Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-08-28
ThurIow Weed Writes n Letter and Dis
eus-es the Subiect--IIe Declares that
Morgan was Killed by MasOns. "

eusses the subiect--He Declares that
Morgan was Killed BY lIasons. Esd
Thurlow Weed in lengthy letter
brings up the Morgan affair, which
created so great an excitement in New
York State fifty years ago. 1t is clear
from the letter that Thurlow Weed has
no doubt that Morgan was murdered,
whatever may be the opinion as to the
identity Of the body found year after
his disappearance and believed to be that
of man named Monroe, of Canada.
The argument he makes is in answer to
the assumption that Morgan could not
have been murdered, because the Ma
sons could have had no "adequate mo-
tive for his assassination. Mr.. Weed
says that no intention of killing him
existed in the minds of those who were
connected with his abduction He had
been arrested on charge of larceny in
order to prevent the publication of his
book, in which it was understood the
secrets of Masonry would be revealed.
He was imprisoned in Fort Niagara, and
it was intended to convey him to the far
] West, where he was to remain in charge
of the Indians. Whether the Indians
were Masons or not does not appear, but
they were evidently obedient to the
wishes of the order. But here the plan
failed. The Canadian Masons refused
to assist in the affair, and the captors of
the apostate member were embarrassed.
They could not Danish Morgan, and
they could not keep him in Fort Niagara.
Mr.. Weed thus tells the story:
After Morgan's manuscripts were
seized at Batavia it became necessary, in
the Judgment of those concerned, to
separate him from Miller, his publisher.
That object was effected by Morgan
arrest on charge of larceny, on which
he was taken to Canandaigua and con
fined in the Ontario county Jail. Here
assurances were given by Canadian
that if Morgan was taken to Niagara
Captain Brandt, an Indian chief, would
provide q home for him in a far West
fur company. Confding in this as
surance Morgan was secretly conveyed
from Canandaigua to Fort Niagara, O
distance of one hundred and twenty
miles. By this time many of the most
influential citizens of Canandaigua
Rochester, Clarkson, Gaines, Lockport
and Lewiston were necessarily let into
the secret. After Morgan was confined
in the fort those who brought him there
crossed over the river to attend the
meeting of a lodge, by which it was ex
pected that Morgan would be received
and sent west but after long anG
anxious consideration the Canadian lodge
refused to become parties to, or com
plicated in, the affair. This occasionet
serious embarrassment. They could no
go further, and it seemed dangerous tx
a recede. Two or three days of bewilder
ing anxieties brought large number 0
men high in the order to Lewiston
where Knights Templars encampmen
was inaugurated. All knew that Morgan
was confined in the magazine at For
Niagara, and all were greatly disquietet
by that knowledge. While at the table
after dinner, the chaplain and orator o
the day gave sentiment so signifcan
that all eyes and thoughts were turne'
toward Fort Niagara.
Immediately afterward Colonel King
as stated in my letter, was driven in
carriage to the fort, accompanied b
John Whitney, of Rochester Mr.. Club
buck, of Lewiston Mr.. Garside, a Ca
madam, and Mr.. Howard, of Buffalo
Colonel King had been an officer of til
United States army. Whitney was
stone mason, Chubbuck, farmer, Gal
side, q butcher, and Howard, book
binder; all men of correct habits an
good character, and all, I doubt MOI
were moved by an enthusiastic but mos
: misguided sense of duty. L knew Co
t onel King and John Whitney intimat,
r ly. Both would have shrunk from th
= commission of known crime, and "
t both, impelled by the delusive idea ths
+ they. were discharging a duty, partic
pated in the commission of the highe,
il crime. OF all the persons, connecte
n with the abduction, arrest, imprisonmel
h and subsequent fate of Morgan, thel
y was not one within my knowledge WI
IS did not possess and enjoy the respe
W and confidence of his fellow citizens
n was not strange, therefore, that fac
3, subsequently established beyond denia
d were at first very generally and indi
g nantly rejected. The people would n
IN believe that respectable citizens we
lie guilty of open and gross violations
s. law, and yet none but respectable Gil
lie zens were thus complicated, none
in whom, however, intended or apprehen
0. ed a catastrophe. Nor would that cata
m trophe have occurred but for the unfor
lie seen and infelicitous conjuncture of i
lie fculties and circumstances which I ha
t. related.
l. A Terrible Experience. 4s..