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The Dorr Letters ProjectWilliam Sprague to John Brown Francis: |
Introduction
Writing from Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator William Sprague informed John Brown Francis of a recent vote in the Senate on resolves put forth by Ohio Senator William Allen. Sprague believed that Thomas Dorr and his followers would eventually give up as long as the General Assembly did not call for any further arrests. Sprague expressed disappointment that Francis did not run for political office in the recent elections.
Letter
Tuesday 24th April, 1842
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 21st received here
yesterday. The election in Warwick it seems
passed off peaceably and as things are now
situated I should think satisfactorily.
I have seen the papers which contains an
account of the elections, and judging from the
results I should think that the difficulties in
R.I. were diminishing. Under the present state
of things it does appear to me that Dorr will
find it difficult to assemble his General Assembly
and much more difficult to induce those to
act if they do assemble. I would not however
advise any arrest under the law of the late session,
unless they attempt to exercise the functions of
office. I have said this much to the Mayor and
others in Providence. If those who administer the
existing Government act firmly, but at the same
time wisely, Dorr’s Party will gradually diminish to
something like a Corporals Guards.
You will see by the papers that Allen of Ohio
introduced
introduced a Resolution into the Senate calling on
the Prest for all information he has received on
this subject, and for the proceedings which have
been adopted by the Executive. The object of this
movement, no doubt, was to get up a debate
out of which some political advantage could be
devised. It was thought however that a debate
at this time, however strong it might be in
justification of the Prest and for the existing
government in RI, would tend to inflame the
public’s mind more than it has been, and thus be
productions of mischief. Consequently a motion was
made by Mr. Preston to lay it on the table, 24 for
13 against. Those for it would sustain the course of the
President & 9 out of the 12 who were absent would
have done the same had they been in their seats.
Thus you see the Senate is very strong on our
side of the question. Much indignation was
manifested against the proceedings of Allen
and not a little against the leaders in R. Island.
A Virginia Senator said to me that they ought to
be using us an example to all such uneasy and
reckless characters in future.
I wish you had seen your way clear and
had consented to have been elected a Representative.
It is necessary to have some prudent and decent
men to counteract the impetuosity of others
and restrain them within proper bounds.
We have nothing new here, but little progress
is made in either house, and unless a disposition
soon manifest itself to urge matters on faster we
shall have a late session.
All your letters have been sent to you.
Be pleased to let me hear from ‸you when
convenient.
Respectfully & truly yours
Wm Sprague
Questions
What happened to Senator William Allen’s pro-Dorr resolutions in the Senate?