The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16

1t was during Tylcr's Administration that the
Dorr Rebellion broke out in Rhode Island. On
April 4. 1912. the Governor OF that State made
II requisition upon the Federal Executive for
aid TO put down the disturbance, and President
Tyler did not hesitate to recognize the obliga-
tions OF the Executive to furnish such aid upon
the occurrence Of the contingencies contem-
plated by the Constitution and laws. From the
correspondence. however, between him and Gov.
King OF Rhode Island 1t Is evident that, while
the President regarded 1t as his duty to an
nounce the principles by which he should gov
ern himself in the event of an armed inter
position on tho part of the Federal Govern
ment being necessary to uphold the rights Of
the State of Rhode Island and to preserve
its domestic peace. yet u strong hope was in
dulgcd and expressed that all the difficulties
would disappear before an enlightened policy
of Cancellation and compromise. The desire Of
the Federal Executive was. from the beginning,
to bring the dispute to q termination without
the interposition of tho military power of the
United States, and this leading object of its
policy was finally accomplished. Mr.. Tyler re-
counts In a special message dated April o. 1874,
that he had resisted all entrcatics. however
urgent, to depart from this line OF conduct. In
formation from private sources has led the
Executive to conclude that little else was de-
IA W. VII bplI anu hib IMAM
mere menace with a view to intimidation; nor
was this opinion in any degree shaken until tho
22d of June, ls42, when 1t was strongly repre-
sented from reliable sources. as will be seen by
reference to the documents herewith communi-
Gated, that preparations were making by Mr..
Dorr, with a large forco in arms. to invade the
State, which force was recruited In the neigh
boring States. and had been already preceded
by the collection of military stores in considera-
bic quantities at one or two points. This was
a state OF things to which tho Executive could
not be Indifferent. Mr.. Dorr. speedily after
ward. took up his headquarters at Chepachet
and assumed command of what was reported
to be a large force, drawn chiefly from vol
untary enlistmentsm made In neighbOring States.
The Executive could with difficulty bring itself
to realize the fact that tho citizens of other
States should have forgotten their duty to them
selves and the Constitution OF tho United States
and have entered into the highly reprehensible
and indefensible course of interfering 30 far In
the concerns of a sister State MS to have entered
into plans OF invasion. conquest. and revolution;
but tho Executive felt 1t to DO Its duty to look
infinitely into the matter, and, therefore,. the
Secretary OF War was despatched to Rhode
Island with instructions Ia copy of which is
hercwith transmittedl. and was authorized.
should a requisition be made upon the Executive
by the Government of Rhode Island In pursu-
ance Of law, and the invaders should not aban-
don their purposes. to call upon the Governors
of Massachusetts and Connecticut for a suf-
hcient number Of militia at once to arrest the
invasion and to interpose such of the regular
troops as could be spared from Fort Adams for
the defense of the city OF Providence In the
event of its being attacked. as was strongly
represented to be IN contemplation. Happily.
there was no necessity for either issuing the
proclamation or the requisition. or for removing
the troops from Fort Adams. where they had
been properly stationed. Chepachet was evacu.