The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-12-19

Mr.. Wsbstsr's Letter to the Antimasonic
Delegates Of alleghany.-The Harrisburg
Telegraph publishes the following reply
Of Mr.. Webster, to letter addressed to
HIM by the delegates Of Allegheny coun-
ty to the Pennsylvania Antimasonic State
Convention, iDquiring his opinions on the
subject Of secret Societies and Freema-
sonry.
BosToN, Nov. 90, 1885.
Gentlemen,-I have the honor to ack-
nowledge your favor Of the ] lth instant,
the receipt of which has been delayed,
for a few days by my absence from
home.
Permit me gentlemen, to express my
gratelulssense OF the respect shown me by
my fellow citizens, the mem 6ers OF
the Convention Of Democratic Anlima-
sons of Allegheny county, IN their pro-
|ceedings as set forth in your com.nunica-
|lion. The esteem they are pleased to
express for my public character, and their
conf lence in my attachment to the Con-
slitution of the country, demand my pro-
found acknowledgements.
Nor do they do me more than justice,
in'their belief Of my entire accordance in
their opinion, Oh the subject oi Secret So
cieties. You express wish, however,
that for the satisfaction Of friends, in other
parts of the State, should enable you 10
make known my sentiments respecting the
Order Of Freemasonry. l have no hesi-
taton, gentlemen, in saying that however
unobieclionable may have been the orlgi-
nal objects Of the Institution, OF however
pure may be the motives and purposes OF
individual members, and notwithstanding
the many great and good men who have
from time lo time belonged to the Order
yet, nevertheless, it Is an institution,
which, in my judgment, is essentially
wrong in the principle OF its formation
that from its very nature, Is liable 10
great abuses that among the obligations,
which are found to be imposed on its mcm-
bers, there are such as are entirely in-
COM patible with the duty Of good citizens /;
aud that ALL SECRET ASSOCIATIONS, the
members OF which take upon themselves
extraordinary Obligations to one another,
and are bound together by SECRET oATHs.
are, naturally, sources Of jealousy and
just alarm 10 others are especially unta-
vorable to harmony aud mutual confidence
among men living together under popular
Institutions !; and are dangerous to the
general cause Of civil Liberty and good
Government. Under the influence Of
this conviction, II is MY OPINION, THAT
THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATION OF ALL SUCH
| OATHs, AND THE IMPOSITION OF ALL SUCH
PUBLICATIONS, SHOULD BE PROHIBITED BY
LAW.
express these opinions, gentlemen,
with the less reserve on this occasion, in
asmuch us they have been often expressed
already, not only to some Of your own
number, and many Of your friends, but to
all others, also, with whom have at dit-
icrent times, conversed on the subject.
OF the political principles and conduct
of the Antmasons Of Pennsylvania, have
spoken freely in my place in the Senate,
and under circumstances which took from
the occasions all just suspicion of any in-
direct purpose. The opinions then ex-
messed. are unaltered. have ever
found the Antimasons Of Pennsylvania
true to the Constitution, to the Union,
and to the great interests fthe country.
They have adopted the SUPREMACY OF
THE LAWS" as their leading sentiments,
and l know none more just, or more ne
cessarv. If there be among US any SO
high, as to be too high for the authority
of law, or 60 low, as TO be too low ior It's
regnrd and protection, or IT there be any,
who by any means whatever, may ex-
cnpt themselves from its control, then, to-
that extent, we have failed to maintain IN
equal Government. The Supremacy of
the Constitution and the laws, is the very
foundation stone of Republican Institu-
tions if it be shaken or removed from its
place, the whole system must inevitably
:olter to its fall.
Your obliged friend and fellow citizen,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
To Messrs Harmar Denny, Benz OAR
liugton, j. G. Gilleland, Neville B.
Craig, w. w. Erving-Delegates from
the county Of Allegheny, to the Dem
ocralic Antimasonic Convention OF Penn.
The Telegraph, which is an Anti-Ma-
sonic paper, thinks the frank and explicit
language Of MIR. Webster's reply en,Ales
him To the preference "of every man who
loves the cause for its own sake, and is
no, an .anti-y Mason from self interest a.
lone"
Fires in .New York. A FIRE in New
York, on Tuesday, night, destroyed store