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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Chauncey Cleaveland: |
Introduction
In this letter to Connecticut Governor Chauncey Cleveland, Thomas Dorr is soliciting support for the People's Government. Cleveland, a staunch Democrat, was elected in 1842. In the second paragraph of this letter, Dorr provides a succinct history of the reform efforts in Rhode Island, as well as his political ideology. Dorr sent a similar letter to Maine Governor John Fairfield on May 17.
Letter
New York, May 13, 1842
To His Excellency
Chauncey F. Cleveland
Governor of the State of Connecticut
Sir,
I have thought it my duty ‸while on the
way from the city of Washington to Rhode Island, whose affairs I have
recently represented at the seat of government affairs have been the cause of my [...] to the seat of government
to ask your attentioncommunicate to‸you in part ‸to the ‸ decision of the President of the United States result of my [...] to the seat of in our case
government, as affecting in a vital point the rights in our case and interests not only
of the State of Rhode Island but of all the other states in the Union.
The People of Rhode Island have recently, without any call
or request, or authority from the General Assembly ‸have recently formed a ‸ Republican Constitution
for their government and have adopted it by a large majority of the
whole People. The minority government under the old Charter deny
the right of the people to proceed‸ act in this manner, and adjudge their
Constitution to be invalid, and the proceedings of the People under it
to be treasonable. Feeling their inability to coerce the majority, the
minority government have applied to the ‸ Executive Government of the United States
for a military force to suppress an alleged insurrection, or domestic violence
in Rhode Island. The President has replied, as you will see by his
letter to Gov. King, dated May 7th 1842, that he cannot interfere at
present, because no insurrection or violence has occurred; but that he
will employ the forces of the U. States in case the civil posse should
be unable to enforce the Laws of the State, including the odious provisions
of the "Algerine" law of pains & penalties, as it has been appropriately denomi
nated by general consent. The doctrine of the cabinet at Washington,
is, that ‸ our governments are corporations; that the "authorities" are the ultimate source of political power
in this country,
without the consent of these authorities, and that all other changes are
in the nature of usurpation, and must be put down by the military
power of the United States under the direction of the President.
It will be
the form of government of Rhode Island prescribed by any charter, law, or
usage; and that the People are free to act without drawing ‸ in
the propriety of transcending any established mode of procedure as pro-
vided in ‸ the Constitutions of your own and of other states.
The provisions of clauses in the Constitution of the United States
relating to the suppression of insurrection & domestic violence evidently
relate to cases in which laws of acknowledged validity ‸ are resisted by combined force; or governments
in the exercise of their legitimate functions are assailed assailed and
interrupted. It cannot be possible that these clauses are intended to
apply to peaceable, orderly assemblages of the People ‸ as in our case, to devise new forms
of government, or to the action of the Legislature under a Constitution, which
purports to be the work of the great majority, and which can be set aside
if invalid in a legal manner, and in modes of redress cor open to every
citizen, without a resortthe intervention of a dictator, and without a
resort to the sword.
The People of Rhode Island are now threatened with a
military intervention, unless they abandon their Constitution & surrender
all the rights which are so justly estimated by all ‸ those who are worthy to be
the citizens descendants of our venerated ancestors, or to be the citizens of
a democratic republic.
In behalf of the People whom I have the honor to
represent, I respectfully request you to bring ‸ proceedings at Washington & the question of their our rights
rights to the attention of the Legislature of Connecticut now in session.
Being unable to contend singly against the forces power ‸ of the United States,
we invoke the power of public opinion and aid of your own State
in this contest for American Freedom which involves the great
principles of American Freedom and the ‸ dearest rights and interests ‸ privileges of a
Sovereign People.
I am, with great respect, your friend &
fellow citizen.
Thomas W. Dorr,
Governor of the State of
Rhode Island *
The same was sent to John Fairfield, Gov. of Maine,
May 17, 1842.
Questions
What was Dorr hoping to achieve by writing to Democratic governors in New England?