Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-02

reply TO your letter. LIS protested object is to as
| ccrtulit my sentiments on the subject of masonry
ana the reason assigned by You for this enquiry is
thus stated by yourselves: CAS- we are agaln short
'Iy TO be called upon 10 choose man TO preside
over the councils of our nation; it will then be
'onr duty and privilege To raise our humble bat in
| dependent voice in favor Of him " HON we may
deem most worthy of our suffrage: and as YOU now
stand Il candidate for important station as
your friends and fellow citizens, VIC would soil.
'ct from you frank and candid statement Of your
sentiments on this subject
L do not know Il solitary rroyiSon in The Com
sttutlon of the United States which CONVEYS the
slightest authority to the General Government 10
interfere, one way or the other, with either Ma
sorry or anti Masonry. If therefore President
of the United States, or any other fiinctionary of
that Government, were TO employ his official pow
or TO sustain or TO abolish, to advance the in
tercst o. Masonry Anti-Mosonry, it would be
an act OF usurpation or tyranny.
Nou have not called upon for my opinion
upon any great practical measure falling within
The scope of Federal power. but passing by c:ery
question OF vital interest, within the sphere of its
operation, you demand my sentiments upon q sub
Joct with which | huinbly conceive it has nothing
to do, and you place this demand Oh the grouIfd
OF the influence which my sentiments might exert
upon the exercise of undoub;cd and important
privilege men YOU possess as citizens of the Uni
ted States.
A compliance my part. with your demand.
would amodnt TO an implied admission that inIi-
vldnnl sentiments, on the subject Of Masonry form
else OF the elective franchise in respect 10 Offices
OF the Federal Government. can make no s,lcn
admission. L cannot believe that whether | am
hostile or friendly 10 Masonry or Anti Masonry |
Is IT all material in the formation OF any Indictment
on the part of my fellow citizcns COZ. erning INV
fitness for any ofcc under tho Government OF the
United States. That elevated Office, To which
YOU aitude, should, i'll my opinion bc filed by one
who is capable, unswaycd by scctariun feelings or
passions, of administering its high duties imparti-
ally towards the whole people Of the United States
however divided into religious, social! benevolent
or literary associations.
Entertaining these views, have constantly refl-
ssd to make myself party to tho unhappy CON
test raging, distant from me, in other paris of the
Union, between Masons and Anti hlasons.-
whist these views remain uncorrcc, ed must adj
here TO that determination. II, indeed, Won ren-
tcmen, will point to the provision in the Federal
Constitution which eau be legitmatelv made 10 |
operate upon the subject in question, would not |
hesitate promptly TO comply with your request IN
the meantime, in declining it, I hope you will cor
aIdcr me as not wanting proper respect TO Won
or those whom you represent, but act;. from u |
conviction of thc improperly of blending Il alien
Ingredient with n question, already sufficiently |
complex, and also from Il sense Of personal imde |
pcndenCe.
l am, with great respect, your obedent servant,
III. CLAY.
Messrs. james y. Watson, Noble Butler, james !
II. Thompson.