Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-07

| we 40 NOT dppreHenu luul lhV appointment Vi
this commission will be of any other use than
an expression of comfy and good will towards
the bord err states.
Secret Political societies---The Pennsylvania
! Senators---The Convention of States.
WEST CHESTER, Pa: Jan. 18TH 1861.
Mr.. Editor Confined of the danger to
free government from secret societies, we sew
eral years ago translated work on the subject,
which some of your subscribers have doubtless
read. 1t was written by de la Hodde, pun
gent racy French writer, who thoroughly I'M
derstood the subject, having for long time
been member of a secret society himself. He
allowed as the result of his experience, that Sc
cret societies may produce mobs and disturb
ances, but that they could never effect revolu-
ton. They however caused the disturbances
in Europe in 1913, and were highly instrument
tai in transferring the government of France
from the mild and liberal sway of Louis Phil
lipe to the strong, despotic rule of Louis Ma
poleon. Aiming at Republicanism they landed
in despotsm and it is not little curious to
see how their efforts have been seconded in this
country.
For several years the southern part of our
, country and especially the South West, has
been infested by secret societies. the object of
which has been the support of democracy and
, the spread of slavery. Aiming ostensbly at
democracy, they are now directing their efforts
to dissolution of the Union, which, if effect
t ed will powerfully cooperate to strengthen des-
, potic government in France and Europe. Nor
is it strange that they should conduce to this
: end; for they are despotic in their own struc-
;, ture the individual member surrendering his
j power and influence TO the absolute control of
: the leading members of the lodge. They be-
e come addicted to love of mystery and indi-
0 rectness which are the chief features of arbira-
: rary government, and are wholly opposed to
J that straight forward simplicity and frankness
o which are essential to democratic republics.
G No one could credit the extent to which tn,
South West has become subject to the control
e Of secret societies unless he has resided there.
O O In New Orleans alone, one or more entire col
c umns of some of the daily papers have been
e occupied at times with short notices of the sit
/ ting Of various lodges. The city is kept under
4 constant state of espionage, infinitely more
gross and barbarous than any system that was
II ever practiced in France unless during the
IS reign of the Jesuis; and every thing is seen
= through an unnatural medium. An habitual
o disorder is the consequence, that is probably
unsurpassed in any other city of its size in the
y great capital of filibustering and secession in
l !, the South West
% Know Nothingism, as we understand it was
N got up partly in opposition-as countermine,
II as it were-to this spirit of secret societies in
. the West. 1t was resort to the implements
of of the enemy with the object of giving that
rs enemy mered defeat but it failed, and
chiefly because of the natural opposition in the
~ free North to an ns,rumentalty which is SO
ly dangerous to freedom. Many who liked the
principles OF Know-Nothingism, would not vote
for them because of their objections to secret
societies; even though it is through our for
he egn population that we have of late years be.
II, come so much infected with the virus of these
w societies.
It, We are glad to see that no resort to se,re,
Id societies is being made to counteract the design,
er of such societies upon our Capital Efforts are
of merely directed to ferret them out and expose
It. their plans to the military measures of Genera
he Scott; and hope that the old hero will prov,
IS successful and prevent this new outrage upol
IRIS good order and constituted government.
be The haste with which the two senators of thi
oh state have made to extngush secession by an,
he amount of concession and compromise, is re
os, garded as somewhat amusing They seemed
OF to be in a race to see Which should yield tn
ITO most and get into the Southern confidence first
on 1t was but poor response to their undignife
Try and uncalled for Misrepresentation of thei
in state to be told by Mr.. Mason that their con
nd cession was not wanted. We feel confden
ter that the position of their state in the preser
1t juncture is much mora digniied than they hav
nd presented it. The whole political history
on Pennsylvania is averse to supposng that sh
ne viii ever consent to a compromise with slavery
Her senators must have profited little by thei
-, reading Of the Constitution if they think tha
va that instrument can be so easily desecrated {
~ this dag as they suppose, by compromise.
~, The scheme proposed by number of Vii
w. ginians to get up national convention {
=" Washington for the purpose of saving tn
a, Union is not looked upon favorably by some
Io- 1t is Objectionable for several reNsons first,
ou implies that our government is defective an
TO needs tinkering second, it gives some count'
ut. nance TO the sending of commissioners an
cay getting up of conventions on the part of Il
IT." seeding states and third, it gives Virginia
EST kind of leading influence, which, inasmuch
ian all her influence has been in wrong direcic
Del once, We should eschew. 1t can never be TO
aid gotten that the great name acquired by Virgin
,ro- in the defence of human liberty during OF
revolution, was used by her some forty yea
ject afterwards for perpetualng slavery in the Mi
, by souri, Compromise She whose device is Il
by foot of liberty upon the neck of tyrany, WI
lse the first then to place her foot upon the reck
ar humanity. 1t was then that she discovers