State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-22
MONTPELIER, <vT.> MARCH ee, 1896.

national welfare and the purify OF our ma
tional institutions" called upon all citizen
to unite in Kidding the country of the mis-
rule of JacksonisIn." Need you be remind
cd that in 1884, they resolved by their STATE
Convention, after specifically cnumeratin:
the abuses and usurpatious of power b,
the Executive, that eve cannot, as cOnSiS
tent dntimasonS, do any less than resis
what we deem unwarrantablc assumptions
of power ON the part of the President ?
Have you forgotten that they added, awe
act, in our opposition to the above men
toned measures of the Executive Strictil
as dntimaSOnS-applying the doctrines oul
party have ever advocated to a new case
and carrying them out into practice in re-
lafion TO Il new evl:" And do you no
know that these decided expressions ofthC
views and purposes of the antimasons o
Vermont were drawn up by your frienC
and eulogist, Mr. Barber whom you have
endorsed as "the truest and Gblest friend &c
our cause in VermontW
put these questions, sir in sober ear
nestness, for yOW consideration, and that
they may be answered, not TO my "consti
tuents," for whom you seem of late to have
a very benevolent regard, they can under
stand this subject without Your add hut to
your own sense of consistency--your own
convictions of truth and justice.
And here, sir, suffer me to put to you q
few other questions: Do you, or do you
not, think it fitting that the antimasons OF
the United States should form and express
at the baIlot-boXes, opinions concerning the
measures of the government which is over
them? And are not the questions involved
in the claims and exercises of power by
the present Executive of vital importance 7
Can freeman 90 to the halIoi-boX in his
right mind and disregard them? Do they
not most deeply affect "the national wei
fare" and the 'purity of our National insti-
tutions ?" And are you prepared to defend
the course oft the executive in regard TO
them? Can you regard with Indifference,
the overshadowing influence of the execu-
tive upon Congress, upon State Legislation,
upon the election of his successor, and
upon all the elections, State and National,
throughout the country Is this Govern
ment as now practically balanced, the
Government which the able and upright
men who framed the constitution intended
to hcqueath to their poserity ?n
Iou say, however, that whatever may
be said of the correctness of the principles
for which | contend, all must see the alb
surdity Of the Antimasons attempting to
keep up distinct organization upon them"
because they "are not distinctive, but are
held by thousand-," who arc not antinIa-
sons.
And what principles have l asserted
which cannot he shown to bear direct
and manifest relation TO our great leadng
principle, that the laws should be supreme ?
| would have the President bow to the SUI
premacy of the constitution and laws, as
well as ,freemaSOnry. l would have the
rights of the people protected, not only
against the institution which is armed for
mischief, with oaths and secrecy, but Il
gainst the secret, silent, cautious, subtle,
pervading influence of Executive potcer, in
its multiplied avenues of approach to the
citadel of their freedom.
The usurpations of fieemasonry, and the
abuses and usurpations of Executive power
to which | have so often advertcd, are, as
have before suggested, kindred evils and
shall we refuse to apply our principles to
the latter evil, because there are those who
do not perceive the propricty of our mode
of applying them, as political antmasons,
to the former? No! Let us endeavor to
understand the nature, and consider the
just relation and bearing of our principles,
and then carry them out as becomes men,
and patriots, and antimasons.
But after all you say, it is "not" with my
principles that you are disposed to quarrel,
them. "l'he Wings (say YOU are not the
men 10 whom we wish to contide The care
of our principles, whatever they may be-"
And are you ready to contide them to the
care of the men who control the move
mcntS and policy of the Van Buren, party
Is there any principle for which we, as an
timasons, have ever commended, that would
not, should we ego into" that party, as you
have proposed, be instantly made to bow
to the Supremacy" of party drill, more
terrible to real anlimasons than the famous
"hoodwink" and "cabe tow" of ircemason-
ry? What An antimaSon become n
member of 'Fhc partyP putting on its col
lar? wearing is uniform? bowling in def
erentia homage to its great Idol? Never,
never, let anIimasonry be thus prosttutcd
But the wings, the wings! We cannot
coniide the care Of our principles TO tie
wings The truth is, sir, that you see the
wings through Il distorted medium. You
look upon few masonic wings Of Boston,
and regard them as a just and fair specimen
of all who bear the name of "Whlg."-
Nothing can he more unjust than this
There are among those who bear that
name, as large II portion, in comparison
with the whole number of upright, intelli-
get, patriotic men, as are 10 be found in
any party. There are those among then
however, who love masonry so much more
thnp upuIIinp NyIiu priurinlps that | Womb
lain be excused from coniiding my princi
however, compared with the great mass o
patriotic citizens Of all classes and condi
lions, who compose what is denominateC
the wing party, and over whom these ultr,
masons, who are determined to sink will