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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to George Turner: |
Introduction
In this letter, Dorr expresses his dismay after learning that the Luther case has been postponed and will not be argued before the Court during the present term. Another year would pass before oral arguments and then not until early 1849 for a ruling from the Court (5 to 1 against the Dorrite position).
Letter
Providence, Feb. 11th, '47
GeorgeTurner Esq:
Dear Sir,
The joint letter of yourself and
Mr Hallett ^dated Feb. 8th has been received this morning. We learn with
regret and surprise that the case was not assigned for some
day by the Court, and remains to be taken up, or not, according
to the length of the trial that may precede. We were informed
by you a year ago, that Luther’s case was considered by the Court
as a “privileged case”, to be argued at anytime in the next term,
when the parties should be ready. If there had been the slightest
doubt on this point, our counsel would have been requested ^to prepare themselves
to attend at the opening of the Court in December ^in order to avail themselves
of the earliest opportunity to press the trial. If the case be reached
at all it will be one of the last, as appears by your statement
of those before it, which remain open; and as you justly remark
the duty of counsel is “to remain on the spot incessantly to urge
on the hearing until we have it, or more explicitly told by the Court
that they will not hear us.” Mr Luther’s counsel will need no
urging in this plain line of duty. Mr Hallett alludes again to
pecuniary compensation. His expectations are of course moderate,
as he knows he is serving “the Lord’s poor” and that the
long purse is on the other side of the case. But the best
that can be done will be done; and it would be underrating
the native ^character for sagacity in these parts to suppose for a moment
that a couple of our own shrewd Yankees cannot make a shift
to live a few days longer in Washington, while the necessary
financial measures are being arranged here for their relief.
Mr Willard, treasure of the Luther funds is in a bad, if not
an alarming, state of health, and, I presume, is not out
today; but I will seek him at his residence ^this afternoon and call
his attention forthwith to the claims of counsel
at Washington. Yours very truly,
T. W. Dorr
Questions
Do you think the Dorrite cause came to an end with the decision in the Luther case?