That a domestic war of the most furious character will speedily ensue unless prevented by a prompt expression of opinion here can not be doubted.  In relation to this, we refer to the numerous resolutions passed at meetings of the friends of the people’s constitution, and more especially to the Cumberland resolutions[119] herewith presented, and the affidavits,[119] marked ——­, and to repeated expressions of similar reliance upon the judgment of the Chief Magistrate of the nation.

[Footnote 119:  Omitted.]

All which is respectfully submitted by—­

JOHN WHIPPLE. 
  JOHN BROWN FRANCIS. 
    ELISHA R. POTTER.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 1842.

His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND.

SIR:  Your letter dated the 4th instant was handed me on Friday by Mr. Whipple, who, in company with Mr. Francis and Mr. Potter, called upon me on Saturday and placed me, both verbally and in writing, in possession of the prominent facts which have led to the present unhappy condition of things in Rhode Island—­a state of things which every lover of peace and good order must deplore.  I shall not adventure the expression of an opinion upon those questions of domestic policy which seem to have given rise to the unfortunate controversies between a portion of the citizens and the existing government of the State.  They are questions of municipal regulation, the adjustment of which belongs exclusively to the people of Rhode Island, and with which this Government can have nothing to do.  For the regulation of my conduct in any interposition which I may be called upon to make between the government of a State and any portion of its citizens who may assail it with domestic violence, or may be in actual insurrection against it, I can only look to the Constitution and laws of the United States, which plainly declare the obligations of the executive department and leave it no alternative as to the course it shall pursue.

By the fourth section of the fourth article of the Constitution of the United States it is provided that “the United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and, on application of the legislature or executive (when the legislature can not be convened), against domestic violence.”  And by the act of Congress approved on the 28th February, 1795, it is declared “that in case of an insurrection in any State against the government thereof it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, upon application of the legislature of such State or by the executive (when the legislature can not be convened), to call forth such numbers of the militia of any other State or States as may be applied for, as he may judge sufficient to suppress such insurrection.”  By the third section of the same act it is provided “that whenever it may be necessary, in the judgment of the