Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-10-13

80 Tins thinking I have repeatedly ana con
an" ~, ~ -. ~ conversation and letters OF
-, snol<en or Masonry aud .4nu Nd
-, !. !, Gttcr subject for farce than ira
800 .od have neen 9rieved At seeing some
oc NV friends involved In what appeared 10
me such wild and bitter and unjust perse-
chiffon against SO harmless an institution as
Flee Masonry have Thought and repeat
edly said that considered Masonry as haVhS
no more to do with politics than any one %
the numerous Clubs 80 inmourousy ceIeora
ted in the Spectator; and bat WITH reSltd TO
the crime in Morgan's case u was fl'' ~
unjust to charge that on Masonry as It "ou'u
be Ia oharae the private delinquencies oil
soa,a' rrcfessiue christians on christianity II
~eH Thus have thought, ant thus have
continually snJken and written 10 my private
let,s,s 10 several OF MY friends II was not
mill the period Of your assembling here.
N,t an the occasion OF Il friendly VISIT from
one Of your members, aud my taxing me
brr,v 10 ratlv him on the excessive zeal which
had been excited OH an occasion SO made
o,,ate. that he placed before ne detail OF
some of the proceedings on the trials oil the
conspirators against Morgan: wnen, Tor The
first time, saw the Masonic oaths ~ estao
Lshed by the testimony OF adhenng ana Sc
ceding Masons on the trials IN New ork
observed that in one of them (called the h'y-
al Arch the candidate swears among o'het
things that he will assist companion it9yai
Arch Mason in distress, and TO esposse MS
cause so far as to extrieate hln from 'he
same. II IN bis mower, scheiter he be right or
,ryo,a md tb,t he will conceal the secrets
Of a companion Royal Arch Mason gwen IN
charge as such, murder aad treason mol err
csp,sd; and in other oaths, in stlll higher de
prees. | observe thatt he candidate bines hua.
self to ayenge the violated secrets OF the
Lodge by tile infection of death oa the often
d~r. and 10 ayenge the wrongs Oh brother
{. HE utmost extremity, and the whole mixed
~, with the most honiblc iuprecahoas and
b!asphemens mockeries oil the rgfIt aud te-
net. Of the Christian Religion.
IN the details Of the trials in the case OF
Morgan il became manifest that these oaths
are not considered by those who impose aud
take them as mere ideand unmeanIng words;
but that they are viewed as solemn oblI%a-
6ons which are to be practically enforced,
and which in the case Of Morgan there is too
much reason TO believe were trdgic6Hy en-
forced According to the reports OF the de
tails of tina. trial, az given at some OF your
former meetings, and given at greater length
at your meetings in this city, CAT one of
which. in common with other citizens, was
present those oatbs are understood literally,
and titerallI enforced: and, according 10 the
exhibition Of the evidence made IN those re
ports, the conspiracy against Morgan was
bot, as has been commonly supposed, the
" act Of a few ignorant men, alone; but 'caS
elgen tered IN Che lodges themselves. enforced
eader their direction and supported al thei; GO
pease, the conspiracy embracing within IT'S
sweep. men Of all d, grees. men OF tho learn
ed professions. farmers aud mechanics; with
a
energy Of the masonic spirithad entered and
polluted even the temples OF Justice; aud
with the most Representative proof that the
persons who had nte,ed into these unhallow
cd oaths, considered their allegiance to the
lodges as ofhi CHER obligation than their allie
giance TO tteii country. G this be nlasGlay.
according TO the uncoptradicted evidence 1t
seems 10 be, have no hesnauon IN saying
that consider it at war with the fundamental
principles Of the social compact, as treason
against society, and wicked compact against
The laws Of God and man, which ought to
be put down.
But. gentlemen, this was not, and could
not he Masonry, as understood by Washing
ton The thug is impossible The suspicion
would be parrlcii e Nor can | believe that
in the quarter Of the Union With which | am
best acquainted. intelligent men Of high and
honorable character. if they have been drawn
IN to take these shocking aud implous oaths,
can consider them az paramount TO their du-
ties to their God aad their country. Ills true
sshat after the practical exhibition of Masonry
which we have had in New York, no man of
common prudence can sleep over t.r>e dis
,cnveries, and will take care in every case Of
doubt to inquire. But both justice aud pri
Silence demand discrimination: for the powers
of President ought not in nay opinion, to
be prostituted to the purpose of a blind and
unjust prescription, involving innocence and
honor with guilt and treason, aud no man is
worthy Of a nomination to this high office ia
whose Judgment and patriotism, confidence
cannot he placed, to make the proper dis
tlnctinn between them. In the Wow of all
honorable men he would deservedy become
an object of disgust, if he could stoop TO
commit himself by any pledges, IA case like
this, as the price of has nomination.
Ii with these views of my opinions, it is
the pleasure of your convention to change
the nomination, can assure you very sincere
ly that shall retire from it with far more
pleasure than ! should accept it II, on the
contrary, il be their choice to abide by il,
have only to add, that in a government like
ouIs, consider no citizen at liberty to reject
such a nomination by so respectable a body,
upon personal considerations.
b. The linai determination of your Conven-
ton what it may. | shall ever retain CRATE
full sense OF the honour confer,ed on me by
this nomination, and beg the Anti Masonic
Convention to accept the assurance of my
respect for them and for their cause do