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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to George Turner: |
Introduction
In this letter, Thomas Dorr responds to questions from George Turner relating to historical material for use in the Luther case. Dorr tells Turner that his close friend and confidant Walter S. Burges made an attempt (in vain) to find some material from the late 18th century. In this letter, Dorr references the Roman Catholic population of Rhode Island, one of the few times in the vast Dorr catalog in which he references Catholics and the suffrage question, even though Irish Catholics were one of the largest groups who stood to gain from the activism of the Rhode Island Suffrage Party in 1841-42. In the end, following the direction of clerics, Catholics abstained from directly aiding the Dorrites. Indeed, the arrest records from June and July 1842 show hardly any Irish names.
Letter
Providence, Feb. 6, '47
GeorgeTurner Esq:
Dear Sir,
I have seen a letter today in which
you ask for a copy of the old Statute Book containing the clause
of exclusion of Roman Catholics from the right of suffrage. Unfortunately
it was not known ^on Tuesday that this book was wanted; as it might have been
sent on that day by Col. Atwell. I have requested that a
certified copy ^of the law from the old Digest be obtained for you; and also a copy
of the act of repeal. Col. A. took on for you “English Liberties”.
On Monday we will send every thing that can be procured of your
list of authorities wanted as named to Mr Burges.
Mr Burges has searched without success for the Report of
the Legislature Committee of ’76. If not ^too lame, I will try on Monday.
You want also the vote of 1790 in this state, & of some
subsequent years, to be compared with the votes polled at a later
day, as given at p. 471 of Burke’s Report; to show that the
increase of the electoral body ^was very far from being in proportion to the population.
The extract from G. Burrill’s oration you will find at
p. 271 of Burke’s Report.
I will look farther for Knowles’ remarkable prediction of
troubles to come in R.I.
Tho's W. Dorr
On the subject of the exclusion of Roman Catholics see Burke’s Report, p.159.
Questions
Why do you think Rhode Island Catholics were apprehensive of assisting the Dorrite cause in 1842 even though they stood to gain from the suffrage movement?