The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-07-28

/ gether by extra judicial oaths, TO do that which
can be nothing else in effect, morally, than con-
structive treason to the government. They
/ thus attempt to do, under the clouds of the
night, and by secret political combinations what
they would be ashamed 10 propose in the light
off day and before the world.
Secret political societies, fellow citizens,
however commendable in design at the outsart,
must soon degenerate into engines of tyranny
nd-outrage. The Jacobin clubs of the French
/ revolution, headed by Danton, Murat and Ru--
bespierre, made the nation tremble for its exist
j ence, while France became drunken with hor
/ rid crimes, assassination and murder. What pro-
lection can the mass of peaceable citizens have
against their secret councils and nsidious attacks?
Conspiracies and secret combinations against
the body polite, or the political rights OF large
classes OF citizens, are odious in the eye the
morallst, as consplracles against the private
rights OF the citizen are odious in the eve of the
law. One offence is political and the other pen
tal, but there is little if any difference in the
grade of criminality. Both are founded in sell
fshness and disregard of the rights Of others -~
We have heard much IN days gone by in
Pennsylvania, from large bodies of our people,
in opposition to secret societies of purely char
liable and benevolent character, having no po-
ltIcal policy or purpose IN view. How much
more should that opposition extend TO secret as
sociations formed for political purposes alone,
and for political purposes having for their object
the disfranchIsement on account of The religious
views of portion of our citizens.
Secret societies formed for political purposes,
the great and good Washington warned US
against il in his farewell address TO bis country
men. How well he portrays their evils in the
following paragraph.
EHowever combinations or associations of the
above description may now and then answer
popular ends, they are likely, in the course Of
time and things, TO become potent engines by
which cunning, ambitious and unprncipled
men will be enabled to subvert the power of The
people, and to usurp for themselves the reignS
of government. DESTROYING afterwards the very
! engines which lifted them to the unjust domin-
ion."
! The secret political societies of Washington's
day, were formed 10 promote liberty, not to
ahridge and destroy it; and yet even these he
reprobated and condemned. How much more
would be dread those of recent organization,
! which seem intended to destroy the rights of a
j large portion Of our citizens, and to estab-
ish an arbitrary, partial and unjust rule of polit-
/ cal and governmental action
/ How totally must associations of this con-
tracted and iliiheral character fail Of accom-
pishing any of the desirable objects of govern
ment The policy of the nation must be aban-
doned to its fate, 10 carry out a bigoted and po-
tico-relieious frenzy. Forgetting all the great
issues involved necessarily in the administration
ofthe affairs of this widely extended country,
with diversified interests and wants, in matters
of revenue, finance, trade, commerce, peace,
and war, external or foreign relations and in
ternal police, they are endeavoring to bring the
exalted science of political economy down TO
{ an unnecessary and unProftable scramble about
creeds in religion, with which this government
has and can have nothing whatever to do,
! except to let them alone and protect each one
/ in It's constitutional rights. and to see that mi
norities as we'll as maorities have the free and
full exercise of their religious opinions. IT is
an attempt to introduce a test in political affairs
which must be as uncertain as It is unsatistacto-
ry to all sensible and enlightened men, no mat
ter 10 which of the two great political rartles
they may belong. 1t is effort to stultify the
country, and make it forget the history of the
past, and render II unmlndlul of its glorious des
tiny in the future.
With such allies as these secret associations
afford our Whig friends, many of that party
viii be unwilling to cooperate, and they will
turn their faces towards the just, equitable and
uniform principles of the Democratic creed as
laid down by the wise and Phiosophc Jeher-
son. The principles Of the Democratic party
are benignant and meets the wants of man IN
all the diversified interests Of life. They teach
mans equality with his fellcw man, and at the
/ same time they give him humber views OF him
self, they dignity, ennoble, exalt him. They
apply ftly TO him as rational, intelligent crea-
/ ture, who should be the object and care CT all
government, and not made to be governed or
created for the government. All just govern
ment is intended for his good, not to oppreSS
+ him, but TO treat him equally with the subjects
4 or people OF the same government 1t sheds It's
( blessings alike upon all classes of the commune
! ty, the high and the low, the rich and the poor.
] II knows no distinctions and will tolerate none.
1 Like the sun in the heavens, or the deWS OF the
night, or the atmosphere which we breathe,
and which constantly surrounds and suStalns Us,
it is alike benirnant and bountIul TO all.
/ Such fellow citizens are some OF the allies of
the whig party. We may have occasion to
refer TO others during the progress Of the present
political campaign, little less proscrptive and
/ ntoleiant in their views; or we may perhaps
/ leave The various fanatical isms OF the dav TO be
! met and refuted by our Democratic friends, in
their own way, in their various localities But
/ we may venture The general remark, that all
collateral organizations outside ofthe Democrat
c party, got up as either moral or political
movements, are soon thrown by the force Of
circumstances, by the laws and political afliini-
Ties of nlnorities, in opposition to that party,
and have for their main object in the end the
prostration ofits power and its principles. Let