The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VI

194

WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1855

with other potentates have crushed the ancient order in their dominions. In our country we have seen the portals leading into its sacred temples, for a while closed and deserted. Secret societies were then denounced. Thank heaven, that cloud of fa- naticism, which, for a while overshadowed it, has been dispelled by the light of reason, and it still continues to extend the blessings of its principles to thousands of disconsolate widows and orphans. The opponents of the American order exclaim, it is a political association! and therefore ought not to be secret. I reply, YES, IT IS SECRET AND ITS NAME DENOTES ITS OBJECTS. Is it the first secret political society which has been organized in the United States? It is as well known as any other historical truth, that Gen. Washington and many of his compatriots of the Revolution, were members of the Cincinnati society, in which, if I am not under misapprehension, no man is eligible to member- ship, even now, unless he is a native American, since the heroes who fought in the revolution passed off the stage of life. Was this not a secret society? Was it not purely political? Was not Gen. Washington, at the time of his death, President of this society? I would really like to know what the Anti-Americans think of this scrap of history. They cannot deny it. Then, I will ask them, what danger has grown out of this secret political society? Is this the only secret political society which has existed in our country for more than half a century? The Columbian order-known as the Tammany Society, highly influential, main- tains its existence without danger to the liberties of the country. Gen. Jackson was a member of this society, and I know promi- nent statesman throughout the nation, who are members of it, and as I myself am one, and understand its principles, I can assert, they are patriotic and national. What say the Anti- Americans to these facts? Can any sane man believe that Gen. Washington, or Gen. Jack- son, would have united with any association or order not purely American? Would either have entered into political league when secrecy was enjoined, if he had not approved of the principles of secrecy in political associations? From my knowledge of WASHINGTON, the sacrifices he made for his country, united with his fervid patriotism and his preference for everything Ameri- can, I cannot doubt for one moment, if he were now living, he would cheerfully sanction the principles of the American order. From my personal and familiar knowledge of the principles of GEN. JACKSON, I am confident that were he l-iving, to counteract

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