Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-23
THE KNow.NoTHING OATH.

Hon. S. A. DOUGLAS, in a speech at Richmond
Va, made the following striking and forcible ap-
plcation of an interesting Bible incident, to the
awful oath taken by the disciples OF Hindooism:
SIN conclusion, my friends, if any of you, under
false sliurements, have, at any unlncky hour, en-
tered the know.uothing council and assumed its
obligations, let conlure you, as you revere the
Constitution and love the Union instantly to with
draw your allegiance fom a council whose forms Of
proceeding and principles OF political action are in
consistent with your paramountdutY to your coun-
try Let no false scruples in regard to the binding
obligations of unlawful oaths--no timid dread OF
the resentment Of idle Liberal and unworthy ae-
sociates, impel you forward in line of conduct
which your consciences cannot approve Take
warning from the fatal example of Herod, as re-
corded in the Holy Scriptures. That monarch, we
are told in the plenitude of his power and in bis
pride at feast in honor Of his birthday, became
enamoured with the charms and dancing of the
daughter of his wife by her first husband. In the
fulness of his heart, and the delirium of his pas
sion, he said to the damse: ASK of me whatso-
ever you may choose, and it shall be given unto
you, even to theextent of one half of my kingdom"
And as an evidence of his sincerity and devotion,
he affirmed MS promise by an oath as solemn and
terrible as was ever administered in a know-noth-
ing council.
TIE damsel. after consulting her mother, said to
Herod. Il will that you give me, by and by, the
head OF John the Baptist in charger" Herod was
exceedingly sorry, for he feared ard loved John,
and knew him to be true and holy man.
"My oathl my oath = he exclaimed. and in ODE
dence to that unlawful oath be directed the execu-
toner to bring the head of John the Baptist in
charger and give it to the damsel, who Immediate
" presented it to her mother in atonement OF the
mortal offence of having said that her marriage to
the brother of her husband was unlawful. Let the
example Of Herod be warning to all men, how
they violate their conscences in obedience to IN
lawful oaths Are you prepared, my friends, at the
bidding of know-nothing council, to become the
executioners of that great party with whose organ
ization you were born, and whose principles you
vindcate Are you prepared to become the in
struments of secret cabal to bring in the heads Of
the democratic party in charger, and to present
them to this dancing know-nothing mistress, that
she in turn may present them to her mother feder-
aism in atonement for the unsyenged injuries
which, in former days, the Jefersonan Democracy
have inflicted upon her pride and honor? Better
had it been for Herod, yea, thousand times bet
ter for his fame in this world and for his salvation
in the other, had be acted in obedience to his own
conscience by recalling bis Unlawful oath, and pre-
serving the lie of this holy man. whom he feared
and loved Better for you, yea, thousand Told
better for your reputation and honor, Tor your
children and your country, that you should act IN
obedience to your own conscientious sense OF JUS
tee and right--ihat YOU should instantly withdraw
your allegiance from these know-nothing councils,
and prove your fidelity to those principles for which
you cherish hereditary rev fidelity to that
political organization whose triumphs constitute the
chief renown of this glorious Old Dominion that
gave you birth"