The Port Gibson Correspondent

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of THE PEOPLE to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.' Declaration of Independence.

Under this sanction—with this authority, the grand basis of our free institutions, in his hands, did Thomas W. Dorr and the oppressed citizens of Rhode Island who coincided with him, attempt to get a constitution that would secure to them 'those unalienable rights' with which their creator endowed them. It was for maintaining these doctrines—the very essence of liberty—that Thomas W. Dorr has been snatched from the comforts of family and friends—from the enjoyment of life's associations and pleasures—torn from kindred and kind—and incarcerated FOR LIFE within the dark, desolate walls of a dungeon. This is whiggery exemplified—and Thomas W. Dorr is the victim, he is shut up in his gloomy cell, as ordered by the stern mandates of a prejudiced judiciary, for the remainder of his days—denied the paltry, privileges granted to condemned felons—and all for having in this enlightened age advocated his own, and the rights of his fellow men.

The whig papers in the whole country justify it—they applaud this unnatural sentence, and condemn the person upon whom it is inflicted for doing what our Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and a host of others did in the days of the revolution. If this be whiggery, the sooner the people prostrate it, the less will be the danger to threaten our liberties. If it be 'law and order' we had better dispense with it; but Gov. Dorr will yet have his day, there is too great a love of liberty abroad in this land of ours for the people to allow a fellow being to waste his days in a dungeon for having advocated the extension of liberty, and tho' the enemies of Gov Dorr may chuckle with demon like delight over this temporary shock to free principles—the halter that they have prepared for other necks, will in all probability encircle their own.