The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-24
Groub1es OF
Our OQ2o1.
American Wars, Rebeilions. lnsur-
rectious, Riots, Strikes.
DORIS rebellion.

DORIS REBELLION.
The government of Rhode Island was
conducted under the charter granted in
1868 by Charles IL, Incorporating the
colony Of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations for $50 years. Under this
charter, at the breaking out of the Rev
olution, the lower house of the legisla-
ture consisted of six deputies from
Newport, four each from Provi-
denee, Portsmouth and Warwick, and
two from each of the other towns. The
right of suffrage was restricted to own
ers of freehold worth $l34 or renting
for 81 a year, and their eldest sons In
process of time the inequality of repre-
sentation under the charter, which con-
tinued to increase with the increase of
population, caused much dissatisfaction.
In 1910 Providence, with 23,171 inhabi-
tants had only four representatives,
while Newport with but 1888 inhabitants
had six members in the legislature. OF
the seVenty-two representatives elected
in that year, thirty-eight were chosen
from towns having only 9,o26 inhabitants
and 2,S46 voters; while the remaining
thirty-four were from towns having 49,
S04 inhabitants and 5,776 voters Various
attempts to have the matter reformed
through the legislature having failed,
suffrage associations were organized in
the latter part of 1910 and the early part
vention held at Providence July 5, 1871,
authorized the state committee to cali
convention to frame a constitution. Del
egates were elected Aug. g. and Oct. 4
the convention assembled at Providence.
A constitution was framed and was
submitted to the people at an election
held Dee. q, % and 90. 1t is said that
at this election over 14GO0 votes were
cast in favor of adopting this censtitu-
ton, being a majority of the male citi-
zens of the state. 1t was further as
serted that this included also a majority
of those entitled to vote under the char
ter
An election for state officers under this
constitution was therefore called for
April H. 1912, when Thomas Wilson Dorr,
the most prominent leader Of the suf-
frage movement, was chosen governor.
May g. Mr. DORIS government attempted
to organize at Providence, and to seize
the reins of power. They were resisted
by the regular state government, at the
head of which was Gov. Samuel w.
King, May 49, a part of the suffrage par
ty gathered at Providence under arms,
and attempted to seize the arsenal, but
dispersed on the approach of Gov. King
with military force. They assembled
again to the number of several hundred
June 25 at Chepaehet, but on the ap-
pearance Of the state militia they dis
persed without resistance, and the rebel
lion was at an end by June g. Mr..
Dorr was arrested, tried, and convicted
of high treason. and in June. 1874, was
sentenced to. Imprisonment for life. In
1S47 he was released under the act of
general amnesty, and in 1854 was restor-
ed. to his civil and political rights. In
the meantime the legislature, on Feb.
6, 1S41, called convention to frame.
constitution. The delegates were elected
in August, and in the following Febru-
airy they met and framed constitution
which was. however. rejected by the
people in the election of the following
month. A second convention being
called another constitution was agreed
upon, which was ratified by the peopIs
almost unanimously, and which went
into effect in May, 1S43 The property
restriction in the old charter was re-
tanned in the new constitution.