Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-21

duce very different effect in America
from what had flowed from any similar
publication in Europe-that in nation
where all were readers, believers would
be found i'll sufficient numbers to make
the book a profitable one; and that
therefore other treacherous brethren
would be induced to write and publish
other books on the subject, against the
effects of which silence could be no
shield, until the power and usefulness
of the order should cease to exist, and
the order itself become the laughing
stock among men. 1t was better, they
said, to crush the evil in the bud, than
to run the risk of such disastrous results
coming about. Among this latter class
was ranked; but in justice to myself,
no less than to those who held to the
same opinions, | am bound to say, that
we regarded the whole matter as one
of theory. Practically, it did not seem
to concern us in the least, as we sup
posed that the American Masons, against
whom the offence was to be immediate
ly committed, were competent to deal
with the offender 1t is true that there
were communications and correspond
ence on the subject between Lodges in
both countries; but at the time of which
| am speaking, it had never occurred to
us that we should be called upon to take
any active part in the affair. Had we
supposed that our assistance i'll the ille-
/ Gal and violent act was to be demanded,
most of us would have departed from
our opinion and joined the moderate
party; for we knew that when the first
step in crime has been taken, there is
no safety, and that one error is often
/ productive Of a thousand others. am
more particular in relating what were
! the sentiments Of Canadian Masons
/ with reference to Morgan and his book,
and the proper course to be pursued
/ under circumstances so critical, because
/ precisely the same state Of things eX-
listed in New York; and because Cana
dian Masons have by many been sup
posed to have urged their American
brethren to the adoption and pursuit
Of violent measures.
Time passed on, and we heard Of the
seizure and confinement Of Morgan.
/ We were informed that Morgan was to
be brought to Canada, and put on board
a ship and sent to Europe. This seem
/ ed to rs very rational plan of opera
/ tionS, as far rs the term can be applied
to a proceeding wrong in itself We
entered into the plan, aS cooperation
was said to be necessary; but We were
I doomed to be disappointed, and a few
I of our number were made to drink of
/ the cup Of crime to the very dregs.
The captain Of the ship in which Nor
Gan was to have sailed for Europe sud
denly died, and no other opportunity
offered for banishing him in the manner
proposed. The necessity Of sending
him off in ship manned by Masons
only, must be obvious to every reflect
INC mind We could not trust the un-
initiated, not even had we the means
Of bribing them highly, which did not
/ happen to be our case. Among SO many
to whom the secret would have to be
entrusted, some one would be almost
certain to expose the abduction Of Il
free American citizen; and the dread
Of this was the more pointed, aS the
crime would have been committed by
the subjects Of foreign Monarch, of
whom Americans are naturally Jealous.
All things combined to make us give
up the idea Of sending Morgan to Eng
| land, though we came tOthe conclusion
with deep regret, and with the gloom
lest mticipationS as to what must be
the end Of the Illegal course into when
we had been drawn, more through the
force Of circumstances than from any
preconcciycd design. All the hope We
had was, that another opportunity in
the course of time would offer for send
inc him out Of the country not subject
to the hazards | have enumerated. 1t
was a faint one, but not altogether with
ont consolation.
1t is from this time that my connec-
ton with this unhappy business more
particularly dates. Up to the time of
which | am now speaking, | had not
been more concerned in it than others.
But, from some cause brother, the more
. daring of the American conspirators.
who had resolved in their hearts to 90
all lengths in the awful path on which
they had entered, should it be necessary
for their safety so to do-theSe men, |
say, selected me and some few other Of
the Canadians, rs persons upon whom
they could most rely in the event of
p their resorting to eXtremities They
, took us into their confidence in very
p marked manner and the consequence
was a degree of intimacy far greater
, than would have followed from the or
dinary Masonic tie. We discussed the
, whole matter, in all its bearings, and
} the death Of the offender was darkly
and obScurely limited at i'll our noctu.
. nal consultations. 1t did not, however.
assume other than a shadowy shape
f and the crime itself would have re
- manned mperpetrated, had it not been
- that We had placed ourselves in posi-
ton where Il feathers weight was suf
r ticient to turn the scale against the life
Of the victim of amiStaken view of om
: Masonic obligations. Circumstances
r in themselves trivial, led to the death
rather than the continued confinement
or Punishment of Morgan, as / shall now
; proceed to show.
| Morgan, all the world knows, had
= been confined in the magazine of Fort
= Niagara. The keeper of the Fort was
| a Mason, and a man upon whom We
: could most confidently rely, as he haG
} entered heart and soul into the plan OF
5 abduction, and was ready to 60 far a,
: the worst Of us for the purpose of pre-
t venting Morgan's disclosures, or fol
Y Furnishing a traitor, as we all held Nor
| gan to be. Had he been alone there
; all would have gone as well as the most
/ lenient Of our number could have de
e sired; but his wife was with him, anC
: it was through her conduct that we fell
f ourselves compelled to silence him who
n could have borne testimony against u
+, had he managed to obtain his freedom
4 This woman came to the knowledge OF
4 the fact that some one was confined il
t legally in the fort, and she demanded
: to be made acquainted with the Who'll,
T circumstances of the transaction il
d which we were engaged. Her HUSBAND
t not only refused to comply with he
d request, in the dread that it would lea'
Y to the discovery of the entire matter
d and the arrest and severe punishment
d of all the parties to it: but he endeav
r ored to enforce silence upon her. Thi:
o Of course, she being spirited woman
d only rendered things worse. Disput
? followed, and one quarrel trod fast o
Y the heels Of another, until the wifi
p finally left her husband, and returne
,r for protection to the house of her fatheI