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The Dorr Letters ProjectElisha Potter, Jr. to John Brown Francis: |
Introduction
Elisha Potter, Jr. opened his letter to John Brown Francis with a remarkable statement. He joked about what could happen if the Dorrites somehow came into possession of Francis’ correspondence. The Dorrites would have quickly discovered that Francis was actually a moderate and was willing to give up his long-standing commitment to the freehold requirement for voting in order to bring an end to the constitutional crisis. Potter went on to talk about the upcoming vote on the constitution that emerged out of the convention in Newport. According to Potter, the most pressing issue was the question of African American suffrage. Potter affirmed his support for black suffrage, but he argued that not including a white only cause would doom the constitution. Potter believed that the level of racism in the state was simply too high.
Letter
Kingston Nov. 14, 1842
Dear Sir
I have thought a number
of times what a fine time the Dorrites would
have if they could get hold of your carpet bag
and correspondence. It would be well worth
making an expedition to Spring Green for
that very purpose.
After coming home from
Providence I saw some of our old Peoples men
in the town. They will not oppose the constitution.
They say they have seen enough of free suffrage.
There has been a great change going on in their
opinions in this quarter for some time.
The great danger to the
constitution is in the apathy of its friends.
The Negro business seems
to be the only thing harped upon here & many
votes will be thrown against it from this cause.
If the constitution should be
adopted and the word white not be inserted,
it would be the greatest misfortune that could
befall us. I have no prejudices against the
Negro myself but other people have.
The Dorrites would then give
our constitution the nickname of the
Negro Constitution which of itself would
make it completely odious in the South & in
the Northeast of the State.
They are not a whit too good
to do this if such a thing should happen.
Some of ourside very foolishly argue
in favor of the negros because they are conservative
and go with the wealthy part of the community.
This might be a good argument to use to ones own self
but better to go no further. No argument could
be more unpopular with the middling and poorer
classes of the white people.
I heard a minister talking in
this style at Wakefield yesterday.
He preached at Wakefield
last night to a select few - shall spend next
week in Charlestown Exeter & Richmond.
I saw Thurston the other day. Free
suffrage as you yourself know has not had much
to do with politics in Hopkinton. It has been more
a family & personal business. BBT although he
may have been imprudent, has been very much
abused & slandered & feels this very much. He
cares nothing now about the suffrage party and has
no objections of consequence to the constitution &
would even vote for it if his personal enemies
would not triumph in it.
I think that our dem folks could not plague
the Whigs worse than to take hold of the constitution &
vote for it.
Did you notice in the Herald the call for the
Democratic State Convention? The towns are required to send
delegates in the proportion they would be entitled to under
the People’s Constitution. The rascals seem determined to
do all the mischief possible.
Thomas says you will sometime or other
lose some of my letters & it will ruin me. I
tell him that Mrs. Francis takes good care
of all of them.
There can be no doubt of the
adoption of the constitution by a legal majority
but unless our friends are on the alert
it will be a small vote.
Tell the children they must
not forget my pigeons.
If I can find Mr. Gardner
I will send him.
Oldest sons – lotteries & negroes are the
only stumbling blocks in the way of the constitution.
ERP
I should think that C Allens services ought
to be secured at any rate almost.
Questions
What geographic region of the state did Potter link with rampant racism?
Was this area a center of Dorrite or Charter government support in the spring of 1842?
Why did Potter think the new constitution then being drafted in convention would be referred to as the “negro constitution”?