Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-16
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF THOMAS poRR.


 It was the charter rights, granted by
 a king, which regulated the political
 institutions in Rhode Island for near
 ly 200 years and brought on the re-
 bellion in Rhode Island in 1S42, in
 which Thomas w. Dorr figured as
 leader. In 1S41 the Rhode Island leg
 islature was petitioned for an exten-
 sion Of the rights of suffrage con- vention was called in October of that year and the instrument called the peoples Constitution was the result of their deliberation.
 When this constitution was submit ted to the people for ratification it received 14,00O votes, the returns being counted and the result declared in January, 1S42 and the landholders' constitution having been defeated, there was now presented the single issue of the old charter of 1883 on the one hand and the suffrage constitution, just adopted, as claimed, by the pop ular vote, on the other. Great en- | thusiasm was manifested by the tri- umph which the suffrage constitution alists and their cause had achieved. and meetings and professions, with music, bonfires. etc, everywhere pro-
 claimed the event.
 Chief among the leaders in this re- markable revolution. as it was termed, was Thomas Wilson Dorr of Provi- dence, a graduate of Harvard college Gov King issued his proclamation, pronouncing the movement of the suffrage party reasonable and warn ing all of the consequences which continuance in such acts would bring upon them
 Undismayed, however, by these threats the suffrage party, presuming
 on its strength and popularity. went into an election of state officers April IS, 1S42, resulting in the elevation of MT. Dorr to the governorship, together with the other officers constituting the
 government of the state.
 The seal of the state was copied and facsimile engraving procured Or I ders, in the form of requests, were 1 issued to the military in Providence and elsewhere. which adhered to the | new order of things, to appear in the l city on May to perform escort duty
 in the occasion of organizing the new government.
 The Rhode Island legislature under | took to suppress agitation by declar ing that any persons who should pre- side over illegal meetings should be 1 subject to fine and imprisonment. On
 May IT, 1S42, Doris followers. by | command of their leader, seized some pieces of artillery and on that same l day, about midnight. these same fol- 1 lowers set out to take possession of
 the arsenal on Cranston street. ,Dorr succeeded in organizing his government in Providence while Gov. | King at Newport was helpless Mar | tial law was declared on June 26. Ar
 rests were freely, even discriminatory
 made All prisons were filled, and as Dorr fled the state, a reward of $5.oo0
 was offered for his apprehension No- body came forward to claim 1t. For | Rhode Island, but at length, on Oct. 31, 1S43 he went to Providence. He was
 immediately arrested under an indict- ment for high treason and on April 26, l 1S44, he was brought to trial before 1 the state Supreme court, with Chief
 Justice Durfee presiding.
 Dorr's trial was held at Newport | place other than that where the l crime was committed-before a jury
 which to man were. as has been
 said, "Algerines and whigS." Samuel 1 Y. Atwell was the principal attorney
 for the prisoner, but at the time of the i trial he was i'll. and Dorr, although assisted by other counsel. conducted in i the main his own case. His chief re- 1 liance was upon the contention that | treason could not be committed against | an individual state of the union. This ] point was more novel than it would | appear today. It had not been illus trated by the acts of John Brown m 1 Virginia
 The ruling of the Rhode Island court was that treason against a state was
 an offense altogether possible and
 under instructions which left nothing
 to the discretion of the jury Dorr was | convicted. He was sentenced by the l court to imprisonment for the term of ] his natural life at hard labor and in | separate confinement.
 A reaction of sentiment soon set it and in January. 1S45- Dorr was offered ! his freedom on condition of subscrin- Ing to the oath of allegiance to the state of Rhode Island ThiS offer he promptly declined to accept Tn June, | 1Sf5, he was internationally liberated by an act of general assembly. and m
 May. 1851, his civil and political rights were restored to him. On Dec. ,2T. 1854, DCrr died at the age of 4S years,