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from nothing else. And its taking a political character, would not be objected to, by those who cast upon it this reproach, only because, by being political, it will be successful. Political character, in the sense of adherence to the just policy of our government, which is the sense we entertain of it, is the highest character, which can be acquired by man, in reference to things terminating with life. And I glory in political anti-masonry. Anti-masonry is political; it must be political, or all is lost.

As citizens, our liberties are political, our rights are political, our duties are political. Let us all perform our duties, in accordance with our rights, and the rights of others, for the advancement of the just policy of our government.

But it is said that anti-masonry is bigoted, and persecuting. Bigotry is an obstinate and blind attachment to a tenet, ceremony, creed, or party. Anti-masonry is opposed, and will forever be opposed, to every tenet, ceremony, creed, or party, which infringes upon the universal rights of man. It is the real democracy of our country, embracing in its good will, as objects of its protecting care, every interest, right, duty and enjoyment, of every individual in the nation. Persecution means withholding rights, or inflicting injuries, unjustly. Such persecution is precisely what has called anti-masonry into existence; and this name of democratic freedom, will cease to exist, as soon as it has made adequate provision to secure the rights unjustly withheld, and to redress the injuries unjustly inflicted, by Freemasonry. Shall anti-masonry be accused of bigotry and persecution, then, by those too, who have invoked, upon themselves, all the wrath of the Almighty if they cease to exercise an obstinate and blind attachment to the tenets, ceremonies, creed, and party of Freemasonry, or cease to withhold rights, and inflict injuries, unjustly, upon their renouncing brethren and countrymen ?

Wanting nothing, expecting nothing, and fearing nothing, from the public, but what pertains equally to the rights and securities of every citizen, I have come before you as the representative of freemen. With no bonds upon my soul, but those of obedience to my Maker, (would that they were always felt with greater intensity,)

and with a yet unfettered body, I have spoken to you freely and indignantly of an institution, which I deem desperately wicked. But I entertain no hostility to its members. I have spoken from a regard to interests, from which I would by no means shut them out. Among them are numbered some, who partake of the same lifestream with myself, and who are as dear to my heart, as the ties of nature, early affection, and enduring sympathy, can make them. There are others to whom I owe all that can be required or given, in honor. And I should consider it as a stigma upon my character to cherish malice towards any human being.

But ours is a cause of comprehensive benevolence. It includes the interests of Freemasons as well as our own. And the most reflecting among them, are already with us, in their secret convictions. Nothing but a pride, reluctant to acknowledge error, and some fear of the vindictive hostility of the fraternity, prevents them from openly avowing it. They should avow it. Washington would pursue that course. In the path of renunciation, you follow his example, my countrymen. With him no private feelings or interests could supersede the public good. Even to what appeared to be envious clamor, injustice, and persecution to all but the high sighted eye, and all encircling hearts of patriotism, he, and the great men of the revolution, gave up the society of the Cincinnati, to which they were fastened, by all the strong links struck out in the welding fires of a glorious warfare. Follow their example. Do yourselves the great justice to discard Freemasonry. By all the unutterable privileges of life and immortality, by your most precious connexions and attachments here, and hereafter, by your undying thoughts, by your unfading hopes, renounce it.

ADDRESS

Of the Republican Anti-masonic Members of the Legislature of New York, to their Constituents.

FELLOW CITIZENS,

It is the proud boast and consoling reflection of Americans, that the free institutions of their country have triumphed over all the dangers that have beset them. Whatever have been the perils that have threatened their existence, the virtue and inherent energy of the people have been adequate to every exigency.

Recently the people have been awakened to an alarming internal danger, of the existence of which they were unconscious. The abduction and murder of a free citizen, without crime, with the attrocities that attended and followed it, have excited their inquiries, and revealed the fearful fact that there is in the midst of a confiding community an institution, the existence of which is incompatible with liberty. When the outrage first became public, the efforts of the neighboring inhabitants were directed to the enforcement of the laws, the detection and punishment of the guilty offenders. In the simplicity of their hearts, they expected universal co-operation. In the prosecution of objects so just and patriotic, for purposes so high, holy, and humane, they, with entire confidence, expected the powerful aid of the Press, and the united exertions of their fellow citizens. Far from them was the thought of arraying a party for any purpose whatever. Their astonishment was greater even than at the perpetration of the outrage, when they discovered the appalling truth, that it was the work of a conspiracy, embracing large numbers of conspicuous citizens; that the PRESS was silent as the house of death, or spoke only to defame and mislead; that a whole fraternity, claiming irresistible power, regarded the outrage with cold indifference, or engaged in active efforts to screen from punishment the guilty perpetrators.

