Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-05-10

49, ~ Va VIC hC
publican Party, aud 10 the wisdom of those who have
for the last few years administered the Government,
caunot be denied. Notwithstanding our numerous
sources OF prosperity, circumstances have rendered
great vigilance and care indispensable in tue manage
ment OF our public concerns: aud no tears meet be en-
tertained Ter the issue, If the same wa,chful guardians
shall continue TO preside over them, and the efforts OF
faction to d vide and oyerpower us shall be deieated.-
We confess we have not the slightest apprehen ion of
a different result; butit is only through increasing vigil
lance aud eXerlion that political power, however pge-
ponderant, can be maintained.
The adverssrieS OF the republican party in this State,
although divided Into factions at issue With each other
bo'h upon men aud principles, are nevertheless array
cd under The banner of anti masonry, for the common
object OF rising TO political power. For all the pur-
poses OF opposition, we can regard them only under the
collective character which they have assumed by vir-
tue OF this combinations; for il is a rule of universal JUS
tce, that the hag shall determine the character of the
bcligerents.
Ii cannot have escaped the notice of any one, who
is reed the testimony given upon the late trials at
LocSport, uat Tie transaction, TO which the auti-massn.
nc party owes its existence, is henceforth TO be reyarded
under a new aspect. All the facts connected with
the murder OF William Morgan, as far as they can be
ascertained by judicial investigation, are before the
puOlic. On these trials no witness stood mute: names
and circumstances were fully disclosed; and il any thing
remains untold, IL can be known only TO some one of
me INDIVIDUALS who are clearly pointed out by the tes-
unohy' ihese disclosures have spread a general alarm
among the leaders OF anti masonry; their success de-
ponueu upon cohcea'inen', and not upon exposure Of the
facts. There are no more lips TO be unseaiel nor plo,s
10 De detected; no chasn for the Imagination to supply
WIN creations oil its own. The conspiracy is unloldei:
a"u Tor tue honor oil the community it appears that il
was Tue work OF a lew individuals, distinguished nei-
,her Tor intelligence nor moral character, citing under
impulses OF their own. But it is enough that the per.
petrators Of this foul deed are Unidentified: and the on
Ject oil anti-inasonry, il It's object be Justice, has been
and human laws.
There is another circumstance connected With these
ula's, which is equally unacceptable TO the an,i-meson
lc lea3crs, and which, to the honest portion O, thai mar
", must clearly indicate the choractar oF tbos. a..
whose counsels they have been guided. Two of the
principal instruments IN the destruction of Morgan have
oeem peculiarly The objects OF anti-masonic favor. A
publication ny one OF them has been widely circulated
oy the agents, and under the patronage of the Marty.
at'd IL Is only through the wisdom and iirmness of the
executive OF TINS state, that the Other does not stand
before the wOrli endorsed with a full pardon and in
vested, at he instance OF an ani-mas9 mic leader. with
an ample fortune as the reward of perjury aud guilt
10y a singular perverSion Of reason and Justice, the
cOuntenauce oil the leaders of that p,rtv has been ~
tended to those whose hands are as deeply imbued AZ
those oil any living man, in the guilt of that sanguinarv
transactions, and their denunciations visited upon those
who have made The greatest exertions IN bring tho Of
tenders TO punishment,
ms inconsistency has run through the whole career
oi 'e leaders Cl anti-masonry. While they protested
20 seek the punishment OF the guilty, their exertions
nave been directed 10 the prostration of the republican
party, by whom all the light which has been ,brovn
upon me SUBJECT, has been brought out. While pro.
