escape, of protecting those who, in obeying its mandates, violated the laws of the land. The masonic conspirators acted under the advice of their chapters, the principles of which, in letter and spirit, cover the whole ground. Even the murderers of Morgan, can open their Freemason's Monitor, and demand their reward for executing the traitor.

If any thing were wanting to prove that these outrages were the natural offspring of masonic PRINCIPLES, we would refer to the fact, that the persons notoriously concerned in them, not merely stand fair with their lodges and chapters, but have been elevated to their highest honors and offices! Those too who fled from justice, have been protected and supported by the fraternity. And we have strong reasons to believe, though unsupported by positive testimony, that monies have been furnished by the grand chapter for the relief and defence of the conspirators, who are distinguished by the mystic brotherhood, as the "Western Sufferers."*

The time and manner of Morgan's murder has been ascertained, by those who were immediately connected with the investigations.-Most if not all the persons by whom the foul deed was perpetrated, are satisfactorily known-but when, and by whose agency, their guilt will be judiciously established, remains with the great disposer of all human events.

Edward Giddins, whose testimony would go very far in developing the finale of this extended conspiracy and foul murder, has been rejected as a witness, in the Ontario court of Common Pleas, by a rule, in relation to the soundness of which the most distinguished jurists entertain conflicting opinions. Had the objection went to Mr. Giddins' credibility, he would have been fully sustained -for few men have passed through life with a more blameless reputation.

Elisha Adams, into whose hands Morgan passed from Mr. Giddins, and who continued to feed and guard him until the night of the murder, was sent by its confederates to Vermont, from whence he was demanded as a fugitive from justice. Adams was a reluctant agent of the

This fact has since been directly established by the declaration of Mr. Yates; who gives names and sums.

conspirators, and during his seclusion, had determined if brought to the bar as a witness, as he himself repeatedly averred, to "make a clean breast of it" by telling the truth. He continued in this wholesome frame of mind, until he found himself surrounded by his guilty Royal Arch Companions, who soon succeeded in re-establishing their mysterious influence over his conscience; and subjecting him to that obligation of their peculiar code, which, under the most fearful penalties, enjoins the keeping of a companion's secrets, in all cases, "murder and treason not excepted." William King, who professed to have returned to Niagara county, for the purpose of confronting his accusers, swore off his trial, and has retraced his steps to Arkansas. Howard, of Buffalo, who applied the torch to Miller's office, fled to Europe, and has not since been heard of. John Whitney, of Rochester, who following the councils of more wary conspirators, went fearful lengths, after hiding in distant States for nearly two years, has returned and awaits his trial. Loton Lawson, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy indictments, to prevent the production of testimony, that would inculpate him for a higher offence, has completed his two years imprisonment, and taken up his abode in the State of Pennsylvania. It is known that a masonic friend of Lawson's preceded him on his route from Canandaigua to his destined residence, summoning the chapters to meet-but for what purpose we are left to conjecture.

The case of Eli Bruce, late sheriff of Niagara county, who was convicted in Ontario of receiving and confining Morgan in Fort Niagara, was referred, on a question of form, to the supreme court. Eighteen other persons concerned in the outrages have been indicted, but the public prosecutor has not been able to bring on their trials.

Nothing but the intelligence and virtue of a great proportion of its members had so long restrained Freemasonry from open misrule and violence. Its signs, grips and obligations, afford every facility for the protection and escape of masonic offenders. And these facilities are far from having been unimproved. Depredations to a greater amount and conspiracies of a more formidable character, have been committed and concealed under the ripening influence of Freemasonry, than the public, aided by

recent developements, would be willing to believe.-The institution exerts a mysterious and pernicious influence over all the relations of life. The obligation which binds masons to warn their brethren of all approaching danger, and to keep inviolable their guilty secrets, is a direct bribe to the vicious propensities of our nature. And that obligation which compels a mason to assist a mystic brother out of difficulty, "right or wrong," furnishes the widest latitude to crime. It is not unknown to those who have given the subject their attention that the numerous gangs of counterfeiters who have so frequently flooded the State with spurious notes and base coin, were almost wholly composed of Freemasons. With this knowledge, it is no longer a mystery how they so frequently eluded the ministers of justice, or escaped through the meshes of the law.

But there is an evil of a more alarming nature to which we feel constrained to draw the public attention. Freemasonry has cast her broadest mantle over legislative corruption and bribery.-The attempt of John Anderson to bribe the Hon. Lewis Williams, chairman of the committee of claims, in the House of Representatives, has led to a brief examination of transactions of a similar character in our State legislature. Col. Anderson attempted to bribe Mr. Williams as a "" man and mason," but being no mason, Mr. W. was at liberty, not only to reject the bribe but to expose the culprit.* This incident is full of in

* COL. ANDERSON'S LETTER.

