Introduction

Louis Lapham, a prominent abolitionist from Fall River, Massachusetts, wrote to Thomas Dorr two days before the first general election under the People's Constitution in order to express his displeasure with the white-only clause in the People's Constitution. Lapham was able to look past this failure, to the greater good the document achieved in terms of suffrage provisions for white workers. Lapham promised Dorr "recruits" if a resort to military force became necessary. The Algerine Law that Lapham refers to was a measure passed by the General Assembly to intimidate Dorrites from participating in the People's Government. The law stated that anyone running for office under the People's Constitution would be subject to heavy fines; those who dared to assume office would be deemed guilty of treason against the state.

Letter

My Dear Sir I hope you will
not consider these few lines from me
as an intrusion. I was born and brought
up in Rhode Island, and consequently
feel a deep interest in the success of
her people in the cause of Constitution-
al freedom.

In the name of Liberty and Patri-
otism stand firm to the cause you have
so nobly espoused and the people
will triumphantly sustain both the
cause and its advocates.

If the “Old Charter” party should be so
insane as to attempt to carry the “Al-
gerine law” into operation, put me
down as volunteer hunter in favor
of the People’s Constitution, ready at 30
minutes warning to emigrate to my
native state with 300 recruits!

Come what may, my life is at the service
of my brethren in Rhode Island at any
time they may desire assistance to
overthrow the British Charter of King
Charlesthe Second!!

I regretted at the time of the formation
of the People’s Constitution that it was not
more liberal in some of its provisions
and would not then have supported
it, because it did not secure to colored
people the same rights that it does to others.
But when the landholders formed a Constitu-
tion still less liberal than the People's in
every other particular, and absolutely
and irretrievably shut the door against
ever admitting the colored man to vote,
it convinced me at once, that the
Suffrage Party had probably put that
question in the most liberal shape
that circumstances would at ‸ ^the that
time render successful.

Trusting that a knowledge of the
sympathy felt in this place for the estab-
lishment of the People's Constitution as the
supreme law of the land of Roger
Williams, could do no harm, if it does
no good. I have ventured so far to
trespass upon your valuable time as
to communicate the fact and hope
if a physical contest should unhappily
take place, you will feel no delicacy

Questions

What effect do you think the Algerine Law had on those loyal to Thomas Dorr and the People's Constitution?