Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-08-25
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An interesting correspondence Is published
in the Houston (Texas) Telegraph, Of Aug.
ust lst. A number Of the citizens of Inde-
pendence, protesting high respect for Gen.
eral Sam. Houston, as citizen, statesman,
and soldier, have addressed him q letter,
asking for definite expression Of his views
in regard to the American, order. The
General replies in lengthy letter Of the
date Of July "a. He says that he feels no
hesitancy in expressing his opinion in relation
TO the American order or its principles, but
he expects that for 80 doing he will receive
full share of vituperation and abuse. He
regards the result Of the election in Virginia
as highly encouraging to the principles of
the order, considering the Herculean efforts
OF the Administration party, backed by the
Federal patronage. He regards the "Ameri-
can movement us growing out Of great
crisis in the affairs of the nation, and the
precursor Of sound, healthy and vigorous
nationality, which will be commensurate TO
carry out the great principle of free govern
ment, and to prevent the liberties of the
country from being destroyed by the machi-
nations of demagogues." He argues that
secret societies are only fatal to despots and
| tyrants.
But" the General continues-"the oppo-
nents of the American Order exclaim, 1T is
q political association, and therefore ought
not to be secret l reply, Yes it is secret,
and its name denotes its Objects Is it the
! first secret political society that has been
organized in the United States 1t is as well
known as any other historical truth, that
General Washington and many of his COM
patriots of the Revolution were members OF
the Cincinnati Society, in which, If am not
under misapprehension, no man is eligible for
.lx..a hn Irzn
American. Was not this secret society
Was it not purely political Was not Gen.
eral Washington, at the time of his death,
President of this Society should really
like to know what the anti-Americans think
of this scrap Of history. They cannot deny
| it. Then l will ask them, what danger has
grown out of this secret political society? Is
this the only secret political society that has
existed ia our country for more than half q
century The Columbia Order-known as
the Tammany Society-highly influential,
maintains its existence without danger to
the liberties Of the country. Gen. Jackson
was member of this society, and / know
prominent statesmen throughout the nation
who are members of it, and as 1 myself am
one, and understand its principles, can as
| sert they are patriotic and national. What
| say the anti-Americans to these facts ?"
| if living now, Washington and Jackson
would both have approved of the American
Order. He says that secret caucuses have
always been held in this country by political
| leaders, and it is because the American Order
is a combination Of the people against the
caucuses it is violently denounced. He says
| that the Compromise Of 1850 had senced
| agitation, and there were but few Abolition
lists in both houses Of Congress. Now they
have become formidable in numbers. What
has brought about the revolution? The Ne
| braska bill, which, the General says, was
concocted in a secret caucus of seven persons,
and carried through Congress by the influence
| of the President lie denies that the object
of the American Order is the prescription. OF
| Catholics and foreigners, and concludes his
letter by an appeal to his countrymen to
'fortify themselves against encroachments
upon religious and political freedom"