Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-03-10


usurpatons. The transaction Of this night
takes place, in order that the words. Of that
prophesy may be fulfilled.
am not allowed, Sir, TO reach the merits Of
this question, without alludiDg to body Of
men who sport in the public gaze under name
which ] hardly know how TO repeat in the
presence Of so grave and reverend an assem-
bage as this-lhe Know Nothings. They are
said TO have conirived their disguise with so
much ingenuity that one who is not noyitiate
cannot deny a knowledge Of their ceremonies
and principles, without implying his commun-
ion and membership with them. Neverthe-
less, must reply to the Senator from lllinois,
(Mr Douglas,) who charges me, among others,
with such an alIilidtion, that have no knowl-
edge Of that body Of men, other than what is
afforded me by the publications of the day
Thus informed, understand the Know Moth
ings to be secret society or ORDER consisting
OF two or three grades, colleagGcd and mutual
ly sworn to elect individuals Of their own Or
der, or at least persons maintaining the princi-
pies, which that Order entertains, to all Offices
of trust and profit in the United States These
principles, understand 10 be, in general, the
same which, before the organization of the
know-Noihings, passed under the name Of Ma
tive Americanism. ], Sir, have no connection
with that Order. am under no responsibility
for It's doings, and have no, the least sympa-
thy with its principles or sentiments. belong
to one voluntary associations Of men, which has
to do with spiritual Affairs Il is the Chiis-
tian Church-the branch of it, all imperlec,
though think it il, which. according to my
notions, most nearly retains in their purity the
instructions Of the Gospel. That association
is an open one, which performs all its rites and
gives all its instructions with publicity, and
invites every man, in the language Of its Di-
vine Founder, to come in and partako of the
privileges with which lie invested il, and Of
the blessings which He promises. ] belong
to one temporal society Of men, and that is the
political party, which, according to my notions,
embodies most fully and most truly, although,
] confess, as in the other case, very inadequate
ly, the principles of the Declaration Of Inde.
pendence and Of the Constitution of the United
States The Association also, of which have
last spoken, is an open one. All its transac-
tions are conducted in the broad daylight, and
1t invites all citizens, and all men who become
subjects of the power of the Government, Of
whatever cline or race or color they NAV be.
to enter into its ranks, to participate in its Ia
bors, and so cooperate in maintaining good
Government and in advancing the cause of Hu-
man Nature. These Two Associations. the
one one spiritual and the other temporal, are
the only voluntary Associations to which now
belong, or ever have belonged since became
a man and, unless ] am bereii Of reason, they
are the only Associations Of men to which /
shall ever suffer myself 10 belong. Secret so.
cieiies, sir Before would place my right hand
between the hands OF other men, in a secre,
Lodge, Order, Glass or Council, aud, bending
on my knee before them, enter into combine
ton with them for any object, personal or po-
llucal, good or bad, | would Pray to God, that
that hand and that knee might be parayzed,
and thai might become an object Of the pity
and even Of the mockery Of my fellow-men.
swear, SIR l. man, an American citizen, a
Ohrisuah, swear 10 submit myself to the guild
ance' ana direction OF other men, suirendering
my own Judgment to their judgments, and my
own conscience to their keeping No, no, Sir.
l KNOW quite well the fallibiliiy Of my own
judgment and my liability to fall into error and
temptation. but my life has been spent ia
oreaKing me bonds oi the slavery of other men.
therefore know TOO well the danger of eonfd-
ng power 10 irresponsible hands, TO make my
sen wiling slave. Prescribe man, Sir,
because he was not born in the same town, OF
county, or state or country in which was
born why Sir, do most earnestly and most
aiiecnonaieiy advise all persons hereafter to be
"o,h' ua' 'hey DC born IN the United States
ana II they can without Inconvenience, to be
oorn In the Staie OF New York, and thus avoid
great 'eai oil 'ronble Tor themselves and fol
osnels' ,anghterJ Moreover, do most
ahecnoha,e'y enoin upon all such persons as
are hereafter TO be born, that they be born ol
'a'hers and OF mothers, OF grandiathers and Of
grandmo'hers' OF pure American blood. Still
more on l do aiiecuonaiely enjoin upon all
VINO shail thus have the wisdom to come into
existence on this side Of the Atlantic, and Of
such pure and untainted ancestry, to be either
born IN the Protestant faith, or 10 be converted
as speeuiiy as possible to that good and true