State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-01-12
From the Middlebury Free Press.


this State to be made acquainted with.
The source from which we derive our in
formation is one of the tried friends of the
cause.
The Antimasonic Convention met at the
same time aud in the same building with
n Whig-lIarrsun Convention. The Wing
Convention did nothing but wait for the
action of the Autimasonic Convention, its
members Crowdng the room where the
latter Convention was sitting, appIauding
every thing that was said in favor of Ilar-
rison's nomination and Kissing those that
opposed that measure. The course Of the
Wings was n course of intimidation thro'-
out. Added to this was the fact that many
were in attendance at iIalrisburgh who
were cxpectants of the new Governors ia
vors. Contrary to the ideas which had
been formed of Gov. Ritner's notions, it
turned ott that he favored the nomination
of Harrison, and the more that fact became
known, the more strongly did the current
set in favor of the Harrison project.
The minority of the Convention insisted
that the only true course was to fix upon
time for National Convention, and APP
point delegates, unCOmmi,tcd on the Presi-
dency, to attend it, and ha,ing done this,
to await the decision of that Convention.
They warned the majority of the consc-
qucnccs of nominating Harrison, unplcdg-
ed as he was to the principles of their par
", and committed, us he was known to be
to the doctrines aud measures Of the Wings.
The result they We're told, would be the
same AS the result of n like movement of
the Antmasoulc party in New rk-the
complete prostration Of the party as such
and its thorough identification with The
forlorn hope of Whigsm. But it was all
to no purpose. The Wing Antimasons
contended that if Harrison was not nom
mated by them, lac would be by the Wing
Convention, and the consequence would
he, the division Of the anti-Jackson strength
of the State and the loss Of the power
they had obtained. This argument de-
structlve as it was of all pure Antmasonry
prevailed, and the Convention deliberately
transferred the party over to the Harrison
interest.
The National Antimasonic Correspond
ing Committee, Messrs. Henry Dana Ward
and Henry Cotheai, Autimasons of the old
school, attended the Convention for the
purpose of fixing on 4 time and place for
u National Convention and calling the same
under the auspices and recommendation of
that body. 1t was in vain that they be-
sought the Convention to delay the nomi-
mai on aud wait for the action of the Anti
masons of other States: they were treated
ms emissaries from Mr. Van Buren, and their
counsels rejected.
The minority of the Convention contos-
ted the point with the majority, with great
power aud determination, for three sue
cessiye days, in defiance of official influence
and the hissings of the Wings in attend
ance. AT chgth when the vote was taken
and il was decided not to send delegates TO-
National Convention, butto proceed then
toa nomination. of a candidate for Presi-
dent, the leading members of the minority
Withdrew, among whom were llarmar
Dem =, the President of the Convention,
Thaddeus Stevens and Samuel Parke and
others, the very flower of the Antmasonic
Democracy Of Pennsylvania
After this the Convention nominated
Harrison for President and Granger for
Vice President, and formed an electoral
ticket. In all these nominations the Wing
Convention coucured without an objections
or a dissenting voice. The National Anti
masonic Committee then called National
Convention, and the secedcrs from the
Pennsylvania Convention appointed dele
gates TO attend it.
Our correspondent remarks;
"Stevens' speech deprecating the nomi-
nation of Harrison and Todd's in support
OF it were two OF the ablest | ever heard
The war with Stevens, but the multitude
were with Todd. Stevens declared to
them boldly, "lf you make ihc nomination,
yolu antimdSomy perisheS--you become the
the ''peOpie'S party"-the "UmriSOn porty'-
YOU will shortly cease to be known as the
antmasonic parlym Pure antimasonry,
tried in the fire, abides with the seceders and
will endure, They support National Con-
vention. neither for the favor nor the fear
of any nan--not TO oyerturn nor to break
any administration, but to honor and adj
vance the name and objects Of antlma-
sonry."
We confess, in view of the course pur-
sued by the majority of the Pennsylvania
antmasons, that we aAc disappointed. Is
pecially are we disappointed in MIR Ritner's
stand on the subject of the Presidency.
How he could ever consent to merge the
prospects of the democracy which has
brought him triumphantly into the EXeCu-
tive chair of the great state OF Pennsylvania
in the hopeless and desperate fortunes OF the
Wing party, we are unable 10 conjecture.
If the anlimasons of Pennsylvania suppose
that Gen. Harrison has Il popularity that
will carry him in triumph over all opposi
ton, as did the popularity of Gen. Jackson,
they are trusting 10 phantom Of the mag
inatiOn.
Switzerland is composed of twenty two
cantons, each republic in name, aud