Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-08-23
The 0Know Nothings.n

gard to new element which has spr1ng
up in our elections. 1t first manifested
itself in some of the Northern States
where the voting is done by secret bal
lot, when, upon counting the votes, the
public has been astonished by the cleo
ton Of some man who was not supposed
to be candidate, or the candidate whom
It was thought least likely to succeed
These unexpected results very naturally
led the people to enquire into the cause,
and it was not long before the existence
of a secret political association was discov-
elcd. W hen il was known that such an
organization really did exist, the next
thing to be ascertained was its object and
manner of operation. This information
was finally obtained from persons and
presses, that, while they pretended to
" know nothing" of the existence Of such
an organization, averred that so-and-so
were the principles, and this-andthat the
platform of the association, if any such re-
ally did exist. By these means the objects
and aims Of the " Know Nothings." as
they are called. have been asccrtained.-
Their plan of operating has also been dis
covered, as we'll as their manner Of adj
hitting new members, and the obligations
imposed upon them.
We have not space to devote to their
entire rigmal ole. but will give sufficient
to enable our readers 10 form very cor
rect opinion of the society. We had
copy Of their platform, taken from the
" American Crusader and Know Moth
ing " which We had carefully laid away
and intended TO have given, here :; but
upon looking for it find that ID has been
lost, stolen-for aught we know, by a
member Of the order, since it is known
that Council Of them has been, or is
about being organized in this place. We
will, however, extract from the initiatory
oaths of the order, enough to show what
are their objects. In the oath or obIiga-
ton taken in the second degree, is the
following:
And l furthermore promise and
swear that I 1ciH aIO0ys conform to tie eoill
Of tile majority Of the members Of this Or
der, IN the selection Of candidates to I'LL every
office Of Aonor. profit or trust, aOithin the
gift ofthe people; provided such candi-
dates shall be born Of American parents
on American soil, and shall have been
educated in American institutions, and
that l will use all the influence may pos
sess to elect all such candidates whom i
may know to be opposed to all foreign
influence, POpery, Jesuitism and Catholi
clsm. aOithout any hesitation on my part
eOhateOer. And L furthermore promise
and swear that will strictly conform to
and abide by the oath have now taken,
and that I riU stric: obedience pay to the
Constitution, LaaOs. Rules. Ritual and
E:licis of tie honorable Grand Council of
this Order, of the State of -. and 10
the By Laws Of - Council No. -, 10
which | now belong. or TO those of any
other Grand or Subordinate Council from
which may hereafter hail"
In the third degree are the following
oalhs:
l also promise and swear that when
ever | may vote at any election, that vote
shall IN all cases be given for native born
american cIizens only. and that l will ev-
er seek the political advancement Of those
men who are good and true members OF
this Order.
81 also promise and swear that l will
ever contribute my means in such sums
as can spare withG2t personal inconve-
nience, to the advancement Ct our views
and to the extension of American princi-
Piles through the medium Of the Grand
Council of the State of ---.
TO all these and those l do most sim
cerely promise, declare and swear, bind &.
ing myself under no less a penalty than
that Of having my grave tramplcd upon by
foreigners, and to have my memory ours
ed by my children and my chiIdrcn's
children, as traitor tie their welfare, to
my country and to my God. So help me
God and witness my obligation"
Oh, Lordy
Such are the PRINCIPLES Of the ORDER
Now we will give their manner Of making
members
In order to ascertain who are proper
subjects to enter this Jesuitical crusade
against religious liberty and the accident
Of mans birth, one of the order will
enter into casual conversation with a
gentleman, and by magnifying the infu-
ence Of foreigners and catholics a thou
sand fOld-telIing horrid tales about the
arming of Catholic churches to put
down liberty" and the monopolizing of
all the offices by foreigners, endeavors to
prepare his mind for their bigoted and
seclarian doctrines. If he seems to sym
pashize sufficiently with the cunning pros