State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-22
Vermont AntinsasOmry.

full meeting of the An,imasonic Mem
bcrs of the Legislature, in October last, after
ample discussion, and were afterwards pub
lished in every antimasonc paper in this
State. At the late State Convention, the
same sentiments were re-adoptcd, without
a dissenting voice. If the whole body of
An,imasons in Vermont could have been
here and voted, we believe that ninety nine
of every hundred would have said amen to
the whole. Reader, what say you?
The Antmasons of Vermont having
deemed it necessary to make their opposi-
ton to Freemasonry political, and to organ
ize party for that purpose, have, in prose-
cutting the purpose of their organization,
been brought into conflict with two other
parties in the State. While standing, how
ever, upon the ground of n distinct political
organization, and contending with Free
masonry as it has been found to exist i'll the
other parties, they have not been indifler-
ent to the principles involved in the contro-
vcrsy ofthose parties with each other Res
pecting, as those principles do, interests OF
great national importance, the Antmasons
Of Vermont would not have been true to
themselves or their country, If they had
failed to investigate them, and to make the
result Of their investigation, to some extent,
the basis of their political action. They
have, accordingly, freely examined the
great questions involved in the present al
minstration of the National Government
Its principles and policy have been madt'
by them the subject of frequent deliberae
ton, and their views have been frequently
expressed in resolutions and addresses of
their representative bodies. These views
are well known and would, under ordi
nary circumstances, need no reitcraion.
But, nasmuch as the time approaches
when the Antimasons Of Vermont will be
called on to act in an election deeply in
yolving the welfare OF the whole country,
and in which their attachment to the prin
cples they have avowed, will be put to
severe trial, it would seem TO be fitting that
they should re-eXaminc those principles,
md decide whether they will, with the
firmness and consistency of Antimasons,
MAINTAIN, and carry them out in the ap-
preaching contest
Impressed with conviction of the i'm
portance of this subject, and of the present
crisis, q meeting of Antimasonic Members
Of the Legislature, and other citizens, now
convened at the State-Ho in Nom ,,eer,
after full deiberation, do come to the fol-
lowing resolutions:
/. ReSolucd, That there cannot safely
exist in free government, any institution,
involving a concentration Of mind and eff
fort, which shall be so organized and con-
Quoted, as 10 evade JUST RESPONSIBILITY
10 PUBLIC OPINION and that we hold in
profound veneration, the parting admoni-
ton of the Father of his Country That
"all combinations and associations, under
whatever plausible character, with the real
design to direct, control, counteract, or awe,
the regular deliberations, and action Of the
constituted authorities, are destructive Of
tie a@R99Rfndt"b Or p6fG 5nde At obedience to
2. RESOLVED, That government ofLAws,
equally, openly, and justly administered,
and emanating from the will Of the people,
constitutionalIy expressed, is the govern
ment which the fIamers of our Consttu-
tons intended to establish and perpetuate;
and that we have sought to abolish the in
stitution of Freemasonry because we be-
licved it to be opposed to this fundamental
principle of our civil institutions.
3 Resolved, That the efficacy of Anti
masonry depends, mainly, upon its moral
power; and that its advocates can never
hope TO give to that power full effect, I'M
less they convince the world that they per-
ceive the extent, and feel the force, of their
principles, by carrying them out in their
Just application to other public evils upon
which they have legitimate bearing.
4. Resolved, That a free government
cannot be sustained, unless, in its admins
.ration, the ground be firmly taken, and
steadfast'y maintained, that the selection of
men for office shall be subservient to the
support Of principles, and not the selection
of principles subseryient to the elevation Of
men.
S. Resolved, That the prominent danger
to be apprehended in our National Govern
ment is from the grasping tendency of the
Executive power; and that this danger has
been fear(ully illustrated in the history of
its administration during the last six years.
Especially has it been evinced,
In the repeated exercise by the President,
OF the VETO POWER, upon grounds not con-
templated by the trainers of the Constitu-
lion, and tending to bring the entire legisla-
ton OF the government under the control of
its Executive Department:
In the exercise of the power Of removal
and appointment, without regard to the
question, Is he honest, capable, and faith
full to the Constitution 2" but solely with a
view to strengthen party organization, and
secure party devotion:
In the policy, thereby manifested, of
converting the offices of government from
public trusts, conferred by the President as
the Constitutional Executive, TO rewards of
partizan services, conferred by him as the
Head of Party:
In the practical application Of this great
engine Of power to the purposes of mould
ing public opinion, and securing Senate
aud House Of Representatives. SuLSeruient 10
Ereeutive ,oH and,
In claiming an unlimited control over all