The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-16

| published in some Wing newspapers Which
| have not seen, that the Wing Central Commit
tee, in virtue of their pleAary powers, nave
placed us under the pupilage of Gen. Howard
If this be not the fact take up the glove he has
thrown, as true knight. l beg pardon of the
LocofocOs of the eetrue grit" if the title is oen-
sive. The General says, "Let those who do''0t
that Gen Harrison was brought out by the Har-
risburg Convention, for the purpose OF securing
the votes of the abolitionists and antl-masons,
| refer to the evidence which follows, and explain
it away, if they can" This challenge, which
calls me to the EARNED bits, is little after the
Falstaff STYLE The General is a formidable an
tagonist for he advances at the head of four hed-
cy columns, but inasmuch as they not as for
midabIe as four columns of Martin Van Burens
standing army would be, under the command OF
the worthy descendent of the Hero of the Cow
pens, am not afraid to confront him, Tor
like Alexander's notion; elf he had kings to run
| against, lie would enter in the race" The Gene
Tal premises, by saying that at appears to him
(me) to be a clear case, that Gen. Harrison was
brought out by the Harrisburg Convention, for
| the purpose of securing the votes OF the aboh-
tionists and anti-masons." AT the very thresh-
hold, sir, you start upon an assumption, that
what appears to you to be clear, is clear. This
is obviously non Sequiter, and your 'clsar case
goes with it. Next is brought to bear, the Light
Infantry of 'FItalicS AND CAPITALS" in what
''appears" to you ''most important" in the origi
nails quoted General, did you never hear italics
and capitals being likened to indexes at country
X roads, that point one way, and the road runs
| another, unless fixed by him who was well ae-
quainted with the road. Never having travelled
the Wing road yet, you know nothing about the
indexes on it. For you to profess to tell the
Wings of the United States, who assembled at
the Harrisburg Convention, what their purpose
was in nominating William Henry Harrison, is
arrogating to yourself knowledge equal to
that of one 'E1vho sees further into a m ill-stone
thnn he who picks it" Were you in the con-
clave2 Did you hear the interchange of opinion
the "language confidential" If you did, tell
us all about it. We will release you from the
o. B.
l will proceed in order First, that General
Harrison was nominated by the Harrisburg con-
ventlon, to secure the support of the anti-masons
You say that
e'The President, John Parker Esq, of Ches
ter, upon taking his seat said, amongst other
things, 'FThis is empAatcally an assemblage Of
patriotic freemen, representing the various par
ties of our great commonwealth, and composed
of all the elements If opposition to the misera-
bic and destructive administration that is now
sapping the foundations of our happiness and
prosperity % and again, con this occasion find
myself surrounded by 1ohigs, Gflti-nGsons, and
Conservatives"
That John Parker held this language when
presiding over the convention of Pennsylvania
at Harrisburg, is not denied, but how the Har-
risburg convention of the United States, compos-
ad of delegates from all the States of the Union,
can be made responsible for his individual OPT
Mon, which only applies to the members of the
convention of Pennsylvania, Is rather singular
That which may be true in one condition Of
things Is not necessarily true in another condi-
ton of things, if my logic serves me- There
fore, Genera this is another non seqleiteT.
That all the elements of opposition" will
be fully arrayed against the ''miserable and de-
structive administration thatis now sapping the
foundations of our happiness and prosperity" is
highly probable. The conservatives are with
us, and if the Anti-Masons prefer William
Henry Harrison to Martin Van Buren,, Political
lv-that is, eHarrison and Reform" to Van Blu
rem and his miserable and destructive admins
tratlon," we say to them, come enc, come all
The word Anti-Mason, either as understood in a
limited or extended sense, may be according to
the quo amino, good or bad, with reference to
its effects. The political Anti-Mason l hold in
. great contempt my worshipful, ex-grand
Master, Benjamin C. Howard, Esq, and give in
my adhesion to him in the expression of the fol-
lowing sentiments, viZ:-FEAnti- Masonry rests
upon two bases-an alleged fact, and political
principle. The former is untrue, and the latter
unseund. The fact alleged is, that masons as
sumo the performance of duties to each other,
which are paramount to, and inconsistent with,
their duties to society; and the principle is, that
the remedy is their exclusion from all offices,
either of election by the people, or appointment
by the Executive. The evidence of men who
differ from each other in religion, politics, taste,
temper, and associations, but concur in asserting
that the doctrines of masonry sound and
wholesome, ought to be satisfactory as to the
charge brought against 1t well as other similar
associations; but if all the allegations true,
the proposed mode of removing the evil would
not be less dangerous unconstitutional"
But my worthy, ex-grand Master well knows
that there is class of Anti-Masons in our State,
liberal and enlightened, who honestly entertain
the opinion, that no secret societies, either for
the purpose of charity fraternity; ought to
exist, as being oppos ed to the genius of our Re-
publican institutions, and who, Judging by er-
tc7nals, regard them as the next greatest hum
bugs to locofocoism. Such men have nv re-
speet, although l am mason; for they will
never prosecute for opinions sake. This being
conceded, feel entirely disposed to regard them
as brethren of the same political family.
My dear General, while upon the subject Of
Anti masonry, it is not impossible to work up
Masonic party, to be used as political capital in