The Hon. Lewis Williams.

Honored Sir: I return you thanks for the attention I received to my claims to pass so soon. Mr. Lee will hand you some claims from the River Raisin, which will pass through your Honorable Committee; and I have a wish that the conduct of the British in that country may be related in full, on the floor of Congress; which will give you some trouble in making out the Report and supporting the same. I have now to request that you will accept of the small sum of FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS as part pay for the extra trouble I give you; I will present it to you as soon as I receive some from Government (!) This is CONFIDENTIAL, that only you and me may know any thing about it; or, in OTHER WORDS, I give it to you as a man and a MASON; and hope you belong to that society. Sir, should it happen that you will not accept of this small sum, I request that you will excuse me; if you do not accept, I wish you to drop me a few lines; if you accept, I wish no answer. I hope you will see my view on the subject, that it is for extra trouble. [!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ]. JOHN ANDERSON.

Washington, Jan. 6, 1818.

struction. Had Mr. Williams been a mason, though promptly rejecting the bribe, he was not at liberty to expose a mystic brother to shame and punishment. A Freemason approaches his legislative brother, with the wages of iniquity in hand, in the full assurance that if his bribe is rejected, his guilty secrets will be inviolably kept. This reason is fortified by an extended train of facts. The history of all the known corruption practised in our legislature, from the briberies committed with the Merchant's Bank in 1804, to those of the Fulton and Chemical Char ters in 1824, is pregnant with testimony against Freemasonry. The fact that almost every man known to have been disreputably concerned in those transactions, was a Freemason, admonishes the people to guard these avenues against the corrupting influence of that institution. And that ancient, if not honorable fraternity, the Lobby, which still infests the seat of government, and beleaguers the capitol, stands conspicuous in the lists of Freemasonry. Of all the horde of mercenaries who hang year after year upon the legislature, let even one be named who is not a bright Freemason. These assertions are not brought upon slight or insufficient testimony. The evidence of their entire truth may be obtained by all who make proper inquiries.

But the institution puts forth on all occasions, as a shield and defence against her, the names of eminently virtuous men, who in their youth, misled by her false pretensions to science and wisdom, "took her for better or for worse." The sainted name of WASHINGTON, though his recorded admonitions to "beware of all secret self created associations, under what specious garb soever they appeared," forbids the profanation, is imprudently used to patch up the tattered vestments with which a detected imposter still seeks to cover her deformities. The stainless reputation of a contemporary,* whose charities have engraved his name upon the hearts of thousands, and whose munificence is even now unfolding the treasures of knowledge to the humblest citizen, and extending the boundaries of science to the remotest section of the State, is daily pressed into the service of Freemasonry, to give false lustre to its character, and posthumous currency to

* Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer.

its principles. It is due to this distinguished gentleman to state, that although the swelling titles and empty honors of the fraternity have been continuously lavished upon him, he never could be pressed beyond the third degree of Speculative Freemasonry. And a confiding hope is entertained, based upon our knowledge of his virtues and patriotism, that ere long he will feel constrained to inhibit the use of his right name in beguiling the footsteps of our youth into the dark and devious recesses of the lodge room. More than four hundred initiates, within our own State, including members of every Degree, from an Entered Apprentice to the Thrice Illustrious Knights of the Holy Trinity, have publicly renounced the institution. Thousands have silently withdrawn, and it cannot be presumed that any good man who received it upon trust, will continue his connexion with the fraternity after he has thoroughly examined the tendency of its principles.

Freemasonry is deeply anxious to conceal the truth in relation to herself and her steadfast votaries. It will require much zeal and labor to expose and dissipate the falsehoods and delusions which the fraternity have so industriously spread abroad. Time and truth, however, will ultimately encompass these ends. All there is of Freemasonry, pertaining to the lodges, chapters, and encampments, may be gathered from Morgan's Illustrations, and the Le Roy revelations. But the inquirer for real Freemasonry, divested of its gaudy trappings, and its traditionary fable, must seek out other sources of information. The work of Abbe Barruel, and Professor Robison's Proofs of a Conspiracy to overthrow all Religion and Government, present a faithful and alarming picture of Freemasonry, and commend themselves to the deliberate consideration of the American people. Of the various writers who are now developing, with fearless pens, and surpassing powers, the legitimate tendency and aims of Freemasonry, Henry Dana Ward, of New York, and Elder John G. Stearns, of Oneida county, have attained a proud eminence, from which they are dispensing floods of light and knowledge. These gifted and enlightened men were members of the masonic fraternity. They had, however, sifted its pretensions, and eschewed its principles, previous to the murder of Morgan. The writings of