Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-01

i ask attention 10 lew comments On Inc Iouou-
ing resolution, offered in the senate Il the United
States on the s5th instant, BY Mr.. Brodhead
Resolved, That all secret organizations, for po-
ltical purposes are contrary to the genius Of our
institutions and dangerous TO the liberties Of the
people" ~
Now, II appears to me, the opinion Of the learned
Senator to the contrary Notwithstanding, that whe-
Their an organization, public or secret be contrary
to the genius of institutions, and dangerous to
the liberty Of the people, depends entirely ON the
principles protested by such organization, and the
purposes II has in view hold that the tree
should be judged by It's fruit not solely by the soil
in which it is growing If the principles and OBJ
ects Of an organization be contrary to the genius
Of our government, and dangerous to liberty, then
such organization is contrary to the genius of our
institutions and dangerous to liberty, whether II
be secret or public whether it holds It's meet
ngs in the darkness ofnight with closed doors, or
in the midday sunlight on the top Of the national
Capitol, where the keen optics Of Senator Brod-
head, Sin fine frenzy rolling" could scan at a
glance, all its acts and plans.
| There are very many who have the independ-
ence to think, and the nerve to say, that the ac-
L
birth to this political bantlng, whose first cry was
heard in the Senate chamber the other day, under
the Of its very attentive wetnurse, was itself
contrary to the genius Of our institutions, and
dangerous to the liberties of the people," But
why and wherefores Not because the seventeen"
illustrious ancestors, who claim the paternity Of
the child, and the skilful accoucheur, who attend
ed on the delicate operation, were modest enough
to retire into secrecy and close the door on the
curious gaze of the public, but because its tenden-
| cy, II not its purpose, was to put down those
American principles which are possessed by the
American party" and substitute in their place,
the accursed influence of Foreignism and Jesuit
ism, with their long train of corruptions and evils!
But really it is enough to have made old Pho
cion himself who, it is said, never was known
even to indulge in smile, laugh right out with a
real, hearty shake-ofthe-sides explosion, to hear
the old, palsied, willy, wire-working, puppet-
dancing, thimble-rggng political leaders of the
country, (be they Wings or Democrats, preaching
against secret political organizations"
1t is, indeed, enough to make the leanest dispep-
tic in existence laugh himself into full fairness! Be
yond all question, it is the best illustration to be
found on. record, Of the meaning of that oit-re-
peated saying: "Satan reproying SIM" What
would have been thought of conclaye of Marats,
Dantons, and Robesperes, in the midst ofthe mas
sacres Of the French revolution, calmly resolving,
in the same breath which gave effect to one of their
cruel edicts, that II against right, conscience,
and the law of God, TO shed blood unnecessarily
Such an exhibition, such a resolve by such men,
would have been entitled to just as much respect
for sincerity, as the resolves against secret organ
izations for political purposes" passed by secret
caucus Of politicians, who for half century have
carried on their political Vaccinations in secret
who have in the darkness Of the night, with closed
doors, and posted sentinels consulted, debated,
wrsngled, resolved reresolved, voted, electioneer
ed, planned, and nominated candidates for every
grade of oAice-yes done all this, and much more,
which will never be made known-which they
agreed should be kept dark-actually in secret or
ganzation under the rules and test obligations of
concealment, in midnight caucusss!
This is species Of "death-bed repentance"
which would require more fifth than ordinary men
possess to command confidence or respect
But the American party" at which this br,-
ttfn' fulaen of dying political dynasty is aimed,
has much higher and better authority for keep
ing their own secrets" than Ia furnished by the
example of political wireworkers and leaders of
the present day They have the example Of their
illustrous ancestors prior TO and during the revo
lutionary war They had their secret organiza-
tions-their secret associations-their committees
of safety scattered all through the country, in eve
ry county, and village, and town, which met in
secret, with closed doors, each pledged to the
other in bonds Of friendship in one common effort
for the delverance Of their country from foreign
bondagel King George and his minions, and
spies, pronounced them dangerous" " unjusti6a-
BILE" and "displeasing to his Msjestyln Let me
furnish Mr.. Brodhead an example and authority
by which he may justify his resolution.
The first Continental Congress met on the 9Th
Of September, l774, in Philadelphia. It adopted
rules Of order for Its government the fourth Of
which was In these words:
"The door Is to be kept shut during the term Of
business, and the members TO consider themselves
under the strongest obligations Of honor, to keep
the proceedings secret, until the majority shall
direct them to be made publc.n-(See Elliott's
Debates, vol l, p. 73.)
This, then, was secret organization for polt-
cal purposes" Was II against the spirit Of our In
stitutionsi On the contrary, II gave bth to those
very institutional Was Ii dangerous TO the liberties
Of the pcoplei So Ear from this being true, II was
the very cradle In which that liberty in It's infancy
was rockedl But what did the tools, servants
and emissarics Of tyrsnny-of George the Third
and his Parliament, think Of that secret organi-
zation ~ Mr.. Brodhead, II he has any taste for
antiquities, may learn, by consulting the procla-
nation, or political bull, Of Lord Dunmore then
Governor of Virginia, as follows (Sce wirt's Life
Of Henry, p. 1891
Whereas, certain persons styling themselves
delegates Of several OF his Msjestys colonies In
America, have presumed, without his Msjesty's su-
thorty or consent 10 assemble together In Phils-
delphis, in the month Of September and October
last and have thought IT. among other unwar-
rsntable proceedings, TO resolve that another Con-
gress should be held at the same place the 10th
Of May next, unless redress Of certain pretended
grievances be obtained before that time, and TO