Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-10-04

made the miraculous conversion, may have their full
share OF reputation Tor their handy work.
Beiog loss for phrase TO characterize tho sudden
facility with which Mr.. wit was fashioned in'o an
Ant.mason, Tn order TO become caudida,e) We turn.
ed to medical friend, who tel ms him "extempora
neous preparation " 10.
The subjore ed rensrks .dnti. Masonry are from
patriotic, impartial s3d gifted mind. W. commit the m
tho sound OF the country, upon which have
been accustomed to rely in all important public quss
lions. Nat. Car.
ANTI-MASoNRY.
The spirit Of Asti- asonry has du'ed itself extern
sveiy over The middle aud northern States. has now
erected itself into for idabs poinssl engine, which
may exsr' an extraordinary power over he sf,rs Of
the country.
tensbls purpose 10 The suppression OF Msonry. To e
tect thus Object they dispose TO shse all
to di' qualify them Tor holding any ofes pr, hon.
or-sud to render them pmpoent Witnesses jarcr
The plan OF operations IL make ,h tee, OF political
isih-o obtain the legislative rowet o. the Sa'es aud
d ally control Cousre.s-,n mi WED ,h- executive
authority Ut tho government.
They are seou, 70 assemble 10 nominate candidate
II heir party, for ,hs bighcst ,i e in ms country,
sarry heir system into sHss, by a sweeping di"ra1-
shisement and prescription Of large and 70 .c,abe
M, iioa OF our citizens.
The An,masons, connpcs I'd Of all parties political and
ions about to raise the selves into The dig lay
OF ional party, without aoy known political opin.
on', and recommended only by their zeal AGAIN" M
sonry.
They are thin TO selo.t President from airy party,
with any principles, or no principles no, whom ,h.y
would choose, but whom they eau =, dis,ips he'd
only by the Zeal Of intolerance and Ito spirit OF perse
culon--poshby mere demagOgus, willing 10 catsb
at any desperate chance. And he sobsr people
OF tits country prepared to place at the head Of mi,
great nation such man, to WELD Its des inivs
Shall we Ioss sight Of tho principles upon which
parties are founded, thoss vital principles Of the
stitution, and OF public policy upon whish pend
Union Of the States aud tho property Of the country.
Can we Tor a moment tolerate tbe formation OF a
new baonal party, upon grounds distinct and foreign
10 The principles, tao policy, aud the purposes Of Gov
er"meD.
Why mIgls masonry with political ques'ons,-why
conOest 1t with elections? WY maks II the sac ard
OF political faithne objec, OF furious persecution
and xorsble prescription Why not leave il, like
every other question OF morals, OF religion, to tho
b gh tribunal Of pubic opinion.
They have denounced the order 10 tho whole world.
They Lavo added to the force o. numbers and nfu-
.nce powerful press. They have expossd its errors
and Its ioles. They hsve exhibited, either truly or
falsely, ito enigmacal larguage-is eDibemade signs
and nyseria ritter. They have s,rpt IL vi oil that
venerable IN its forms and imposing In is s-re-
monies. The illusion which time and mystery hal
hown around il is dspelled, ard /, now sands expo
led 10 the power OF Teason the shai,s o. satire, .he
fJTee OF ridsue, and 10 IL stall deserve IL, the
OF enlightened men. lie not oil this enough TO satisfy
our zeal, and must VS. add TO II ,he power Of party
and tho tefrors OF prescription The laws will punish
Its sdmes, spinon will crush is errors or abuses,
sosi'ty will fsown II dUwp-hese are The remedies.
