The Dorr Letters Project

Almira Howard to Thomas Wilson Dorr:
Electronic Transcription

Introduction

In this remarkable letter from Pawtucket resident Almira Howard, an active Dorrite, Thomas Dorr is encouraged to try to reach out to President John Tyler for assistance. Dorr was in exile in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, when he received Howard’s missive (he would later leave and move to Concord, NH). Dorr rightly believed that Tyler was not a supporter of his ideology, but many women, including Howard and Dorr’s friend Catharine Williams, hoped that salvation would come from the White House. Howard relates that she took the initiative to write to the president. She believed that Tyler would soon support the “republican form” of government created by the People’s Constitution. Tyler, according to Howard, was planning a trip to Rhode Island. Tyler made no such trip nor did he make any public remarks in support of Dorr and his cause.

Letter

Pawtucket, Aug 16th, 1842
Worthy Sir

Though a stranger to your person, I am well
acquainted with your name, and history for the last six months.
And I trust I shall be pardoned for addressing your Excellency, when
I urge the motive of pure disinterested friendship for so doing.
If the advice which I give you, should not be accepted kindly, I
should feel that same interest in your welfare that I do now.
Although it was not my fortune to be nursed in the lap of wealth
or pampered with the luxuries of the rich mans table, I have a
heart to sympathize with the sons and daughters of affliction.
The cause of justice which you have espoused, is one that has my
fervent prayers; and warmest wishes for its advancement. It is just
and must eventually prevail. I have not the vanity to claim the possession
of a prophetic spirit, but thus far every thing has proved as I foretold
it would. It is this that has led me to write, and ask you to make
the attempt once more, to establish your claim to government by
an appeal to our President. I am fully persuaded that this would result
in an acknowledgment of your rightful claim to the mortification of
those who now glory in conduct that would cause the Heathen to blush
Mr. Tylers views are somewhat changed I think. The spirit manifested by
the people of other states has led him to see his error. If you have the
votes for the peoples Constitution, let them be counted in Congress and
the President once more made acquainted with facts as they are, and I do
believe he would decide for a Republican form of government in this state.
I sent him a letter, a printed copy of which I send you, and he has
set the time for a visit to R.I. My plan now is to choose a committee
of Suffrage ladies; and request the gentlemen to choose one of men to
wait upon him upon his arrival, and present the case of R.I. as it
is. We will importune him, till our arguments prevail. I would
not advocate a resort to arms again; for we have already suffered enough
the consequence of failures. Added to this it would confirm reports as to
your motives which I feel anxious should be proved false.


I think more can be accomplished some other way than would be gained
by force. And a more permanent state of things thereby ensured.
I learned from flying reports, that you have suggested the propriety of
delivering yourself up to the authorities of this State. If this be true, I
beseech you abandon the idea at once. Never trust your fate in the
hands of such men as the rulers of this State. If you deliver yourself
up to any earthly powers, throw yourself upon the mercy of a higher
court than this dishonored state can boast. If you should do this, I could
almost guarantee your honorable acquittal through the intercession
of Suffrage ladies. I would advise you Sir as I would a brother. I know
not what your opinion may be when you read this; perhaps you
may laugh at me as a foolish woman. Whatever you may think of me,
it will not alter my opinion of you. I believe your objects have been
benevolent in all you have done; and as a friend of mankind I esteem
you. Should you disapprove of a committee of ladies writing the
President please write me a few lines by the bearer of this, and I
will decline any movement of the kind. Accept the wishes of the
Suffrage ladies for your temporal, and eternal happiness.

Your
Obt. &c
Mrs. Almira E. Howard
Gov. T. W. Dorr
P.S.

Should you answer this please direct it to
Frances H. Angell. The object is this; I do not want the bearer though
a Suffrage man, to know my name; lest he should expose it unintentionally.
I have continually sent communications to Boston and New York for
Publication; and the Algerines have charged it upon me, and threatened
me, but they cannot prove anything. Please excuse grammatical errors
and accept the thanks of a friend.

Questions

Does Howard advocate the use of force?

Why does she urge Dorr to produce the votes for the People’s Constitution?

Why does Howard not want her name exposed?