Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-08


nschlcts ends here; that it is IA single
/ an insulated instancei 1t is impossible
lie Is weak and crcdulous who believes
It. In the vast and active character
and business of masonry, in its close
ana diverslhCd connexions with society
at large, whose paths II bcscts every
where, whose movements from behind
ITS own screen it can watch and fol-
low up nj pleasure, it must happen that
III streams of Justice will often be faint
ed, on occasions less conspicuous, 10y
the same power. A danger then exists,
under the highest moral and even ludic-
ial demonstration, which ought to Iivet
deep attention, and awaken general
alarm. Not only has the government
of the state Of New York lent its cf-
forts in aid of the ordinary process Of
law, for detecting the culpIlts in this
audacious conspiracy. The govern
mcnt Of Upper Canada has stepped for
ward in cooperation; for it is a charac-
tcrlstic Of the conspiracy, that there
was strong suspicious of lis embracing
depraved members of the fraternity in
that foreign jurisdiction; so extensive
were believed, and on rational grounds,
to have been the hidcous workings of
lis malignant sympathics. But all has
been in vain. Executive messages,
executive acts and proclamations, with
the offer Of executive rewards, like III.
dictmcnts and jury trials under special
courts and Judges, (lor these too were.
added have all fallen to the ground -
The law is still paralyzcd by "A hidden
agent, that continues to prove stronger.
than the combined force Of It's machln-
cry and lis ministers; the Lodge of this
agent has hccome lis scpulchre. There
1t lies, spectacle for ircemenl to look
at
In the whole compass Of affairs TO
which government Is subscivlent, there
Is nothing of such transccndcnt impor-
tance, as the faithful and effective adj
ministlation of Justice between man and
man, by the body polite against public
delInqucnts. 1t is of daily, unceaslng,
emergency. 1t blends itseiiwith all the
wants, duties, and necessities; with all
the hopes and all the dangers, that be-
long to the political and social .on-
ditlon Of the world. 1t comes perpetual.
Iy home to the immediate business and
bosom Of mankind, the remark 80 often
repeated from Bacon, but which OH this
subject has lis application in exact truth.
Hume describes 1t, as the sole end and
aim of all government; and, certainly, |
# such an administration OF justice be
wanting, it is not going too far to assert,
that the functions of government have
stopped in Il point that is vital II we
have laws without the power to give
them effect, we are in the condition Of IL
people having none; which brings socic-
ty to a pause. The levy Of ship money,
was among the causes that produced
the dccapitation Of Charles /, and Il
change in the English Dynasty. The
tax Of three pence pound on tea, help
ed to bring in our own rcvo!utlon--
How small such acts IN themselves;
yet, in union with quick and well un-
ders,ood spirit Of public liberty, how
vast their consequences throughout
nations, and the poscrty OF nations. L
fear not To say, that neither ol them
were calculated to press so dcstructlvely
upon the great fabric OF society, as
the fact before us, of a secret cOmblna-
ton in the heart of the republic, beng
able to keep the laws at bay IN tins case
of the Murdercrs of Morgan; so long to
tramplc upon, so long to triumph over
them The apathy prevailing under
the baliled efforts to probe and fully to
punish so great an enormlty, IL, to mind,
among IA people watchinl
of their rights, and vino would ever be
ready, it might have been supposed, to
cmbody the whole power OF Society,
wherever any one of its members,
however humble, was seen to bc so
struck down. lntcrposltion
should have been the more immediate
and decided, as the blow was so bold
and terrible; as it was given amidst CON
comitants so unusual, and indicative OF
so supreme, SO insolcnt, n contempt ior
the laws. If ever an event arose III the ,
annals of any people, that should have
made the whole body of the pubic,
identical with the authority oi the mag
istrate, by a burst of Indignation ana IA
concert of efforts, II Tds ms. NO
other feeling ever yet kept permanent
ly alive the spirit of public liberty, up,
held the supremacy aud grandeur OF
the laws. They both die as certainly
under torpor. as If crushed by open
dcspotism II Is one of the ways, IN
which free states begin to lose their
liberties. II is deadly opiatc, dliluslng
itself through the political system, a
painst the installations OF which, tho
patriot heart should he reused toy every
that can animate II To it9,