Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-02-13
LETTER
~ Coz. Wolfe aas Aasi Msso.;r h
qsisi1ion.

oESILtnLN.-ln answer Id the VIII.
Of subpoena directed to and requiring
me to appear before the committee
Of the House of Representatives., 10
whom were referred the petitions OF
divers inhabitants Of Pennsylvania.
praying an investigation into the e.
wis Oftreemasonry-
l must respectfully enter my sol
enn protest against a committee 81
the House, or the House itself pos.
sessing any authority under the Con
and give evidence before such com
Eaittee touching such a question. The
constitution is explicit and declara-
tory Of the personal security of the
people, and IS the precious reposito-
ry Of the privileges Of the freemen OF
this commonwealth, which never
shall have a wound inflicted upon its
sacred reservations through my per-
son without "A solemn asseverafion Of
its principles. What article Of the
constitution clothes the house with
power TO institute such an Investiga-
toni What article Of that venera-
ted instrument forbids the people
from assOciating together Sin pursuit
Of their own happiness"
II the association is criminal or in
violation Of any principle Of the con-
stitution or laws, the mode and man
uer Of suppressing the unlawful com
binatiOn must be in accordance with
the constitution and laws. | have
yet to learn that al lnquisition at
whose shrine the rights and liberties
Of the citizens are to be invaded, is
authorized by the principles Of our in
stitutions; or that any power exists
by which citizen can be cOerced to
give testimony before any tribunal
or for any object other than the in
vostiyation of matters at issue alice
ting the rights of persons or of
things.
When an investigation is institu-
ted by the Legislature touching the
official conduct of a public officer, the
power of coercing the attendance of
witnesses is unquestioned; or what
ever the proceeding, is in obedience
to the Constitution; but beyond that
instrument, which is the only safe
guard Of the rights of the people, they
cannot 90.
fit was or is uRla wful for men toI
associate together rs masons, let hic.
who violates the law abide the penal.
ty: yet punishment should be intlic-
ted only by the judgement Of his peers
and the laws Of the land.--I
Among the indefensible, inherent !
rights secured TO every citizen are
those Of acquiring and possessing
reputation''-when this great and i'm
pcrtaut right is to be assailed, it be-
hoves the man who's. reputation is
to he Frustrated to guard against any /
and every infringement of all the
means OF defence available to hun by
the constitution. Is it possible that
in this country Of equal rights, that
because q man at one period of his
life was a member Of the masonic Or
der, he is to be placed beyond the
pale Of the laws and prosecuted and
as All outlaw! Establish
the principle as to this peculiar soci-
ETY., and precedent is formed which
may, IN the course Of time, reach ev
cry religious denomination or asso-
citation. Violate the great principle
which declares that mo human au- ,
lhority can in any case whatever
control or interfere with the rights
Of conscience as well as that Which
proclaims that call men are born e.
lually free and independently, and
there is an end Of Liberty. 1t is at
that Threshold such assumptions of
power must be combated, and must
be excused for declining to lend N.Y.
Delf willing instrument TO CRAFTY
an idle CURIOSITY, or to Hisistsr to the
prying inIuisitiveness of superstitious
prejudice and ignorance on the one
hand, or tho designing articles of ;
reckless demagogueism on the other.
In making this declaration, l disclaim ,
all intention of di>respect TO the
House Of Representatives or its COM
the allusioE IS simply TO the
operating causes To which we are IN
debted for the intended investigation.
The masonic institution existed prior
to and at the period of the adoption
Of the constitution-ite embraced with
in the number of its members many
cf the pusest patriots and wisest
n ,f TIA rax-.,l,,f,rn.