W!^' m?Mi mm m(fim. V3 X^5^ *r .^- - - (. < err < •■ '. crccc^ :^<:::' c c < c c reel' crc: c<:' c: c ■ c^ <: c cr c c C^' < c <^ CC C k ttflif* A :N D T H K GREAT SLOCUM DINNER; WITH INTRIIIILiCMRV REMARKS AND ANNOTATieNS. O-y /' n regard their servants fate. u They saved themselves to save the State, And kept out of the fray. Yet doubt not that they were as bold, As those whose warlike deeds I've told, And had they been as frightened, would Have run as fast as they. Far from this scene of fearful strife. The Doctor" passed his quiet life. For though the Algerines he spurned. For though with patriot lire he burned, And in the battle, to be won, He longed to take the foremost part. Yet ill, he knew, the healing art Could spare her favorite son. Around his brow the laurel green Was tainted by no battle breath. He never harmed an Algcrine, Unless he physicked him to deatli. Peaceful tl^e triumphs of his name. And beer and hot drops .all his fame ! Anxious the Doctor spent that night, And anxious spent' the day, For well he knew the hour of light Had come and passed away. But if the " people " in their might. Had risen from the frny. Or scattered, in inglorious flight, They crushed and broken lay. He knew not, and his manly heart Longed in their fiite to bear a part, If) Whatever it might be, Wliether their triumph lie should sing, Or their defeat bewail. While thus lie stood, a man rushed in, Fresh from the battle's dust and din, " News from the ' people's' cause I bring, This paper tells the tale." A light on John A.'s visage sped ; He snatched the paper, but he read Defeat instead of victory. Trembling with fear, despair and rage. He shook aloft the damp Xew Age, And shouted Soverwmitv. Eun, DisPEAU, run ; down, Governor, down, Were the last words of Doctor Brown. I The Chepachet Campaig N. ^J^HERE'S ,t>'atherino' on T-xhode IslaniVs sliore ^i^j There's mustering on each hill ; From every plain her 3^eomen pour ; Spears every valley fill. The people, rousing in their might, Are armed for vengeance and foi- fight ; And woe unto the Algerine, Whose luckless neck may stand between The people and their right. On Diamond Hill the heacondight Is blazing fierce and high ; The answering flame on Acote's hei<2:ht Is flashing to the sky. O'er Chepi-Chuck'* the banners flout And rings tlie warning cry ; And hark ! the signal-gun speaks out From Holmes's Brewerv. 3 • 18 From Cliipinoxet Point tliey tliroug; From Quidnick Pond they pour along,, From Petaqnamscut's stream ; From fair Woonasqiiatucket's banks ; From Devil's Foot, the patriot ranks With swords and bayonets gleam- In Baker s Hollow, see, they meet, — They're thronging fast in Federal street, And Shingle Bridge and Scrabbletown, Beneath their weight are breaking down. From Yawgoo Pond, from Rice's Mill, From Mishniek Swamp, fj-om Shannock Hill,. From Nipmnck's qnarried height. From broad Quidneset's plain they start, All swift of limb, and trae of heart, All eager for the tight. And from those regions dark and hilly, In Grlocester and " Burrillvillv,'^ Where old romance her charms hath thrown, And wonder claims the land her own ; Where savage tribes are said to roam. And savage beasts still keep their home ; Where, startling np from rock and glen, Fierce cannibals their faces show, And " Anthropphagi, and men Whose heads beneath their shoulders erow." to' For now the martial Governor Porr Hath buckled on that sword for war, 19 And swears lie is determined for The Algerines to rout. With him D'Wolf and Potter stand, And Charley Ne\Yell draws his band, And General Sprague so stout Brave Ekler Bullet' takes the lield, And manv a heart, untaught to yieldj Beats eager for the fray ;— His war-steed Sheldon mounts upon^ The " tricksy Ariel " urges on, And Slocum points the way. Forenlost in courage and in skdl, A¥ith laurels won on Federal Hill^ The Woonsocket Light Infantry Press on for Dorr and victory. Each soldier true, to fear a stranger. Or "fearing nothing except danger.''