The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1856-09-20
Mr Fillmore against Secret Societies.

Mr. Fillmore is member of, and
avowed advocate of secret political societies.
He is sworn, third degree Know Nothing
About the time he wrote his Erie letter. he was
ginger and mustard against all secret societies,
and, strange to say, on the ground that he
feared they would connect themselves with
political parties He made fnrous war on the
Free Masons, upon that very ground.-No
more forcible speeches against political associa-
tlons can any where be produced than those de-
ivered in Buffalo by Mr. Fillmore, when can
didate of the anti-Masonic party in 1928. He
then subscribed to The following sentiments:
g. 'The institution (Masonry) is at wal
with the spirit of our free government, hostil,
to all equality of rights and an impassabls
ba rrier to the ada, lHiskr,.tion of ofjnstice-'
I I. " The equality of rights, which the Con
stitution expressly guarantees, cannot exist
whilst secret society shelters its members, and
the ascendancy Of law and good order cannot
be maintained in the community while ex-
| tensve and influential body of men claim and
exercise the power of imposing and enforcing
obligat tions which must soon come into direct
collision with the laws and duties of society,"
5. alt is vain to temporize and palter with
our duty. If we wish to destroy the bancfuI
influence of Masonry Ca secret society we must
withhold our votes from those who support it..
We frankly acknowledge that in some cases
personal and political friendships render this
duty painful and difficult to perform but as
HCnoSE ana 1altlIuI cltlZcuS we are DOunu 10
sacrifice Our predictions for individuals to the
safety and success Of the important principles
we have espoused, and why should we startle
at Il measure in defence of rights, which
our opponents have successfully used to usurp
them 2?
6. 8 They are bound by oath 'to vote for
brother before any person of equal qualifications
and to support his military and political pre-
ferment i'll opposition to another Is it not
necessary in self-dcience to resist this alarming.
conspiracy Can shut eyes to the fact
that ambitious and designing men have attach
preternent of which they undeserving
When it shall become we'll established that
Masonry Ca secret society has ceased to afford
its votares superior advantages for political
objects, the great inducement that now sus-
tains the institution will he lost"
Such is the strong language employed by Mr.
Fillmore in attacking the charitable and benc-
VIOLENT institution of Masonry-and, With most
extraordinary Inconsistency, this same Mr. Fill
more is now the member of secret po/Hlcnl
society regularly inducted under the auspices
OF dark-antern, and presents himself to the
\ inerican people the candidate of that party
for the Presidency. We say nothing of the
proscrptive and blighiing principles of the
Know Nothing party, which claims and eAer-
cises the power Of enforcing obligations that
must conflict with the Constitution and laws.
To prove the plabencss of Mr. Fillmore, it is
sufficient to point to the fact that the once bit
ter assailant of Masonry, which has nothing to
do with politics, account Of its secrecy, is |
now the head and leader Of a secret poiltical
party, that would destroy civil equality and re- !
Iigious liberty.