The Portland daily press., 1897-11-20
THE DORR REBELLION.
That Event Recalled by the Death of a
Brother of Its Leader.
New York Sun.)

had lived for u years He was born in
providence, Il. l., on Dec. 23, 1890, and
was educated at Brown University. His
father was Sullivan Dorr, and he was
younger brother of Thomas Wills on
Dorr, who was known as the cause of
LOFTS Rebellion" Mr.. Henry G. Dorr
was the youngest son and last surviving
ohlld OF Sullivan Dorr. He came to New
1ofk In ls47 to practice law, and was
iast IN business at IS Wall street. He
was one OF the Oldest members of the Cen
tury Club, and of the New York Histori-
cal society. For forty years past he had
occupied pew in Trinity, and he was
always deeply interested in the affairs of
the Protestant Episcopal Church He
mad written number of pamphlets on
the early history of Providence, his ma
tlev town, and had frequently maze ad-
dresses on the subject in public there.
he had collected fine library of old
books, which are now in Providence
He was never married. His nephew, Gen.
William Ames, arrived in New York yes
terday from Providence. The funeral
will be at St. Stephens Church, in Prov
tdence, on Monday afternoon.
Mr.. Dorr was the last figure to link
with the present generation an episode in
American politics of half century ago.
Thomas Wilson Dorr, his older brother,
studied law IN New York under Chancel-
lor Kent, and after having been admitted
to the bar returned to his native town to
practice. In 1888 he was elected to the
Assembly of the State as Federalist,
but four years later, when he became
Democrat, he retired from that body. In
1896, he was then 81, Thomas Dorr in
torduced and carried through the Assem-
bly bill which curtailed greatly the
powers of the State banks Then the
government of Rhode Isalnd was based
on charter which had been granted by
Charles l. in 1868. Only abouS one-third
OF the citizens in the State could vote, as
according to the old charter the suffrage
was limited to persons possessing Sl34, and
to their eldest sons. One result of this
was that representation in the Legislature
was most unfairly distributed. One in
stance of that was found in the case of
Newport and Providence. Newpo1 t with
5000 inhabitants, had six members,
while Providence, with $4,000 people,
but less wealth, had only four representa-
tives.
Mr.. Dorr had struggled in the Assem-
bly, to secure more liberal Constitution,
but the failure of his efforts was shown
by the fact that he succeeded in getting
for his project only out of 70 votes. He
made an appeal after this failure to the
people, and after some popular agita-
tion suffrage party'' was formed
which was powerful enough to call on
July 8, 1841, for Constitutional Conven-
ton. The convention did meet on Oct. 4
in that year and a Constitution was pre-
pared and submitted to the people of the
State in the following December. 1t was
said that IA, 900 votes were cast, and that
this number made up majoity Of the
adult voters in the State, and that the
new Constitution had been adopted by a
majority of the legal voters-that ts, of
those who under the old charter were en-
titled to the suffrage. Meanwhile the
Legislature of the State had met and
called a constitutional convention, and
the delegates who were elected prepared
another new constitution which was sub
mitted to the people In March, 184l, and
rejected.
In April an election was held under
the suffrage" or new Constitution, and
Mr.. Dorr, as Its originator, was elected
Governor. A Legislature made up en-
tirely of the sympathizers with his con-
stitution was elected. Samuel W King
was chosen governor in an election held
under the old charter of 1858. In May,
1s43, 10th governments organized in
Newport, and it was seen that an appeal
to arms was inevitable. King was REQ
ognized as governor by the national gov
ernment and he declared martial law
and asked for aid from the national gov
ernment. An attempt was made by
armed "suffragists' to seize the arsenal
in Providence, and this was prevented
only by she appearance Of Gov. King and
the military.
It was after this demonstration that
Mr.. DORIS adherents persuaded him to
go to Washington to endeavor to get the
support of the Federal authorities for his
side. When he returned his followers as
sured him that they were ready to fight
for their rights, and at Chepachet, ten
miles from Providence, a demonstration
was held in his honor in June, 1842 but
as only 300 of his adherents, were present
against 3 900 Of the other side, Dorr Or
dered his men to disperse, and order was
restored after few days OF nioting. The
end of what had been called DORIS rebel
lion was already near, for the Legislature
called convention, which after several
months deliberatiOn drew up the pres-
emit State Constitution. When this was put
before the people they adopted it almost
unanimously. There was nothing now
for Dorr to do but escape from the State
as speedily as he might. rs fled to Con-
necticut, and from that State into New
Hampshire. But price of 81 1000 had
been put on his head by the State author.
tiles, and as soon as he returned to Rhode
Island Mr.. Dorr was arrested. He was
tried for high treason, and on June 25,
1874, he was condemned to Imprisonment
for life. After three years he was released
under general amnesty act, and In 1851
he was restored TO his political rights.
He died in Providence three years after
ward.
Henry G. Dorr, who died yesterday,
was fifteen years younger than the cause
of DORIS rebellion 1t was in 1S47,
the year in which his brother was re-
leased, that Mr.. Dorr removed to New
York. He was not seen much in court
during his career here as a lawyer, but
devoted himself almost exclusively to
office practice. He made speciality of
real estate titles. 1t is said that of the
history of his native town he had a re-
markably comprehensive knowledge.
His death was due to a complication of
diseases.