^ But not alone on native ranks Did freedom's sacred cause recline ; The cry of "Beauty and the Banks," Aroused the patriots o'er the line ; Connecticut her heroes sent ; ISTew York her fiercest warriors lent ; "With eloquence the Five Points rung ; The Pewter Mug delighted hung On Slamm's appeals, on Hopkins' tongue. Mike Walsh, with twenty Spartans true, To Governor Dorr's assistance flew, 20 And patriotic gifts were made, The cause of freedom's liope to aid. What Allen ofave, beyond my reach is ; But Yanderpoel gaye — seyeral speeches I Two yirtues, in old Sparta\s code, With most conspicucnis lustre glowed. Courage in war, thieying in peace. Such were the glories of old Greece. If Michael's Spartans did not quite Their Grecian namesakes match in fight, In courage, and in lofty feeling, They more than made it up in stealing. And well thy barn-yards, Foster, and Full well thy hen-roosts, Glos'ter, know The prowess of the Spartan Band, The weia'ht, the force of MichaePs blow. Cleyeland, Connecticut's great chief. Promised assistance and relief ; And Morton pledged his name, Should Heayen and clams giye him the power. The suffrage folks might, in that hour. Old Massachusetts claim. And Hubbard, mightiest of the host, New Hampshire's Solon and her boast. By his great ancestress had sworn — (That Old Mother Hubbard, Who went to the cupboard To get her poor dog a bone,) The suffrage banner should be borne. His granite hills upon. 21 Ne'er men so true in cause so good, As tliose on Acote's lieiglit, that stood Burning witli patriot rage. Ill would it suit iny Inimble verse, Their many virtues to rehearse. Rather to Charlestown's^ records go. Rather let Moyamensing show. And Auburn's glowing page. Rather let Blackwell's Island tell The storv that it knows full well, How budded 'neath its tender care, The flowers that cast their fruitage there. The Governor saw with conscious pride. The men who o-athered at his side ; That bloodv sword aloft he drew, And " list, mv trusty men," he cried— " Here do I swear to stand by you, - As long as flows life's crimson tide ; — Nor will I ever jneld, until I leave my bones ujDon this hill." His men received the gallant boast With shouts that shook the rocks around. But hark, a voice ! old Acote's'* ghost Calls out, in anger, from the ground, " If here your bones you mean to lay. Then d n it, I'll take mine away." Not mine to sing that dreadful night. When, scattered in disastrous flight. The pati iot forces left the height ; 99 Kot mine to sing tliat dreadful day, When all tlie ''people" ran away, And left tlie Algerioes full sway, To plunder as they might : Nor mine, to sing in mournful tunes, That " cooking stove," " them silver spoons^" Sad trophies of the fight. ^^ Some future poet yet shall stand, And hio'li the vens^eful strain shall lift ; Shall sins^ the horrors of that liand, Which, seized with sacrilegious hand, " Them lasting garters," Eispy Tift. Tremble, ye Algerines : the hour Is hastening, when, with sovereign powei*, The people shall their rights demand. And rise in vengeance through the land. Morton, with twice ten thousand men For Governor Dorr, shall cross the line ; Dispeau's broad banner shall again O'er serried ranks of thousands shine ; The exiles shall their footsteps turn Where freedom's hopes forever burn. On Acote's height, o'er Dexter's Plain, Freedom's wild shout shall burst again, And franchised freemen join the cry, For beauty, banks and liberty. Brown, shall his snow-white charger mount, Spencer, "undaunted," thousands count; And if Wales finds that Paixhan Gun^ The cause is safe, the State is won ! ^^oten to thi{ IJorriad, J V 1. The attempt to fire the gun which Dorr hroiight against the Arsenal failed, for some reason that was never exjilained. The match was aiii)lied to the priming, whicli resjionded only by a flash. It was said that Dorr, suspecting some treachery, repeated the attempt with his own hand, but with no better success. It was evi- dent that the communication had been cut oft' between the priming and the powder, in the chamber of the gun ; and it was believed that the touch-hole had been plugged by some of his own friends, whose counsels had been overborne, and wlio took this ])ractical mode of testifying against violence. The '' Algerines " said that the gun was loaded, ball first. 2. The locations of ProA'idence and of the State mentioned in these lines are too well known to need. any descrij^tion. The " Pawtucl about enaugh.^^ (Daafening and long continued ap- plause, with cries of "hear/' "hear," "hurrah for Slo- cum," — -"go it soverinnityy) After the regular toasts had been drunk, the follow- ing letters were read from distinguished gentlemen ^ declining invitations to the festival. From General Carj^enler.