193
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855
Order; or its principles. I feel that my fellow citizens, in whose service I have been so long engaged, are entitled to my views, which in their opinion, in any way, affect the public interest. At an earlier period of the State canvass, it might have been charged upon me, that I was endeavoring to influence the elec- tions in our State; but as the election is so near at hand, that my opinion cannot have general circulation, I cannot be charged with interference. You may rest assured, that in relying on my candor and sin- cerity, you will meet with no disappointment. Owing to the heated state of the public mind, the influence of Federal patron- age, and the desperate efforts which are making to smother the American mind, I expect to receive a full share of vituperation and abuse. A belief, too, that the election in VIRGINIA HAS STRAN- GLED THE EFFORTS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, in regaining their legitimate rights, and vindicating their inherent principles, is, to my belief, fallacious. I regard the result in the Virginia elec- tion as highly encouraging to the principles of the Order. The efforts were of the most Herculean and untiring order, within the State, and aided and backed by the Federal patronage. In a party contest in the State, an interference on the part of the Federal administration, would have been deemed an outrage. As it is, the old orthodox state of Virginia has received and rec- ognized the Federal interference in her State elections. The Democracy of Virginia will yet awake to the proper appreciation of the rights of their commonwealth and the extent of their Fed- eral power. In treating of a subject that has been so generally and elabo- rately discussed as that of the American Order, it would be diffi- cult to present anything original in the way of argument-hence my aim will be, to offer my deductions and conclusions from the facts and arguments of others, and to glance at the causes which have given rise to the present excitement. The movement, I regard as one growing out of a great crisis in the affairs of our nation, and the precursor of a sound, healthful, and vigorous nationality, which will be commensurate to solve and carry out the great principles of free government, and to prevent the lib- erties of the country from being destroyed by the machinations of demagogues and factiorusts, whilst they continue to chant the Syrian song of "no danger." At the same time they cry out, beware of the danger of secret societies. It is true that secret societies have always been dangerous to despots and tyrants. They have even denounced and proscribed Masonry. The Pope
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