The weekly Placer herald., 1855-08-18
Another Know-Nothing Exposition

the 9th ult., which we copy this morning
from the Hartford (Connecticut) Times, will
attract much attention. 1t is, perhaps. the
ablest, and certainly the most authoritative.
disclosure of the designs and dangers of the
order we have yet seen and it is worthy OF
general perusal and reflection. The desertion
OF the secret party in the North is now as
general and as decided as it is in the South
and both together indicate the complete over
throw of that reckless and unprincipled or
ganizaton. But read the exposition of the
Connecticut Know-Nohings.
fin Exposition of the Principles and Po,cer
Of the Rno,c-.Nothing ORDER Of Connecti-
cut, Founded on the .4ctudi Experience of
Council No. l47, located IN Lyme.
UNANIMOUS ACTION IN COUNCIL.
Whereas. the State council of know moth
ingS.at it's recent session in Norwich. in the
grOssest violation Of its constitution and laws.
hy which it processes to be governed, and con-
trary to every decision founded upon evidence
and Justice did revoke the charter of this
council on the representation of the presidents
OF two Othrr councils in this town. Nos. l05
and lOS; that majority of it's m mbers voted
at the spring election in accordance with the
dictates OF their own consciences. without the
fear or favor of any man; Therefore,
ReSO'ved. That we can regard the action of
the State council. in thus revOking our char
ter without even notifying us of such nten-
ton, in no Other light than that of a base and
tyrannical usurpation of power. oppressive
alike to US and every subordinate council in
the State.
Resolred. That this action has fully opened
our eyes to the manifest determination of the
order to crush out both freedom of speech and
action on the part of its members: to utterly
disregard its assurances and obi cations, pro-
fessedly made in good faith, whenever it shall
best suit it's secret. dark, and unhallowed pur
poses: and henceforth to regard no other law
than that of passionate impulse and arbitrary
proscr ption, which has ever been the last re-
sort of those powers only that have attempted
TO shield the most 81 gantic wrongs under the
dangerous plea of necessity and absolute au
thority.
Reso'ced. That in our opinion the time has
arrived for the alarm to be sounded in the ears
OF the people of Connecticut and to inform
them OF the existence OF secret order in their
midst which is striking blow in the dark
against our institutions of civil and religious
liberty. and which. if suffered to go on, will
destroy all we prize most dear in religion, pol
itics and morals.
ResOived That we feel that we should prove
false to our obligations to God and our coun-
try if we were to keep silent at such time as
this and that We hereby set forth to the peo-
pie the following exposition of the order. and
the objections which arise in our minds to the
principles of its organization and action.
On our admission to this order we had given
to us the solemn pledge and assurance that no
obligations would be imposed upon us which
would conflict with those we had already
taken. and owed to God our country, and our
families. For the sole reason that we acted
as We we're bound to do under the Constitution
of the State, and that we honestly complied
with our sacred obligations az electors. we
were elected from the order. mathematical as
unworthy of respect. undeserving of any con-
fdence or trust in any business transaction.
and as deserving only the scorn and reproach
of all good men. We were subjected to the
most fearful denunciations because we would
not surrender up to this most accursed of all
despOtisms our freedom of citizenship, and
degrade ourselves down to the ignomini0us
servitude of wearing mastif's collar.
In view Of such things, what honest man
would contend that any obligations which
might be imposed by the order are in the least
binding or entitled to moments respect?
Who would not 60 rather one step further, and
say that man is guilty of perjury in the high
est degree who would act with the order
against his own honest convictions?
We believe if the parent for such cause
dsowns the offspring, the obligation to keep
the secrets of such parent is forever ab-
solved, and the light of day should be permit
ted to penetrate into the dark recesses of this
institution so worthless, and at the same time
80 dangerous and destructive to the genius of
American institutions. 1t is arrayed in war
fare against the whole machinery of repub-
lican government.
1t has entced the people from their homes
in the still hours of darkness. and at its nu-
merous places of meeting. bound them to its
foul and fearful purposes by administering the
most horrid oaths, with one hand resting on
the Bible. and the other raised toward Heaven,
to yield themselves unreservedly to the con-
troll of this secret power, and even to deny to
their families and the world that they hold
connexion with the order No person is per-
mtted to hold an opinion which has not the
sanction Of the selfconstituted mouth pieces