think, is to be settled in no way but by killing their neighbors! And they understand that it is to be a deadly encounter of "friend against friend, brother against brother"-the "lines of alienation running through families and firms of business.' Among the men to be butchered, are "civil magistrates," "who [say they] have sat at our tables"-" a considerable number of professing Christians," "who partake [with their opponents] of the elements of that body which was broken and that blood which was shed for our sins!"+

Work, here, for fiends, surely! Where, and among what class in Rhode Island, were they to be mustered? The Charterists can tell us. Out of the 4,500 in arms, they furnished 4,000 themselves! Nearly one half of their entire number of voters were on the spot, with their death-weapons in their hands! But of the "bloodthirsty" suffrage men, watching for "plunder," only about 500 could be ral. lied-about one twenty-eighth part of their voters!

THE BONE OF CONTENTION.

Yet the suffrage men were contending for "the blessings of a Con. stitution, free suffrage and an equalized representation," which "a great majority of the citizens of all parties" desired. [Vide A. C. Barstow.] Dr. Tucker adverts to "the anomaly of the existing [Charter] government, as the cause of the difficulty--to the "correctness of the principle avowed" [by the suffrage men] as the "object" to be obtained, to wit, the "equality of representation, and the RIGHT of suffrage."-" Petitions," to this effect, he attests, "have been often presented and acted upon," which implies that they had often been denied! And Dr. Wayland says, "it is universally con. ceded that it would have been better if a change in the elective franchise had been made, many years since."

Such were the objects of the suffrage men, with their comparatively small rally in the war camp. Mighty in numbers-mighty in the rectitude of their cause, by the concessions of their enemies. Mighty too, in their hold upon the Constitutional law of their country. Weak, only, in the rally for civil commotion-for civil war-even in the de. fense of the lawful civil government. And these are the bloodthirsty "anarchists!" the "plunderers!"

And as for the Charterists-for what did they rally? In opposition to the objects sought by the suffrage men? Yea? or nay?-If so, they rallied against the admitted right! If not, for what object did they rally? Was it for the mere love of killing their neighbors ?Or was it because a Constitution establishing the right had been framed and adopted without their leave-the leave of the minority— which leave they had, for half a century refused? Either horn of the

* Rev. Dr. Tucker's Discourse.

+ Rev. Dr. Wayland's Discourse.

On reflection, it must have been much more than one half. For the 8,662 voters of 1840 included the whole number, of all parties, voting. But many of them are known to be Constitutionalists, and opposed to the Charterists, in their present struggle.

dilemma presents essentially the same point! These are the conservators of law and order!" These are the men jealously careful of the "public tranquility, security and peace!"

ONE PROBLEM SOLVED.

This, then, we assign, as the grand secret of comparative imbecility, on the part of the Constitutionalists, in the war camp. That was not their place. There, they were out of their element. The friends of human rights are not forward to take human life. Constitutional "law and order" do not eagerly rush to the arena of civil war. The injured, after long forbearance, are not as ready to redress, with vio. lence, their wrongs, as the wrong doers are to perpetuate and extend their injuries in blood. The worse than worthlessness of the military arm, in such a struggle, is one of the lessons to be learned by the late events in Rhode Island.

INFURIATED RIOTERS-ANOTHER PICTURE.

Take the following illustration, from the testimony of a Charterist, who gives, in the N. Y. Journal of Commerce, and N. York Observer, an account of the first encounter, at Providence, the 18th of May. This is the more to our purpose, as on that occasion, the Charter forces were so small, and the circumstances were such, as to give the Constitutionalists the advantage over their enemies. Let us see how they availed themselves of their position.

The writer reveals to us his own sentiments by describing the ranks of Gov. Dorr, as containing lazy fellows, infuriated by passion and liquor," &c., &c., while the Charter forces, under Col. Blodget, were "the respectability and worth of the city." Let us see then, how these infuriated creatures behaved. Here, we shall get a glimpse, no doubt, of the worst part of "the Dorr party," in their worst doings. For President Wayland, Dr. Tucker, and others, give us to understand that only a part of the suffrage men were bad enough to carry matters to this extreme of violence. And they boast that one and anoth ́er, nay, that the large body of the Constitutionalists shrunk back, when they saw to what extent the unprincipled and reckless few were prepared to carry their violence. Now, then, to our writer.

