The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-14
HENRY CLAY AND ANTI-MAsoNRY

The Lexington (Ky.) Reporter publishes
the annexed reply of Mr.. Clay to commit
tee OF ADtiMasons of the State of Indiana.
who were appointed to address him with a
view to ascertain his sentiments OH Anti
Masonry. .s.l .s-8
ASHLAND, Oct. 8, 1881.
Gentiemen; hope you will excuse the
aeiay in acknowledging the receipt of your
letter Of the 81 ult., which has arisen from
my absence from home and from, various en-
gagements
aiving The considerations that have no
knowledge of the existence of an anti-ma-
sohic meeting in Hanover, Indiana. other
tnan mat which is derived from your letter.
nor o. your appointment as committee to
correspond with me, ether than vonr state.
ment, nor the satisfaction of . ne,sonal ac-
quantance with you, win proceed at once
10 reply to your letter. Its professed object
Is 10 ascertain my sentiments on the suI,ect
otmasonry; and the reason assigned by Won
iof mis- lnquiryis thus stated by yourselves
AS we are again shortly to be called upon
10 choose man to preside over the council,
OF our nation; as it will then be our dutv
ana privilege to raise our humble but indie
pendent voice in favor of him whom I've NAV
deem most worthy of our suffrage: ami ~
you now stand a candidate for high and
important station, as your friends and fell
low citizens, we would solicit from YOU n
frank and candid statement of your senti.
menis on this subject"
no not Know solitary provision in the
CONSTITUTION OF the United States which
conveys the slightest authority to the Cen
eral Government to interfere, one wav or
the other, with either Masonry or Ami Ma
sonry. IT, therefore,, President of the Unit
ed States, or any other functionary of that
Government, were to employ his official pow
er to sustain or to abolish, OF 10 advance the
interests OF masonry or anti-masonry, it
would he an act of usurpaton or tyranny,
lou have not called upon me for nv upin-
Ion upon any great practical measure fall
ing within the scope of FEEDER al power but
passing by every question of vita, interest.
within the sphere of its operation, you de-
mani my sentiments upon subject with
which humhly conceive it has nothing TO
DO, and you place this demand on the ground
OF the influence which my sentiments might
exert upon the exercise ofan undoubted and
important privilege which you possess as
citizens of the United States.
compliance, on my part, with your de-
inand would amount TO an implied adrsis-
sion, That individual sentiments, on the sub
Ject OF masonry, formed proper sonsldera-
g
tive franchise in respectto offices Of the fed
eeral government. Icas MIKE no admission.
cannot believe thac p.sether am hostile
or friendly tn masonIy or anti-masonry, is
ut all material IN the formation of any iudg-
ment, on the part of my fellow citizens. con-
corning my fitness for any office under the
Government of the United States. That ell
evated office TO which you allude. should, in
my opinion, he filled by one who is capable,
unswayed by sectarian feelings or passions,
OF administering its high duties impartially
towards the whole people of the United
States, however divided into religious, So
cial, benevolent, or literary associations.
Entertaining these views. have con-
stantly refused to make myself party to
the unhappy contest raging, distant from me
in other parts ofthe Union, between masons
and ant-masons. Whilst these views re-
main uncorrected must adhere to that de-
termination. If, provision indeed, you GEN
ilemen, will point 10 the federal consiitu-
ton which can lie legitimately made to OBJ
crate upon the subject in question, would
not hesitate promptly to comply with your
request. In the mean time, in declnin.s i.
hope you will consider me as not wanting
In proper respect to you or to those whom
you represent, but as acting from convic-
ton of the improperly of blending an alien
ingredient with II question, already suffi-
GENTLY complex, and also from sense of
personal independence.
am with great respect, your obedient
servant, H. CLAY.
Messrs. James A. Watson, Noble Butler,
James II. Thompson.