Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-12


ed head, and without the least mercy, cas'i-
gates US, with as much deliberations. as a Bar
BADGES ncgro:driver lashes a slave.
The ire of our venerable friend is enkindled,
because we took occasion to remark, not long
since that the book he is about to publish,
should not receive our commentator, as
it was intended to abuse, and to bring into un-
merited disrepute, the whole Society Of Ma
~scs~-cd charge them with being guilty of
participating in the murder of Captain William
Morgan. After having cooled down a little,
Mr.. sou,hwick proceeds to say. that HENRY
CLAY and DEWITT CLINTON are not Ma
sons, and that in mentioning them, and avow-
ing them to be such, in order to satisfy him
that we had good reasons for supposlng that
tho Society Of Free and Accepted Masons. is
based on correct and moral principles, we
were altogether in error. The following ex-
tract is made from his remarks;
"As to tho illustrious names, which you
have mentioned, Mr.. Southworlh, as the pat
rons of Free Masonry, they prove nothing.
~ ~ W ~ . eO ts' ""Se
ever been the patrons Of the Institution; there
is a vast difference between patronislng an In
sitution, and becoming merely passive mem
beers of it, and passive receivers Of Its official
hOnors. Few men, in this country, or any 9TH
or, ~ill throw popularity over their shoulders,
especially when II seeks them instead of their
seeking It; l wbt not say most men, but GER
tainly all men Of little souls, are fond of seek
it, at almost any expense of wear and tear of
conscience. The lIlus,rious names, however,
that You adduce, that ls, If Henry Clay be a
mason, Which has been denied. prove nothing
more than this-that those who bear them,
have at one time in their lives been led, by a
spirit Of curiosity, ton.mon to most men,, to
seek wisdom where she does not, and | believe
never did abide: that they have received Off
ces, at The hands of the Institution, does not
absolutely prove that they have any regard for
il; II goes no further, in a positive sense, than
to SHOW, that as men of common politeness,
they did lot think proper TO offend, or wound
the feelings of n numerous body OF men, by re-
jec,ing their ~proiiered good will, and the small
honours they had to bestow. these gen.
tlemen received its honours, Free Masonry had
not opposed its cloyeu- foot, as it has done re-
Gently. | know Tie fact,parily BY experience,
and otherwise from the best authority tha,.it
contains nothing valuable IN science, ltera-
turc Or the arts, whe: her coarse or fine to at
tract the attention or regard Of such men Us
you mention. and having fairly proved itself,
as have fairly shewn, and shall show by u
ttoGsaud more proofs hereafter, 1t my life be
tpa..i, 9 Ds at war val our constitution f.
aLerii.s in pra ctice as it always has beea in
tt-ory; let us see whether your Illustrious
Names Will continue TO connect themselves with
its concerns and lis destinies; If they do, they
must share its fate, which is DE LINE AND
FALL, so sure as the rocky shores of my glo-
rioLs little native State, have for ages with
stood the raging pillows of the ocean, which
beat harmless against them
We are surprised that the editor Of the OBJ
server, should deny that MIR, Clinton, is a pat
ron Of the Masonic order, for we should think
that he were well satisfied, that that disiin-
gusled gentleman, is one Of the most eminent
among the craft, and particularly distinguished
for the zeal and spirit he has manifested in, be-
half Of the cause of Masonry. Mr.. Clinton is
not a mere passive member, as Mr. SouthwIck
says; on the contrary he is an active and an
cannot be ignorant of the fact.
As for Mr. Clay,w know him TO he not only
a a,ason, but a very eminent one; and we re-
member with pride and satisfaction of seeing
him, in the year isI9,in Lexington, Kentucky,
doing reverence, "a the memory of our lament
ed towinslnan, THOMAS s. WEBB, and ming
ling his sympathics with the members Of the
craft, and doing honor to the funercal rites Of
that first Of Masons, and the best Of men. Be-
fore this, We never heard il denied that Mr..
Clay was a Mason, and we should he obliged
to MIR. Sou,hwick, if he would have the good
ness to advise us, upon what authority the de-
NAL is made
As to the merits or dement's Of the society
of Masons, we know nothing. not having the
honor of belonging 10 the fraternity;--but al
with Mr.. Southwick, that the society of Free
Masons, - contains nothing durable in science.
literature or the arts" for if it be as destitute
'of all good qualities, as the gentleman sup
poses we are quite certain, that De Witt Gin
ton and Henry Clay, would not be found among
those who compose its existence, ANA body po-
lhic."
Mr. Southwick having expended a yolley Of
words to make us smart, the next moment, at
tcnpts to soothc the imaginary wounds, he has
inflicted, by aspocies Of semi-nattery palpablc
and direct.
"You, my dear sir; for I respect you, on ac-
count Of your literary talents, notwrhsl andine
these jars between us, in relation 10 that fun
gus on the body polite. from | which fear SO
much evil, aud which YOU know nothing about;