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New Hampshire legislators to Thomas W. Dorr

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05757.08 Author/Creator: New Hampshire legislators Place Written: Concord, New Hampshire Type: Letter signed Date: 6 December 1842 Pagination: 4 p. ; 30.5 x 20.1 cm. Order a Copy

The 141 undersigned Democratic Republican members of the New Hampshire legislature (including Franklin Pierce) and other citizens convey their support for Rhode Island's illegitimate Governor Dorr: "We think that the principles for which you have contended though as yet unsuccessful, are the fundamental principles of Republican Government." They ask him to speak at the Old North Church in Concord on 14 December 1842. Dorr, then an illegitimate governor, led the Dorr Rebellion over suffrage rights in Rhode Island. See GLC05757.09 for his response.

Concord Dec 6, 1842

Dear Sir
The undersigned [inserted: Democratic Republican] members of the New Hampshire Legislature and citizens of this vicinity, are desirous of an occasion of tendering to you an expression of our high respect for you previously and of our sympathy and good wishes for your ultimate success in the great cause of Free suffrage and [illegible strike out] [inserted: Constitutional] Freedom, in which you and your associates in Rhode Island have been and still are engaged.
We consider you cause as our cause. We think that the principles for which you have contended, though as yet unsuccessfully, are the fundamental Principles of Republican Government, upon which our own [illegible strike out] state and national institutions are founded, and which are sealed, with the blood of the Patriots of two wars.We do not doubt that you [inserted: and your copatriots] will persevere in the struggle for your just rights untill they are fully obtained and established, or it be finally settled that in this our land, the Many shall be neglected and ruled by the [struck: few] privileged few, and that an undisputed majority of the people of [2] a state or country have not the right to change existing forms of government, and establish in their stead governments of their own framing. If the battles of liberty are to be fought over affairs in our land, it may as well be done upon the soil of Rhode Island and in our own day, as at any other place and at any future time.
Cherishing these views, we would be gratified to hear from yourself some public remarks, upon these affairs in which you have acted so prominent and honourable a part and upon other subjects of which you may be pleased to speak.
If this invitation, made in behalf of ourselves and our [inserted: Democratic] fellow citizens, should be accepted by you, we would propose as a time and place for the purpose above named; the [struck: Town Hall in Concord] [inserted: Old North Church in Concord] on Wednesday the 14th day of Dec. instant at half past six oclock P.M.
With sentiments of high respect
We are you friends & obt Servts
[signed by 15 members of the New Hampshire Legislature, including Franklin Pierce]

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869
Norris, Moses, Jr., 1799-1855
Chandler, Thomas, 1772-1866
Davis, Reuben, fl. 1844-1846
Felton, Nathan Buckman, 1798-1876
Swasey, Samuel, 1804-1887
Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

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