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.