State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-08-23

"
in his favor, and thereby secure to thenl-
selves the ascendancy in the government,
both of the state aud nation. OF itself,
freemasonry was powerful. Its votaries
hesituted not to declare that it possessed
such means of controlling the opinions and
actions of men, that even "the WORLD IN
ARMS could not put it down." The veal
thy, the ambitious, the talented had avuied
themselves of its hidden mysteries and
power, and crowded into the lodge as an
inpregnable fortress. 1t was natural for
the ambitious and aspiring to seek an alli-
ance with such u combination, rather than
espouse cause, which was said TO he sus-
tuined only by the lowest of the common
people, The chief, under whose banner
the dominant party in New York had taken
refuge, was himself lisge masonic digni-
tary. Under all these disadvantages, how
ever, the antmasOnc party continued to
increase and to make inroads into the ranks
of other parties. AS the light of truth was
shed abroad the people of other states
enlisted under its banner, till powerful
and highly respectable party was formed in
all the Middle, and most of the Eastern
states. 1t is unnecessary to trace the history
of this party during the eight years il has
that its first, are its present principles; and
while we have hnd the satisfaction of wit
Messing the practical triumph of those
principles in some of the states, we regret to
say that in others, the attempt has been made
on the very eve of their triumph, to pros
trate those principles entirely, by rendering
them subservent to the elevation of men,
who have been, from the first, their most
determined opponents.
Most gladly would we have passed over
in silence this part of our political history;
hut we feel bound TO warn our antimasonic
fellow citizens, that an attempt is even now
being made to draw them away from their
long cherished principles, and to enlist them
under the banner Of Il party in all respects
adverse to their own-a party, whose nck-
nowledged leaders have sigualized them
selves by their daring attempts to subvert
the liberty of the Press who have pro-
claimed upon the house-tops, that it is
patriotism in the citizen in certain cases to
Disregard the Laws" who clailE that
their own opinions shall be the measure of
freedom for the rest Of the community
who are for erecting u oligarchy Of their
own,and riding rough shod over the people
and the peoples rights thus practically
adopting for their motto, not the suprem-
acy of the Laws but THE SUPREMACY
OF THE MOBn Yes, fellow citizens, il
is to sustain party with such leaders that
you ure now called upon to abandon your
principles and long tried public servants,
and lend your influence and your votes to
place men in stations, which you have long
since pronounced them unworthy TO fill.
The attempt to transfer the antimasonic
party to the support of MIR Van Buren, and
his friends, is one ofthose anomalous events
in politics which it is very difficult and
perhaps impossible TO explain. What were
the motives which operated on the minds
of those who engaged in it, must ever be a
matter of conjecture, known only to them
selves. 1t is nevertheless true, that some Q.
those antimasons who had been foremost
TO denounce Mr. Van Buren, as unworthy
the confidence Of any party, were suddenly
brought to view him in n very different
light, and are now among the most jealous
in recommending him to the confidence
and support of the people.
In Vermont, however, the antimasons
have been united to man in opposition to
Mr. Van Buren, and his party, till recently.
All our presses have held strong language
in regard to the misrule of Gen. Jackson,
and but one sentiment seemed to prevail
among antimasons in regard to his nomina-
ted successor
We do not deem il necessary to introduce
extracts from our newspapers to prove that
one year ugo they utterly repudiated MIR
Van Buren, and his works but inasmuch
as some of them have been very forward
in condeinning the nominations made by
the convention and have repeatedly charged
its members with betrayng the interests
and torsuking the principles of The antma-
sonic party, we may be allowed to quote
the following extracts from the Mddlebury
Free Press of April %, 1885, in which the
Editor, writing on the subject Of the Presi-
dency, scouts the idea of supporting Mr.
Van Buren, in the most emphatic terms.
Comparing him with Judge White, the
Editor said,
"On the score ofprinciple, they stand on
the same footing. Judge White it is said
! is a Mason, and MIR Van Buren,, though
not Mason, has been STRONG OPPO-
NENT OF ANTIMASONRY."
I He then justly considered Judge White
and MIR Van Buren, alike obnoxious to the
antimasonic party, and unworthy their sup
port. In relation to the former, however,
it seems the editor was mistaken, for it
subsequently appeared that Judge White
was no mason, but an opposer of masonry.
In the same article the editor said
"Instead of supporting MIR Van Buren,,
we have been doing all we could to prevent
the arrival of the crisis, which will place
the whole North in a situation to choose
between him, and Southern candidate of
the same creed. We have struggled, and
are now struggling 10 keep the door open for
the GREAT MASS OF THE PEOPLE
WHO THINK WITH US. TO UNITE
! CORDIALLY AGAINST BOTH VAN
buren, AND WHITE"