had been provided for by the legislature, and before the time appointed for the choice of delegates by the qualified voters, a mass meeting was held by the friends of the extension of suffrage, at Newport, at which meeting a committee was appointed, called the state committee, who were authorized by said mass meeting, to take measures for calling a convention to frame a constitution. This committee, thus authorized, issued the request for a meeting of the male citizens in the several towns, to appoint delegates to the proposed convention.

Thus called together, the convention assembled in Providence, in October, 1841, and the instrument called the People's Constitution was the result of their deliberations. At subsequent meetings of portions of the people, in December, 1841, by the authority of this convention, all males over twenty-one years of age were admitted to vote for the adoption of the people's constitution; these meetings not being according to the view held by the landholders' party,-under presiding officers whose legal duty or legal right it was to interpose any check or restraint as to age, residence, property, or color.

By the provisions of the people's constitution, it was ordained that said instrument should be submitted to the people, for adoption or rejection, on the twentyseventh of December, and on the two succeeding days. And it was also provided, that 'every person entitled to vote as aforesaid, who, from sickness, or other causes, may be unable to attend and vote in the town or ward meetings assembled for voting upon said constitution, on the days aforesaid, is requested to write his name on a ticket, and to obtain the signature upon the back of the same of a person who has given in his vote, as a witness thereto. And the moderator or clerk of any town or ward meeting, convened for the purpose aforesaid, shall receive such vote on either of the three days next succeeding the three days before named for voting for said constitution.' During the first three days, about nine thousand votes were

received from the hands of the voters in the open town-meetings; and, by the privilege thus granted to every and all the friends of the constitution, of bringing into their meetings the names of voters during the three following days, five thousand more votes were obtained, making an aggregate of about fourteen thousand votes.

This constitution, thus originating and. thus formed, was subsequently declared by the convention to be the supreme law of the land; and, by its provisions, a government was to be organized under it, by the choice of a governor, lieutenant-governor, senators and representatives, on the Monday preceding the third Wednesday in April, 1842.

By the provisions of the landholders' constitution, as it was called, every white male native citizen, possessing the freehold qualification, and over twenty-one years of age, could vote, upon a residence of one year; or, without any freehold, could vote, upon a residence of two years, except in the case of votes for town-taxes, in which case the voter was required to possess the freehold qualification, or be taxed for other property of the value of one hundred and fifty dollars.

By the people's constitution, every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who had resided in the state for one year, and in the town where he votes for six months, should be permitted to vote,—with the same exception in regard to voting for town-taxes, as that contained in the other constitution.

On the twenty-first, twenty-second, and twenty-third of March, the landholders' constitution was, by an act of the legislature, submitted to all the persons who, by its provisions, would be entitled to vote under it, after its adoption, for their ratification. It was rejected by a majority of six hundred and seventy-six; the whole number of votes polled, during these three exciting days, was over sixteen thousand.

The people's constitution, on being submitted to the people for ratification, received fourteen thousand votes, the

returns being counted and the result declared in January, 1842; and, the landholders' constitution having been defeated, there was now presented the single issue of the old charter of 1663 on the one hand, and the suffrage constitution, just adopted, as claimed, by the popular vote, on the other. Great enthusiasm was manifested by the triumph which they and their cause had achieved, and meetings and processions, with music, badges, bonfires, etc., everywhere proclaimed the event.

Chief among the leaders in this remarkable revolution, as it was termed, was Thomas Wilson Dorr, of Providence, a

I.W Dorr.

graduate of Harvard College, and who, after pursuing his legal studies in the office of Chancellor Kent, of New York, commenced his professional practice in Providence. Though for years a federalist in his political principles, he in time identified himself with the victorious party whose leaders were Jackson and Van Buren. Of decided ability, Mr. Dorr was, for several consecutive terms, elected a member of the state legislature, and, in this capacity, he repeatedly proposed measures for extending the privilege of suffrage and other rights of citizenship. Failing in

this, and possessing great activity and adroitness as a politician, he appealed to the masses, and was soon the cherished leader of a large and enthusiastic party.

Governor King issued his proclamation, pronouncing the movement of the suffrage party treasonable, and warning all of the consequences which a continuance in such acts would bring upon them.

Undismayed, however, by these threats, the suffrage party, presuming on its strength and popularity, went into an election of state officers, April eighteenth, 1842, resulting in the elevation of Mr. Dorr to the governorship, together with the other officers constituting the government of the state. The seal of the state was copied, and a fac simile engraving procured. Orders, in the form of requests, were issued to the military in Providence and elsewhere, which adhered to the new order of things, to appear in the city on the fourth of May, to perform escort duty on the occasion of organizing the new government.

On the day appointed, the officers of the state, elect, under the people's constitution, assembled in Providence, for the purpose of inauguration. The state-house having been refused them, they met in an unfinished building, which was designed as a foundry, and which had been obtained for their use. On this eventful morning, the people began at an early hour to come together, and a large gathering was soon on hand. A procession was formed, and proceeded to the place of meeting, accompanied by a considerable military body. The new legislature was organized in accordance with the customary form, and immediately commenced the transaction of business. In proceeding to the place of meeting, the portion of the procession consisting of Dorr and the other members of the government elect, was flanked, on the right and left, by a military guard; and the guard, as well as all the other military in the procession, were supposed to march with loaded muskets, and furnished with ball cartridges. During the day, no popular disturbance occurred, and, at night,

all was quiet. A military guard was kept at the place of meeting, during business hours, and at Dorr's quarters.

