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The Dorr Letters ProjectMoses Brown Ives to E.R. Potter Esq.: |
Introduction
Moses Brown Ives wrote to Elisha Potter, Jr. urging him to secure federal support against Thomas Wilson Dorr and his “deluded followers.” Potter had arrived in Washington, D.C. two days earlier. Ives promised Potter that he would send out Rhode Island newspapers (likely the anti-Dorrite Providence Journal) in order to keep him fully informed of the political situation.
Letter
Providence, Rhode Island, April 8, 1842
Dear sir,
I duly received your favor of the 5t inst.
dated at N York, & this morning your letter of
Wednesday evg. (6t) at Phil came to hand.
I presume that you reached Washington yesterday
afternoon & that the business of your mission will
be commenced today.
I wrote fully to Gov. Francis on Wednesday.
I can now only reiterate the same opinion
to you that I communicated to him – viz.
that nothing short of an opinion from
Head Quarters will deter the free suffrage men
from their purpose. And that an indication
from the Executive, adverse to their pretentions
will at once put an end to the further
progress of their illegal proceedings.
It is certainly true some of the legal
advisers of the party feel desirous of stopping
short of a violation of the Act of the
Legislature passed on the 2 inst. I would
if this could induce their followers to come to
the same conclusion. But these followers
have been goaded on by Lectures & Desperadoes
so long that they really thought their leaders in
earnest. When told by them that they were acting
under the sanction of Law - a good deal
of money has been paid by the deluded followers
who have from time to time been told that
they got into power the [unclear]
the moment would be open to them.
I have never doubted that under a proper
representation we should have all necessary aid
from government.
Papers etc. sent on yesterday & others will be sent
today.
The prox is out today with your name in it. Which
I am glad to see- as to being connected with Whigs
in opposition - I regard it not. Let us all
unite in this great matter – it will certainly
have a tendency towards a most lasting union
hereafter of those whose great object is the
liberty & constitution of their country.
Please say to Gov. F.
that I have recd his
two letters one written
on the steamer
the other at N York.
I am deer sir
Yr. very truly
Moses B. Ives
E.R. Potter Esq. *
I do not think that any thing can be relied upon from the interposition
of Mr. P. Allen, he is
undoubtedly
disposed to
aid us as a
pacificator, but they have already stated that Mr. A has
agreed with them to go on with the election &
have the question peaceably decided. Mr. A says that it
is not true – but they tell so many lies that the only
safe way is to have no communication at all with them.
The Warwick men say that if Gov. Francis would identify himself
with us as by coming into the prox or even by becoming a member of the
house that town would certainly go right. Now the [unclear]
insist upon it that Gov. F. is not fully with us but wishes
a compromise. You & I know otherwise but this is the language
of our opponents. Will you consult with Gov. F as to the
proper manner of putting down such slanders.
Questions
Who did Ives want to see united in April 1842?
Why did he believe that this was important?