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The Dorr Letters ProjectElisha Potter, Jr. to John Brown Francis: |
Introduction
In this letter to John Brown Francis, written just several days before Thomas Dorr’s attempt to take over the state arsenal in Providence, Elisha Potter, Jr. argued that conciliatory measures could have been passed if it were not for a few obstructionist members of the General Assembly. Potter argued that the Whigs refused to compromise because they wanted to divide the Democratic party. Note that the Democratic party in Rhode Island was split between an Equal Rights Faction, led by Thomas Dorr, and a conservative wing led by Elisha Potter, Jr. and others from the southern regions of the state.
Letter
Dear Sir
Old Whatcheer was not wrong in saying I was the only man
in the Senate for conciliation though he may think
so.
My fear is that they mean to
manage matters so as to throw all the odium of
sever measures on Gov Fenner & a few others.
If Dorr would only let himself be
arrested & give bail I think we might have a
reconciliation almost immediately. But so long
as B Anthony etc. talk so big & threaten in case D
is arrested so long Fenner & others will never give up.
You know the President’s situation. He is
in trouble & hardly knows which way to turn & is
afraid of abuse for almost every thing he does.
It is said one member of his
cabinet is in favor of the People’s party. Their
meeting when we made our application was
long (4 h) and I have reason to believe any
thing but a pleasant one.
Woodbury’s letter you recollect. It
is said now that Woodbury regrets writing it.
He & Calhoun are said to be negotiating to
run on the same ticket for P & VP. Such
sentiments do not suit the South.
I was in the Senate last Monday
and heard Buchanan’s speech. He openly
alluded to us. He was condemning the
centralizing tendency of the measures of this
administration and mentioned our case
as an instance “the new doctrine of denouncing
the majority as insurrectionist.”
Suppose Josey should die. The PC
would then elect a member of Congress & then
the question must be agitated.
Is it not for our interest then
to settle the matter speedily. We all allow
we have got to make the concession. We shall
never see the time when we could do it with
a better grace than at May Session.
I should have suppose that Mr. Goddard
would have been against conciliation. He has
been so much abused he could not have been blamed
for it. But he spoke of it in a manner highly
creditable to his feelings and was for conciliation
immediately.
But Whatcheer thundered in caucus
and all the little deities followed suit. He
would not attend the 2 & 3d meetings at all.
Do not the Whigs mean to keep this
business up until they think the division in
the Democ. Ranks permanent? If settled
now we should unite again.
I would you would suggest
some of these things to Mr. Ives and find
out his feelings.
If we could only stop the mouths of half a dozen
people on each side we could settle it in a week.
I should like to know what the people
generally think of the Assembly’s course. The great
mass no doubt disapprove of it.
I went into the Senate with a
view to exert myself to settle matters if possible.
If it is determined at June Session not to do
anything I might as well be out of their
way.
Our folks will get through the
old fashioned ceremony of housecleaning this
week & we should then be glad to see you
all. Remember me to Mrs. Francis and
to the children.
ERP
Sunday May 14, 1842
William will hand you the $14.50 I owed
you for Washington expenses.
Questions
What is Potter’s opinion of President John Tyler?
Why do you think Levi Woodbury (Democratic Senator from New Hampshire) regretted writing a letter of support for Thomas Dorr? For Thomas Dorr’s version of events see these two letters dated May 12, 1842 [cross refs].