-^ Providence, Feb. 23, 18.t3. Gendenien : — Your invitation to attend a dinner given at the Fish Market at Providence, to the patriotic Slocum, linds me much embarrassed by business of a peculiarl V important and pressing nature, and b}^ severe personal indisposition. Nothing, however, should have prevented me from joining you in tliis act of well merited courtesy, but necessary absence from the city on a visit to one fully entitled to the gratitude of the Suffrage party, for the humane manner in Avhich he, as Major-General Commanding, conducted the attack on Acote's Hill — the seat of your distinguished guest. I know you too well to suppose, that you would desire me to neglect one friend for the purpose of doing tonor to another. Be assured that my heart is with 3^ou in your festivities, with no divided affections ; and that in the honor paid by you to one so unjustly per- secuted by the malicions and cowardly Algerines, I hail the advent of those better times which shall see the State, whose interests you have so much at heart, represented by a chief magistrate at home, as well as abroad, who, Avhatever may be his personal demerits^ may at least lay claim to the character of a sturdy, plain-hearted, consistent Democrat. Allow me to offer 37 A-oii the following sentiment, to be read at the table, if, as I hope you will, but fear jow will not, conclude not to indulge _yourselves with a cold water entertainment. The Democracy of, Acotes lliU^ suj^jjorted hy the Democracy of ilie Tockivotton House — Dorr, taught you how to advance — but not less deservino,- of your favor is he who taught you how to retreat. Acce])t, gentlemen, the assurances of my esteem, and believe me, with high consideration, to be your humble and obedient servant, &c. To Elisha DiHingham and others, Committee of Invitation of the Slocum Festival. After the applause which this had excited had sub- sided, the President proposed the following toast : — Our Candidate for Governor — Other men have been celebrated for single qualities of greatness ; he unites them all— the consistency of Atwell ; the valor of Dorr ; the honesty of Pearce : the candor of himself The following letter frcun Mr. Atwell-'^ Avas then read : — Chepachet, .Feb, 2J:, 1843. Gentlemen: — Your invitation to atter.d a dinner to be given to one "of the men of Glocester,'' my near ]ieifrhbor, has been received, and commands mv earliest attention. Since the great meeting on Punnymede, when the bold barons of England, wrested from the tyrant John the charter of their liberties, I know nothing in history that can compare with the interest of your expected "festival of the people of Phode Island," at the Fish Market in Providence. "We live in highly favored times, when all the dignity of a 38 grecit political body can be thus easily secured to the hilarit}^ of a merely festive occasion — and " conven- tions " are daily held in which "clams " and "constitu- tions" are equally subjects of intellectual discussion. — . My professional pursuits have taught me to hold, as peculiarly dear, a character of consistency in opinions upon subjects involving popular rights. I have seen nothing to lead me to doubt, or in the least degree to affect my ^Uirgument^^ in the so called opinion of the nine lawyers, and trust by your efforts to be able soon to show to the world in the commanding post of pro- fessional elevation, to wliicli vour kindness induced me to aspire, that any meeting of " the people," wdiether held in a State or a iish-house — and whether composed of persons qualified or unqualified by law, to act upon matters of government — represents, in the language of your distinguished guest, "the sover/?niity of Rhode Island." I have only to regret that my professional avocations will prevent me from joining in your festivi- ties. Allow me to offer as a toast — " Slocmn and .the Soverinniiy — tlie great Barons and til e great Cliarter — History records no prouder triumphs of rio'ht over mio-ht." o D I am, With sentiments of the most unfeigned respect, &c., &c. Gov. Hubbard's letter was then read : — Gentlemen: — Your invitation reached me wdiile on a visit to Grov. Dorr, at his appropriate residence in Con- cord. I am happy to say that his excellency, though lame, is still in " fair running order," and remembers with pleasure the democratic festivities, both of fight 39 (lliglit) and feast, in wliicli, on the occasion of liis last visit to Eliode Island, he participated at Che])achet. I desire no greater honor for n\y administration of the government of the State, than tliat of having shielded " the man of the people " from the arrows of ontrageous fortune. I have afforded the Bonaj)arte of Khode Island his Elha;^ and it mast be yonr care to provide for him that triumphant return to which, like his great prototype, he