A

A message was delivered by Governor Dorr, to the people's legislature, in which he gave a history of past events and marked out the course of policy to be pursued. The message was regarded as bold, firm, and decided in its tone, and dignified in its character. The first legislative act performed, was, the passage of a resolution to inform the president and congress, and the governors of the several states, of the establishment of the new government. proposition was made by Governor Dorr t: take possession of the state-house in Providence, and other state property, but this was not adopted, but commissioners were appointed to demand possession of the public records, funds, and other property. Little was done in the way of organizing the various departments of government; but the Algerine Law,' as it was called, passed by the charter legislature, and designed to prevent citizens from engaging in the suffrage party movement, or taking office of any kind in connection with the same, under certain pains and penalties, was solemnly repealed. The courts of law, however, were left unmolested, though all of them were opposed to the new party, and Chief Justice Durfee was its especial enemy. After a session of three days, the body adjourned to July fourth, at Providence.

Arriving at Providence, Governor Dorr was received by a large mass of citizens, of whom two or three hundred were armed; in an undress uniform, and a sword at his side, the hero of the day was conducted through the principal streets of the city, in an elegant barouche drawn by four white horses. In this triumphal style, he proceeded to the house of Burrington Anthony, where he took up his quarters, protected by a military guard, and two small pieces of artillery. Governor Dorr soon. issued a proclamation, in which, after stating that the president had intimated an intention of resorting to the forces of the United States to check the movements of

the people of Rhode Island in support of their republican constitution recently adopted, he, Dorr, declared that, so soon as a soldier of the United States should be set in motion for any such purpose, he should oppose said force by that aid which, he was authorized to say, would be immediately forthcoming from the city of New York and elsewhere. The military were enjoined to see that no more arrests were made under the Algerine law, and the militia were directed to hold themselves in readiness for immediate service.

Thus, it became evident that the adherents to the charter and the adherents to the constitution were soon to be brought face to face, force being opposed to force.

It was ordered by King and his council that Dorr should be taken, if possible, before the day closed. With this view, expresses were dispatched into all parts of the state, and a steam-boat sent to touch at Newport, Bristol, and Warren, to bring help in behalf of the charter government; the boat, arriving in the morning, brought a large body of men, who were at once. joined to King's forces, and prepared for the field of battle. Some aid also came to Dorr, and the prospect was that a bloody fight would occur.

At an early hour, King, with a body of his men, marched into the very midst of the suffrage throng, without molestation, and surrounded Mr. Anthony's house,Dorr's quarters. A detachment then went into the house, but, on searching, Dorr could nowhere be found. He had, it was reported, left town. A portion of the cadets volunteered to go in pursuit of him. They instantly mounted, determined to take him wherever he could be found, but were misinformed as to his route, and returned after having gone in the direction of the Norwich and Worcester railroad, a distance of twenty miles. He felt keenly the result of the arsenal affair, and the failure of his forces to come up to the mark.

The leaders, on the part of the suffrage party, had dismissed their men, and advised them to retire peaceably from the

ground. A large body left the scene, in compliance with this request. Others were on the ground to a large number, and around the cannons, on the arrival of the body of citizens under King. Many in the suffrage ranks cried out "fire," but there was no attempt in reality to obstruct the passage of King's men in surrounding the house and taking possession of the ground. The landholders, under the direction of the United States marshal, at the instance of the national authorities, took the guns and arms from the suffrage

Jam W King

men as they passed through the streets on their way home.

It being pretty generally understood that Dorr had gone to Connecticut, a requisition was made by King upon Governor Cleveland, of that state, for his rendition, but unsuccessfully. A reward was also offered for the capture of Dorr and his delivery to the charter authorities, for trial on charges of treason. But all this was ineffectual. Indeed, the fugitive rapidly became illustrious out of his own state, to a degree far beyond his experience at home. Meetings of sympathy for him and his cause were held in several of the large

cities; and the legislature of Maine, acting at the suggestion of Governor Fairfield, passed resolutions of a similar spirit.

But, notwithstanding the defeat and dispersion of the suffrage forces on the eighteenth of May, and the disappearance of Dorr, no means or efforts were being spared by the latter to rally his friends. around him in sufficient numbers to insure a safe return to the state and a reassertion of the supremacy of the people's constitution.

In a few weeks, the suffrage friends had entrenched themselves at Alcot's hill, Chepachet, a village in the town of Gloucester, and here, by proclamation. from Dorr, the legislature was summoned to meet on the fourth of July. The expectation was now general, throughout the state, that matters were hourly coming to a final test. In anticipation of this, martial law was declared by King, and every available soldier was at once put into the ranks, soon numbering several thousand. Business was suspended, and the alarming state of things absorbed all thought and action. Major General William Gibbs McNeill was in command of the landholders' army. Dorr arrived at the encampment of his followers, at two o'clock in the morning, his force, however, numbering scarcely one-fourth that of his opponents, though he was well

supplied with field-pieces, arms, and ammunition; there were four large marquees, and some of the men were quartered in a barn. The encampment occupied a fine location, the hill being eighty feet high and commanding the Providence. turnpike, for the whole range of cannon.

At about half-past four o'clock the next morning, General McNeill caused a body of five hundred men, under Colonel W. W. Brown, to proceed from Greenville to Chepachet, a distance of about eight miles. A scout party of the infantry, of about a dozen men, led by Lieutenant Pitman, kept in advance a half a mile to two miles. They took and sent to the rear, thirty per