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

party WIN WHICH ne las long Decil aSSOCl-
atcd. and has supported by his journal, und
wishes to join and support another political
party, directly opposed in political princi-
pies, nobody will deny his right to do so.
But when he leaves his old friends, and
joins their enemy, his friends have right to
expect that in his journal, lie will assign
his reasons for the course he has taken,
ihnt the public may Judge of them, and see
whether they are sufficient. And if he is
under no obligation TO state publicly his rca-
sons, but may silently withdraw, he is GER
,anly under strong moral obligation to use
10 fraud or deception in his withdrawal;
he is not TO hold out false colors i'll his
journal, and represent 10 his old friends
that he is with them, and supporting their
cause, when nj the same time he is doing
nll he can to thwart their views and destroy
their party. Such course must be odlous
in the sight of God, and held in contempt
by all honorable men.
Having made these predatory remarks, l
would now call the attention of tho reader
10 the political course of Mr. Eaton, pub
fisher of the North Star. lie was one of
the pioneers of political antimasonry in this
state, and for many years sustained the
cause with ability. But last February, at
the State antimasonic Convention, he OPP
posed the nomination of William II. HGrri-
son for President of the United States; he
was for Martin Fan Buren, us he had
right to be. But he made no public decla-
ration then, nor has lie since euer published
in his newspaper, that he had, or would
abandon political antimasonry, or TIL anti
masonic party which suEnorts it or that
he had or would join their deadly foe, the
Van Buren, party. All that the antimasons
have heen able to learn from his paper on
this subject are some strong circumstances,
showing that he has not abandoned politi-
cal antimasonry and again, some strong
circumstances showing that he has abandon
ed it. What are those conflicting circum-
stances? ] shall not undertake to point
them all out to the reader, but will name
some of them.
Mr. Eaton, in n conspicuous place in his
paper, has weekly, for many months past
published these words with finger point
SG-THE DEMOCRTATlC PLAT
FORM. Opposition to ALL secret societies
open monopolies, mud Il sturdy defence of
tho People and Republican Institutions
against the power and influence of beth"
From reading the words "Opposition TO
all secret societies." one would naturally
suppose that Mr. Eaton continued to be
political antimason, rs formerly; and have
10 doubt but it was, und has been, his in-
tention that these words should be 80 I'M
derstood by his readers in general. Again,
directly under this PLATFORM, in glazing
capitals, nre these words:
DEMOCRATIC ANTIMASGNlC TICKET
This, for years, has been the head of the
list of the nntimasonic candidates for office.
BY continuing this head, one would natur-
ally suppose that Mr. Eaton intended to
have his readers understand that the men
named for Office in his paper were actually
nominated by the dntimasonic party, and
1t ia a true list of their candidates. If he
did not intend this it is difficult to see what
lie did intend. Certainly, if Mr. Eaton in
tended TO have his readers understand, that
these men were all nominated by the Fan
Buren, party, and not one of them by the
antimnsonic party, 1t seems he would have
headed his list of candidates as it is headed
in the Patriot, that is, Democratic Repub-
licnn Ticket" and not used the word An
timasonic." IfMr Eaton did not intend the
fraud upon his readers, he must have
known it was a false representation, and
calculated to deceive many of his readers,
who for years had coni,led in his political
honesty. do not intend to accuse Mr.
Eaton Of Intentional fraud, but the effect
upon his readers is the same Us though
lie intended il; and if he does not correct
his error, the public will have II right to
consider it us Intentional Then let US wait
for The correction.
The strong circumstances, showing tha
Mr. Eaton has not abandoned political an
timasonry are the words in his platform
and the head of his list of candidates upon
which have already remarked.
Now what arc the strong circumstances
showing that he has abandoned politicn
antmasonry? Answer His supporting
Martin Fan Buren, for President contrary
TO his promise made on the 9TH of Dec
last, in the Star, not to support any man lol
that Office, Dho i1as not an enemy TO all sc.
crei societies. Ills not suffering the name o
n single antinnasonic candidate to remain in
his paper. His publishing the entire lis
of candidates nominated by the Van Burer
party, although many of them are ndherine
masons. His trying to make a division il
the antimnsohic party by telling some tina
they are more democratic than others, anC
that they ought not 10 associnte. His trying
TO prejudice the public against the antimn
sonic printer at Montpelier by calling hin
II federalist, SC. And last and worst of all
his supporting by his paper a candidate
who is the father of several bastard chil
dren, begotten upon the body Of n Negro
woman, and calling this man can antima
sonic candidatc!" This is nh insult to tn
ontimdsonic party, and we hurl back thi
candidate to the Fan Buren, party, wher'
he, and MIR Eaton belong.
am satisfied that no reliance can h
placed on the North Star for political in
formation which particularly relates to til