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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Dutee Pearce: |
Introduction
In this letter to Dutee Pearce, a confident Dorr talks about the rising tide of public support for the People’s Constitution. He believes his opponents, the “Tories,” a reference to loyalists to the British Crown during the American Revolution, are on the ropes. Dorr references Rhode Island Chief Justice Job Durfee, an arch-conservative. On March 15, Durfee delivered a stinging rebuke to Dorr’s ideological positions to a grand jury convened in Bristol comparing the Dorrites to French Revolutionaries and defining their actions as treasonous. Durfee’s address was published in the press and later appeared in pamphlet form. Students can access the pamphlet on the Dorr Rebellion Project website.
Letter
Providence Mar. 18, '42
Evening 10 o'clock
Dear Sir,
Your letters of Wednesday and Thursday
were received by me this morning on my return from Bristol, where
I lectured last evening to 300 of the friends of equal rights. There
will be hard fighting in that town. Every means is put in operation.
The money-power (excepting what is in the hands of W. H. D’Wolf), the
lawyers, the clergy, etc. are against us there; and we must expect
to fall short in our vote in consequence. Warren will give 100
majority against us. We shall get off well if the majority against us
in Bristol Co. does not exceed 200. In Kent we shall get a majority.
Washington about even. Admitting the utmost for lee
way in Newport Co., the other four counties cannot come up to
the line of Providence Co. with a total majority exceeding 1000
votes. I am very happy to speak of this county with real confidence.
It is coming out tall & strong after all, beyond any
reasonable doubt. Our lectures are in, and give the particulars;
without going into which I will say that the county is good for
3000 majority; and I cannot see how in any event our majority
in the State can fall below 2000. This is my mark at
this time, as advised. Minutiae hereafter. The knowing ones on
the other side have no confidence in their success – one of them
said tonight, our (People’s) majority cannot exceed 1200!
Well, we will take that, and as much more as the People
please. The desperate game of brag, falsehood & cheating
has almost been played out by the Tories. Durfee’s
furioso-bombastical address last night, by its extravagance
and ultra-slavish doctrines, has strengthened a number of persons
here on our side, and has ^made some converts for us. The
big handbill, signed by nearly all the rich aristocrats in Providence,
& topped off with Fenner, Francis etc., has done us far
more good in the county than the opinions, charges etc.
of the judges have done us harm. I think all those contrivances
for political effect have now about spent themselves.
In our public meetings we have most decidedly the advantage
of our opponents, in numbers, spirit, & effect, throughout
the State. But we must all go into the contest next
week as if our action was to determine the result. Though
I believe that our success is sure, beyond a reasonable doubt,
yet I would say, let us do nothing by halves; and draw
the Tory hulk clear out, high and dry, above the water mark.
I have done the best I can to obtain a speaker for
your meeting tomorrow evening, but without success. All our
men are engaged here or elsewhere. I shall speak to a mass-
meeting in the Court House parade tomorrow evening. We
here had another grand meeting tonight at the Town-House,
which was filled as usual.
The Tories have overshot themselves in an
amusing manner on one point. By proving ^with the aid of the Court, that the People’s
Constitution is illegal and invalid, they have induced many
to vote against the Freeholders’ Const. with the expectation of
falling back on the Old Charter!
Curry is here today, and I should doubt whether he
be going to Bl. Island. I am sorry that we can send
you nothing toward the expenses of an agent to that place. It
would seem that the exemptions ^in favor of B.I. in our Constitution ought to recommend
it to the islanders generally.
The Tories have got out a handbill representing
that Barker has declined & left us. For his reply see a
handbill published today, or the Express tomorrow.
But it is getting late, and I must close.
Keep up good spirits & work hard are the certain directions
to success on the road we are now traveling. We shall drub
the Tories soundly.
T. W. Dorr
Questions
Why do you think the language of the American Revolution from the 18th century featured so prominently in the Dorr Rebellion in 1842?