so earnestly aspires. I need not add that the incessant care necessary- to Avatch over your interests here, must forbid my partici})ation in your festivities, at or near Pawtuxet. Allow me to suggest as a sentiment proper for tlie occasion — Tlioinas W. Dorr — A true sample of the modern democrat. His care of the people is only postponed to his care of himself He who fights and runs awa}^, Will live to fio-ht another day. To Elisha Dillingham, &c'. After this letter had been read, the following toast was drunk : — Gov. Huhhard — Better is it to be a Dorrdvceper in the sty of democracy, than to dwell in the silken tents of bank-bought aristocrats. By Aaron White, Jr., Esq. : — O woman, in thine hour of ease. Uncertain, coy and hard to please ; When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou. Music — " TJie Married Bal-e,'' — from the opera of Love in a Yillagc. 40 Mr. Harris being called upon for a song, gaA^e tlie following with great effect : — In good old charter times, _ AVhen we lived under King, Tliree roguish chaps"^ fell into mishaps, III doing a saucj thing. The first he was a cobbler, The second he was a doctor. And the third he was a fat lawyer, Three roguish chaps together. The cobbler he told lies, The Doctor he made small beer, And the fat lawyer made speeches, for To make the other rogues cheer. The cobbler got choked with his lies, The doctor Avent off in a smoke. And the devil clapped his chiAV on old Tom Dorr, With the charter under his cloak. By Colonel Newell :— The ladies of Glocester : — • Search Tom Dorr's ranks and all their kith. The fairest suffrage darters Will not compare with Kispy Smith,-' Who lost ^^ them lasting garters^ Mike Walsh and tlie Spartan Band — " Patriots have toiled, And in their country's cause FLED nobly." 41 Music — " Go it hoots:' Col Crooks of Bellin(j}iam — Equall}^ great in the bar- room and in tlie State House ; at mixing a julep or making a speech. To sooth the feelings of our friend^ The " venerable Dillingham," — We tried to send to Dedhani Jail, The men who went to Belliimiiam.^ Music — " No (jo^^ — from the opera of '• Miserj' loves company/' The annunciation of this sentiment called up Col. Crooks, of Bellinghani, who offered the following, with considerable appearance of excitement : — Show me the man, if any can, Who Morton's doctrine follows, Tliat Avould not sell his soul and all^ To get " nine Imitdred dollars.^' Music — " Put iiioiiey in tin/ jnrrseJ'' Bv Gen. Sprague ; — TJie Hon. W. IT. Smitli — While we regret tliat con- siderations ot a private nature have decided him to decline being a candi(hite for re-election, he may be assured that liis distinguislied exposition of lyrimary capacity and original nnliniiied '^ soverinnity,''' will retail a place in the grateful breasts of his admiring country- men. By Speaker Sayles : — Thomas TK Dorr — The Cicsar of Rhode Island : 6 1 42 The quick, decisive mind of Dorr, No chains of custom hampered, Like Caesar's, short his tale of war. He came. He saw. He scampeked. Music — " Dorrs Quickstep.'' Bj Colonel Dispeau : — Col. Samuel H. Wales — The Paixhan guu of democ- racy. Music — " The Minute Gun at Sea.'' The chairman then requested Col. Wales to recite the history of his travels and adventures in search of the Paixhan gun, but the Colonel declined on the score of mod est v. By Mr. Parm enter : — Our Chairman., the venerable DillinghaTii — He has done the State [of Massachusetts] some service, and they know it. The following was sent by Gov. Dorr: — Dutee J. Pearce^^ — He intended no fraud. " An honest man's the noblest work of God ! " By Timothy Hoskins of New Hampshire : — TJte Carpet-Bag and the ^^ Devil's Bag.''^^ — The one illegally seized by a man who did not care "a damn for the letter of the law," and the other pillaged by the "malicious and cowardly Algerines " under Gen. McNiell. After this toast General Carpenter's letter to Gen. McNiell was read, and when the "people" heard that 48 lie " knew all the orders," the old cradle of fish shook with applause. The following song was then sung with immense applause, by Col. Wales of the House of Eepresenta- tives :- Arab War Song. Tune — "Eosin the Bow." Come all ye bold lads of Eliode Island, Who rallied round Dorr and his crew, And give us jour votes and your voices, For '' General Tom " who is true. Come show the whole world that our spirit Is up again, '' sartain and sure," And push right ahead for our Tommy, Great TJiomas^ the honest and 'pure. Come forth, one and all, to the battle. Determined, our State, now to save — And strike for " the farmer of Gloster^^'' And Thomas^ the great, good and brave. A leader is he, who ne'er failed us, An ^^ Algerine GeneraV' is he — Then strike for " the friend of Chepachet,'' Then strike, my brave boys, and be free. So, for Tommy and Dorr, let's huzza, And never give over the fight, 'Till the Algerine soldiers and cowards, Are put to inglorious flight. u We're engaged for the war and " we'll go it/' Our hearts are determined and stout — For the flag of ^^ ou?