State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-05

w COlIluOh NuuStI, ullllSu1 Dul lllO ICSulI
of numerous meetings of the people, called
to ratfy that union has shown that, how
ever strong may have been their attach
ment for General jackson, they are not to
he transferred en- maSSe to the man he has
nominated for the succession. Thousands
of them are prepared to say-give us the
genuine republican, WIN. HENRY HARRISON;
for as for this New York candidate, we
wot not what has become of has republi-
canism. We hear indeed many professions
of it, but are unable to find its fruits. We
have admired the promptitude and energy
of General Jackson, have felt grateful for
his military services, and will honor and
little regard for those who came in at the
eleventh hour; who have succeeded in
prostrating those friends, and who have
induced him to depart from the principles
we thought we were securing in his eleva-
ton, for the purpose of fastening on the
country political system which is some
how, strangely operating to subject the will
of the many to the control of the few.
Thus, sir reason many of the original
friends of General jackson in PENNSYLVANIA,
scores and hundreds into the ranks of Rit-
| llNI5 4hhANilhoOilg anu ihOlOlih'
Pennsylvania is lost to your candidate;
and this changes essentially the state of the
whole question. The friends of MIR Van
Buren, have got to meet the influence of
this in other States-in Ohio, Indiana,
Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, and
Vermont; and you may yet see the can
didate of the Pennsylvania anti-maSonS
brought into the House of Representatives
| with a Xybich ClnlI
and save the Northern opposition in that
body from the alternative which you have
been so long striving TO force upon them
There may be those who are so frightened
by your White bug-bear as to 20 for your
candidate, or for an body; but the Pennsyl-
vania anti-masons seem not to be thus easily
alarmed. Strong in numbers, and yet
stronger in their principles, they have dared
the hazard OF bringing out a third candi-
date, and called upon the country to rally
with them TO the rescue.'
But you may ask-how is it that the anti
masons of Pennsylvania have determined
to 60 for General Harrison? Is he an anti
mason? Has he not, on the contrary, said,
in the correspondence which has been held
with him by anti-masons of that State, that
he could not see the propriety of making
opposition to freemasonry political, and
that he believed to make it so, would "be
the parent of mischiets infinitely greater
than those which it is its design to cure"
And can anti-masons, after this, support
him for the Presidency?
Now, sir this is a question which might
well leave you to settle with the anti-masons
! of Pennsylvania. The correspondence to
which have alluded, took place with anti
masons of that State. The Pennsylvania
anti-masons are capable of understanding
the true ground on which General Harri-
son has placed himself in relation TO the
masonic question:; and they do not hesitate
to regard him as standing in a position in
which they, as democratic anti-masons, can
consistently yield him their support. If
had not the means of thoroughly examining
the subject for myself should deem it not
unsafe to follow the lead of an anti-mason-
ny as pure, and intelligent, and well tried,
as that of Pennsylvania
But the correspondence is before me-
and | will, for moment examine it.
General Harrison was called on by the
persons addressing him, to say
Whether he regarded the institution of
freemasonry as ga moral and political evil"
Whether he believed the exercise of the
elective franchise TO he fair and consttu-
tional means of removing such evil" and
Whether, "when the Chief Magistrate
of the Union is elected on anti masonic
principles" it would "be his duty to sus-
tain those principles in his appointments to
office"
In regard to the first inquiry, he replied
= in the following decided and emphatic
| terms:
" ] state, us an answer to your first ques-
ton, that | have, in every instance when
! applied to, declared that | was not a mason,
, and that was opposed 10 the order, When
wrote the letter Of the 9th of May last,
} | was misinlormed as to many of the obi
l cations entered into by masons. ! have
since seen part Of the evidence on trial
in which Mr. Stevens, of Gettysburg was a
: party, and as, from the disclosures then
t made, it appears that the obligations of the
= members of the order, AS understood by Il
l portion of them, are totally incompatible
, ,Oih their duty to the latcS Of their country
3 l CANNOT BUT CONSIDER TIE EXISTENCE OF
MASONRY v AN EVIL, BOTH MORAL AM
POLITICAL"
| In regard to using the right of the elective
. franchise as means of removing the eyi
!, of freenasonry, he says:
!. 81 embrace the opportunity which il
: now afforded me, of writing to one of the
j same gentlemen to whom my letter of th'
r 9th of May was addressed, TO say tina
n there is nothing in that letter which denies
b to the State authorities the right to inresti
gate, and correct, any evils which may artist
i from an association acting IN secret, am
= under the obligation Of secret oathS. Equal
i y far was it from my intention to say tina
n the Executive Magistrate of State SHOULD
D not conform his appointments TO pub
+. opinion. o. the contrary, Think ii is hi
y bounden dgty 10 do So"
He adds, in subsequent part of tn
G same letter, in more direct reply TO tn
IT question touching the right of using tn