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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Dutee Pearce: |
Introduction
In this letter to Dutee Pearce, Thomas Dorr, certainly exalted from the overwhelming support citizens gave the People’s Constitution just a few weeks before, is however leery of challenges that might arise in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Dorr references U.S. Circuit Court Judge John Pitman and Brown University Professor William Giles Goddard, staunch conservatives deeply opposed to efforts of the Suffrage Association. Dorr, however, believes that the two men had at one point earlier in the century supported free suffrage. Samuel Atwell, a pro-suffrage representative from Glocester, had introduced a bill to terminate the Charter government.
Letter
Providence, Jan. 17, '42.
Dear Sir,
I write in haste this evening to ask
if you know where we can find the Memorial in favor of free
suffrage, written some years ago by John Pitman, now a judge of
the United States, and one of our most active opponents.
Some of our friends have come across an article in an old
number of the Journal, written by W.E. Richmond, which asserts
all the doctrines, for which we now contend, in the strongest
language. This they intend to lay before the Legislature
tomorrow in a handbill; and they are desirous of doing
the same favor to Pitman & Goddard. When was it that
Pitman took his strong stand for free suffrage? Where may
the memorial, or any other writing of his on this subject, be
found? If you have a copy please send it to me; and write
by return mail. Point out also, if you can, any article by
Goddard on the same side.
The Assembly are in the most extraordinary
state of confusion and uncertainty. They do not know
what to do, or what disposition to make of Atwell’s bill to terminate
the old government. A motion will be made tomorrow
to refer the bill to a Committee, with directions to examine the
returns of votes for the People’s Constitution, and report the facts. What
the results will be I cannot tell, and do not care. The will
of the People has been decisively expressed; and will
be as decisively & thoughtfully executed. If the Legislature
do not give way, they will be run over by the Government
of the People.
Questions
How does the conservative ideological position differ from Dorr’s constitutional vision? Spend time with the “Road Not Taken” collection to help develop a fuller understanding of the conservative position.