The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-19
From The Erster .Ns,rs Letter.
JACOBIN CLUBS.

Durino the early stages Oh the FRENCH
Revolution, when the relns oil Government
were gnded by the infamous trumvIrate'
Marat, Danton, and Rohesplerre, when I'D
the boly names Of LIBERTY and EQUALIrY,
borrid atrocities were committed by peo-
Die. who had long been considered the most
enlightened in Europe, JAcoBiN CLUBS |
were formed as a means OF disseminating \
certain political doctrines. These clubs
extended over France, and it was IN these
affiliated societies, that principles hostile TO
social order, liberty and virtue were iondly
cherished, and dark deeds conceived and
sanguinary plans adopted, at the bare re-
membrance of which humanity shudders.
Sir Walter Scott,in his Life of Napoleon,
gives the following description OF these Sc
cret societies:
"The Committees of governmentdistrib
uted large sums of money to the Jacobln
Club and its affiliated societies, as being
necessary to the propagation of sound po-
lltcal principles. The clubs themselves
took upon them in every village the exercise
of the powers of government; and while
they sat swearing, drinking, and smoking,
examined passports, imprisoned citizens,
and enforced to their full extent the bene
fits of liberty and equality. " Death or
Fraternity" was usually inscribed over their
place of assembly, which some one trans
lated, H." Become my brother, or /! will kill
thee"
"These clubs were composed of members
drawn from the lees Of the people, shat
they might not, in their own persons, give
an example contradictihg the equality which
il was their business 10 enforce. They
were filed with men without resources or
talents, but towards whom the confidence
of the dereived people was directed, from
the conviction that because taken from
among themselves, they would have the in
terest of the lower orders constantly in
view. Their secretaries, however, were
generally selected with some attention tC
alertness of capacity for on them depend
ed the terrible combination which extended
from the mother society of Jacobins in Paris
down into the most remote villages Of the
most distant provinces, in which the same
tyranny was maintained by the influence o
similar means. Thus rumors could be eth
er circulated or collected with a speed anC
uniformity, which enabled whisper from
Robespierre to regulate the sentiments o
the Jacobins at the most distant parts of hi:
empire for his it unquestionably was, fol
the space of two dreadful years"
Such were the Clubs ofthe Jacobins dur
ing the French Revolution. In the streets
of Paris, infatuated mohs collected TO exc
cute the atrocious crimes, which were con-
ceived in the darkness of midnight by these
Satellites Of Sin. Intoxicated with blood,
their cry was still for more. They planted
the Liberty tree at every corner, amid borrid
blasphemies and internal rites-and the IN
fortunate wretch who refused TO worship
the degenerated symbol of Liberty, was in
a few moments seen suspended from the
next lantern post. 80 Liberty what crimes
have been committed in thy name "-was
the affecting apostrophe of the accomplish
ed Madame Roland, when on her way 10
the guillotne.
Such demoralizng scenes we hope will
never De witnessed on this side of the At
lantic. But certain number of ndiVidu-
ais are to be found in every cline and coun-
try, whose sole aim is to destroy social Or
der, disorganize the whole system Of Gov
eminent, prescribe virtue and talent, and
rise 20 distinction amidst anarchy and
bloodshed.
Affiliated Societies under the popular ap-
pellation of HICKORY CLUBS, have al
ready been established in some of the
States, and secret meetings held in others,
for the purpose of circulating sound potlt-
icai principles % HICKORY TREES have
also been recently planted a; the corners OF
streets in populous cities, with profane rites,
and amidst loud huzzas from an excited
populace. Many worthy men. prompted by
political enthusiasm, have assisted at these
disgraceful proceedings, enormously he
lieving that they are only publicly and
rather oistelously expressing their admi-
ration of the character of General Jackson,
and not aware of the evils which may
spring from the establishment of these po-
litical clubs. But they should turn to the
page of History which records the deeds of
the Jacobins in the Reign of Terror. and
reflect that they are, perhaps, setting a
current in motion, the velocity of which
they will not have power 20 check, and
which may sweep themselves. and the prop
cities and lives of their children, down into
the dark abyss of Destruction.