RHODE ISLAND. 



715 



"Wednesday of April. The citizens of the State 

 were divided into three parties, the republi- 

 can, the democratic, and Union. The demo- 

 cratic and Union parties united at the election 

 in 1861, and elected Governor Sprague. The 

 Union party was comparatively small in num- 

 bers. On the 20th of February, 1862, the dem- 

 ocratic electors of the State assembled by their 

 representatives in convention at Providence, 

 and nominated William Sprague for reelection 

 as governor ; Samuel G. Arnold for lieut. gov- 

 ernor ; John R. Bartlett, secretary of State; 

 Walter S. Burgess, attorney general, and Sam- 

 uel A. Parker, treasurer. The views of the 

 convention on national affairs were expressed 

 by the following resolutions: 



That the Democracy of Rhode Island 

 stand to-day upon their ancient platform ; that they 

 are for the country, and nothing less than the country 

 for the Union and the Constitution, without condi- 

 tions or higher law reservations for peace with all 

 men and all nations, when it can be honorably secured 

 or preserved, and for war when peace is no longer con- 

 sistent with national dignity or the preservation of the 

 people's just rights for a strict construction of the 

 Constitution of the country, and a sacred regard, at all 

 times and under all circumstances, by ruler as well as 

 people, by servant as well as citizen, for all its guaran- 

 ties and "provisions for the preservation of the free- 

 dom of speech, and the liberty of the press, for an 

 honest and economical administration of the Govern- 

 ment, the faithful guardianship of the public credit, 

 and the prompt punishment of treasury plunderers ; 

 and against all encroachments upon State or individu- 

 al rights against the irresponsible exercise, by public 

 servants, of powers not delegated in the Constitution 

 against oppression of every description against sec- 

 tionalism in all its aspects against underground rail- 

 roads and John Brown raids, and, finally and especially, 

 against all attempts by the Federal Government to sub- 

 jugate States or divest their governments or people of 

 any of the powers or privileges which they have here- 

 tofore exercised or enjoyed. 



'-red, That the so-called "Right of Secession," 

 claimed by many politicians and citizens of States now 

 in arms a'gainst'our Federal Government, is inconsist- 

 ent with all government, and a denial of the funda- 

 mental principles of all democratic republics. It is 

 just as false to-day as it was only a few years or months 

 ago, when it was claimed by Northern abolitionists 

 and at least one Northern Legislature, and should be 

 condemned and opposed by all good men, at all times, 

 as tending to the abrogation of law and the inaugura- 

 tion of civil war. And, denying the right of secession, 

 we declare that the present rebellion against Federal 

 authority, and the attempt to overthrow, by a resort 

 to force," the best government which the sun ever shone 

 upon, is both unreasonable and criminal an indefensi- 

 ble violation of all the pledges which citizenship im- 

 plies, and such an outrage against humanity and civil- 

 ization as even the aggressions and menaces of Northern 

 abolitionists, during thirty years of vengeful warfare 

 upon Southern institutions.'cannot justify or palliate. 

 Resoh-id, That while this civil war continues, it is 

 our duty and the duty of all loyal citizens to render to 

 the Government a cheerful and earnest support; to 

 stand by it in the enforcement of all constitutional 

 measures tending to the suppression of armed rebel- 

 lion ; to give its officers, so far as they are true to the 

 trusts reposed in them, the aid and comfort which may 

 be derived from our moral influence and physical re- 

 sources. And that we extend to those citizens of our 

 own and other States who have responded to the call 

 of the Government for that protection which arms 

 alone can give, our hearty commendation and warm- 

 est sympathies. We congratulate them upon the re- 

 cent brilliant victories which their valor has achieved, 



and bespeak for them, when their work shall hare beta 

 accomplished and their purpose consumn. i 



.inn of the Union, the warm gratitude of all 

 true patriots. 



Resolved, That the effort now being made to 

 this war from its original purpose, as proclaim 

 the President and Congress of the Unite.) States seven 

 months ago the maintenance of the Federal (.' : 

 tion and the preservation of the Union's inte^rr 

 and to turn it into a war for the emancipation of stares 

 and the subjugation of the Southern State-, 

 return to a territorial condition, is an effort against the 

 Union, against the Constitution, against justice, and 

 against humanity, and should be promptly frowned 

 upon by all the friends of democratic institutio: 

 is unworthy of loyal citizens, and can find support on- 

 ly with sectional fanatics, who have no lore for the 

 Union or desire for iU restoration, and whose highest 

 patriotism is an unnatural and unrighteous hat - 

 the citizens of sister States. And whereas we per- 

 ceive gratifying indications that President Lincoln is 

 resisting and will continue to resist this treasonable 

 effort, it is further resolved, that in such patriotic re- 

 sistance he is entitled to and does and shall continue 

 to receive our cordial sympathy and unfaltering sup- 

 port. 



Resolved, That to bring the present war to a final 

 and happy conclusion, and secure a union of hearts 

 as well as a union of hands, it is absolutely necessary 

 to reassure the misguided people of the South that we 

 mean no warfare upon their rights, and are actuated 

 by no spirit of revenge ; to disavow, in the language 

 of Gov. Sprague, " any other wish than that of bring- 

 ing together these now belligerent States, without the 

 loss to any one of them of a single right or privilege 

 which it has heretofore enjoyed ; " to show, by our 

 acts as well as by our professions, that our whole pur- 

 pose is to preserve our Government just as it came to 

 us from the hands of pur fathers to regard all the 

 guaranties of the Constitution, whether to States or to 

 people of the States and to become once more a pow- 

 erful and prosperous nation, and a harmonious and 

 happy people. And that, to this end, it is the duty of 

 the Democratic party, not only to preserve its distinct- 

 ive organization, but to demonstrate by honorable and 

 patriotic measures, both its determination and its pow- 

 er to withstand and render harmless the assaults of 

 Northern sectionalists upon constitutional liberty. 



Resolved, That the effort now being made to secure 

 to adopted citizens in this State their just political 

 rights, meets with our hearty sympathy and is entitled 

 to and shall receive our cordial'support ; that the pur- 

 pose of this effort is especially commended to us at this 

 time by the promptness and unanimity with which 

 this cla'ss of our citizens are rallying to the support of 

 our institutions ; and that we urge upon the present 

 General Assembly of our State to take such measures 

 as are necessary to bring their claims to an equality of 

 political privileges directly before the people. 



The course pursued by the governor and oth- 

 er State officers during "the previous year had 

 been so satisfactory to the citizens, that the 

 other parties made no nominations for these 

 offices, although their party organization was 

 preserved. 



The votes of the electors which were given 

 to Sprague were 11,195, scatter!: 



For members of Congress the vote was as 



follows : 



Democratic Union. Bepabliean. 



1st Dist, .......... 6.VS-J ......... 



2d " .......... 4.M5 .......... 4,0)4 



The members of the Legislature were elected 



as follows : 



Senate. BOOM. . 



Dem. Union ............ 21 



Republican 







