The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-06-28

= aud his doing so was speedily followe
y by his appointment to an Office, who's
2 duties. while unconnected with politics
c were far more in accordance with his pro
: iessona pursuits He was selected b,
e Governor Wolf as the attorney genera
! of his native state, and lie continued /,
hold il with increasing reputation ant
with degree of appreciation and conf
dence on the part of the whole communi
~ never exceeded, nor often equaled, un
} I'll the change of the executive administers
ton of the state, by the election of Go
! vernon Ritner, OF course induced him to
i withdraw.
= Mr.. Dallas had scarcely retired TO pri.
vate' life, when he was made the object OF
one Of the most remarkable proceedings
that have ever characterized the political
course of the party opposed to Demo
cratic principles during any Of the inter-
walls of their temporary ascendency. I'm.
der the preicXt Of nquiring into the char
acter and acts OF secret associations, seve-
raj Of the leading members of the repub-
lican party were summoned TO Harrisburg
in the middle Of the winter, and, in def
ance Of the positive provisions of the con-
stitution of the state, right was assumed
by committee Of the legislature TO in
vestigalc their private and social conduct
as mombers Of Masonic societies. or
the persons subjected TO this strange in
QUESTION, Mr.. Dallas was one. He obey
cd the summons issued under the APP
parent sanction of the house Of represen-
tativcs, and appeared before the commit
tee but when asked 10 take The oath by
which he was required virtually to ac-
knowledge the right Of instituing an in
QUESTION so unheard of, into the private
and harmless conduct of himself and his
associates, he refused, in a short but most
impressive address, and displayed, in
terms that led to the abortivc termination
of the dlsrepntable affair, its injustice, il
legality, and folly. lie perceived, on this
occasion, the secret operations that soon
ripened to so fatal result, by which the
Bank Of the United States was imposed,
by corrupt and dishonest means, on the
people Of the United States, and especial
ly Of Pennsylvania, as state institution.
He lent the aid Of his influence and ta-
Tents TO resist it while he remained at
Harrisburg, and, on his return to Phila-
Gelphia, awakened his democratic breth-
rem, in public discussions, to full sense
of the danger whose near approach had
been carefully concealed. The history Of
tlat disastrous measure, and the means by
which its success was achieved, if not yet
developed in all their details, are yet ge-
morally known. In consequence of it, the
state was plunged into the long train of
disasters from which its citizens have not
yet been able to extrcate themselves, and
Of which the effects, extending far beyond
their immediate objects, have produced
the most depIorablo results on the bust
ness, prosperity, and even character of
the American people. Even after the
shackles had been fixed Mr.. Dallas was
among those who sought to relieve the
community from so fatal lhraldom. Ia
kino ADVANTAGE Of the approachinp con-
vcnlon. when the ncople Of the state were
to meet with every attribute Of ORIGINAL
sovcrcicntv not restrained no the consli.
tution If the limited States. and Of whicb
the asscmblooe was promulraled nv the
vote of the people before the act in ouos-
ton was passed, he called to The consider
alton of the inhabitonts of the state, in an
able and eloquent letter. the propriety of
examining into the frauds that had been
perpera,ed, and relieving the common
wealth. bv an edicl of that body, from all
fraudulent invasions of It's rights, due care
being taken to protect and indemnify in
diyiduals concerned in the institution from