Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-21

by any part OF the oath.
When Morgan FIRST brought TO Fort Niagara,
il Was expected that the Canadian nasons would
assist IN earryng him out OF the oountry but they
refusing, he incarceraicd in the maSal,ne,
where he remained Eve days. II would seem that
tNs rnasons OF New York wers thwartca in thrir
original intentions, and they led not l5crats
,,i;a because many respectable iuipu-
Gated in the guilt Of Ia, abduction, they hcd
consultation upon his disposal, and deliberately
came to the conclusion, that nc mcritcd death tor
having violated his masonic obligations, and that
they would assume the awful responsibility OF be-
coming his cXccutioners. At this consultation, 1T
has since been proved in court of Justice, were
masons, all of them intelligent, worthy and
respectable citizens; ofthe;n however rccanted,
burst into tears and said ''Gen:lemcn l am bound
as mason 10 go with you, but 1T is getting late
and wish to be excused" They then postpon-
cd his xccuion to some more convenient time, but
went to the magazine, rcpTodchcd Morgan witt,
the wf.l guilt OF violating his masonic obligations,
told him he had not long To live, and asked him
what death he preferred to die Mergas replied.
~ am n soldier, shoot me; but il you put me to
death, you will do masonry more serious injury
than to suffer to live" On the subsequent
mignt Il Similar consultation held, at which
IoUr m3sons were present.
The conduct and declarations Of GarsGc, a
Canadian, and Royal Arch Mason, are worthy .!
notice. he man of savage and relentless
disposition, which masonry, all charitable and di-
vine il is, could neither temper nor soften. He
stated in the lodge in Canada <whsre several ma
sons mot and consulted upon the propricty OF
aiding IN tho conspiracy, and upon the means oil
conveyiu. Morgan cut of the country and in my
presence other occasions, that Morgan deserved
TO die for revealing the sacrets Of masonry, and
that he would rsjo'ce to have the opportunity to
put him death, and II hereafter lie was to be
punished for the decd, he would wiiiingl Y ascend
the scatfo and glory die martyr in the cause
OF ireemasonry; Cor he considered its destruction as
| great public calamity.
On Saturday previous to the disappearance of
N i
| Fort, and inquired il Morgan still in the
magazine. L replied l believed he was,i but had
| never him. lie then repeated in substance
| what had before heard him remark concernin y
| Morgan; stated that hs wax willing to put hI to
death, and asked me il would go and introduce
| him to ColoRel King, that he might obtain his
consent to put him to- death in the magazine.
| refused to comply 18th his request. Col. King
! resided ahou; one nile from the Fort, was two
days previous installed High Priest of Benevolent
Chapter at Lewiston, and considered c.
count Of his high masonic Office, well as his
! elevated and respectable rank citizen, the
most proper person to direct the movements in
| relation TO Morgan. No of Importance
would have been taken without his consent OF
! APPRECIATION.
! would here romark, that | then Gems
| dered my masonic oaths morally obligatory, and
/ that the abduction of Morgan by masons, his con
IinenIent IN the magazine, the plan oltaking hin
/ to Quebec and from thence to England, wero al
secrets strictly masonic in their nature the
obligation to keep the secret Of Il brother, murder
and trsa"?a not excepted, or to cStricOtc brother
! from difficulty whether rieht or 3cr0ng, any
other secret OF masonry. The plan TO seize and
! convey Morgan out oil the country dcliberatcd
upon, and Indturcd III the silent and secret con.
. clayc Of the lodge rooms, and by committees cho.
sen hy the different Lodges and Chapters ia the
western part o. the State, who met and arranged
the plan of operations. The disposition made OF
! Morgan considered strictly masonic inca
sure; for his seizure and the efforts suppress the
& ia for
ofmasonry, TO the institution from reproac!,
: ANA ruin, and every mason understood that he
! " compelled TO keep what he knew of the trans
! &ction masonic secret, without an Inlu cton
! 10 that effect. But | was 20 ned and presu me
ot!sra were, TO keep What was communicated TO
! INC such; and even The oath of master ma
son sufficiently comprehensive in lis terms
| 10 embrace every thing that was then cn-
! trusted to Although Col. Jcwc't the SUI
pcfin;c.dant Of tic Fort and ysel had determin-
cd TO know littic about the transaction as pos
SHE, yet some things OF consequence were com
municated TO me, and so long | considered my
masonic Obligations binding, was never at liber-
" TO reveal this request of GurSide any thing
relation to Morgan, OF which hid knowledge, to
any excp; frccmasons: 81 am filed with sorrow and
indignation when | reflect that rem aimed so long
Il slave to those wicked ana baneiu oaths. TnG
conduct ana declarations of Garsicc attribute to
his ccssivc zeal and enthusiasm in the cause OF
trecmasonry, and did not suppose it was the orr.
ginai design to put Morgan To death. Ga the CON
trary, was informed that it not their inten-
ZION 10 do him the least harm; that their object
vas TO convey him TO England, on board British
vessel if they could fnd whose commander
was mason, TO suppress the publication of his
book, and IL stated they would support his
family in his absence. | was not then prepared
TO expect, what believe soon after transpired:
and when was told that Morgan had been taken
away, supposed the Canadian masons had finally
concluded to aid in the conspiracy, and had "a ken
hin 10 Quebec. 1t would have been difficult at
that time TO have convinced mc that lie had been
murdered, for had too high estimation of the
honor and bencvOlcnce of those men, who took
active part III the transaction, to believe they
woul I've guilty of such q crime. About SIX weeks
after Isis c5appearancc | heard Eli Bruce, then
high sheriff Of Niagara county, in conversation
with Col. Jcwctt remark, that ii Morgan was put
into Inc river, it probable the fish had eaten
him, or he consumed in other manner
be ioTe that time, so there was no danger of his
ever being found. Jewett observed that Giddns
walked the beach Of the lake every morning, to see
il any dead body had washed ashore the preceding
night. Giddns actually received such directions
from Col. King, but never complied with them;
COL. Jcwctt however, supposed he did.
Sometime during that autumn, dead body was
discovered which had washed ashore few miles
from the fort. Col. King it is said, was very much
agllHted and alarmed, when that circumstance was
communicated TO MIN, and went Immediately TO
Ic"istown to avoid being the jury of Inquest;
and he stated TO DIR. Pope, Of that place, that he
believed it was the body Of Morgan, and requested
nun TO go aud dsiutcr il that night and make a
skeleton oft. When Gidiins was on his RETURN
from oTk, L. c. where he at the time Nor
gih was removed from; the magazine he cuc,,;roJ
CT tho captain .! the boat, mason, Wlut thCV had
done with the prisoner: the captain replied That he
"EIescd lac put where he would write no more
Loohs."
hfcr (;i5djrs returned if was Of ,tcd fr hin, H.,