Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-23
The "Know Sothing" Party.

w uucCt sOme muHlclphl clectloIi anu 70 pre-
vent Patrick from mounting the poicemans
star. In time, however, it was found to be
something more than this. \ year S growth
added largely to its numbers and influence,
and it was found TO be striking at higher
game than New York Aldermen. It was Civ
en- to be understood that its aim was to coun-
tcract evident and widespread evils ia the .
operations of our political affairs. 1t was a .
secret order, designed to act upon and purify |
the old parties, to correct the loGseue,s ofthe |
Naturalization laws, to check the corrupt
catering of the great parties for the "iorcign .
vote, and so to influence the primary meet
ings and elections, that The nominees Of all
parties for all Offices, should be men ofnative
American birth, understanding our In
| stitutions, and willing faithfully to carry out
the purposes they were intended to serve As
such it attracted the favorable notice ormnny
good men, as well as of politicians who saw
in it only q new hobby on which to ride
into Office. Ii grew rapidly, threw out nu-
mcrous branches, and now it is said to exist
in every State and Territory, and to number
among its members over one million of men
In the course of this surprising growth. an
essential change has apparently crept into
the constitution and operation Of the order,
at least in New York State, where the move
ment originated. There is, Of course, lack
of thorough knowledge among outsiders, con-
corning the general composition Of this secret
order. There have appeared it Is true from
time to time, many disclosures, Of one sort
and another, some Of them apparently anthem
tic, but all lacking the proper vouchers to
make them reliable sources Of information
In one State alone has the veil been wholly
torn away, and the secret workings disclosed.
The speeches of Messrs Littiei,hn. Kicker.
son and Leigh, in the famous debate in the
n. Y. Assembly, previous to the election of
Mr. Seward, have been published in full
They contain an exposure Of the Constitu-
ton, oaths ritual, &c, of the order, for the
truth and correctness of which, the high
personal character of those gentlemen is
pledged. Mr.. Littlejohn gives the following
description of the formation and machinery
of the order
/, In July last state constitution was
adopted. The grand lodge was combined
with some other organization, aud it is now
called the grand council. find that it Inns
an officer called the grand president The
name Of that officer is known, J.W. BARKER.
This grand president and is empowered
to appoint, upon his own motion, and with
out the knowledge, permission, sanction or
counsel OF any other man, one deputy fer
| each county. These deputies are armed with
power to create lodges, to any number, in
every town, city, village and hamlet in the
several counties. How is this done lie, the
, deputy, selects nine men as the number nee
essary to constitute a lodge or council, and
administers to those nine men the necessary
ouths. These nine men-the chosen nstru-
ments of this deputy, and, through him, of
the grand president-select three of them
selves, who shall, for three years, be dclegat-
f ed to meet in the grand council in the city OF
New York, the grand president presiding, 10
make nominations and to propose oaths
winch are to bind the members of the organi-
t cation, body and soul. The nine men who
are selected by the deputy to constitute a
council, or any five of them (evon though the
council may have 500 members) have tie
right to blackball whoever is proposed, if he
. is not the sort of man they desire to have in
the council They have L light to reject any
applicant. Is this democracy-iiye men Iul-
ing in a council of 50 or 500 BARRIER
/ appoints the deputy-the deputy selects the
nine to form council-these nlne seiect
r thee ui ynars ~ thc Grand connc-nn ,ny
five of the nine can reject any honest man
who may apply for admission, and who they
may pelle'e inigh! DC dangerous 10 .ne accom- gi
scheme Is perfect, Nor can its machinery tc
changed but by the will of the grand pre-
sidcnt The 10000 members Of the order
IL -. 4 L
nave ITO voice III the election Oh thelr uoi''
,ho nr3ort%o, tto c",,rc;ys onn hi,
delegates, and thus counteract any evil
design which may be cherished by the grand
president. This Is plausible, but 1t Is mol
, .futi,lul' lhe constitution or ny!a"s CIV
, council So that r tho Instructions nn moi
chime with the purposes of the grand council
, Or the grand president, as his creatures con
s'ltu'o llo liiGulal 10 Miicii '.'e HPP'ai -
will he ovcrrnIed Rnt thns1 thinos nrn mo-,
y known to the mass of the order. They were
not known by me until within thirty days
=, ana mere, IN my place on ''le roof VI 'i.''
4 hnvo stated
=,
"' 'i"n" Oouh'''' rs appears 'ioNi WV
'P'.o"'S i'i'iieu vs. chains 'hc i's"' ~ Gun
'r'i III "u'"nco 'ne ih'i'iauai No'e Vi ever.
. ,n'Hi''i u '"' o''Vi "'u NV i'H"' ~ nv,
MN u "l' "ocouii' "S W NOW h' nus 'o'eu' q
ueoree u Tue "lanu Nouirli' is'ued "i.er Wv
ias' we" 'olA 0'"'e eicct'oh was 'e"u ny 44i
Lil'i'JoHil' uiIeo'l"S 'ho 'o'ai 'ouio'Is " IL
q"''' '"'ii i,'ei"p'r "''N W i'i'eu r'9n. MANI
" say lux "noi' ho 'o'en' anu II he ulo no
vote LOT tue NOMINATIONS oi 'H"' Nrahd pouy
~ 'Apg' MIN ifon' '''e oroer, Inc o''ms
'.'e ofaer were aiso READ !" the de'a'o' Inc!
''"u '"' "t'"''er 10 Keep secret 'le names 0