en private
associations of laudable views and unimposing numbers, and those whose
magnitude may rivalize and jeopardize the march of regular government.
Yet such a line does exist. I have seen the days, they were those which
preceded the Revolution, when even this last and perilous engine became
necessary; but they were days which no man would wish to see a second
time. That was the case where the regular authorities of the government
had combined against the rights of the people, and no means of
correction remained to them, but to organize a collateral power, which,
with their support, might rescue and secure their violated rights. But
such is not the case with our government. We need hazard no collateral
power, which, by a change of its original views, and assumption of
others we know not how virtuous or how mischievous, would be ready
organized, and in force sufficient to shake the established foundations
of society, and endanger its peace and the principles on which it is
based. Is not the machine now proposed of this gigantic stature? It
is to consist of the ex-Presidents of the United States, the
Vice-President, the Heads of all the executive departments, the members
of the supreme judiciary, the Governors of the several States and
Territories, all the members of both Houses of Congress, all the general
officers of the army, the commissioners of the navy, all Presidents and
Professors of colleges and theological seminaries, all the clergy of
the United States, the. Presidents and Secretaries of all associations
having relation to Indians, all commanding officers within or near
Indian territories, all Indian superintendants and agents; all these ex
officio; and as many private individuals as will pay a certain price
for membership. Observe, too, that the clergy will constitute * nineteen
twentieths of this association, and, by the law of the majority, may
command the twentieth part, which, composed of all the high authorities
of the United States, civil and military, may be outvoted and wielded
by the nineteen parts with uncontrollable power, both as to purpose and
process. . Can this formidable array be reviewed without dismay?

* The clergy of the United States may probably be estimated
at eight thousand. The residue of this society at four
hundred; but if the former number be halved, the reasoning
will be the same.

It will be said, that in this association will be all the confidential
offi