Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-01
MIR. CLAY AND ANTI-MASONS.

The following letter from Mr.. Clay,
was written in answer to one addressed
to him by certain anti-masons, dated
Hanover, Indiana, Sept. 2, 1881, re-
guessing of him public declaration of
his sentiments relative to Masonry. No
intelligent and honest man can read this
communication from MIR. Clay, without
feeling strong and irresistible emotions
of veneration for his unyielding integrity
and patriotism When it is considered
that the anti-masons are resorting to eve
ry possible stratagem to drag him to their
party ,-men of every description from
the most elevated to the most infamous
and when il is considered that that party
recently nominated Mr.. Writ as their
candidate for the Presidency,-and when
it is considered further that Mr.. Clay is
the candidate of the National Republi-
can party, and that with the aid of the
anti masons he most unquestionably y would
succeed against Gen. Jackson-we say
in view of all these considerations, this
letter affords the most conclusive evi-
dence that Henry CLAY, above all other
men in this republic, possesses the true
and disinterested spirit of genuine patri-
otism.
AsHLSAp, October 8, 1891.
Gentlemen:
hope you will excuse the delay in
acknowledging the receipt Of your letter
of the 2d ult. which has arisen from my
absence from home and from various en-
gagements.
Waving the considerations that have
no knowledge of the. existence OF an An
ti-Masonic meeting in Hanover, Indiana,
other than that which is derived from
your letter, nor of your appointment as a
Committee to correspond with me, other
than your statement, nor the satisfaction
OF personal acquaintance with you, will
proceed at once to reply to your letter.
Its professed object is to ascertain my
sentiments on the sub ject of masonry; x
the reason assigned by you for this inqui-
ry is thus stated by yourselves: GAS we
are again shortly to be called upon to
choose man to preside over the coun-
ellis of our nation; as it will then be our
duty and privilege to raise our humble
but independent voice in favor Of him
whom we may deem most worthy Of our
suffrage; and as you now stand candi-
date for high and important station, as
your friends and tellow--citizens, we
would solicit from you frank and can
did statement Of your sentiments on this
subject"
do not know a solitary provision in
the Constitution Of the United States
which conveys the slightest authority to
the General Government to Interfere one
way or the other, with either NJ asonry or
Anti Masonry. If therefore President
Of the United States, or any other tunc-
tionary of that Government, were to en-
ploy his official power to sustain or to a.
bolish, or to advance the interests of Ma q.
sonry or Anti-Masonry, it would be an
act Of usurpation or tyranny.
You have not called upon me for my
opinion upon any great practical meas
ure falling within the scope of Federal
power; but passing by every question Of
vital interest, within the sphere Of its OPP
Grafton, you demand my sentiments upon
a subject with which humbly conceive
il has nothing to do, and you place this
demand on the ground Of the influence
which my sentiments might exert upon
the exercise of an undoubted and nnpor-
tant privilege which you possess as citi-
zens of the United States.
"A compliance, on my part, with your
demand would amount to an implied ad-
mission, that individual sentiments, on
the subject of Masonry, formed proper