New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-28
THE POSITION OF RHODE ISLAND.
Corespondsnee Of The ~ Y. Tribune.

EorreSpondence OF The N. i.
Providence, March %, 1861.
In illustrating the downward tendency Of the present
era the future historian will he likely to ind some
choice materials for hs pictures In what is now taking
place in Rhode Island.
The Young man Of unbounded ambition, who last
wear bouQbt and now holds the Governors chair, is
playing the same cards which won him the game III
his srs attempt at political gambling As the capa-
eouEnese of HIS purse is out Of I'll proportion to the
CAPACITY Of bis miud he does not, for that reason,
deserve such severe casgation az persons unae
ouainted with him are tempted TO iniict. But his
unscrupulous ptng Of money against morals, and
riches against righteousness telling testimony 70
che dsmOraEed condition Of the State. The dregs Of
society are preparing for their promised carnival the
liquor shops having already received their orders TO
supply all "Sprague men with an indefinite amount
Of drink.
1t is painful TO be obliged to say that the result OF the
election is doubtful, the chances Of the opposing can
ddates appearing to-day about equal 1t is still more
painful 70 contemplate some Of the possible, if not
probable, consequences of Spragues success Should
be triumph and by any considerable majority the in
dctions are that an attempt viii be made 10 hand the
State over to the new Confederacy.
The Governors party organ here, The Prorjdeaee
4
such was the ultimate purpose Of those who control the
psrty. This paper in its continued commentators of
tbe South and its manifestations Of hatred toward the
North. IL .qualed only by Tile Charleston Mercury
and DE BORIS ReuseU. 1t considers the American
Uion already broken Ups and declares that any method
Of restoration other than that Of reconstruction on
positive Slavery basis be discarded and resisted
The principal ploters in this scheme for carrying
Rhode Island out Of New-Engand, and placing her AZ
the rst Northern star in the Southern Constellation,
ou2ht 20 be known 80 that honest and liberty men
may bestow upon them just amount OF ezeeraton.
They are the Spragle family, Alexander Duncan, W M
Beach Lawrence, William X. Watson, and Welcome
b sayles, the last-named gentleman being now at
Montgomery arranging il is surmised, the prelmin-
ares for the final transfer. These all marked men
IL Rhode Island ProSavery politics, and with the ex-
ceptou Of our juvenile Governor have for many years
been distinguished for their unrentng hostility to hui
man Freedom Il is reported that Mr.. Duncan has
gone far in the expressions Of his contempt for hu-
man rights az TO have declared that there can De
neither stability Government, security to prop
trty 30 long suffrage 10 in the hands OF the Inases
II Is TO be hoped that the honest working Inen Of the
Safe VII see what fDomentous issues involved IN
the present election, and Rhode Island from the
threatened catastrophe. Many Of The well.todo coored
citizens of Providence, with an irsinc;ive apprehension
of coming disaster, are making preparations leave
Rhode leland, should the election in favor Of the
Sprague ticket. And should we become the South
Carolina Of the North, The traitors here evidently
contemplate there wOnd be a sudden decrease in the
white a. well as in the black population.
As Rhode Island was first In The repeal Of Personal
Liberty billsfrst in baseness at the Peace Conference
first in seryty through her Commissioner, when
hey were prancne to the crack of the whip, while
outside Of that Conferences she wishes to lie the
Ant Of the Northern States in wheeling into the Slave