When they met opposition at every step of their progress; when they found their objects belied, and their motives impeached; all their acts subjected to misrepre sentation, and their characters consigned to obloquy and

vituperation; when they perceived that the perpetrators of the outrage and their abettors were men of peaceful lives, elevated and unsuspected characters, bound to the performance of their social duties by all the ties that exist in civil society, the unwelcome conclusion was forced upon them that the deeds they had done were not perpetrated as the acts of individuals, but as members of their fraternity; and that it was the institution that had sinned through their instrumentality. When the people, excited by the Morgan outrage, perceived that all efforts to vindicate the majesty of the laws, by the punishment of the atrocious violators, were resisted and rendered abortive; when they saw that the fraternity possessed the power to silence or pervert the Press; to stop the mouths, destroy the memories, or extract the consciences of witnesses; to extend its baneful influence into courts, and poison the fountains of justice; UNION became indispensable to the further prosecution of their righteous objects. The Republican Anti-masonic party arose from necessity, and not from design. Opposition caused its formation, and opposition by assisting to develope the true character of the masonic institution, is constantly increasing its numbers, and will finally insure its triumph. Believing it to be in accordance with your wishes, we have acted together as a party, upon every befiting occasion.

The attention of the legislature was called, by the executive, to the Morgan outrage, as a subject of legislative inquiry. The reports made to the senate and assembly, contain the material facts comprising the history of that transaction. Other "matters" " embracing" information of a graver character, "exist, which could not in the opinion of a high judicial officer, with propriety be made public," as they would tend very much "to prejudge the guilt of persons indicted." After the reports were made, additional evidence of the extent of the conspiracy was obtained, but it was deemed unnecessary to make a further report, as no attempt was made to controvert the statements of those presented to the legislature, and as the whole subject is in a train of thorough judicial investigation. gentleman was then appointed to conduct the prosecutions, at our unanimous recommendation,

and we look with anxiety and confidence to the result of his indefatigable and able exertions.

Although the excitement caused by the Morgan outrage is universally applauded, with sincerity or affectation, the objects of those who obey its impulse are opposed and misrepresented. The objects of the Republican anti-masonic party are plain and freely avowed. They are to bring to merited punishment, the perpetrators of an outrage which has no parallel in a civilized community; to annihilate the institution that has filled the land with crime, and thus to vindicate the laws, purify the fountains of justice, and rescue liberty from the dangers that beset it. The people, constrained by unwonted opposition, rushed together by a spontaneous impulse, to give concert and strength to their efforts. This party, thus obviously and necessarily formed, seems recently to have excited fearful alarm. Conspicuous individuals, "in power and out of power," have labored "in season and out of season," to defame its character, and impede its rapid progress. It is manifest that political men have taken advantage of the existence of this party to impress upon honest and unsuspicious republicans, an apprehension of danger; and that designs are in a train of execution to render the "excitement justly caused" by the Morgan outrage, "subservient to political and party purposes," by making it contribute to the sustentation of an existing political party, the leaders of which have never manifested any peculiar abhorrence of the Morgan outrage.

A COALITION is formed, embracing many members of the masonic fraternity and those who have been separated by inveterate political hostility, to resist the efforts of the people in the work of reformation. However revolting this unholy alliance may be to the democracy of the State, it is not of a nature to excite surprise. It displays the characteristics of the masonic institution. It illustrates the allegation that the order does possess a power by which it can bring political antipodes together, and unite them in efforts for the common fraternal object of mutual protection and preservation. It is natural that the order should extend its influence over those who are elevated to places of authority. It is lavish in its promises of "all-powerful" support.

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