Providence Daily Journal

Mr. Atkinson,

Sir: I have been an attentive observer of the political movements in Newport during the last four days session of each of the Assembly, both in and out of the State House. And as I shall not return home until Monday, it strikes me that I may spend this afternoon agreeably to myself, and not uselessly to my fellow citizens, in giving them through your useful paper, a portion of the results of my observations.

In the first place, I observed that the late Governor and many of his friends, did not leave Newport until the Legislature had adjourned and that the tenor of his conversation on the subject of the election, was, that should you take from his opponent all certificate and anti-masonic votes, it would be found that he (Gov. Fenner) had a majority. You see then that he charges his defeat not to the prevalence of National Republican principles through the State, but to certificate votes and anti masonry. What his objection to certificate votes was, I did not learn; but it is plain that he either considers them as illegal votes, or that they are such as on some future occasion may be taken from his adversary, and perhaps turned in his favor.

With regard to anti masons, his plain purpose is to induce belief, that they are moved by no other principle, than their opposition to masons. Consequently that his defeat is no proof of the triumph of National Republican principles in this State. In other words, that the late election is no proof of the disapprobation of the good people of this State of the political course of the present administration of the general government. From all this I infer, that Governor Fenner and his friends are not satisfied with the beating they have received; that another and perhaps another added to it, will be required to make these gentlemen fully sensible of the truth of the fact, which I doubt not is as well known to you as to myself, that a large majority of the Freemen of this State are National Republicans in principle, and that they will insist upon filling our general offices with men of their own political sentiments. If this be true, it behoves all good men and true, to be on the alert. If we have the battle to fight again, let us not suffer our troops to be scattered and our swords to rust in their scabbards. We have good reason to know the means to which our enemies will resort. They will not hesitate to undermine the fortress, if they cannot carry it by storm. Let the warders of the party be on the wall, that our garrison may have the earliest information of the approach of danger.

I trust, sir, that our opponents are mistaken in the opinion which they entertain of our anti-masonic friends, and that although they are anti masons, they are also National Republicans; that they had united with us in the election of Gov. Arnold, and the present Senate, with a desire to promote the cause of National Republicanism, and not with the expectation of procuring the assistance of this large majority of this State to aid in the persecution of masons. For myself (and for myself alone) I can only say, that if they or any of them, voted with us in the late election with such views, the sooner they declare off the better. Either they or I must be much mistaken in the character of the present ruling party, if they can ever lend themselves to such a purpose. In my opinion, sir, it is possible to be an anti mason without being political anti mason, and that it is equally possible to be a mason, without blending masonry in any way with our political rights, duties, or concerns. The spirit of political anti masonry is of the same character with that of political masonry, and are both equally reprehensible. I think we can require no better proof than the late election, that masons have not combined for any political purpose. Truth requires it of me to say, that from what I have seen in my few days residence in Newport. I think that there is too much reason to fear that some anti masons are flattering themselves with the idea of holding the balance of power between the two great parties of the State, and that they shall be able through the fears of the National Republican party, occasionally to stab a mason with impunity, and perhaps unperceived. I do not agree that they hold such a balance of power; but even if it is true that they do, and if it is certain that that party to whom they unite themselves will be victorious; if such is their aim. I insist on it, and I repeat it, that the sooner they separate themselves from us, the better for us, Will they better their own condition or forward such a purpose, by taking the side of our adversaries? I have too good an opinion, even of them to think so. Woe un. to the party which shall call to its aid and receive into its embrace another party with such objects.

The present ruling party in this State, I trust, will endeavor to elect to office the best men without regard either to their masonry or anti-masonry. If they yield more than this to anti-masonry, their career will be short. I call on all good National Republicans who are at the same time anti masons, to leave their anti masonry at home, and not bring it into the Legislature with them. Let them make use of it as much as they please in keeping down the growth and extension of this society, in dissuading men from joining it, in lessening its influence and exposing its follies, but not in persecuting its members. I warn them that for every drop of masonic blood which they shall shed, some one else will shed two drops of theirs. All good men of both parties will unite to prevent persecution and oppression. If you have the power to induce the National Republican party to exclude from office a single mason, for no other reason than because he is a mason, the people will avenge his cause. On the other hand, if the masonic part of our friends (of whom I know we have a great many) should be the cause of injury to one of you, because of your opposition to masonic principles, the people, their masters, as well as yours, will cause them to rue it. Persecution is no part of the object of a government where the sovereignty rests in the people. I had intended to have given some details of the proceedings of the Legislature in relation to the election of the Sheriff of the County of Providence, on which I found my apprehensions of the mistakes of some of our anti masonic friends, but as I have already trespassed too far, I must refer your readers to the reports of the proceedings of the Legislature, which I dare say will answer the purpose.

You will excuse me, sir, for deviating from the common course in signing myself what I am not, instead of what I am.

No Mason.
No Political Anti-Mason.