scenes of an opposite character. During his absence, a large number of arrests were made under what was denominated the Algerine laws. Alarmed and disheartened, nearly all the members of his legislatures who had not been arrested, soon resigned.

These resignations fell upon the ears of Mr. Dorr like the rumblings of an earthquake. No language can describe the emotions of his heart, when, in that critical moment, he saw the pillars upon which he had rested for support shaken and falling thick around him. It required the firmness of a Cato to withstand the shock. But relying on the justice of his cause and the rectitude of his own intentions, and still confiding too much, far too much, in the integrity and fidelity of the people, he never faltered for a moment; whatever his reason and his conscience told him was right he would do to the utmost of his power, and whatever was wrong he would not do. Call this obstinacy, or wilfulness, or by whatever name you please, it is nevertheless the most prominent trait in the character of every truly great man. It required no ordinary heroism to sustain the mind under reverses like these. He that could remain firm and unmoved, self-poised and self-sustained, in a crisis like this, must possess a transcendent moral magnanimity.

During Mr. Dorr's absence, the charter authorities were busily occupied in making preparations to resist, by force of arms, the constitutional government. Military companies were reorganized, filled up, and drilled, and required to be in readiness to obey any orders which might be given them. It had become apparent

to every one that the existing political controversy would never be settled without a resort to arms. When Mr. Dorr became advised of the notes of preparation in progress against him, he saw that a crisis had arrived when decisive measures must be taken. The state arsenal, in the vicinity of the city, was an object of indispensable importance; this was a strong stone building, containing, at that time, six or eight pieces of ordnance, with a great part of the muskets and ammunition belonging to the state. An additional guard had recently been placed within it, of which Mr. Dorr had not been advised; but he saw at once that he must gain possession of that, or abandon his position immediately. This was a most trying moment. A large number of those men upon whose courage and counsel he had depended had left him and retired. The whole responsibility of a cause which fourteen thousand men had instituted was now thrown upon the shoulders of a single individual. He must give up the cause, and retire in disgrace, or make an attempt to take possession of the arsenal. The hearty greetings and imposing demonstrations with which he had been met on his return to the city seemed to give him assurance that the people were determined to sustain him. Who could have witnessed the long procession of men, both armed and unarmed, that escorted him through the city the day before, and heard their cheerful greetings and repeated assurances of fidelity, and not have believed that any assistance which he might require would be forthcoming at the first call? He could not and he would not cease to confide in the integrity of his friends. On the morning of the 17th

of May, Mr. Dorr issued his orders to the military of the several towns to repair forthwith to head quarters and wait further orders. That call met with but a very imperfect response, and many who did obey it departed before evening. At one of the clock on Wednesday morning, May 18th, the signal for an attack upon the arsenal was given by the firing of an alarm gun. After nearly an hour's delay, Mr. Dorr found that only about two hundred and fifty men waited his command. At the head of that little band, armed with muskets and two pieces of artillery, he marched on foot, stationed his forces in front of the arsenal, and summoned its commander to surrender. The summons was returned with an indignant refusal. The night was so extremely dark that it was difficult for friends and foes to distinguish each other, and it was soon found that Mr. Dorr's two pieces of artillery had been rendered inefficient by unseen hands, and he and his small force returned to head quarters without firing a single gun. When morning came, and it was satisfactorily ascertained that Mr. Dorr's forces had dispersed, several companies of militia, armed with muskets and field pieces, marched boldly up to his head quarters; but before their arrival Mr. Dorr left in company with a friend, and fortunately escaped the grasp of his enemies. Thus ended a bloodless tragedy, which had caused the city of Providence dire forebodings. This transaction has been the subject of animadversion and ridicule, and Mr. Dorr's conduct looked upon as the feat of a maniac. But it should be recollected that it is much easier to find fault than to command a burning steamer. Mr. Dorr, by the

resignation and desertion of his men, had been unexpectedly forced into the perilous position which he occupied; he made no pretensions to military knowledge or skill, but a tremendous responsibility was thrown upon him, and he was not the man to shrink from it; and if he did not display the wisdom and acumen of a veteran officer no one need be surprised. It is easy now to see that the attack upon the arsenal was injudicious; but this point is more easily decided now than it could have been at that moment. Mr. Dorr was not aware of the defection which was rapidly taking place in the suffrage ranks; he had an overweening confidence in the integrity and fidelity of mankind; he had not yet learned by his own sad experience that "all men are liars." He was not aware of the power of the arsenal to resist attacks. He did not stop to consider the force which the charter government could almost instantly bring against him. But he vainly imagined that a large portion of all the military of the state would rally around his standard at the first call. Yet when the signal was given and the demand made, like the "spirits of the vasty deep," they were called, but did not come.

CHAPTER IX.

MARTIAL LAW. GOV. KING'S PROCLAMATION. GOV. DORR'S RETURN AND PROCLAMATIONS. OUTRAGES

COMMITTED UNDER THE PRETEXT OF MARTIAL LAW.

DURING the absence of Mr. Dorr, after the 18th of May, and while he was supposed to be residing under the protection of his friend Chauncy F. Cleveland, then governor of the State of Connecticut, Gov. King issued the following proclamation:

By His Excellency SAMUEL WARD KING, Governor, Captain General, and Commander-in-Chief of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Whereas THOMAS WILSON DORR, of Providence, in the county of Providence, charged with treason against the said State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a fugitive from justice, and supposed to be now within the limits of our sister State of Connecticut; and from credible information, is still pursuing his nefarious enterprise, against the peace and dignity of said State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; and whereas I made a requisition, on the 25th day of May last, addressed to his excellency Chauncy F. Cleveland, governor of said State of Connecticut, for the apprehension and delivery of the said Thomas Wilson Dorr, according to the constitution and laws of the United States in such case made and provided; which requi