slayeho1ding socieF
ties ought to 20 out Of the Union u the feae-
its OWL integrity, and execute ths laws nhlen
1t was created to execute. But. .Iyler was nos
alWays 30 eensittve on the aarne point. Wnen
ha accidentally held the Office Of President OF
the United States, he was called upon to Inter
yene in the affairs Of q State, and he no SO
The people Of Rhode Island, it will be re-
membered, used to carry on their government
according to the forms Of the charter given by
Charles Il. In 16434 with q limitation Of the
right Of suffrage to freeholders anu tne eldest
sons Of freeholders- For many years tnefe was
fanchised citizens against this injustice, and
fof new written Constitution, which SHOULD
equalize and protect all But the -fEseholul1g
minority conirived to battle every effort made
to frame mora popular EoTernment- Aiter
seven distinct struggles had been defeated dur
ing period Of fifty years, an assoem119n O.
mechauics at length took the matter IN hand:
Their petitions to the Legislature for the call
of convention having been neglected, they
held seri Of mass meetings to choose dele-
gates to State Convention. This body met
On the 14th OF October, 1871, drafted Constl-
tuition, published it, met a second time and re-
vised it, and then submitted 1t to the people
for adoption, inviting every adult male resi-
dent who was citizen Of the United States to
rive hi3 vote one way or the other. 1t was
adopted By vote Of thirteen thousand nine
hundred and forty-four, being more than three
tifths Of the adult male population of Rhode
Island. An election was held under this Con
stitution aud government organized
But the charter party refused to surrender
their power. and their legislature passed laws
to annnl the new, government, BY supjechng
it's adherents aud officers to the penalty Of
treason against the State. 4 formidable mill
tary force was organized, and they invoked the
power DO m ofthe United States to help them to put
down this show Of popular sovereignty. ;Prgsi-
dent TyIer Yas protested Democrat, aud
disciple ofthe ssResolutions Of '9S'' and Of the
right Of the people to rule by majority put
in this case he seems to have acted under the
advice Of Mr.. Calhoun. He moved regiment
Oft army to Fort Adams, near Newport, and
concentrated large body Of troops Of New
York, within twelve hours sail OF Rhode
Island, and assured the charter Governor that
the Federal Government would recognise no
other as the lawful governmenfe am Wonla
"stand ready to suecor ean.nnr1rles nt NJ ref.
erence vas made to the adoption Of the constl-
| fut;on hv a clear majority Of the citizens. IN
deed, no allusion WAS made in the letter to the
peoples constitution, but solely to the fact
that the charter government vas that which
| had always been recognise in the State.
In his message to the House Of Represents
tlyes, April s, 1874, President Tyler said that
| he had been called upon by the Governor ol
| Rh ,dc Island to fulfil the guarantees Of the
| Constitution by protecting the State against
domestic violence and foreign invasion" and
| he could not assume to decide ION winch SIDE
| the majority lay, or the extent OF the rights O.
d mcre numerical majority" Such prerogn
tive would make him u the great constitution
maker for the States.'' -.-.-.,
| Tie ground Was thus practically assumet
and acted upon, that the people OF q state nav
no right, either by majority Or the whole, II
alter their government on their own MOTION
| or in any way except through the agency o
the existing government. In other words, th'
President Of the United States, in the fuihl
ment OF his oath to execute the laws, can re
cognize no change Of government which is 20
In accordance with the existing Constitution
| and laws, and under the authority OF existing
governments. ... -
Now, none Of the alleged changes Of govern
ment in the Southern States have been 1nad
in conformity with the existing Constitut1o
and laws Of those States. On the contrary
every one Of them has been made in direct va<
]ation af the Constitution and laws of tn
United States, whose authority ID paramonn
to both the Constitution and laws Of the se'
era1 States, and to every form Of authorit
which can possibly be created By State.
It follows that {settiug aside the fact Of nj
one Of these alleged changes having ever bee
adopted or sanctioned by the people, the Pres
dent of the United States cannot recognize "a
act Of any body Of men in 4 State as havln
governmental authority OF legal validity, u
less it has been done in conformity both Wit
Union These were Tylcr's and Calhoun
doctrines few years ago, and we should III
to know what las since occurred to chang
| the princirle, -"