Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-10-28
ADDRESS
OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-MAsoNIc CONVENTION
To the Peobicef the United States.


OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-MAsoNIc CONVENTION
To the Peobicef the United States.
FELLOW CITIZENS "A large and growing
political party, through us, respectfully address
SEES you. Numerous bodies of enlightened
and honest freemen, in states containing more
than half the electors Of our union, have openly
and fairly delegated us to represent them, in
the performance of duties, which cannot fail
to affect your essential rights. And believing
that your rights are inseparably blended with
theirs, we seek, most earnestly. so to perform
those duties, as to produce effects equally and
extensively beneficial upon the rights of all.
These duties consist in nominating citizens to
be supported, as candidates for the offices of
President, and Vice President. of the United
States, at the next election, and in setting forth
the grounds, on which. you are invited to sus-
tain the nomination
The concurrence of millions of men. in any
act of deliberation or decision, for objects, in
which they have common interest. presents
to the mind magnificent and exciting spec
tacle If the men be Intelligent, patriotic. and
free, and the object be that of appointing the
most suitable of their number, TO guard the
rights, and advance the prosperity, of the ma
ton. which they constitute, human life can
rarely exhibit spectacle of equal interest and
suhlimity. Scarcely any approach towards
such an exhibition has ever been witnessed, in
any country. but ours. Let tit be our ambition,
SO 4, continue. andsimprove the exhibition, in
all its stated occurrences, as shall more and
more commend itto the appreciation and esteem
of the great brotherhood of communities. to
which we belong and most efectually tend to
the establishment and support of free princi-
plies, in every community Of our fellow men.
In selecting candidates for the highest Offices
in the gift of the people, it is essential to con-
sider--the peculiar frame and objects of our
government--the personal qualifications of the
candidates--the principl which should gov
ern their adninistration-the sources of dan
ger TO these principles--and the means of re-
moving that danger. On each Of these con-
alterations, we wish to offer our opinions with
that righteousness, fulness, and earnestness,
which become freemen, in addressing Their
equals and brethren, upon subjects involving
their dearest hopes, and most imperative du
ties.
Government has always been business o
the highest importance. In every form. it has
exercised mighty influence upon the indi
viduai and collective condition of its subjects
In most countries, it has generally been TIL
prey Of crafty and fortunate violence; anc
welded for partial and selfish objects. Witt
such an origin and such an object. it was i'm
Vulnerable mschiefs But bad as it has been
il has not been without its advantages; AM
these have greatly outweighed its evils. With
out government, there could have been no eS
tensive associations among men. Their con
dieting interests and passions. would have pre-
duced universal collisions, SO fierce and fire
auent, as to have prevented much increase
and the human race would have existed, th
tlay, only in the condition of few scattered
ignorant, INDECENT, feeble. ferocious, and inst
cure families. To raise them above this cor
,lition, government was absolutely indispei
sable. T-fr.a
The great use of government is to secul
yights-all the rights of those. who unite
its formation, These are comprehended
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. !
the security Of these, order is essential. Ord
cannot be maintained without common al
definite arbiter of the differences, that may
rise between the individuals composing n
lion, and power to protect the whole again
external aggression Such an arbiter and po
err is government; which,, to be perfect. shou
he lust, intelligent, free from the bias of s
interest, and effective, as to all the objects
which it is constituted. !. But such COVER
ment never existed. And SO long as men q
ignorant, selfish, and passionate, never will {
;st among them. The nearest possible aPpro
imation to such government is Republic
A Republic acknowledges the rights OF
and seeks to avail itself of the wisdom a