The true Democrat., 1855-08-21


 , may not a similar occurrence happen again And to respond to the claim of sign or CT of the order unless it be physically impossi be
 5 Now what liberty of thought or right o
 judgment is reserved to a man as freeman after taking, or while under such an obligation 1 speak plainly and tell you one and all if I ha, ever taken It, or If were now under it. woul, not let wonder sun go down before | woul, throw oil this restriction upon my own right O judgment-ths bond upon my own free will and this heavy yoke upon my independence a man--unless it should be physically impos sble'' l would break the bonds as Samson did the :" withes" A freeman's strength lie in his sovereign independence.
 4 gentleman in the crowd--Mr Green interrupted, and asked Mr. Stephens if he hal read the admonitions given in charge, after tht obligation taken just referred to by him.
 Mr. Stephens-I have read the obligation and the whole of it. What follows in the cere- mony of initiation, 1 intend to read Wha the gentleman calls the admonitions comes afte the third degree l expect That l will come to after while, Ii the strength to speak so long will permit. This is the ceremony which fol lows initiation into the first degree. But one word as to the concluding part of this oath.
 Binding yourselves in the penalty of ex- communication from the order, the forfeiture of all intercourse with its members, and being denounced in all the societies of the same as willful traitor to your God and your couii- try"
 Now who commissioned you, or any of you to denOunce any man as a traitor to his God or his counuy?" Whence is your authority . | T NNha+ Cto, C,,,,,t ,,.o..1 Spanish Inquisiton, ever gave you such power over your fellow citizens? But what follows is in these words:
 1 The candidates are then invested by the h. structor with everything appertaning to the first degree, with the signs, countersigns and passwords, with the "sgn of recognition;" the ''answer," and the grip" with the means by which public notice of meeting is given, the "cry of distress" and sign of caution;' after which the President impresses on the intia- ted the importance of secrecy, the manner of proceeding in recommending candidates for in- 1 tiation, and the responsibility of the duties which they have agsumed.''
 part of this, 1t Is true, may be considered admonitory; but the most of it relates to the signs and countersigns the passwords and the "grip' with the " "sig gn of cauton" and the "cry of distress" all of which the new disci- pie, or neophyte, is given to understand he is bound to respond to, unless 1t be physically im- possible-and under which if some "worthv brother' abolitionist at the North should come out here, and be taken up and be about to be lynched, as he ought to, he would confidently expect to be protected, if there were any mem- bers of the order about. For the "cry of dis tress'' must: under the obligation, be responded to, "unless it be physically impossible" Is that the admonition the gentleman wanted read?
 Mr. Green again interrupted and was un- derstood by MT. S. to say, if he expected to be sustained by the people of Columbia county he had better make no points with him.
 Mr. S., continuing said: My object, sir, is not to make points with you, or any other man. It is to present to the people here the principles of party, which 1 think radically wrong, xe- ceedingly mischievous and dangerous to the Re. public This I shall do, without any reference to the effect 1t may have upon my being sus- tained either by you, or by the people of Co., lumbla county, or without any regard to the ef- feet it may have either upon your vote or your influence. have no soft phases CT honeyed words to utter, either for your vote or that of others 1 am on TO mealy mouthed expcdi- tion in addressing the people of this district. shall speak respectfully but kly--candidly, but boldly let the consequences be what they may. Il ask no favorS, and shall shrink from no responsibilities" A man who would hatter the people to get office, would, under different circumstances, lick the dust from the foot of monarch for the same object. As l would scorn to do the last, l equally scorn to do the first So we may just as well understand our selves and our position in this particular before | l fo concerned, 1 do not inteud to swerve the six teenth thou5andth part of hairs breadth from my principles and my convictions of duty, to get any mans vote am quite as Independent as you are, and 1 think more so, for 1 have not sworn to comply with the will of any set of men against my own--whcther you have or not is known to yourselves.
 Should be cleo ed, l shall feel not only great ful for, but gratiied at the continued confidence of the people of the district But if by the ex ercisc of their own free will--untrammele or unshackled, or even under trammels and shack les, voluntarily on their part assumed and worn, they signify at the polls preference for anoth- CT, shall not murmur. From that independ- entsprit with which was born, and with which 1 am this day sustained, 1 shall at my quiet home draw, even in defeat, more pleasure, peace and contentment, than success with all it's honors could possibly afford, if attended with a consciousness that they had been ac- quired by the slightest sacrifice of principle. l have no selfish or venial terms to offer or accept by which 1 shall ever hold office. Had 1 been base enough to enter into 'stipulations,' as some have reported, they know very well where l could have got it upon much better terms than those 1 choose to stand upon before you. My terms are those of an independent freeman -mawed by power, unseduced by iiattery, and ncorruptible by the rewards of office or "the hopes thereof" If you or your party had the world in swing, and all its kingdoms at your disposal, and were to offer the whole of them to me, as Satan did Christ, on the condition that l should bow down and worship at your unholy shrine, l would spuln your proffered honors. This 1 wrote to one who plolessed to be a friend, and who presented the temptation of silence. This l say to you-I shall never be silent when believe my country is in danger. No, never. If for this you strike me down, strike me down.