Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-08
THE "AMERICAN ORDER IN VIRGIL
NIA-REPUDIATIoNO OF THE BIRTH
DAY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
Ron. JOHN MINOR Bolts.

IHE " M EHisAN ohDERo IN VIRGIL
NIA-REPUDIATIoNO OF THE BIRTH
DAY OF GEORGE WARRINGTON
HON. JOHN MINOR Bolts.
Such is the caption of an article we find in the
National iateiigeneer of Thursday morning We
had supposed the american Order" was de-
funct, and especially in Virginia We had never
expected another spark from its smouldering
ruins. We transfer to our columns the proceed
lngs of the "American Order in Richmond, of
the 23d and Gath instants, to let readers see
that though the snake is Dead the tail still wags
signs Of vitality. Alas! we apprehend, not even
the breath of the Immortal Bolts can raise from
the dead this slain Goliah, who had SO impiously
defed the armies Of the living Democracy! What
if he ioas an "orgnal" member of the Order;
what if he did, as we have heard, grow cold to-
wards themi what if the rippes which painfully
separate him for from their councils,
have been converted into smooth and harmoni
Gus water still, OH Immortal Bolts, it is not
even vouchsated to you to cry TO the troubled
elements of your .7merican Order, 'sPeace! be
still Your American Order is passed that, al
belt we may admire the desperate valor with
which you cling to sinking ship. II is more
valorous, though not so sagacous, as the little
quadruped. We never coveted the art Of paint
ing till now, but we really should like, with
something more ife-like than the pen, TO draw a
picture OF the scene which arose before US. upon
reading the rery limited proceedings of the
American Order" in Richmond Will our
friend Hubbard give US the picture; The subject
should be lion coltchant, raising his royal pres
ence above hopeless ruin, and vainly belchng
forth terrible roars of renonstrance to his faith
less fraternity. We like pluck, and though we
may SORROW for the faulty which binds man 10
fallen fortunes, still our friend Bolts is a bold
man, and luxuriates more in their elements than
IN the general sunshine Of prosperity. Besides,
it Is pleasant way to pass the tedious hours OF
the retirement to which he has been assigned by
a too grateful constituency To a restless spirit
like our friend, excitement is as essential as the
rain of Heaven upon our crops But we must
not detain our readers longer from the proceed
ngs OF the "know-nothing Council for the East
ern District Of Virginia
And first, it is worthy of remark, that our re-
spected friends of the InleHigeneer, with their
wonted adherence to old things, insist upon call
ing the convention the ''kNow-NoruING" Con
venton. 1t is not so, neighbor; it is the ".7mer-
lean Order, and we must admonish YOU that, if
you do not read up to your party, you will, ere
long, be left far out Of sight
The proceedings were of spasmodic character
As, for example, "The Convention assembled at
four o'clock" First motion, THAT the Council
adjourn to meet at halfpast eight O'Clock.
Then ait adjourned till halfpast ten O'Clock Fri
day morning" Then it met at halfpast ten
O'Clock Friday morning, and then delivered it
self of its mighty progeny ''Pariuriunt monies;
nascitur, ridicuus mus"
Whereas" &C., &C., that the meeting of the
National Know-nothing Convention, on the 22d
of February, (the birthday of the great Wash
ington,) to nominate candidates for President and
Vice President, "would endanger the prospect OF
success, " if such nominations were made on thai
dGy-therefore resolved TO postpone it till the
other national day, the fourth of July, 1885, or 10
some time thereGJouts.
After this weighty business, which constituted
large portion Of the proceedings Of the Gamer
lean Know-nothing Council Convention" the
Hon. John Minor Bolts offered the following
resolution:
"That this Council is decidedly in favor Of
such notifications, in our constitution and ritual
as will ENABLE us to dispense with the religious
test question now established, with all unneees-
Snrg secrecy in our transactions, as well as the
TEST OATHS now administered but, mas
much a union Of the Eastern and Western
counties Of this State is about to take place, we
forbear TO adopt any resolution on these several
points, and content ourselves with unanimou.
recommendation, that such notifications may be
adopted By the United State Council, which i,
10 assemble in Richmond on the 18th day Of Jan.
uary next"
This resolution was unanimously adopted and
through il, the ow-nothing Order was, by
fair inference, unanimously consigned to the
"tonib Of the Capulets" What remains Of Sam
The Know-nothing Council have robbed him OF
his arms and legs, and left him but paspinp
head, quiyering trunk. Two things are clearly
and automatically established by this resolution Of
Mr.. Bolts First, that there were religion,
tests, that there was !" unnecessary secresy in
their ransGctions,' and that there were "iest
-oaths administered" and second, that either
from considerations Of policy or change Of con-
yiction, these elements Of the organization have
been dissolved. Now, the .frst, we have most
generally heard denied-but as Mr. Botts's rcso-
luton admits their existence, what reasons have
operated 70 change these main and most obiec-
uonabIe features Of this once mysterious Order
We should like to hear from cur friend.
few months ago they swore war to the knife
against all Catholics They carried their pro.
scriptive system back to the third and fourth gen
erations-ther "secreey' was deemed 70 necessary,
that the members Of the Order were not even
allowed the humble privilege of telling lis name
Indeed, We remember an instance, where De-
mocratic speaker in the late contest, ia virrina,
styled the (" .76rsriean order" the " Know-no-
thing Order, and he was instantly rebuked by
his adversary, and told that there was "no Know
nothing Orderl' What then, 1, the nam,
Of your party" "MY OBLIGATIONS DO Sor Al
Low NE TO say.
All I" test oaths," too are done away with by
r. T. lat "A