The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-10-03
ASSOCIATIONS.
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and obvious operation. They accumulate power in a
few hands, and this takes place just in proportion to
the surface over which they spread In large insti
tuition, few men rule few do every thing and if
the institution happens to be directed to objects about
which conflict and controversy exist, few are able to
excite in the strong and bitter passions and by
these to obtain immense ascendency Through such
an Association, widely spread, yet closely connected
by party feeling, few leaders can send their voices
and spirit far and wide and, where great funds
cumuated, can league host of instruments, and by
menance and appeals to interest can silence opposition
Accordingly we fear that in this country, an influence
sgrowng up through widely spread societies. atogeth
at war with the spirit of our Institutions and which,
unless jealousy watched, will gradually but surely en-
croach freedom of thought, of speech, and of the
press. 1t is very striking to observe, how by such
combinations, the very means of encouraging free
action of mems minds, may be turned against it. We
all esteem the press the safeguard Of liberties,
as the power which is to quicken intellect by giving to
all minds an opportunity to act on all. Now by means
of tract societies. spread over whole community, and
acting under central body, few individuals, perhaps
not than twenty, may determine the chief read
ing for great part of the children of the community,
and for majority of the adults, and may deluge our
country with worthless sectarian writings, fitted only
to pervert its taste, degrade its intellect, and maddens
with intolerance Let associations devoted to any OBJ
ects which excite the passions be every where spread
and leagued together for mutual support, and nothing
is easier than to establish control newspapers.
We are persuaded that by artful multiplication of
societies, devoted apparently to different Objects but
all swayed by the leaders, and all intended to bear
against hated party, cruel persecution may be
carried on in free country as in despotsm. Pub
lie opinion may be combined, and infamed, and
brought bear odous individuals opinions that
lit will be as perilous to think and speak with manly
freedom as if an nquisition open before us. Il
now discovered that the way to rule in this country,
is by an array of numbers, which prudent man will
not like to face. OF consequence, all associations aim
ing or tending estabishsway by numbers, ought to
be opposed They create yrants eectualy as stand
ing armies Let them be wthstood from the beginning
No matter whether the opinions which they intend to
put down be true or false Let opinion be put down
by such MEANS Let not error be suppressed by an I'M
strument which will be equally powerful against truth,
and which must subyert that freedom of thought on
which all truth depends. Let the best end fail If 1t
cannot be accomplished by right and just means. For
example, we would have criminals punished, but pun
shed in the proper way, and by proper authority
Ii were better that they should escape, than be imprs
oned or executed by any who may think fit to as.
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