The Dorr Letters Project

Levi Woodbury to Thomas Wilson Dorr:
Electronic Transcription

Introduction

Dr. John Brown, president of Rhode Island Suffrage Association, went to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional Democrats in order to build support for the People's Constitution. Brown had a meeting with New Hampshire Senator Levi Woodbury, the author of this letter. Woodbury, though not unsympathetic to the reform cause in Rhode Island, urges caution.

Editors' Note: The date line states 1841 but the letter is docketed as 1842. John Hay Library, Rider Collection, Dorr Correspondence (Box 4, Folder 6).

Letter


Confidential
Washington 15th Ap., 1841
Dear Sir,


I have received yours of the 15th inst. and several
previous letters of much interest in respect to the
unhappy difficulties in Rhode Island.

Mr. B. has returned and informed you
of everything up to the moment of his departure,
which may be of importance connected with your
business here. He excited much sympathy &
exertion here with the true friends of popular rights by his
frankness, modesty, and intelligence. He will explain to
you what has been done and what it is proposed to do
in the future.


Nothing has occurred since he left but mul-
tiplied rumours of Presidential interference – though they
are not in my opinion entitled to the slightest confidence,
but are circulated by your opponents for stage effect.
The Executive here has enough other matters to engross
his attention and energies without engaging in new
troubles over which in my opinion he has as yet no


jurisdiction whatever. If your People, who have never yet
pleased to make a Constitution for themselves, have not a
right to do it when and how they please, the whole fabric
of our American liberties rests on sand and stubble.
If they acquiesce in the old Charter till they choose to
substitute something else for it, who has any right
to dictate to them, when, how, or what they should
do in forming another Constitution which they may
like better? The ‸ Charter of Charles the ‸ Second contains no time, or form of making
amendments. The whole matter is then left open to themselves
and not to the legislature.

But keep calm – cool – yet
resolute in right. Shun violence – insubordination –
civil war – but move onward like our Fathers – steadily
and faithfully to your just and pure objects in
constitutional methods – and not only will all true
democrats and patriots be with you in heart and prayer,
but God himself ‸will speed your exertions.


Truly
Levi Woodbury
Thomas W. Dorr Esq.
Providence,
R.I.

P.S.
You can show this if you please to Mr. Brown & Stiness who have written to me.

Questions

Why do you think Woodbury recommends moderation?