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The Dorr Letters ProjectElisha Potter, Jr. to John Brown Francis: |
Introduction
Elisha Potter, Jr., perceptively recognized that continued arrests and incarcerations under the Algerine law were politically damaging to Democrats connected with the Law and Order party. Potter notes that things are quiet because the quiet portion of the suffrage party think they are to have all they wished for in a legal way. Potter argued that arrests were only serving to resurrect the Suffrage Party. Potter wrote a letter to Governor Samuel Ward King on July 4 complaining of the arrests. At the end of his letter to Francis, Potter discussed the controversy over black voting. African American males had been disenfranchised since 1822. Though the Irish in Rhode Island never came to Dorr’s aid, they were deemed by many conservatives to be responsible for the civil and political unrest. African Americans served in Law and Order militias in June 1842 and were thus considered more worthy of receiving the ballot.
Letter
Kingston July 22, 1842
Dear Sir,
I have had my hands full for
a few days with haying. The country here is a
great deal pleasanter now than it generally
is at this season. The rains have made every
thing green.
Some men are forever politically blind.
It appears to me we are in as much danger now
as ever and principally on account of the unyielding
spirit displayed in certain quarters. We are now
quiet because the quiet portion of the suffrage
party think they are to have all they wished in
a legal way. Let them suspect that they are to
be cheated out of it and we shall have the
Devil to pay again.
Gen Anthony has called a meeting
of all the military officers. What is this?
The persecution here has roused up
the old democratic party. Morally right or
not it is certainly impolitic. The cry of
persecution will raise there friends. The
exercise too will kill us.
My present position, united for certain
purposes with violent Whigs, is unpleasant
enough. But union with the Dem’s unless
they change their principles and some of their
leaders would be still more unpleasant.
I have experienced myself several times
against the policy of some of the arrest. Some of
the law & order men already denounce me.
The article from the Plebeian copied
in the Journal of Thursday is most villainous.
Our friends ought to be cautioned about
the excuses. If they are not most thoroughly scanned
we shall hear of it hereafter. An investigation will be
made into it by the Assembly. The papers will
misrepresent every thing. It is easy to turn anything
into ridicule and the late affair however serious it
may seem to us (who look at the principles involved &
their consequences) is rapidly beginning to take the
guise of ridiculous with a great many even
of the law & order party.
Who will Providence and Warwick send
for delegates. It is time they begin to look out.
By our convention act the non-
freeholders, are required to be registered. For
the present voters there is no need of any
registration.
There is not so much scolding about letting
the blacks vote as was expected. They pass it off
in this way, that they would rather have the
Negroes vote than the d---d Irish.
Do let me hear the political
news as you are almost the only one from
whom I receive any information at all.
I see they have got to making horse shoes
by machinery. What next.
Come see us anytime. Please
remember me to Mrs. Francis & the children.
ERP
You are getting quite democratic again, dropping
the title of Hon.
I shall find out the politics of our county August Court 2nd Monday
Questions
What does Potter mean by the quiet portion of the suffrage party getting what they wished for?
What does Potter mean when he states some people would rather let blacks vote than the Irish?