The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-12
An Annaal Against Disunion.

We are impeled by irresistible impulse OF duty
to address sonic brethren at large upon the pres
ent threatening aspect of political affairs NO
person however circumscrbed his reading personal
experience can be insensbe the present danger OF
disruption impending over our Union. How much
more then must one be alarmed and impressed whose
travels and correspondence alike reach every portion
of the country
Brethren! YOU, as masons hold the balance of power
in this country You stand between wild and reckless
fanaticsm the one hand, and cold, heartess dema-
gogueism on the other. You body, number
nearly quarter million of men. And you are men
men in body, SOUL and intellect-men chosen out OF
the masses of the community instructed in its old and
undying prncipes-men cemented together by ndls
soluble ties-men who profess to be animated by the
nobest purposes that ever joined mortal being together
In politics you of all parties-n religion of all
sects-in yoeatons, all honorable pursuits. Yet in
selection, you are one; in preparation, only one; IN
adoption, enlightened, covenant and atfla'ion one,
and the only Therefore in great aud noble purpose,
you are free to act one man And what purpose so
noble is there We brothers of the craft the saliva
ton of our country.
Brethren! we have visited nearly ever grand lodge
on this continent and many Of them again and again.
We are in almost daily correspondence with the bright
est lights of the fraternity, and we believe possess the
the confidence of large portion Of the craft universal
We speack therefore, that we do know when affirm
that masons whole, are moral, true, and upright
men, lovers of their country, and quiet and obedent
subjects of law. I ct such men may be led asray.
False reports may be raised the purest spirits may be
deceived by fasehoods and exaggerltions, and even
our institution venerable for age grand in proportions,
pure and virtuous in its principles may be made the
medium through the Vaccinations Of false BRETHREN of
incurable mischief
Brethren the partisan sheets of the country, north
and south, those mean, whose mission seems to be
that of stirring up mortal contention between and to
break up this government by false issues declare no
thing bnt hes when they say the north is arayed against
the south and the south against the north 1t Is false
We have lived more than twenty years the south and
more than twenty years in the north For large
portion of the twenty-five years have been engaged
in travelling, have seen every portion, made personal
acQuaintances with every shade of thought and feeling
and we testify to the utter nquity of such statements
1t is but the cry of demagOgues and traitors who will
rise ouy upon the ruin of the nation if the nation
does not take warning in time. The feelings of south
ern people as a whole, and of northern people
whole still kind and brotherly towards each other
But it cannot be denied that the evaporation of party
feeling is cmbterng everything, and the pronenes of
feeble human nature to follow popular leaders right
wrong may destroy the last remains Of national afec
ton If we do not guard ourselves against it.
Brethren Of the north! you are misiniormed upon
the subject Of slavery II is not the heiSh evil you
have been taught to believe it, Visit the south and
YOU will see it, You have been misintormed, too, in
regard the southern people. They are kind loving,
and generous to fault They brave true to their
friends and, as masons, God never made better
Brethren Of the south! you misnforned to the
general feeling of the northern people relative to
slavery Whatever it may be in some localities ridden
to death by demagogues yet in the broad lands of the
north and west and even in Canada the popular senti
ment to let the subject alone and eaveit with those
who are personally interested with it. You misin
formed too as to the northern people They sudi
GUS, industrious, lovers of order and law liberal in
good cause earnest in whatever they undertake, and
as masons conservative and systematic in the highest
degree.
Brethren Of both sectonsl there is absolutely no.
thing between you but to love one another and to
persevere in the grand design Of doing good and being
happy. Let demagogue5 rail and lie il vain. Treat
all threats Of secession Of opposition law Of raids
into neghboring vineyards Of notification etc with
and adherence Disregard their statements
that the American people are ripe for disuuon
direct invention of the father of lies Blacker false
hood was never invented Search for sober men,
conservative in their habits Of thinking and action and
entrust to such the banner of good masons-"Union
Institution forever.!" Voice Of Masonry