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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Lydia Allen Dorr: |
Letter
Ap. 6. ‘45
My Dear M.
I am really glad to learn that you and F. are so well
pleased with the result of the election, and hope that all your agreeable anticipa-
tions will be realized. The organ of the Whigs, you will observe, asserts round-
ly that nothing has been gained to the cause of “liberation”; and, as the
Whigs have a large majority in the two Houses, and deny that liberation
was the issue on trial, they will not consider themselves instructed by the mea-
gre majority of votes for Jackson. So that all is still doubtful and obscure.
The professions of Simmons will of course be looked upon with suspicion. His main
object has been answered in the overthrow of Fenner, and in laying the
foundation for a new Whig party upon the promises lately occupied by “law
& order”. Simmons is a moral enemy; he of course does not really wish to
see me out of prison. All that he will do at Newport will be to keep up a
decent appearance of recommending liberation, while, through some of his
men, he will take care to create an unfortunate difference of opinion as
to the mode of proceeding, so as to postpone the subject till June, when
the same game will be played again, and with sufficient adroitness to secure
to Simmons the credit of having exerted himself, tho’ unsuccessfully, to
fulfil the expectations of the democratic dupes. I like to impute
good motives when I can to political enemies; but having been a
member of the Assembly when the celebrated Senatorial Question was pending,
and Simmons so artfully cheated poor old Mr Burges out of his elec-
tion, as you all recollect, and well knowing the dishonesty–& base-
ness of this political charlatan, I must put you on your guard
against his deceptive practices. All who trust him, without the closest
watching, will find themselves leaning on a broken reed. –
If the Whig members, at the coming session, cannot avoid doing some
thing, the plan proposed is to direct the warden to discharge the prison-er
unconditionally. But he is to go forth without restoration of rights, unless,
perhaps, it may be provided that, on taking the oath, after discharge, he
may be restored. – This you may say is not a very sanguine view
of things; but let me will upon those on the outside that, if they expect to accom-
plish anything, they must be on their guard against imposters. – The views
of members should be ascertained beforehand. At Newport they will be
marked and numbered by a few managers. – Please to let me know what is
going on, if you discern anything of interest.
Yours of the 30th & of Ap. 4th were rec’d with – much
pleasure. The person who spoke so freely to F. in a certain matter was told
by me that he might do so with confidence. There is much good will, but
not so much discretion as in the old mode; to which please confine yourself
while it lasts.
It is not surprising that Sam Larned should glory a
little in his money, tho’ obtained by trading against law in S. America; but
that he should attempt to set up an “aristocratic origin”, through old “squire
Bill” (that Becky Stafford used to talk of with so unsparing a tongue)
is amusing enough.
Stephen Dexter, I am told, acted on the Whig side, and was
entrusted with distributing the bribes! –
Poor old Aunt Dorcas! I am sorry to hear that the infirmi-
ties of age are settling down so heavily upon her. She must be now about
90 years of age. The will of which you speak was taken by her at the time of
execution, according to the best of my recollection, to be put away in her trunk
or bureau; and it will be as well to inquire where she placed it. – I feel
pretty sure that it was never afterward handed to me: if it had been it would
have been deposited in the black, lackered box, under the great glass, in
the north west chamber. –
I was not able to do much in the shop last week, until near
the close of it; but feel better, and hope to continue so.
Your package of the 30th came unsealed, I suppose
by Mrs W.
to put in a note.