The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-16
THE DORR WAR.
Papers Read by James Snow, Jr.,
and Richard A. Armstrong
Before the Franklin Society at Its Meet
ing Held Last Evening.

Before the Franklin Society last evening
the Dorr War; bv MIR. James Snow, DR.,
and MIR. Richard A. Armstrong. Both
were participants in the scenes.
MIR. snow said that the Dorr War was
one of the most important epochs in the
history Of our state. lie first reviewed
tho early qualification Of voters under the
charter o. KING Charles, February. l723.
1ne restriction was lands To the value
OF 100 pounds. or 40 shillings per annum !;
l129.5O, sU0 or 20 POUNDS per snnum. In
1871 the Qualification was iiXod Mt l3i or
"a. In sach of ths above cases the eldest
son was the only one OF the family in
addition, allowed 10 vote.
ON Now j, lS4l a convention authorized
by the General Assembly met ana framed
new constitution: :,adj djuurned TO Feb. IL,
1872, when IL reassemL lied and adopted a
constitution called the land ON ner's con-
stltution. lDis co.. stitution was voted
on and rejected March. 81 ~, s3. 1872,
by vote of SClj for to $3.50 against.
In lS4l the psopls had voted upon the
proposed peoples constitution, Is, gi4 for TO
81 against IL. or those who voted for it
there wers 1860 treeholders aud 1854 non
freenolders.
Public meetings were held and party
Thomas Wilson Dorr became the Tsople's
leader. business was neglected, families
and goods went from the state, ana the
citizens armed themselves, "a violent
threats were made 10 burn Providence,
etc.
The demands of the new marty became
defiant with threats to taku possession OF
the state government and the state arse
nal. The two pieces of artillery belonging
To the United Train of Artillery were
conveyed away by Dorrlto members. This
act precipltatl d q general alarm and those
citizens who stood for law and order.
at oncs joined military organizations.
Then Mr.. snow followed with a detailed
account of the formation of the several
military companies. the so-called attack
on tho stats arsenal, the march of the
"Algerine' army up Federal Hill, in
which he took part as member of the
cadets, against DORIS army. headed 10y
one armed Bill Dean with his two can
mons Bill Dean contrived TO keep these
guns sllaEt ar q { nus no blood was shed.
After these tiooiless encounters Dorr
fled from me state, but soon returned,
entering from Copnectout, and being
Joined by about 100 men. they entrenched
at Acort's hill in Chepachet aud sent
defiance To the state authorities. There
Immediately followed proclamation of
martial law by Governor King, aud
Dorr ana his men had vanished. A few
prisoners we're, however. taken and
marched to Providence with tho return
ing troops.
Mr. Dorr after while re-en ntered the
state. was arrested, tried, convicted of
nlgn treason and given a life san ntence,
but after about year was pardoDed.
Mr. snow gave number of personal
"reminiscences and recalled the names of
many mon prominent on both sides of
this warlike struggle, which had resulted
in the death of only one man, but the
final effect OF which in the course of
events was To give TO Rhode Island a
much broader constitution.
With respect TO the voting for the
peoples constitution, he said that ne with
a number of other boys entered a poll ng
place and on invitation. each deposited
in the ballot boz handful of votes, ten
or dozen each.