Washington telegraph., 1854-10-18

traitors curse never fall upon your head.
The party then enter. That our account
might be truthful and perfect, we were IA
vored yesterday afternoon with view of a
regiment headquarters as it is when a can
Gidate is presented, and more sublime
sight We never witnessed. The candidate
enters room but family Lighted, yet with
sufficient light to make each object distin-
guishable At both ends and in the centre
of each side, under canopies of the stars
and stripes, are the officers Of the regiment,
dressed entire in the old continental Uniform.
The three-cornered hats, the shad-belly coats
without trimming, the knee breeclcs aud
buckles, and the flowing white wiss-pre-
sent picturesque scene in the dusIy light
In front of the Commandant, stands the
Goddess of Liberty. erect, holding in her
hands a shield upon which is a motto
which we are not allowed to publish. Op-
posite her. at the other end of the room, is
tableau representing America destroying
the demon Of party.
The members are formed on each side
in platoons, arrayed in a regalia we cannot
describe, but presenting sublime appear
ance
Between the Guard, the candidate is es-
corted into the room. A halt is made for
few seconds, that he may have time to look
about him. To the slight tap of a muffied
drum, the guard then move slowly around
the ball. Every figure, save the moving
guard, look like statues, SO noiseless is ev-
erything. The candidate is at length taken
before the .Adjutant-when the following &C.
A9jutant--Hail, countrymen, hail
Patriotic hearts welcome you here, foi with
such as you aid us to our country still is
safe. You are now about to pledge your
all to your native land, and it is my duty to
tell you that the act is no force. Before
high Heaven, and these, your countIymen,
the solemn work must be done, and your
oath viii be recorded above And It's well
you take it, for it may save you and your
children, from shackles, worse than those
which now bind the children of men, IN the
old word. And whenl you take it, remem-
Der that it must be kept, for Columbia's
sons have dccreed that this (holling up n
dagger shall be the traitors doom. Com
rades, conduct our countryman to the Colo
mel, for obligation, instruction and advice.
To the solemn tap of the drum, the
guard again move across the room, and
bring the candidate face to face with the
Colonel
CoLoael-(to candidate Are you ready
for the solemn obligation of this order
Cag3djdate-I am.
Colonel-Guard, to duty. (The guard
point their bayoncts at the candidates
breast.) Ensign, advance. CTho ensign
approaches with the colors Of the regiment,
and the candidate is made 70 knoel upon
one knee, and to place one hand on a copy
of the Holy Writ, and the other upon the
flag of his country) You viii now repeat
after me the following obligation.
Before high Heaven, and in TIE pres
ence of these my countrymen, l, John
Smith, do most solemnly declare that | am
devoted to the institutions and government
of the United States Of America, which
country is my native land ard that desire
them to flourish and prosper, that my coun-
trymen and their descendants, forever may
enjoy the blessings of free government
Therefore, | do most solemnly renounce and
denounce all political demagogues, or men
who aim to live solely off of public Office,
let them profess whatever principles they
may, and in the presence of these, my coun-
trymen, [ swear that | viii never hereafter
vote for any such, or for any Roman Catho-
lie for office. And l Go further declare,
and swear, that in voting for public officers,
hereafter my preference shall be for men
born OF the soil and nominated by this or
der, provided they are equal in qualifca-
tons and integrity to such as may run
against them. And do further swear. that
from this moment, to the hour of my death,
l viii keep sacred all the secrets of this
order, and viii never divulge them to
any person, whatsoever unless authorized
by the authorities of the same. | further
promise that if my connection with this or
der shall cease, or i = /
will consider this oath binding to the end Of
my life. So help me God"
The candidate then kisses the Bible and
the flag, when he is raised to his feet. and
all shout, Welcome, comrade :" The
guard then escort him TO the Major. who
instructs him in the secrets of the order,
which are not, of course in the book. He
is there presented with what is called the
Legion of Liberty" and "Columbia's
Own" which we presume contains certain
emblems indicative of membership. He is
assigned TO his mess and informed as to
who is hereafter to command him in emer
gencies. The guard then escort him to
his seat, where he is received with militia
ry salute, and pronounced 'one of them"
This ends the initiatory ceremonies, which
are certainly beautiful and impressive
OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES.
When the hour for opening a Regiment
arrives, the Colonel bids the drummer give