Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-09-02

have come. Had the univeral Press of the
country done its duty, in spirit resolute and
lofty as that of day, instead of sluggishIy re-
naming quiet, or ANONYMOUSLY conniving,
this conspiracy against Morgan would long
since have been laid bare, and public Justice
been indicated. Its voice would have car
ried CONSERVATION into the recesses of every
lodge. Its thunders would have shaken their
very wall and rafters their foundations un-
derneath would have rocked, their turrets
above would have trembled, and masonry in
turn, like the suffering victim of the conspiracy
would have put up its prayer for mercy.
Appalled,, menanced for its existence, it would
have been seen every where in motion. Then,
then, its activity, its discipline, its terrors
would have been at work to ferret out the
deep guilt. Its conclaves would have assem-
bled for no other object, until that object had
been attained. The institution would have
been placed under accusation; it would have
been arraigned before the dread bar of the ma
ton where, under the majestic inquest of the
Press, it would have stood, pale and breath
less, watirg its doom. The spectacle would
have been sublime And who can doubt the
issue! Who can doubt but that the truth
would have come TO light? Who can doubt
but that the cloud, all along so dark, would
have 'turned her silver lining" on this plot of
death? No one, surely, who has remarked the
potency which this institution has ever shown
in securing ends on which it chooses to bend
its whole purpose, and employ all its exei-
tions. ! repeat, then, that the Press has
shown dull insensibility to the high motives
and feelings by which it ought to have been
fired in this case of enormity, or it has been a
traitor to its trust. 1t ought, forthwith, to have
Il
That was its true position before society; UNI
der case of conspiracy and crime, planned
and executed by those who VIGOROUSLY belong
ed to the secret institution. lay this down
as strict reasoning, and so let it be Judged so
would | clinch upon the Press the charge of
infatuated pereliction or of accessory guilt.
The worst is to be told. For, whence this
infatuation or this connivance Whence this
most marvellous exception to all its wonted
eagerness and FIRE Whenc& the sudden spi-
king of the artillery, that ever heretofore has
played its vallies, upon crime! Whences but
becaue the Press itself is under the det tie
rious entertainments of masonry, or otherwise
wears its manaces. Whether the iron ones
forged for it by the Institution itself, or those
existing in the inhuenc of readers and epat-
rons, the result is still the same. How else
coulcfit have happened, that it was withheld
from the people, the inontestible evidence of
masonic guilt, which the repeated and solemn
trials in New-Yofk have afforded? Does it
act in this way. on other occasions Did it
even suppress from its columes the publication
of the case of the wretched pirate Gibbs, with
all its train of particulars, during this present
spring? Has not this case, case certainly,
of novelty in its principle, been running the
rapid rounds-of almost all the papers of the
| Union? Yet, no word have we of the trials
at LockPort, that were going on at the same
instant not a whisper, not breath--All is
silent like the tomb. How will the press shake
off the obliquy of such conduct? 1t cannot
shake it off. There is no other explanation Of
| it, than the one given. Will it pretend to al
lege, that those trials brought out no evil
say, in extension, that the murdered remains
of Morgan are still unbound Preposterous,
\ insulting extenuation Why not publish the
evidence itself, and let this people Judge; as,
at all events, the case had become one of great
and commanding public notoriety. If the
] people were to transfer portion of their in.
j dignation from the murdersers of Morgan tc
those presses of the country that have evinced
] an anxiety to hush up the foul deed, they
! would be acting righteously. 1t would show
u the press, by lesson never to be forgotten
that the people were the true fountain of jus
tice, as well as power.
; feel anxious to stop; but as yet cannot.
must look round upon the unparalleled scene
! 1t brings with it weight of thought and feel
ing, that is oppressive. l did not sit down t.
write dissertation on Masonry, nor am go
Ring to give myself to the task. dwell not upor
Sits remote origin and long history upon it
curious titles upon its ceremonies of orien
j tai mould, and celestial exaltation. dive no
4 into its claims to science, to philanthropy, o
a to religion. All these leave for good or 70
: bad, for censure or for commentator. M.
d concern at present, is with none OF them.
r purposely turn away, that there may be n
! diversion from the scene am surveying.
a am in field by itself. There, my astonishe
D sight beholds two figures the state, with tn