"A cannon [he says,] stood before the door, [of Mr. Anthony's house, Gov. Dorr's head-quarters] loaded to the muzzle with all sorts of missiles, and pointed directly down the road."—" A suffrage man came running to them [Blodget's Company] and exclaimed Don't come this way, you will all be killed.' Col. Blodget took the kind advice of his enemy, more careful of his men than of himself, and approached the house from another direction. Having arrived at the house, a detachment was ordered in, and Gov. King, with the Sheriff went over to the house, which was full of men armed with all sorts of weapons for close fight. The suffrage men advised the detachment to go out, saying, if a gun is fired, you will all be killed.' The citizens could not but be conscious that there was too much ground for the de. claration, for they were inferior in numbers and weapons for so close

a conflict. Yet they replied, We have been ordered here, and shall not leave our post until ordered to do so by our commander.' This was a most critical hour. When Gov. King and the Sheriff addressed the armed mass outside, declaring that they had come to arrest Dorr, and would arrest him if he was there to be found, the cry was, Never! never!' and muskets were aimed at the windows, but happily no triggers were drawn.". Through all these incidents, there is strongly exemplified the N. England regard for law and life. Men could be found plentifully to resolve for what they deemed THEIR RIGHTS, a considerable number would take up arms and put themselves in battle array, and some would point their guns, but not a' man would fire. To a certain boundary they could be led, and that was the boundary of law." [Journal of Commerce.]

The truth is, they knew that "law" was on their side. Yet they forebore. Gov. Dorr, yielding to the importunity of relatives, and de. sirous of preventing bloodshed, (well assured that there would be no relenting, on the other side,) fled into the country from his pursuers, and the armament was disbanded.

Thrice, then in one day, (like David, with Saul in his hand,) did they let their enemies escape, without so much as taking from them the skirt of a coat, though they had them in their power. So the writer in the Journal of Commerce, testifies. So we heard, on the spot, the same day, from Charterists, themselves. And before night, we heard them derided as fools and as cowards, for their lenity.* These are the men who are now incarcerated in the jails of Rhode Island, and scattered, by flight, over New England. These are the men whom President Wayland shamelessly describes as "ignorant and abandoned men, urged to treason by the hopes of glutting their revenge, against those who had been their truest friends, and by the expectation of plundering those who, it was supposed, had not strength or courage to resist!"

How lamentable must be the condition of those minds-with what terrible visions of conscious wrong doing must they be haunted, who can only read signs of " REVENGE" and indications of "PLUNDER” in such men ! What can be more manifest than that it was only for THEIR RIGHTS that they were contending, and that-when it came to the dreadful alternative, they would waive even these for the time being, rather than sacrifice the lives of their neighbors! Dr. Wayland and his clerical accomplices, had abundantly taught these men the duty of supporting a lawful civil government by the military force. That was all they ever attempted to do, and there appears no sufficient reason why their teachers should complain of their putting their own precepts in practice, unless that reason be found in the fact that they had turned insurrectionists themselves.

"The cowardly leader fled," says the Rev. Dr. Tucker, Disc. p. 6.-And so, to fight for liberty is treason! infidelity! lawlessness-and to flee from murder and oppression is "cowardice!"

A MARVEL.

One instance of lenity and magnanimity on the part of the Charter commander, King, as an offset to the preceding, it will be expected that we should here record, in its place. So much celebrated has it been by them, that we may fairly consider it quite remarkable. It is this. After the suffrage forces were all dispersed, except 24 men, and while their opponents were 600 strong, Mr. King, whose life they had repeatedly spared the same day, forebore to massacre the 24 men to get possession of two guns that he knew would be peacefully delivered up, according to stipulation, whenever his forces should be withdrawn and disbanded; and which was accordingly done.

SUCCESSFUL INSURRECTION.