- GeneraV^ is flying, And Thomas F. C. we will shout. At this period, the attention of the venerable chair- man was directed to a person, near the foot of the table, who seemed to enjoy the proceedings (except the fare) amazingly, and was interrupted in his applause only by the continued attention which he bestowed upon the work of the distinguished guest upon the constitu- tion. He seemed frequentl}^ occupied in making mar- ginal notes. He was immediately called upon for a sentiment, song, or story. Without preface, he struck up the following song in praise of the Grovernor that is to be : — Air—" The Poachers." You all have heard of the lawyer Who's all things to all men. Who runs once more for Governor, And will be beat again. No doubt he loves the people well, And loves himself much more, He fights them when they're down, then grows More loving than before. When times grew dark and true men scarce. Where was this lawyer then ? Busy to stir men up to strife, Was found his tongue and pen. 45 But war was not tlie way for liiin To reach the cliair of State, The '"'' rascally insurgents ^^ he Abandoned to their fate. And from the conquering general's side. This liero nought couhl move, Except when urged to take a ride, Around the head of the cove. When peace returned, grown bokl again, Soft soaps the foes of law, And clearly proves to all that he Can run as well as Dorr. But, like the I'rog, who strove in vain, The ox's span to hll, This swelling knave will burst to find, ''Old Durham "''^ beats him still ! The cry of ''''An Algerine ! An Algerine ! ^' wliich had been whispered in alarm round the table during the last verses, now rose to a shout ; the song was interrupted, and the singer was forced to leave the chorus of the last verse unfinished and make a precipi- tate escape. The violence of the pursuers, exercised indiscriminately on all they met, caused them all to be carried to the watch-house. It is unti-ue that the knives and forks were missing, as they were all chained to the table ; the charge against Parmenter, therefore falls to the ground. The " marginal notes " there taken, have been kindly placed at our disposal as above. 46 The above is but a faint outline of the proceedings at this great festivaL We hope that we may yet receive some further account of it. We were particularly anxious to present the letter from Gov. Dorr, but, probably from the same reasons which influenced the committee at the Boston festival, his letter was not read at the table, nor can we positively say that he was invited. Ijofes io th^ £rcat Jlo4um |linnc)i. 1. This venerable, but somewhat unsavory structure stood, at the time, over the water, on Canal street, just above AYashington Bridge. It originally stood just above the Great Bridge, covei'ing a portion of the site now occupied by a more pretentious structure, erected for the accommodation of the horse railroad comi)anies, but was removed, by vote of the town, to its new locatiou. 2. General Sprague was a foremost publican and politician in Chepachet, and held the commission of Major General in Dorr's militia. 3. This refers to a fierce disiiute, which raged between two of the military companies of Providence, as to which was entitled to the right of the line, a dispute which some of their friends thought car- ried to a ridiculous point. 4. The " Pawtucket Invincibles," was the name of one of the comi3anies organized in Pawtucket under the " people's constiiution," as the constitution under which Mr. Dorr claimed was called. 5. What Cheer Farm was the residence of Governor Fenner. " Suffrage llock" was a name given to a large rock just below India Point, where several clam bakes were held by the suftrage party. 