Tossing inplacabie hostility to the masonic institution,
uiey nave, in more than one county. set nm adbering
maSons Tor office, opposing them 10 indivi;uais who
openly disavowed all connexion with the institution =
ihey nave Tor years been aiming to break down the
,epuInIah parry, without assigning the abuses which
nay intended 10 correct, or the principles of re orm
which they intended TO introduce. All these incon-
sts'ehc'es nave arisen from the success of a few ambi-
nous pohucians, in converting TO their own uses an
uohes' ieeIlhg OF Indignation, 50 deep'y occupied with
.he outrage, III which ii or ginated, as to be MISC uided
Dy uneIr arihces. Their receptions cannot he nerpa,.
uateu' me people see tuat these individuals have
ra'her embarrassed than facilitated the purposes of ius-
ice; th't the two most prominent acts of those who
stand IN the fore ground of the party, are an attempt to
impose upon popular ~credulity by mulilating the dead.
ana a proposition 10 stimulate a venal witness. bv mer.
cenary rewards, to testify to facts, of which he had
twice, under the sol,mnity OF an oath, declared him
sell ignorant; thus insulting in one case the intelligence
" ue people anu IN The other, poisoning the current
oil justice at its source.
The position OF anti-masorry can no longer he main.
'oI"td upon rs original principles | would involve
he gldfing Inconsistency OF Withdrawing the alter
ton from The known authors OF the outrage. snJ A..
sailing hose who are no, only avowedly innocent. but
through whose persevefing eXrr,icns the gully have
been detected aud exposed. Whatever strength III
20 iIon may have had, when assumed wi h The mo.
,eX'o OF discovering thA perpetrators of thai O. traee. il
has become unienable, now that the prete xt IL with
d avn Una r This Change OF Circumstances, we !ook
"I'hout apprehension uPo0 iha motley array OF dean.
pointed poll iciaD' aid ancient federsH IT'S who have
'aiii'd around 'he standard of au,-rnasonry. The
Struggle On their part has become an undisguised ard
naked contest Tor polnicai power, without lhe p.e,enee
oil a principle 20 sane ion or cover IL.
1t IN y be emphaiical!y said. that the seasons of pros.
pefiy Tor the nation, have been those in which the
T pnLIicaa party kas had The az; endancy. The reign
u federalism has been unto; mly attended by disorder
end confusion, and by those impending evils, which al.
ways ioliow a departure from he dosuiCes of republi
caniscl. U pom thes 40, our political sy.tem esser,aIv
res's, and it is only by maintaining lhem in their nu,i
y, that NE Structure can be upheld. Under these can
Vielions' II is gratifying 10 ref-ct that the republican
party IN This STATE, Is in no danger OF bring oyer.
thrJ"r, and that its public affairs are administered by
one, "h1ss talents and unblemi,hed character, insure
a faithful execution OF the tsus,. 1t il sill more y,ati.
iying to reflect, since the safety OF the whole ia OF
mrs iinlo lance than a part, that The r. publican par,y
oil TIE UGion Is equally secure against aI auempts OF
i'j adversaries. TEere never has b0en a perod in
when II existed in greater strength. Even ia Nav.
England, the democratic Safe If hire.
aud 'lat part OF ancient Massachusetts,, which now
constitute the SAFE of Maine-two uprepresen'ed
poFiioLs Of Nsw'E gland, in The Hartford c invention
ARE unwdyefing in the.r attachment TO the fe,ulI.
can lrinc pies Of the Constitution. With this 5.r.pv
iooiholi upon the very tefTi'orias Of the eLemv, Their
't'engih and ta'if afhhces may be yet at defiance.
There is another confederation connected with ihis
sntJ~c'i 10 which, IN closing this address, we cannot
9foeaT briefly 10 advert. Ia turning cur attention to
HE Oh world, We perceive In all dir ections, indications
oil an approaching struggle between The advocate. OF
ree g~HY-fhUeof, and the supporters Of arbitrary pow
cr. Inc elements OF Gis~Ontrnt are eYefy where visi
1e ana The ime may be near at hand, when the
European eon'in"nt VII present TIE most affecting
scenes Of d s5rdtr ard dtsolation. The princjnLs
"b'cb have led to his general agitation Of The poiii.
cal world, have emsDa'ed from the institutions which
our fathers hui!t up on this continents: and it IL no, leo
much TO cay, that the friends OF human liberty. where.
ever 'hcy are 10 be loCnd, are intent upon The atestsx
pefltneoi which We As performing here thai the *.
ample Of iwslve millions Of ieemen. touiIIy sJ,,,.