New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-11
TIVE "KNOw. NOTHING" CONVENTION.
ASPIRATIONS AND TRICKS or oFFIct.sttktas.
How the Masses are Humbugged.

aot to bring into any contest caldioates Ho' 80 F
vnepbers but 70 select from the nominees OF the d.
ferept political parties such men "a were American
born spd of the Protestant religion IL AZ tne caaai'
dates were Known to possess these tnen the
member Of the Order le free 70 exercise the
ssc,ve franchise in such az they should think
pyoper in accordance with their political antecedents.
zspu stions for Office were unknown among the inven-
tors Of the Society, or II percbaece they dd manifest
Shsmselves, those who INDUCED them were promptly
and severely cepsured. There are many instances
where men have been taken up and elected 70 office
BY the Order who did not know that they were being
ballot for until the votes were csnvasse1. SO long
q such principles ruledso long az they refused TO
indulge in personal preferences or partisan resent
me nts-s long the Order could refrain from the
leaves and fshes-so long il was on the psth OF duty
and 20 long it was ture to be successful. With ln-
crease OF members came more than pr0portlonate in
crease Of sprants for the places of profit and trust
and not a lev desigI ing men, who thought only 70
make Of the banded brotherhood cats-paws with
which to reach the roasted chestnuts In the snbor
dipste councils it was not uncommon thing TO en-
roll hundred and fifty members at one session. ls
it strange that with such vast accumulatons, there
should be gathered many unworthy to take
part in struggle for the advancement OF great
principle, which demanded not unfrequently the
sacrifice Of personal preferences-the sonderiDg OF
party ties and sometimes the partial abandonment OF
cherished purposes It's portals not strongly guarded
by it's Constu.on-what wonder is Il, that the high
priests at the affairs Of the Order, have proved TO be
ifs most unworihy-its most corrupt-its most exact
ing-and the most designing OF It's proiessed de-
common intellect and entire unftness for the places
thew sought to attain Such has proved t, be the
suit OF its grand officers, there IS hardly one who
does not seek political Preferm,nt. JcsePh W. Bar,
her, the President, would be Mayor of the City of
Eew-York. Mr.. Eblng, the Vice President, would
be Commissioner Of Streets and Lamps. Chauncey
Schafer would be District Attorney Of the County Of
New.York. stephen A. Mum would be Chief Of
Police. Mr. Ullmann, Mr.. Savage and Mr. Whitney,
would be Governors and LieutenantGovernors.
Enough for a sample. Your paper, ample as i is,
would hardly contain the names OF all the members
who are up for nOmnations-in many cases for
"Cowes and market" Ii was this almost universal
desire for position that carried the Council from its
true course, and brought shpsreck and disaster upon
the Order. twill be borne in mind that the CITY OF
New. York and it's immediate vicinity held the con-
trol-the County Of Westchester alone furRishing
from seventy five to hundred Of the votes recorded
There first obtained possession of the Conventon ana
aided by others from the country, ana through 'he
erosses violations of the rules by the President, sue
eeeded in debating what should be done and what
should be left undODe
The most influential among the rural delegates was
The deputy from Ontario County, who was member
Of the Legislature and who came TO the discharge
of his duties in the Council fresh from struggle for
Q denomination in which he had been defeated, be-
cause he had violated his written pledge gwen the
year before that if elected he would give his influence
and his vote for Prohibtory Liquor Law-an act OF
treachery which friend sought to palliate by produc
ing another pledge that he would vote against the
proposed enactment. Another was formerly Corpora
which he held but few months and which, If report
speaks true he abandoned with more OF the Ctys
funds than the fee bill liberal as it is justified his re-
tanning. One Of the candi iates in nomination on
State ticket was another and he left the Council with
the boast that in the three days attendance he had
done more to the election of Horatio Seymour
tAan had been done elsewhere since that gentleman
vas placed in nomination. Another OF the most
prominent boosted that he had by advising the course
which the Council had adopted, secured the election
Of Seymour.
Upon the opening Of the Council Chamber, many of
the delegates from the country who had before at
tended its sttiDgs somewhat surprised to find
that the password had been changed, and that thus
they unable to obtain admission for many hours.
This had been done by the President in violation of
established usage, and without any apparent necee-
sty But upon finally effecting an entrance, the me-
tive for il was quite apparent They had been all DAY
knocking at the DOOR, and while they stood IN
waiting, the business OF the Council was being trans
acted by few Of the chosen ones-the wire-pullers
m the city and their congenial friends from the coun
6y-who had been fOrewsrned and admitted before
The regular hour for opening. They wore too late 70
effect anything, and perfectly powerIess, not
withstanding they had large majority in numbers.
The President ruled constantly in favor Of his own
clique, and none that did net belong to his chosen
snes were permitted have the door; or if perchance
one did, he was put down by the yells Of those who
were supportng-yells in which, as you have before
stated, the voices of Scbaer, and Num- and Lowell,
and Summons, and Sparrow, and Ebllng, and Saund-
err, aud Mallory and Lansing, and Vancott, were
heard in full chorus. They were the men who stood
prominent as the directors and oraces of the society
end whose influence
"Lhe whitening blight.
To BIAS, them IN their boar Of might"
For hours those who had alone heart the good OF
the society and who cherished above all else the
kmeDt which had banded them together, struggled
perseverngly to impress upon the minds Of theee
Semagogues the true policy which they should pursue.
That the great strength Of the Order consisednot in
he members enrolled, but in the profound secrecy
which ito principles eDjon that the true interprea-
ton Of the interest they commanded wAs found in the
act that they had never been defeated that even e1
ercee of power had natural tendency TO weaken the
Order, because 1t rendered IT more difficult to pre-
servo that secrecy Of action and to perpetuate and
widen that vague idea Of its strength on which, in q
great degree, it depends for success; that too fire..
Suently minplpg in elections and the nomination Of
candidates for officers that could exert influence
Tor the correction Of the evils Of which they COM
planned would inevitably destroy the secrecy OF their
operations, increase the jeaousies Of the members,
break down their pysstige abroad, and pave the way
for disruption Of the bonds that held them together
They further urged that of the candidates in
NE Order there possible call for any selection
by the Grand Council, and above all tina: there could
be no possible for the nomination OF az indie
pendent ticket
lanstcs, with the hope Of persuading them 10 cease
their rawlings The adoption Of the policy Of ehoos-
g candidates from the party nominees by the Grand
Coaneu, would enjoin upon the subordipatee the
same course Of action-and ths. would be death.
blow TO the hopes Of ali the would be Mayors and A.
tosneys, and congressman, and Assenblymen. II
Wss tAep own funeral knell, and they were not dis
posed to siDg it, Dsgused with the manifest deter
mipatien Of the officers and their satellites TO do
nothing but what accorded with their purposes and
shaped to their own advancement in entire disregard
OF the intent and interests of the Order large nun
Der of the delegates withdrew from decer stions
Of the Council aud went home.
IL would be impossible to depict fully the manner
n which their deliberations were condr ted What
certain men coupseled was done-whs: Others sug-