6. The Nine Lawyers were the men who signed an opinion afiirni- ing the legality of a constitution adopted according to the theory of Mr. Dorr. 48 ?. The Paixhan gun was considered a very formidable weapon at the time. It was only a 32-pounder, but those were not the days of Dahlgrens and Rodmans and Parrots. It was bought by the gov- ernment, during the insurrection; for what precise purpose it might be difficult to say; for in no probable contingency could it have been as serviceable as a Colt's revolver. But the effect in alarming the insurrectionary party, and in assuring the friends of Law and Order, was quite conspicuous. It was thought that, in. some way, equal damage to the one, and great safety to the other, rested in this terri- ble ordnance It was not brought into use, and the question whether it would have done most inischief at the muzzle or breech, was never exijerimentally determined. The election of Marcus Morton to the chief magistracy of Massa- chusetts was a matter of high congratulation to the Dorrite party, which he had steadily and conspicuously favored. And Col. Wales, in the exultation of the occasion, was persuaded, and we think Col. Blodget was mainly responsible for it, to ajjply to Governor Fenner for the loan of the terrible paixhan to tire a salute with. Those who remember Governor Fenner, " Old Durham," need not be told how fortunate it was, that when Col. AYales ax)plied, in person, at the What Cheer Farm, upon his mission, he was received by General Edward J. Mallett, the Governor's son-in-law, and not by the dough- ty old Governor himself. General Mallett explained to him the preposterous nature of the errand, and the reception which he would be likely to meet from the Executive, who, when he afterwards heard of it, exclaimed with more hard words than can be decorously re- corded, " does he expect to borrow the ordnance of the State to insult the authorities with ? " John F. Pond, a noted wag, formerly of Provi- dence, then of Worcester, on hearing of the misadventure of Colonel Wales, came down from the latter city, expressly, as he affirmed, to lend him a paixhan gun of his own, which, being made of a wooden pump log, was warranted not to burst. 8. In the early part of the insurrection, some of the insurrectionary party broke open a powder house belonging to Duty Greene, and took the i)owder from it; a circumstance which the " Algerine" papers kept very fresh in the public recollection. 9. Morton, Hubbard and Cleveland were the Governors of Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut, and all of them favored the Dorrite party. 10. Dillingham, a man advanced in life, and who had served in the war of the revolution, was a conspicuous member of the suffrage party. He was paraded on frequent occasions, at the head of proces- 49 sions, and on tlie i»latforin of ])ublic meetiii<>;>!. His name was tlie fii-st si^^ned to the petitions, and constant allusion was made by the papers on that side, to the importance and dislinetion of such an ad- vocate of the "eternal principles." He was styled "the venerable Dilllnoham, the patriot and hero of the revolution." But it appeared as the result of" Algerinc" researches into the criminal records, that Dillingham had served three terms in the state prisons of Massachu- setts, including, in all, nearly thirty years of his life. The last com- mittal was when hewas near seventv vears of aere. 11. The charter contains a provision authorizing the taking of '■ whale, dubertus. or other great fish, it or them to inirsne unto any part of that coast, and into any bay, river, cove, creek or shore be- longing thereto, and it or them, n])on the said coast, or in the said bay, river, cove, creek, or shore belonging thereto, to kill and order for the best advantage &c." The word "dubertus" is not founulor i)ersons bellongingto other jnrisdict- tions, whereby his Majesty and subjects have been wronged of their just Rights and privilidges; And to ))rotect the like for the future. The Towne doe order, That if any AVhale, Dubertus, or other great fish of considerable value shall be cast uj) within the limmits of this Towne, the person or persons that shall first find it shall forthwith make the Authorities and Inhabitants acquainted with the same that his Majesties Riglit may be secured, and the remainder to be equally divided among the inhaliitants ; and the person or persons so doeing shall be duly Ilecompensed fortheir i)aines." 12. It was said that Dorr had declared, when he encamped on Acote's Hill, that he would conqner or leave his bones there. 13. Mr. Leland was the Democratic President of the Massacliu- setts Senate. It was said that he refreshed himself in the chair with that diet sacred to the drama— peanuts. 