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Letter
Fall River, April 16th 1842
Thomas W. Dorr,
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
in advising me of the want of such assis
tance as may be in the power of many
here to give; and which will be readily
and voluntarily rendered.
Yours Respectfully,
Louis Lapham