The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-05

commend TINS torbearance TO mlngle in the dis
cusslon upon the very eve of the election. In
any other view. however, il does not strike us
that The delay of the publication was of much
Importance. The Anti.Masons had already or.
gained themselves as political party, and had
nominated their candidate for the Presidency.
Mr.. Adams had done nothing, as far as tho pub.
lie Is informed, to dissuade them from this
course. The publication of this discussion, on
the merits of Masonry, as far as we can iudge
of 1t from the two letters which have already
appeared, would have had as little influence on
the election as the publication Of the poem oil
Dermot McMOrrogh. The question ofthe mer
It's or dement's of the institution of Free Ma.
sonrv has in fact, according 10 our view of il.
as little TO do with the election of a Presidcn,
OF the United States, OF Governor of Massa
chusetts, as the question of the moral charac.
ter OF the hero of Mr.. Adams's tale, or that OF
the conQueror of Ireland
The subject of Masonic oaths without doub,
is an important question for discussion, for those
whose business il is to consider it. and il ought
to be discussed in manner and at a time suit.
ed to bring about proper remedy for the evil
complained OF, whatever that may be- But we
deny that II is proper subject to be mingled
with the politics OF the country, much less to be
MADE the paramount question in deciding the
choice OF President. The object of Mr. Ad.
"
that the oaths administered in conlerrlng the
first degree Of masonry are vicious, and such as
ought never TO be administered BY man to man
This may be true and still those who have TAX.
en- 1t not be disqualified from holding any polit.
lcal office. Yet such principle as this forms
the basis on which the Anti Masonic party is
organized Ii introduces into society new in
gredient of dscord, by establishing qualihca
ton for public trusts, entirely independent of
he e -. Z
trusts,-an arbitrary qualification, by which a
great number OF persons, among whom are in
cluded some Of the most estImable members of
society, are for ever excluded from a participa-
lion in those trusts, and are denounced as I'M
worthy Of public confidence. 1t is an assOcia
ton based on a principle of prescription of the
most odious charactet-a prescription for no Of
| fence against social order or good morals, but
merely for having been members of society
which has been hitherto regarded all over the
| world as benevolent and patriotic institution,
| Whatever be the merits or dement's of Mason.
ry, there has been no charge against the puri-
! ty oi its objects and principles until lately and
TO this day there is lot the shadow of any proof
| which can mpcate the character, motives, or
! conduct Of the great body of its members. So
far as that portion of the community with which
we are conversant is concerned, those who be.
long to the Masonic fraternity, though in no
way distinguished from the rest of the commu
nifty, belonging to every class in society, and
pursuing every variety of occupation, may sa &c.
ly challenge a comparison for moral worth and
purity of character, with any other association
taken like them from the various classes Of So
cleiy. Surely the Anti Masons of this Com.
monwealth would not have the presumption to
come forward as a body, and put forth any claim
on their own part Of being mere honest, more
intelligent, more incorruptible than the same
number Of Masons. How intolerable then is it,
that a set of men should combine under the
designation of Anti Masons, form themselves
into political club, with this for the leading
principle Of their association, that all persons
tch0 hare erer become meT,jerS of the Masonic
Fraternity, unless they aciU formally ALLURE
their connection toHh that fraternity, shall be
for erer eztluded from public trusts Anti.
Masons do more than this. They denounce as
unworthy Of confidence, and oppose in all cleo.
tions TO political Offices, not only Free Masons
but all persons who refuse TO unite with them
selves in denouncing Free Masonry and Free
Alasons. A principle more intOlerant, we will
venture 10 say, was never avowed by any polit.
ical society whatever. 1t is principle which
strikes at the root Of all public confidence, and
in proportion as it is adopted as a rule OF action
II must serve TO destroy the harmony and good
order of society
IL tne nature oil tnlS fundamental
principle Of their association, we will look at
the application which was made of il in the late
election. The Anti Masons refused 10 support
Mr.. Clay for the Presidency of the Union, ex.
clusively on the ground that he many years ago
united himself with the society of Masons and
refused 10 renOunce his connection with that
society, and 10 denOunce his associates therein
as unworthy of public confidence This is sub.
siantially avowed in the whole course of their
electioneering. They opposed him not on ae.
count Of his political character or PRINCIPLES,
but because he is Mason, and one eli the most
distinguished Of their party has publicly stated
that he was extremely DESTROYS that he should
bring himself within the qualification which
they have prescribed, by renouncing Masonry,
so that he nigh, become their candidate. On
the other hand, they supported Mr. Writ dis
tInctly on the ground that he mads renunca-
ton OF Masonry, or what they saw fit to con-
slider such, Of kind which they endeavored in
vain to obtain from Mr. Clay. Here then po.
litical test is prescribed 10 candidate for Of
fee, entirely independent oe his fitness for the
discharge of the duties Of that office, and this
! test has been made the means Of excluding from
/ the Presidency man possessing the most EN-
ineRi qualifications 70. it, and of continuing in
the office one whom the whole Anti Masonic
party unite in prnn0uncing entirely unfit for it,
What renders the course pursued by the Anti.
Masons still more unreasonable, and in our
judgment even absurd, is that they proceeded
10 nominate candidate, and persisted in with.
drawing their support from every other candi.
date, when they had not the remotest prospect
of choosing their own They had not reason
able prospect Of commanding majority Of vot C s
in single State in the Union, yet they pressed
| forward their candidate, with the same peril.
nacty, in States where they had not tn. least
! prospect Of choosing their Electors, as if they
! had been confident Of success. In this State,
no Anti Mason could have been so blind as TO
! believe, that there was one chance in thou.
sand Of their choosing their ticket of Electors,
! yet every effort was made TO obtain so many
| votes as would be sufficient, with the Jackson
votes, to prevent choice The consequence
Of this degree ofsuccess would have been. that
an extra session ofthe Legislature would have
| been rendered necessary TO choose Electors. at
expense of from ten to twenty thousand dol.
! lars TO the Common wealth, and The same Elec.
! tors would have been chosen az are now chos.
en- by the people. We reserve it to another nc.
casion 10 make some remarks upon the effects,
( upon the late election of President, of the
course pursued BY the Anti Masonic party.
---
The people of this country will probably not
be cured of their Jacksonism until they begin
TO reap its bitter fruits. During his first Gou,
! years the country has enjoyed a great degree
! Of prosperity, residing from the operation of
| the American System carried fully into effect