The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-05

to. was induced to Join the Order, from the
fact that it was urged by officers THAT | knew
belonged to it) that its secret aims were 20 over
throw Slavery and lntemperance, as well a
Catholicism.
The Council in this place, at first, was, in
the main, composed of good Anti Slavery and
Temperance men, and all in the Council voted
for NJ. ii. Clark, except three. But the men,
IN the main, who compose the Order at the
present time, are not those who composed it at
the time Of the election, and the reasons for
this change are briefly these: AS soon as the
Grand Deputy of this county, who is the stool
pigeon Of the Grand Council, or rather of a few
of the wire-workers in New York city, heard
how the Council in this place voted, he reported
to those who work the wires, as above stated;
aud notwithstanding this Council had three
delegates elected as members of the Grand
Council, for three years, we were informed.
through their Grand Deputy, that we could not
be heard through our delegate member of the
Grand Council, until we had passed the test,
which, in due time, would be administered by
the Grand Head At last, after patient waiting,
for our doom or pardon-which, we knew not
the Grand Officers made their appearance, and
offered US pardon for the awful sin we had
committed, in voting for Clark, if we would
take the test and what was that? Why, It was
only granting them the little favor of taking
upon us a solemn obligation to never 90 tho
like again; or, in other words that We would
hereafter vote for whoever might be put in
nomination by the will of the majority in
Grand Council. Now, in order for the reader
to understand how ungrateful we were in ref1-
sing to take the test, | have only TO show how
this Grand Council is made up. In the first
place, a dozen-less, or more-in New York
city, form the Grand Head they arc all of one
anil ha ana ! -
ty Deputy, Of the same stripe, with instruc-
| tons to form Council in every town in the
| county, and, at the very same time of organi-
zlng, to see that three delegates are elected, who
are to be, if possible, Of the same stripe. and to
hold their office for three years, which will take
them beyond the next Presidential canvass.
Reader, was not that we'll planned?
After looking at the matter cooIly, we con-
cluded that nominations made by such a body
of men, possibly, might not suit us. So We
concluded to back water, and let them take the
test who could. So, by reason of the awful sin
we committed, in voting for Clark, and in refu-
sing pardon on such easy terms, we were to be
communicated, and cast out of the New
York Know Nothing Synagogue, and have our
names posted throughout the Order in the
Union, as persons unfit for refined society,
unfit to be employed or countenanced in any
undertaking whatever; in short, rebels against
God and man. Well, reader, in order to avoid
such an awful catastrophe to ourselves and our
posterity, we withdrew our allegiance to New
York dictation, and disbanded, and are now IA
free as air.
The organization that spoke of before, that
were willing to take the test, and rum with It,
are now in full blast; and powerful thing it is,
numbering some thirty men, or more. So
much for Know Nothingism in Penfeld; and,
as far | can understand, it is a pretty fair ex.
pose of what it is in other places.
Yours, for the truth, A.C.