The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-04-09

witnesses. From his s,aiemen; VIC learn
that Morgan was confined in the magazine
at Fort Niagara, and if we give his state
ment credence, We must come 10 the con
clusion that be was finally murdered. MIR.
| Whiting comes to that conclusion, inde-
pendent of the testimony Of Giddina; and
your committee believe. that he is fully
warranted in so doing, 6y the iects and
circumstanccs which he has deie,led. M
Moscly, in his commune alton 10 your com
mittee, which also accompanies 'hs re-
port states, that be has ascertained mate
rial testimony. in relation To the abduction,
since the making Of this report TO the exc
cutive, and adds, that he has been put in
possession of some information OF a grdrcr
character, from source entitled TO credit
Your committee, therefore, feel justified IN
saying. that there is very little reason TO
doubt, but that free citizen of this state
has been deliberately put to death by high
ly respectable individuals, and that many
men in high standing were privy totbe de-
signs against him, and assisted IN the pre-
iminary measures, although perhaps, but
few directly participated in the final catas'
trophe.
II may be proper TO mention in this con
nection, that nt a trial at Batavia, not par
ticularly referred 20 by Mr.. Whiting three
men wero convicted Of a daring outrage
upon the person and liberty Of Col. Miller
who was associated with Morgan in the
! publication ofthe book on masonry. Thls
outrage was committed on tho same day
that Morgan was forcibly carried away
from the goal at Canandaigua. n princi
pic actor in this affair, was tho Canaraian
Johns, who, eight days before, had sudden
ly disappeared from Batavia. But youi
committee will not tax the patience oi this
house, by a recital Of tho particulars oil
this outrage, and Of several others commit.
ted or attempted against the persons and
property of Miller g. Morgan, and In which
insny persons are known TO have pnrucIpa-
ted,
Although the special counsel appointed
by the executive, has intcrposed caution
against speaking Of " societies and demon
| motions of men" in relation 10 the subject
of these enquiries, your committee feel
bound TO state, thut in their opinion, VI the
abduction Of Morgan is chargeable upon
| individuals acting as sucb,' II 10 likewise
chargeable upon them, members OF pow
erful society. existing in our state, claim
ing q high character, on which has been
bestowed many marks Of public favor, and
4 whose annual convocations and dazzling
honors have been regarded with great in
terest, and sought for with much ayidity,
Your committee are not ins cusible, that
.dthey are prcferring grast Sharge ngains,
an institution which has many bright ant
honorable names enrolled among It's votn
ries. Still they conceive, that tho true
character of the transaction, and it's rela
tive importance are To be escertninedby ad'
yertinr 10 the causes which produced IT,
and the motives which actuated the perpe'
traitors.
The active and pcrscrring district at.
torney Of the county Of Ontario, who has
, carefully investigated the whole matter
states il ms proved, "that the motives which
actuatcd those who conspired against Nor
gan. were 10 prevent the publication oi his
boob on free masonry. The same object
were avowed in the meetings IN Genesef
county. by those who visited For, Niogarn
BY those who acted in Canandaigua, ant
r by those who came to Cannndoigua, IN con
. sequence Of the information sent TO Koch
! ester. SO far, therefore, as their motive
p were then avowcd,t the suppression oil Nor
gan's publication was the object to be ei
3 fected. and the abduction OF the man wa
{ the means by which that object was TO b'
accomplished"
D "The abduction OF Morgan" says Mr.
p Whiting. is n singular md striking even
! IN our history and ss in case Of oihe
! ,TretrIeveable evils. II is easier TO lamen
n IL, than 10 find q remedy. ] have no hes
e Itntjon in saying, that IL has resulted
. from The confidence which members ofth'
= masonic society have felt in It's power nn'
= i'm fuence: from false estimate OF the val
- nc ofthnt institution, and from nm opinion
that they were bound TO preserve IT iron
c violation and injury" And he adds IN con
clusion. " II is worthy Of remark, that
D has been proved or conceded, that oil thos'
y who engaged in these outroges were mein
b bers of The masonic fraternity, fact no
wthou, incoming in referenceto the object
8 Of the conspiracy"
l. A proper consideration Of these facts
G fully established by solemn judicial lnves
u tipation. will lead 10 a due estimate OF th
c subject. referred TO by your committee
Some have wondered Why the abduction
i even the murder, Of comparatively ob
. scure individual. should be considered q
y so much importance. Had be fallen IN decd
= ly strife with his fellow. or had single as
j. ssesin planted dagger in his heart, the
e vent ard It's circumstances would longsnc
y have ceased 10 interest the public. u :
9 the offence against the dignity ofthissia'
:. and the Just grounds uf alarm, indicated b.
The character Of ths trsnsncion,u W hicb glVe
il It's relative importance. Many cnsos Q
personnl suffering may be pointed ont Z
z our history. which, if The individuals onl
: arc 10 be iaken into consideration, must b.
. regarded as much more affective, than IN
case OF the American seaman, who "o
shot by British authority IN the bnr6or .
New. York. md whose death caused suel
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