Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-02-05

we approve or disapprOvs the argument;
lOr we aroneilher Masons not Anai-Ma.
seOS; but as specimen Of eloquent com
position.
ADDRESS OF GEORGE M. DALLAS. ]
Gentlemen Of the committee: | am a |
citizen Of Pennsylvania BY birth and con
slant residence. Having imbibed IN ear
Ny youth, still retain a strong sense of
hlks free spirit Of her institutions; and am
Unconscious Of ever having directly or in
directly Intentionally Or inadvertently,
committed an act or uttered sentiment
repugnanttO her constitution, inconsistent
With her laws, injurious tO'her morals, or
derogatory to her character. My pres
ent purpose Isto do that which, under ex-
islIDg, circumstances, best harmonIzes
with my past life, and with an uuabated
devotion to herhighest, pureSt and mo st
lastins interests. : =
lam member Of the society Of freema
sons. lI'is more than twenty years since
became SO. AT that period, the exam
IpleS Of the wisest and truest patriots, Of
DR.. franklin, and general Washington,
ofgeneraI Warren, ofgeneral La Fayette
: and ofmany near and dear friends, were
naturally aIiuriug; public opinion desig
mated the association as alike virtuous,
. useful and harmless: and legislation
which never 0iscOunlenanced the connec
tion,' subsequentlyand expressly encour
3 aged its continuance by signal marks Of
approval 10 passing through the forms
Of admission, 1 voluntarily assumed obi
cations and duties in themselves perfect
z y comPalible'with the paramount obhga
lions and duties of citizen 10 his coun
n try, and tributary to the pursuits Of enlar
ged philanthropy. 'lfin the spheres oI
;, The institution hey ond what is termed the
masters degreee-spheres which Ihave
u mol entered or ia other regions ofIts ex
= istence, there are, as | cannot believe,
e practices or ceremonies opposite in their
. tendencies, they are irreconciable with
its essential aims and true character.
. Certainly ofany such am absolutely ig
: norant. 1t is however, not my design moi
Il wish 10 euIoglse or defend freemasonry-
= am neither authorised nor required Il
do Sony only object is distinctly to e'
plain and justiIymy ownpersonal attitude
and actions IN regard 10 this COMMITTEES.
70 The ninth article OF the cons tiluton o
Pennsylvania entitled "decLdrGtiOn O
rights" sets forth and unaterabIy estaI
llshes the general, great and esseniia
! principles Of liberty and free government
-, ltwas intended by this article 10 guarar
;" tee the citizen against the nroads Of pow
aP ers, exercised from whatsoever quarter
and under whatsoever pretext-and it /
formally declared lhateyery thing in it i
he excepted out oflhe general powers of go
N. ernment land shall lOr ever remain invl
late. 1T is above the reach Of Legislation
" We haveno omuipotence Of parlamen
Neither this committee, nor the house
representatives, nor tic general ussembl
IL nor all the organized departments of Il
government united can touch, in order
he evade or violate, any one Of its provision
1t is a sacred repository Of the practic
and sub stanlial rights and liberties Of Il
l., people-enumeraltd and reserVed-inh
u" rent and indeteasble, When these sh'
be supiueIy yielded up, The freedom
Ihe which we now justly boast, must becoT
iIlusory and vapid. "'
!, AS a private citizen Of Pennsylv
,jt. mia, |, claim with special reference
sc- this article Of her constitution, Ito p'
hat sess and to enjoy rights and Iiberti
Of which no earthly power can abrld
or desttoy-uoE will consent, wht
mindful Of the gratitude owe TO Il
sen community at large, TO be in the Sli
OF test degree, accessory to the mischi
70 ,eu which surrender or waiver Of tho
NJ. NJ rishts and liberties, on an occasion
Wr ostensible as this, might produce'
j. will not consent that human authorl
one shall in aBy case whatever control
50 interfere with the rights Of conscien
lum Il will not consent to discredit
Ilo- declaration that the free communi
ton Of thoughts and opinionSis one
said the inviolable rights Ofman.-AI "
not consent 10 conside er aside and
gaiOry the emphatic precaution, 4
re the people shall be secure in their
in sons, houses. papers and possessiO
Iich from unreasonable searches and
eep zures--1 will not consent TO the val
syI- ly of any e4 post factO law-in a We
Ma / will not consent TO hold my tig|
, rga and liberties Of private intercourse
e -. vate sentiment and private busine
Da' subject 10 The domiciliary visitatiO
lae the changeabIe majority or the id
tlly policy of any body Of men whatev
'olG ] understand this committee to
md ap,nouarad bv the house Of feDres