Introduction

In this letter to U.S. Senator James Simmons of Johnston, Rhode Island, Samuel Man, one of the leading Law and Order men, summarizes the parade that took place upon Thomas Dorr's return to Providence on May 16, 1842. The "General Carrington" referred to in the letter was Edward Carrington Sr., a member of the advisory council to Governor Samuel Ward King, and the father-in-law of Dorr's youngest sister Candace. Man is clearly upset at John Whipple's attempt to broker a compromise with Burrington Anthony and John Harris, elected officials under the Peoples Constitution. Charles Jackson was a conservative Democrat and future governor of Rhode Island. Lemuel Arnold and James Fenner, both former governors, were members of Governor King's advisory council. Arnold and Fenner were firmly against any compromise. In his fiery proclamation, which was printed in the Providence Express, Dorr declared that if a "soldier of the United States" was ordered to "act against the People" of Rhode Island in "aid of the charter government", he could call for military aid from across the northern states.