Masonry may net BIS worth prsservog,-and tn ere
tore not worth defending. IL would probably decline
under the general indifference under the force
public sentiment Ii left free il would eease by ne
slee and he total want Of interest motive in IN,
soLsnuanee OF he institution. But persecution will
keep siive-make upon il and they Will defen nd
linen will brave denuneiadn a. even prose ription
as ihy do msryfdon; the spit OF indie pendence will
rive up against Tue pId, OF Intolerance and every feel
ing OF their nature wall revolt the stempi erect
tyranny over their minds and their sciions. Tas
peopl, will see Ii Involves psnoi lie thai lie, al the
base OF all Tree Govetpment:hs, op.:,on shall be free
tom poi,ical power as we'll az legal restraint Will
hey bot remember the wicked psrsssuors and the
,ansuipaty spirit in the old worc. Win The
q nau fran fh.r
10 obtain the liberty OF conscience and the right o
opinion, encourage here, by dangerous example, the
beginning OF system OF iniosTsnce that may 10 it's
course sucesvey prescribe every party In gov n,
and every sect in religion! What create new moral
'un--a standard CT religious moral faith-s political
es against the very spirit OF tho sonsti u,ioDyioaie
the figh OF opinion, establish doctrine OF
and drive free from their principles and their
socaions by voleDee and by exclusion from the pri-
vlesfs Of ei'izensI
Lii, do they koow Of the human heart and the
spirit Of liberty IN this sounHy If ,ney imagine The
people will tolerate any political parry IN any sehsme
Of power, to Impose Restraints and ndions unknown
TO The laws upon their thoughts, their action, or their
opinons. ID forbid! Where will end-wb,t fire. edom
OF speech OF what liberty OF conscience will re-
maiu, II men are prescribed from publ, f,e for
their opinion OF nature and maero of theology or me-
rally! What is IL but to create test to erect a mai rty
ino despoiism TO control belief and our faib? -
What creed is safe from sec'arian zeai9-Happy in the
enj Jment oil our evil and religious llber!y-let us
preserve il.
Nothing is 10 be feared ibap an intoerant spi
nv; 4 Tot only the greatest enemy TO the public H.
berry, but 1t becomes vile, tanaieai, and per,ecuipg
'Iir and will be, i, always has beeo toe dread and
scourge Of the pc pie.
IL masonry is 10 he saerhsed On the al ar Of mn.
co ambi loo, what shall mex, be OF red up to 40.
Psase the anger Of 'puIar fason II MAso6s are 10
oe oouhd and handed over TO ruth proser pi0n,
" no D. H sbe be mmo atedi Who Is sale or et a, ts
'aeredf Who shall stay course b,unds to IL,
power.
Poll ical parties are founded upon the elem. ntary
p'iospits Of Government, and separated from all the
shairs OF Tue Chursh and all other fx'rsneous matter ;
out admit this ntervepo wi The private rights of he
people aud connect Is with the legislation OF the eoun-
ny the admtotrston of The government, and The or
gdDzaoh of political parties and there i'll he
religious party in politics, and political party 10 reE-
giou AT morals will minse 10 every form OF sombpa.
ton, TO obtain aseendeI cy and power Civil liberty can
only be preserved by keeping tho government free
from all oiber UhueBcsS, and that principle ies at the
foundation Of our government
These views present hemselves 10 the abstract spd
altoge her diseonDssed with the merits OF Masonry
and are equally true whether there DO any thing 10
good or evil Isis, at best perbap, merely indif rent
having m.ny things concerted with IL that see IN un-
meaning aod absurd forms and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT thy
the serious attention Of sensible men, and perhaps the
sge in VIII ch live.
IL bSs object iba be obtained 10 some 9th sr
way. There san be no motive Tor secrecy ia a free
Government, whatever there may have been IN despo
TIC ones.
There is perhaps prins worth singing TO- none
worth Struggling for. IL nay he abandoned without
any sacr hseii bod beeome smoi, Indifferent, and 10
few years would have become obsolete But this tu
rious c,us4de against ibe members this order will
rouse their pide, provoke their Indignation, and ru
the on their def nee, aud violent sonhiei will eu-
sue These two parties thus array sEains each otner
will connect themselves with The great poliss parties
OF the country, aud thus infuse into tho dominant party
and the operations Of Government, O portion Of their
msiignsnt end vindiciive spirit
But without entering into the defense OF msropry-
can an institution that has existed 90 long, whish ha,
received the 'ancon aud The support OF the wise and
good OF every eornry, and which claims IN our owl n,