14. Dr. Brown was a botanic ])hysician, and a manufacturer and vender of beer. His offii-e and shop were on South Main street. He was one of the leaders of the suffrage party, a man of more than or- dinary shrewdness, very good-natured. His great remedy was hot drops. His beer had a wide local celebrity, and whatever might have been its medical qualities, it v^as unquestionably palatable. 50 He removed to Delaware, where he has been a member of the Legis- lature. 15. David Parmenter was a man of uncommon popular talents, and a great favorite, as a stumj? speaker. He was indicted for for- gery; but the indictment was quashed for an error. It charged that the crime was committed in Massachusetts, when the forged paper was only uttered there, the original oflence having been committed in Rhode Island. 16. Major Ennis, a very genial and agreeable gentleman, of fine social qualities, was one of the few friends of John Tyler, then Presi- dent, and was understood to be an applicant for the position of Purser in the Navy. He had been on the stafi" of Gen. McNeill, who commanded the forces of the State; but had subsequently acted with the other partj' , and the Journal pitched into him for the inconsis- tency; and when Major Ennis exjilained at considerable length, it pitched into the explanation. As an evidence of his service in the " Algerine " ranks, it was stated that he had drawn his pay. And in reply to this, he said that he had directed that the amount should be given to the benefit of the public schools in Newport. 17. Governor Cleveland had given some otfence by rather free comments upon the unsoldierly api)earance of a regiment of Connec- ticut militia, which he had recently reviewed, at Killingly. It was said that in a speech made to the men, he told them that they made the "meanest appearance" of any regiment that he had ever re- viewed. 18. The constitution of Massachusetts provides that, in case of the failure of the people to elect a Governor, the House of Representa- tives shall sen J to the Senate the name of two of the candidates, and the Senate shall elect one of them. At the previous election, no choice was made by the people, and Marcus Morton's name was sent up by one majority. He received 174 votes in the House, John Davis ^65, and Samuel E. Sewall 8. Collins, who had been elected as a Whig, voted for Morton, and Lis vote gave him just a majority. Col- lins was soon afterwards appointed keeper of a light-house, and people naturally "put that and that together." Some hen-roost thieves from Seekonk had crossed the line, and plundered the poul- try yards of the farmers, on the Rhode Island borders. A requisi- tion was made for them by Governor King, but Governor Morton refused to surrender the oftenders, on the ground of informality in the papers. The papers were corrected and the demand repeated, but it was not complied with. 19. Governor Morton, it was charged, had not, since the failure of 51 the insurrection, been quite so hospitable towards Dorr as his pre- vious encouragement had given tlie friends of tlie exiled chief to ex[)ect; and his omission to invite him into that State had beeu especially commented upon, by the " Algeriues," to the mortification of the other side. 20. (Tovernor Morton had been a Judge before he was Governor, and had tried both Dillingham and Parmenter. 21. Samuel W. King was Governor of Khode Island; Daniel P. King had just been elected Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives by one majority, after a long contest. He was then a candidate for Congress in the Essex district, and was elected. 22. This toast was only the repetition of a remark which INIr. Slocum was said to have made. 23. Gen, Carpenter would laugh as heartily as anybody at these hits. He is freshly remembered at the bai*. His well known cos- tume, blue coat, brass buttons, and ruffled shirt, his grave courtesy in court, his kindness in social life, his persuasive address wlien talking to the jury will not be forgotten. There were many able men at the bar of Rhode Island in his time, and some of them thought that they were abler than Gen. Carpenter, but they all agreed that he won more cases than any of them. He died July, 1854.. 24. Samuel Y. Atwell was an eloquent orator and a wonderful counsellor. About a quarter of a century has elapsed since his death, and no trace of him remains, except in the memories of the comparatively small number who have heard him in the General Assembly or in the courts. These can repeat passages of his speeches even now. It was he of whom John \Vhip|)le said that heliad never met his superior at the bar, and Mr. Whipple had met Mr. Webster and Jeremiah Mason. For many years he led the bar here, and was known as " Old Atwell." His tomb-stone shows that he was forty- seven years old when he died. He died in 1844. 