The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-18
Interesting Episode in LO-
cal History.
DORIS Election as Governor
and What Followed.
Militiamen Who Growl at the Food
That Is Furnished Them.

Fifty-four years ago today vote OF the
people OF Rhode Island was taken by which
Thomas Wilson Dorr claimed TO have been
elected Governor o. the State. This may
be said TO have marked the beginning
of the Dorr war which resulted subse-
quantly i'm the trial OF Dorr for treason,
his conviction and sentence TO life i'm
prisonment. Previous to this there had
existed very strong and growing senti-
ment in favor of discarding the antiquat-
ed King Charles charter with its mon
arcnical provisions and restrictions and
the adoption of a fundamental law bet
ter suited to the needs OF free, self-gov-
erning people. But Rhode Islanders were
conservative, excessively SO, especially the
landholding class which looked with dis
favor il not suspicion upon those not so
fortunate as TO possess a few acres of land
or town lot But conservative as they
were they yet felt that some change in
the fundamental law was needed and this
feeling resulted IN action on the part OF
the General Assembly, which, on Feb
ruary q. lS4l, passed bill providing for
a convention to be held at Providence for
the purpose Of framing constitution.
On the first day of the succeeding No
vem ber this convention met and formed
what hes since been called the land
holders constitution. ii then adjourned
and reassem bied on Feb. 10, 1872, when
the constitution was formally adopted
and submitted to the people for accep-
tancc or rejection. This Instrument was
number OF The free men and the result of
the election, which was held on March
21, 22 and 23, ls42, was that it was re-
jected by vote of $3.50 against to S0l3
for IL. Previous to this, however, what
is known as the peoples constitution
had been framed and, as those who sup
ported IL, claimed, adopted. On May 8,
1S41, mass meeting was held in this city
at which "A State committee was appointed,
which was directed to call convention
for the purpose of framing constitution.
Delegates to this convention were elect
ed August 2S, and the convention con-
vened at the State House October 4. On
Nov. Is constitution was formally
adopted and submitted TO the people for
approval.
The vote on the acceptance or rejection
of this constitution was taken on Dec. 27,
28 and 20, and II was claimed by the
supporters OF 1t that it was then prop
erIy ratified by the people There were
1894 votes for and only SO against it;
but it was shown that OF this total num-
ber only 1850 were electors under the
charter, while 1854 of those who voted
nad then no right to exercise the fran
iynise. However, on January 13, 1S42,
PROCLAMATION of the adoption of the con-
&titut ion was duly made by the conven-
tion which formed IL and preparations
were at once begun TO hold an election
under its provisions.
This election was held just "a years ago
today and Thomas w. Dorr and the other
candidates nominated with him were de-
c)arsd elected. Then followed the period
of the Dorr War about which everybody
has heard more or less during which
there were marchings and counter march
ings, planned attacks upon the arsenal,
which never took place, the "battle"
of Acotes, which was no battle at all,
the opposing forces, so far as is known,
never getting within shooting distance of
each other; the disbandment of the Dorr