Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-05-13

q .as, From the Seneca Advertiser.
pa Letter from Ephraim Wood, Esq.
To THE Hon. MoRDEcAI BARLEY,
iiosg1 Y Governor Of the State Of Ohio:
~ Sir never wrote on religion or
politics but what meant for the good of
my fellow beings; therefore, when !
have written, | endeavored to shun hy-
pocracy and deceit. Sir, is it not evil
dent that from the time Of the declara-
ton Of Independence, there have been
two great political parties striving a.
gainst each otherl Then let US take a
fretrospestfsesyiiom of the matter and
see how political matters have been
carried on by those parties. Were net
the Federal party, as they were then
denominated, the friends of The elder
Adams, and were not they friendly to
the Sedtion law, Stamp act, Alien
law, &c2 Were not this same party
in favor Of Adams reelection and op-
posed to Jefferson?-and in order to
destroy Jeferson's election what did
they do? What party was it that cleo
tioneered against Jefferson through the
medium of the pulpit! Did not every
Federal priest in the land declare, from
the pulpit, that it would never do to
elect Jefferson President? And, sir,
what were their reasons given to the
people to sustain them in their opposi-
ton? No doubt but you remember one
reason was, that the houses of worship
would all be demolished, and their BIZ
bles would all be burnt up! would ask,
what honesty wasthere in those priests?
Did they not know that those privi-
leges were constitu,ionaIly guaranteed
to the people? No doubt but they we'll
understood that part Of the constitution.
And what was the cause of the course
pursued against Jefferson's election by
the federaIists, but their eternal hatred
to truth and liberal principles? Were
no, these federal priests all arryed a.
gainst the Methodists? Did they not
pursue every course that ingenuity
could invent TO stop their progress? and
why, l ask, did they oppose them? One
great reason was, the Me,hodists sus>
tanned the constitution, and were uni.
fversally democrats; and that powerful
reason was one of sufficient magnitude
with them, TO brand the Melhodists will
injamy. But we will follow up littlt
farther. Where were the two partie!
in the last war? Were they not array
ed one in favor Of, and the other against
our own government? Was there s
federal priest to be found but what was
delivering his anathemas against our
own wicked government, as they call
ed it, for going to war with mother
Britain? Were not all Of the efforts pos
sible put into operation to thwart the
war? Were not many engaged in the
Washingtonlan and benevolent society,
the Hartford convention, in conjunc>
ton with these federal priests? Did not
the federalists come to the conclusion
that through the means that they had
provided, they would soon be able
to bring the war TO close by subduing
the American government! Were not
the Methodists, as body polite, In fa-
vor Of our own government and did not
many of them take very active part
| in the war? After the war, did not the
federalists get up peace party2 What
sir, was the object but the destruction
of our own government! Iheard one
of their men, who was through the
country where then lived, declare
what he said were the principles Of the
party. "that defensive war was a.
wicked as an offensive one." He de
clared Washington to be blood-thirs.
ty man." and our revolutionary sires
were all ridiculed by him. The time
that Jackson, Adams, Crawford and
Clay run for the Presidency, Adams,
you recollect, sir, was elected; and, sir,
who elected him? Was it the Demo.
cratsl If }mistake not, you was then
| in Congress and gave your vote for Ad.
ans. Did not the contest finally close
| on Claws vote? Did he not at that time
leave his own party? and, sir, when
Jackson was elected, who was it that
elected him7 You will undoubtedly say
| II was the democrats. If so, where were
the federalists? Were they not COM
pretended in two parts, viz: National
Republicans, and Anti-Masons? and
was not yourself comprehended in one
Of those parts! and was not there resolu>
tion after resolution passed by the anti
masons, that they would not support a
mason for any Office whatever, from
path master to President! and yet, were
not the anti i.masons, through the means
Of that deceptive and unhoiy alliance
between the leading Nationals and lead
ing Antics, brought TO vote for Henry
Clay who was mason? No doubt, sir,
but that you were one that we'll under
stood the game or trick that was play
r A - a AZ