The attempt of the Constitutional governor, Dorr, in May, to take possession of the Arsenal and other State property at Providence, which a due regard for "law and order,' would have peacefully delivered up to him, was perversely and wickedly tortured into an attempt to take possession of the city, and pillage and divide the property of the citizens ! On his return to the State, toward the close of June, he summoned the Legislature to meet at Chepachet, a village in the interior, on the 4th of July, the day to which they had adjourned. No pretense of any danger to the citizens of Providence could be made, now, and accordingly it was supposed by many, that the rally of a few, (in response to the call of Gov. Dorr, by Proclamation,) would suffice for the protection of the Legislature. It was not believed that 4,000 men in the State would causelessly rally against the lawful gov. ernment, at a time when the panic about the "pillage" of Providence had subsided, and every body knew there had never been a particle of foundation for it. Here again, the simplicity of popular honesty and innocence failed to anticipate the depth and the inveteracy of aristocratic hatred against the Sovereignty of the People, and the determin. ation, at whatever sacrifice, to perpetuate the minority misrule. The event showed their mistake. The war spirit, among the Charterists, by all accounts, so far from having disappeared was roused to a perfect phrenzy,† at the prospect of a legislative session of the lawful government at Chepachet. So far had they been seduced, step by step, from the path of rectitude, that they now seemed given up, of God, to fill up the measure of their iniquities, and show what was in their hearts. And the opportunity was offorded them. The dispersion of the Constitutional authorities by the organized mob of 4,000, will stand forever on the page of history, in illustration of their infuri. ate lawlessness.

AN INCIDENT.

It is related that Gov. Dorr reluctantly consented to a second flight, after an interview with his aged father, who had visited his fort, to as.

"All seemed to look forward to a brush, [i. e. a battle,] with pleasure!""Our men were aching for the attack." [Providence Journal, July 1.]

sure him that his enemies would overpower him-that his life would fall a certain sacrifice, in their hands, and that no benefit to his cause could accrue, using all his powers of parental entreaty and authori, ty, to urge his flight. It is stated too, that, for this creditable exhibi-tion of manly feeling, on his part, the venerable gentleman was harsh. ly reproached by the Charterists, many of whom loudly and openly de. clared that he ought to be hanged! yes, hanged, for thus seeking to preserve the life of his dutiful and affectionate son! This was the spirit in which the minority triumph in Rhode Island was achieved. Is it to the discredit of the majority, that they did not equal it? And have they, therefore, forfeited their rights? Abandoned their Constitution? Or nullified or erased their December vote of 13,944 in its favor? Or renounced their allegiance to Gov. Dorr? Or recognized the usurper who has driven him, like an Alfred, a Bruce, or a Wallace, into exile? So stupidity may dream! Thus Henry Clay may declaim! So, the presiding genius of the Charterist presses in Rhode Island may scribble! Thus, wicked simpletons may sermonize! But TRUTH reigns-and GOD lives-and his throne stands-and his law is unrepealed-and "law and order" will one day, prevail, and be understood, and honored. Sycophancy and sophistry will hide their heads, then.

OTHER CAUSES OF FAILURE-THE FEDERAL POWER.

We do not claim for the Constitutionalists that their military inef ficiency was wholly owing to their humanity and love of peace. Other considerations had their share. To a great extent they were overawed with the attitude of the general government. A support of the State government would bring them into collision with the National. A civil war in Rhode Island, they had reason to think, would involve all the free States, perhaps the whole country. Here' was something to ponder. However lightly and flippantly the aristocracy could speak of such an event, however coolly they might contemplate it, and how. ever rashly one half the Charterists in the State might jump into such a fearful conflict, without a moment's consideration, bayonet in hand, the majority of the people, the Constitutionalists, were not the men to hazard the national tranquility without reflection. Considerations of prudence as well as of philanthropy had weight with them.

It turns out, now, to be sure, that the promise of Executive aid was more in the prospect than in the performance. The meetings of "sympathisers" in New York and elsewhere, with the dreaded symp. toms of a discussion in Congress, may have induced a little sober re flection at the Palace. A rupture with the northern democracy might be as formidable to Mr. Tyler, as the precedent of popular supremacy and emancipation in Rhode Island. From some cause the national troops sent to Rhode Island, it is said, were not permitted, by the President to be used.* He was not convinced that they were needed. It is

→→ Some recent developments, it is thought by some, furnish a new solution of Pres. Tyler's abandonment of the Charterists. [We say abandonment, for thé