The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-22

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TVS Know Ndfalsos Whethef The 3.
= Herald be . national organ Of the Know
Noah,nr Associstion or NOT that paper g Ger
..,nlv the most activo Of my Ne SEQ IN it,
support Of them, and puts forth great ma.
nv statements concerning them purporting TO
be authoritative. The Herald Of "wednesday
contains an account Of 1.-THE origin, pro-
gress and present condition Of The Order,
from which we gather the following state
ments
The seemingly ubiquitous order was
founded in the spring Of 1850, in the first ward
Of the city of New York. The first president
was an intelligent printer, who soon died OF
small pox, and was buried in Potter's Field,
where his grave Is not marked by stone or
chisel He was succeeded in Office by the
founder Of the Order, who still lives in the
first ward. He is quiet but decisive man
During his presidency some disafection to-
wards him occurred, and presently assuming
the form Of opposition to his administration,
he was elected by comp d. etaf. This act
was regarded as grievance not to be forgot
ten as will be seen. The new president was
an active, energetic man, and a popular ora
tor who had graduated in the Methodist Min
istry.
Up to July, 1852, the ca dirant Methodist
and his associate officers constituted the
grand Council of the State of New York
But in the interval, what the Herald calls an
informal council had been formed. Some OF
the officers in this council, suspected OF a
sympathy with the founder they were sum-
marily displaced These elected persons and
the founder above referred to, and their
friends, thereupon established another coun.
Gil in the fourth ward, with professional
gentleman of ability at its head.
The split being established. the new coun-
Gil formed new ritual for itself and third
degree to distinguish it from the old or two
degrees order. The two, according to the
Herald, went on prosperously- new hav-
ing the advantage in ability, and the old in
the sympathies of the masses. The breach
only involved forms, and the two advocating
the same principles, seemed by their exer-
tons to inspire each other with activity.
In June, SO, the two were united by mu-
tual consent, the two Presidents resigning.
new national head was elected and the
whole order inaugurated under a new and
improving auspices. In the process of the
fusion, however, difficulty as to terms of
settlement arose in the 18th ward, where
also the founder" before noticed, commended
that the new lodge was too much iberalized
SIS to membership The result was another
split, the 18th ward council organizing State
and national councils. The united councils,
says the Herald, spread with unexampled
rapidity in the United States, and number in
New York State alone 1000 councils, repre-
senting l2O, 900 members. The disunionists of
the 18th ward, the Herald says aided by some
indiscreet legislation in the united councils
made considerable progress and formed l54
councils in New York and 80 in New Jersey.
The Herald says yet third council was
formed in October "a, under the auspices Of
the "arch agitator,' Seward, and Thurlow
Weed, to defeat the State nominations; but the
Herald considers it powerless for good or
evil and says it must die. 1t concludes with
the following flourish as to the prospects of
putting "Sana" in the White House:
The order, with steady aim and purpose, Its gaze
fastened steadfastly on the White House for the
residence of Sam In sc, with the full determination
to possess and occupy it. is, In the meanwhile
steadily progressing, and in its unprecedented con
quests with its wonted magnanimi.y, Is imparting
the rights of sepulture to the slain thousands Of
wings and democrats, who, by this avalanche of
sentiment, have been consigned to "the tombs of
the Capulets never again to be resurrected to the
popular vision.
Thus speaks the Herald We see that SAM,
is getting to be much used name in refer
ence to Know Nothin4 ism. The Herald ap
ponds to its cloudy history of the order a
letter from Cincinnati giving an account of
the deliberations of the late National Con.
vention of Know Nothings, which had some
thing to say upon the question of who is to
be their ''Sam' in the White House, We
condense it elsewhere.
THE New YORK TINES on BARNUM. The
New York Times has very caustic as well
as very just review of Barnum's miserable
book. Barnum, by shameless confession
Of his unprincipled career, has helped to
damn himself if not to everlasting fame, GER
tainly to fame of its kind, as much prolong-
ed as it is possible, considering Barnums
calibre and the nature of his performances
We extract passage or two from the Times
criticism:
The great fact which Mr. Barnum sets forth in
this biography OF himself is that his success has been
achieved, his wealth acquired, his rennta,ion 90
consideration established, by the Systematic. adroit
and persevering plan of obtaining money under
false pretences from the public at large. This Il
the beginning and the end Of his enterprise and the
great secfei OF MS success. He seems occasionally
phrases and forms of speech He calls il humbuo.
and, under the seeming eandor of confession. pal.
lIases 1t by avsriety of apologies and expanations
we must take men as we find them-human nature
encouragement like TO be deceived if il is 90 cIev
erly done - to seem amusine no wrong Il done IL