stitution, as a man and a citizen of this republic; and to wipe out the deep and damning stain stamped upon the national escutcheon by the mock trial and condemnation of this individual, guilty of no offence but that of maintaining the sovereignty of the people, and of obeying their sovereign will.

And whereas it is provided by the eighth article of the amendments to the constitution of the United States, that "excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted," and whereas the punishment imposed upon the said Thomas Wilson Dorr is, in the opinion of this legislature, both "cruel and unusual," -unusual, as being, it is believed, the first offence of a strictly political character which has been punished by a state since the declaration of American independence unusual when the nature of the offence is considered in connection with the plain principles upon which the government of the United States is founded, the principle of the sovereignty of the people; and whereas it is the manifest duty of the general government to protect and guard the rights of individuals so far as those rights are guaranteed by the constitution, therefore Resolved, That the imprisonment of Thomas Wilson Dorr by the authorities of Rhode Island presents to the Congress of the United States a case of "cruel and unusual punishment” inflicted upon that individual for exercising, in a constitutional manner, the duties imposed upon him as chief magistrate of that state, to which office he was duly elected under a constitution adopted by a large majority of its citizens, and as such calls loudly upon the general government to extend to him, the said Thomas Wilson Dorr, that protection against tyranny and oppression which the government of these United States are bound in good faith to extend to all and every one of its citizens.

Resolved, That while we disclaim all right to inter

ference with the internal police and regulations of our sister states, leaving to them the full exercise of sovereign power, (so far as it has not been delegated to the United States,) yet we cannot but protest against the wanton exercise of this power by the State of Rhode Island, in the case of Thomas Wilson Dorr, who, as a citizen of the United States, has rights which should be regarded as sacred, and which the general government is bound to maintain and defend.

Resolved, That we regard the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people as of vital importance to the stability and permanency of our republic, and that the people of Rhode Island, in common with the people of the other states composing this Union, possess this rightthat when they speak, "Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to their 'public acts,' one of which was the establishment of a constitution, adopted by a majority of her people, and another the election of officers under that constitution, of which Thomas Wilson Dorr was the chief magistrate, and as such should have been recognized by the several states composing this Union, and by the United States government itself.

Resolved, That our senators and representatives in Congress be requested to lay this preamble and resolutions before both Houses of Congress, and that the secretary of state be directed to furnish each of them with a copy of the same, and also to furnish a copy to the governors of the several states and territories.

The resolutions were signed by Governor Steele, "approved — heartily approved."

Maine legislative Resolutions in Relation to the Imprisonment of Thomas Wilson Dorr.

Whereas, we hold that "all men are born equally free and independent, have certain natural and inalien

able rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness;" that the people are the source of all legitimate power; that all governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; and in the people resides full and plenary power to institute government, "to alter, reform, or totally change the same, whenever their safety and happiness require and whereas the constitution of the United States guarantees to every state in this Union "a republican form of government," and provides that "in all criminal prosecution's the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed;" and that "no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law," therefore,

it;

Resolved, That the sovereign power of a state is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their benefit; and that no man or set of men is entitled to supreme or exclusive privileges in the institution and support of

government.

Resolved, That the sovereign power of the State of Rhode Island is inherent in the people thereof, and to them belongs the right to institute government, to change or abolish the same, as they may deem wise and proper for their safety and happiness.

Resolved, That the constitution of Rhode Island, adopted by the people in December, eighteen hundred and forty one, is republican in its form, and was rightfully adopted by a majority of the people thereof, and thereby became the permanent law of the state, and as such was entitled to the guarantee of the United States. Resolved, That the interference of John Tyler, President of the United States, in behalf of the late charter

government of Rhode Island, with the military power of the Union, by which the popular government of that state, under the constitution adopted in December, eighteen hundred and forty-one, was suppressed, was unauthorized by the constitution and laws of the United States, in derogation of both a dangerous usurpation of power and a wanton violation of the rights of the people of Rhode Island.

Resolved, That in the recent popular movement in the State of Rhode Island, we recognize in the person of Thomas Wilson Dorr a bold and uncompromising champion of the great American doctrines of the revolution, the able and stern defender of popular sovereignty, a noble son of a degenerate state, now the victim of vindictively corrupt judges, and a packed and partial jury.

Resolved, That the State of Maine, by her legislature, hereby enters her solemn protest against the imprisonment of Thomas W. Dorr in the state prison in the State of Rhode Island, by the authorities thereof, as unjust, illegal, malignant, and tyrannical, unbecoming the age in which we live, and deserving the marked disapprobation of the American people; and in the opinion of this legislature it is the imperative duty of the general government to adopt any and all legal and constitutional measures for his immediate release.

Resolved, That the governor be requested to cause a copy of these resolves to be transmitted to the president of the United States, to the governors of the several states, and to each of our senators and representatives in Congress. (Approved April 4, 1845.)

20

CHAPTER XVI.

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRECONGRESS OF THE UNITED

SENTATIVES

IN THE

STATES. ALSO, SPEECH OF HON. MR. ALLEN,

OHIO.

OF

Ar the January session of the Rhode Island legislature, in 1844, a portion of the members of both Houses, twenty-six in number, signed and forwarded a memorial to Congress, setting forth the political grievances to which the people of that state had been subjected, and requesting the House of Representatives to "institute an inquiry into the facts" set forth in that memorial. That memorial, with other documents, was referred to a select committee of the House of Representatives, consisting of the following gentlemen, viz.: Messrs. Burke, Rathbun, Causin, McClernand, and Preston, who were empowered to send for persons and papers. They commenced their investigation on the 29th of February, 1844, and continued it until the 3d day of June following. In the commencement of their proceedings, they caused notice to be given to the governor of the State of Rhode Island, and also to the memorialists, of their appointment, and of the course which they intended to pursue in the investigation, in