25. INIr Dorr was a refugee in New Hampshire, and Governor Hubbard, of that State, had refused to surrender him on the requisi- tion of Governor King, of lihode Island. 20. The "three roguish chaps" were Parmenter, who had been a shoemaker, Dr. Brown and Dorr. 27. The Dorrite papers charged that when their men fled from Acote's Hill, and the "Algeriues" entered Chepachet, that town was subjected to such atrocities as no other capital had suft'ered at the hands of a lawless soldiery. Affidavits were printed, testifying to valuables destroyed. Among them were a cooking stove, sundry tea 52 cups, tea spoons (i)ewter) bent out of shape, and a pair of lasting garters, belonging to a fair damsel avIio rejoiced in the name of "Ripsy Tift." 28. AVlien the " Algerine " troops were stationed at Woonsocket, an order was issued — the authority for which was afterward disowned hy the Governor and Council, although there was no doubt that it came from the proper military authority— for a detachment, under command of Col. William P, Blodget, to arrest a number of the enemy, who ]iroved to be at the tavern of Mr. Crooks, just over the - line, in Bellingham, Massachusetts. The night was dark and rainy, and the men, whose knowledge of local geography might have been imperfect, did not stop at the line. Indeed, Col. Blodget always pro^ tested that the line had been washed away, and he could not find where it was. This invasion of the soil of Massachusetts was duly resented ; and althongh Mr. Crooks was ajipeased by the payment of nine hundred dollars, the ofltenders, such of them as could be iden- tified, were denjanded on requisition of the Governor of Massachu- setts, Is was a severe test of the high ground which had been taken in Rhode Island of the duty of a Governor to surrender an offender, on the demand of the Governor of another State, But it was met. Col. Blodget and Mr. Hendricks went to Dedham, where they stood trial, and were fined in a moderate sum. They were defended by John \Vhipi)le, Samuel Ames, and Samuel Currey. 2[). Mr. Pearce had been charged with complicity in the arrange- ment by which the votes in Newport, for ihe " people's constitution," had been sw^elled to an enormou.s total, and hundreds of false names of duplicates and of absentees were returned. On some remarks upon this, and in defence of the right of absentees to vote by proxy, Mr. Dorr had said of Pearce " he intended no fraud." 30. After the affair on Acote's Hill, Dorr found refuge in New Hampshire, where tlujre was great symiiathy for him. In August, 1812, Timothj' Hoskins of that State was ariested in Providence, on suspicion of being the bearer of treasonable correspondence, between Dorr and his adherents, who, it was said, were preparing for another outbreak. He was examined before Edward H. Hazzard, Esq., and it appeared that he was the bearer of letters from Dorr, and that answers to them were upon his person, when he was arrested, but that he had contrived to jiass them to some of his friends, so that they were not seized. Among his baggage was found a carpet bag, con- taining important letters, not only from friends of the insurrectionary cause in Rhode Island, bnt from highly ]»rominent men in other States. Much indignation was manifested })y his friends at the seizure of these. 53 31. Most of tliose who are now living recall Governor Fenner'as the Democratic leader, who was lirm in the faith tliat Van Buren would beat Harrifson in 1841, as the head and front of the Law and Order ])arty, which suppressed the Dorr ilehellion, but there are some who remember that he was the first scholar in his class at col- lege, that he was a Doctor of Laws, that he was a Senator of the United States. Amotion of adjournment was madein the Supreme Court on occasion of his funeral, to which Chief Justice Durfee re- sponded as follows:— *' The Court assent to the motion of the Attorney General. The State never liad a truer friend than James Fenner. Never one more wise in council or firmer in action. When the remains of sucli a man are committed to the tomb, we think that the halls of Justice may well be silent, and that the seats of Judges and Jurors should be vacant." 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