True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-09-05
Gen. HOuaton on Amsrioanism.

to the desire of several prominent citizens
of Independence, Texas, in order to OBJ
tain his "opinion of the American Order.
After q brief Introduction, he says:
"In treating of subject which hal
been SO generally and elabOrately discussed
as that of the American order, it would
be difficult to present anything original il
the way Of argument; hence my aim vii
be to offer my deductions and conclusions
from the facts and arguments of others,
and to glance at the causes which have
given rise to the present excitement. The
movement l regard as one growing ont Of
great crisis in the affairs of our nation,
and the precursor Of a sound, bealthful
and vigorous nationality, which will be
commensurate to solve and carry out the
great principles Of free government, and
to prevent the liberties of the country
from being destroyed by the Vaccinations
of demagogues and factionists, while they
continue to chant the syren song of mo
danger At the same time they cry out,
beware of the danger of secret societies.
1t is true that secret societies have always
been dangerous to despots and tyrants.
They have ever denounced and prescribed
Masonry. The Pope, with other poten-
tates, have crushed the ancient order in
their dominions. In our own country we
have seen its portals leading into its sa-
cred temples, for awhile closed and desert
ed. Secret societies were then denounced.
Thank Heaven that cloud of fanaticism
which for awhile overshadowed it has been
dispelled by the light of reason, and it
still continues to extend the blessings of
its principles to thousands Of disconsOlate
widows and orphans.
The opponents of the American Order,
exclaim, 1T is political association, and
therefore ought not to he secret I reply,
Yes, it is secret, and its name denotes its
objects Is it the first secret political So
ciety that has been organized in the Uni
ted States2 1t is as we'll known as any
other historical truth, that General Wash
ington and many of his compatriots of the
Revolution, were members of the Cincin-
natl Society, in which, if am not under
misappre hension, no man is eligible for
membership, even now, unless he is o na-
tive American. Was not this secret so.
ciety2 Was it not purely political? Was
not General Washington, at the time of
his death, President of this Society? I
should really like to know what the anti
Americans think of this scrap of history.
They cannot deny it. Then I will ask
them, what danger has grown out Of this
secret political society? Is this the only
secret political society that has existed in
our country for more than half century,"
The following are the concluding por
tions of the letter:
"The design of the American Order is
not to put down Catholics, but to prevent
Catholics putting down ProteStants The
members of the Order would not, nor do
they intend to interfere with the Catholic
religion, Or their mode of worship; but at
the same time We are not willing to place
power in the hands of those who acknowl-
edge or owe temporal allegiance to any for
eign prince, king or potentate. Again it
is said that the principles Of this Order
prescribe foreigners, and are intended to
extend the period of naturalization. l do
not regard this principle as proscriptive.
I understand foreigners to be protected in
the full enjoyment of all their civil rights,
and exercising whatever religious opinions
or modes Of worship they profess. No
one wishes to abridge those privileges.
The possession and exercise of political
rights are distinct matters Females and
minors possess and enjoy civil rights, yet
they are not capable of exercising the po-
litical right of suffrage. This is consti-
tutional right Of all qualified natives. The
extension of their right to those who are
not natives is a matter of grace and favor
of the Congress and of the Constitution.
Congress has the power to invest foreign
ers with the right upon such conditions as
may be thought proper and expedient for
the well being of the Republic.
The teachers of the modern school who
claim to be the only democrats or patriots
in the country, admit "that some modif-
cation in the naturalization laws might be
we'll enough" They take care not to say
how far they are willing to go. Are they
willing to extend the period Of probation
to twenty,one years? If they are not, I
am. If such laws were passed they could
not affect those who are already naturalized,
and who enjoy the full benefits of our in
stitutions.
Nor would it prejudice the claims of
those who might have reached the Amer