The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-25
From The Boston Daily Advertiser.


@knownothng association with the addresses made to
candidates for admission. We unable as have be
fore observed TO for the authenticity OF this doeu
ment; but we have 10 doubt it. Its purport
taes with all that has appeared before the public in ref
eence 10 the nature and design OF this association which
has of late acquired notorety throughout the country
Whether the particular forms described the document
alluded TO not correctly reported Of very little inn
portnnee; but regard the growth Of political organi
zaon Of this kind aiming evidently by concerted effort
extend itself throughout the country and by secret com
biDaton control the elections event of serious i'm
porance and deserving thoughuy weighed by good
citizens and good men.
When say that the precise forms Of initiation OBJ
served great importance ought in respect
qualify the remark If these correctly given
in the Cincinnati Enquirer they consist in part of
cesson of oas keep the secrets OF the association On
this point therefore would remark that to administer
take such oath is in Massachusetts, violation OF
law, and is made penal by express statute Every good
citizen therefore before he proceeds to take IT. viii do well
inquire whether he is willing patriot and
Der Of the community to set the example Of such viola
ton Every conscientious man. also win do well farther
to reflect that apart from this Illegally in taking
necessary and still illegal oath he violates the di-
vine law and does what in him lies TO weaken the power
of that safeguard of peace and welfare of society which
consists in the sanctity Of oath Nothing so surely
tends 10 produce this the repetition of unnecessary
We make another remark in this connexion The docu-
ment in question appears intimate if rightly un-
aersand the passage chat persons applying for adnis-
sion are told in the naory address that in consequence
OF having taken the oath Of secrecy if they should be
placed before legal tribunal and there sworn to tell The
truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, they
could not for their reveal the of their assoc
ates this signifies that members Of this association
are by their oath of secrecy, excused from tesying in
court when legally called upon, to anything touching
the order within their knowledge apprebend that they
will be told by any lawyer that this is great mistake
The unlawful oath they take to keep the secrets OF the
ISOLATION will exempt them from the obligation to
obey the lawful oath administered in court justice If
having sworn tell the truth the whole truth and moth
ing but the truth they fail to do they guilty of per-
Jury If the expression you could not for your iioes
veal the name Of your associates that you viii be
p TO death by your associates if you reveal their names
have only TO say that such putting to death, under
whatever pretenee il may be justified would be murder
This part the ceremonial however, if genuine is de-
signedy expressed in obscure manner and evidently
intended convey threat in language which may if ne
cessary, be explained away
The main object of the association appears be to create
native-American party. The candidate for admis
sion is questioned in this manner:
Are you willing all the influence you possess in
favor of nave-born American citizens for all offices of
honor trust and profit in the gift of the people and do you
promise to vote for them to the exclusion of all aliens and
foreigner and Roman Catholics in particular in all local
State government offices "
Ii is necessary that this object is altogether
unconstitutional and at with the spirit Of gov
eminent with the state Of society, and the public good
Since the first settlement the country have favored
immigration With one single excepton--that of being
eligible the presdencythe constitution makes dis
ncton the native and the adopted citizen The law
provides easy Of naturalization and after these have
been complied WITH il knows difference between those
who in the language of Washington citizens by birth
and those who citizens by choice On what ground of
propriety then secret association step in
and with -reyerent and forbidden forms of adjuraon
establish supplementary constitution, deprving millions
eiowiti1eIls Of tuse rights which the constitution
and the law say they shall enjoy We say nothing
of the berality Of principle which would place under
the ban of prescription such Judge CASTOR of North
Carolina the present chief justice Of the United States
and Charles Carroll of Carrollton.
The forms of initiation reported in the Richmond En-
qurer make show OF referring the revolutionary
The candidate asked this question DID either Of your
ancestors take part in the American revolutions" if
this inconsistent with granting Catholic citizen
the present day his proporoa,e share of places of trust
and profit Are the leaders OF this association
quained with the address which made by the reyou
tionary Congress TO the people of Canada in May l7T5
Their language
"Snce the conclusion of the late war, (T63 have
been happy in considering felowspbects and from
the of the present plan for subugang the
continent have viewed you fellow-suferers with
As were both entitled by the bounty of ndugent
Creator TO freedom and being both devoted by the cruel
edicts OF despotic administration to ruin per-
occed the fate Of The Proesa and Catholic colonies to be
strongly linked together and therefore invited you to join
with us in resolving to be free"
The reference in this last is the address TO the
inhabitants of Quebec which adopted at the first
siGn of the Continental Congress in October IVA 1t
remarkable paper drawn with extraordinary skill and
power. BY way persuading the Canadian French to
make common with the AngloAmerican colonies, it
introduces Monesquieu addressing them the
tous of things then existing We The follow
ing from the appeal placed in the mouth of the
great French philosopher induce his countymen join
the reyolted English colonies:
The injuries Of Boston have reused and associated every
colony from Nova Scotia Georgia Your province is the
only link wanting complete the bright and strong chain
ofUnion Nature has joined your country theirs do
Join political interests FOR their safes, they
feper scA desert and betroy you n
Let il be recoected that this is the language addressed
by the Continental Congress the Catholics of Canada
That there may be mistake that point and TO show
with how little justice this association refers to the
revolution for sanction of their proscrptve course
quote the sentence:
We TOO well acquainted with the beraliiy of sent
ment distinguishing your nation TO imagine that difference
religion arfN prejudice against hearty ruth
You know the transcenden nature freedom eevates
those who unite in her above all such ionaed
frtEcs The Swiss cantons furnish memorable proof OF
this truth Their Union is composed Of Roman Catholic
and Protestant Sales living in the utmost concord and
peace with each other and thereby enabled since they
brnvey vndicsted their freedom defy and defeat every
tyrnnt that has invaded themr
The committee which reported this admirable address
consisted of Judge Cushing of Massachusetts, Richard
Henry Lee of Virginia and Mr. John Dickinson Of Penn
sylvania- all Protestants-