State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-29
LETTERS TO MIR. HALLETT.
EbhOAht, iOoo
To b. +. HALLErT, Esq,
EJ,Jo, n { H.. Daof.a, 0J,a.,,Ja
FEBRUARY, 1886.


| SIR: A meeting of anti-masonic mem
bers of the Legislature of Vermont, and
other anti-masons, held in October last, a.
dopted a series of resolutions, touching the
subject of freenasonry, the course which
it was the duty of anli-masons to take in
the presidential contest, and the principles
10y which that course should be governed.
1t having been my good or i'll fortune to re.
port, rs chairman of a committee, and to
advocate in the meeting the resolutions in
question, was, soon after, called on by
you for an explanation of the views of
those who adopted them. 1t was call /
did not feel at liberty to decline, aud |
therefore proceeded to a compliance with
it, by addressing to you four letters, writ
ten, with the exception Of the last, imme-
dlately previously TO my leaving home for
this city, and communicated to you and to
the public, in pamphlet form, soon after
my arrival here.
In those letters ! attempted to show, that
the resolutions were in accordance with
the fundamental principles of anti-mason-
ry-wth the course adopted by the nation
al anti masonic party in the last presiden-
tial election with the expressions of opin-
ion often reiterated by the anti-masons of
Vermont; and with your own opinions as
expressed in published address of an all
ti-nasonic Convention of Massachusetts,
drawn up by you in 1889.
Your paper Of the 9Th of January con-
tanned my first etter--with the exception
of two material paragraphs !--prefaccd by
Il suggestion that "most of my reasoning
had already been refiIted by events occur
ring in Pennsylvania and other States" and
promising to "refute the other positions ia
ken by me at leisure" and give the reflta-
ton a pamphlet form "for circulation in
| Vermont." Your paper of the next day,
! however, contained communication adj
dressed to me, under the signature of "a
Massachusetts Anti-mason," to whose "u-
dicious and energetic pen," you say, "we
have been indebted for the most efficient
arguments in defence of our cause" In
your paper of the Sth, there appeared a
second communication from the "Massa-
chusetts Anti-mason )" in that of the 10Th
a third and in that Of the Cd of February
a fourth, which has Just reached me, and
by which perceive that the lahors of your
correspondent are brought to a close.
As yet have seen no direct attempt by
yourself to fulfil the promise of refuting
my positions; and from the manner in
which you have put forward your CORES
pondent, am induced to believe that |
have to look for your promised refutatiCn
to the result of his labors.
While, however, you have called in the
aid of an anonymous correspondent to give
your promised reply, you have been nc
lively employed in another branch of the
service-that Of personally assaiing me-
This division Of labor" is certainly very
convenient, and it may, perhaps, be added,
not very unnecessary, when the double
task is to be performed of transferring the
ant-masonic party to Mr.. Van Buren,, you
have not been unmndtul of the importance
of bringing the ant-masons Of Vermont
into your views, nor if may Judge from
your efforts-of the difficulty of doing it..
You knew that they & oroughly understood
the principles of anti-lnasonry, and that
they had, upon the ground of those princi-
pies, deliberately taken their stand against
the abuses and corruptions which your can
didate for the Presidency was pledged
to perpetuate. TO effect the Hercuean
task of inducing these anti-masons to aban-
don their high ground of principle, and
follow you in your voyage of discovery in
the deceitful sea of Van Burensm, reGuir-
ed no common effort To tace the anti
masons of Vermont with the direct asser-
y.
as they had repeatedly done, that their an
ti-masonic principles necessarily involved
opposition to Van Burenism, and that the
strides Of power by the President, during
the last seven years, were not alarming, you
knew would be vain, What, it was easily
seen, could not be affected by direct and
manly effort, it was determined 10 attempt
by indrection. Anti-masonry could not
be carried 10y an open attack, and sapping
and mining must, therefore, be resorted to.
The inception and progress Of this opera.
ton shall, by-and-by, notice. 1t was
subordinate part of it to assail, and attempt
to destroy, every individual who might hap
pen to be in position to perceive your de-
signs, and to exert any influence in coun-
teractng them. Thus, more than six
months ago, you commenced an attack on
the antimasonic members of the 'ast Con-
gress-al, with single exception, oppos-
ed to MIR. Van Buren,. This was followed
by special one upon my ant-masonic col
league MIR. JANEs) and myself, Immediate
ly previous TO the meeting of the Vermont
Anti-nasonic Convention in which YOU
warned that Convention to beware of suffer-
ing the cause of anti-masonry to be betray-
ed by us to the Wings, and tainted us with
having been raised TO office by the toll and
effort of anti-masons, and then forgetting
who made us.
The convention having in despite of
your efforts, maintained their old ground
on the subject of national policy you there
upon charged me with having "drven all
virtue out of them !" and then with having
defeated the election of Governor Palmer,
by my efforts to identify tho anti-masons
with the wing party.
During the last session of the Vermont
/ Legislature, YOU varied somewhat your