Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-05-21
From the St. Louis Intelligence
THE SAG NIGHTS.

For good while, the newspapers and or
ators, both Wing and Democratic that have
opposed the American party, have been most
bitter in their denunc, ations Of the sssecret
meetings. of the Know Nothings. II was
not enough that the principles of the Know
Nothings were public and we'll understood,
and never repudiated or denied by the MEM
bers Of the new party. They outraged Re-
publicanism by not letting everybody know
what they said and what they did in their
meetings. SO said the enemies Of the Know
Nothings. A secret political society is
Conspiracy" said these flaming openheart-
ed patriots-'sa conspiracy bordering on thu
denominations of the French revolution," and
evidently calculated to overthrow the liber-
ties of the country!
/ So talked tie opponents Of the "Know
Nothinss," and one would think those extra
ordinary patriots would have persisted at the
stake before they would ever have joined a
Secret Society. But they have! 1t is no.
torious fact now, that under German lead,
and German title, secret order has been
established in the Democratic party, the de-
sign Of which is to counteract and defeat the
late uprising of The American sentiment Of
the country.
In the West, the order Of Sag NIGHTS is
/
says that in that city,it already numbers 1000
members and they are not Germans chief
| ly, but embrace the mass of the Democratic
party. And so in other Western towns and
| cities. Their design SAYS our authority, sis
to make this new secret organization extend
| throughout the Union, and embrace the whole
anti American party" In Louisville the Sc
crecy Of the Sag NIGHTS is well sustained.
The existence Of the body is not confessed.
The system of discipline is declared to be rig
id, stringent and minute. Obligations taken
previous to admission are Of unusual solem-
nifty. They have passwords signs and sig
nails distinct set for each ward. Men are
divided into squads Of ten, each with COM
handing officer, who is responsible for the
appearance whenever its services are re-
quired for voting or fighting. The nomina-
tions are made public only after they have
been agreed upon in the lodges.
That these societies exercise potent in
fuence is fully demonstrated by TIE results
Of several of the recent western elections.
The idea Of secret political action is very
familiar one to the German mind, and in
arranging and perfecting the details and ma
elmer of such bodies as these foreigners
are perfectly at home.
The Ohio State Journal says that the
Grand Council OF the Sag NIGHTS, composed
of delegates from the various subordinate
lodges, throughout the State met at Velling's
Hall, at Columbus, on Thursday morning at
10 o'clock The Journal proceeds to state
that the following officers answered to their
names: Gen. Joel 7. Wilson, of Seneca
President; Asa &. Dimmick, Of Sandusky,
Vice President; - Shaffer Of Stark county
Secretary, and j. A. Marchand of Wooster,
Treasurer. Sheriff Miller Of that city was
appointed doorkecper, with strict orders
from the President to admit none except
those in possession Of the password, 1.-THE
''country's safe,'') and the proper sign,
(thumb through the Top button hole of the
left lapel of the coat
ssAfter the opening ceremonies were gone
through with in the usual form, Gen. Wilson
submitted his report. lie stated that he had
succeeded in organizing ll5 lodges, and had
visited every county in the State. He spoke
Of the great facilities that had been furnish
ed him by the Postmasters end mail agents
IN the way of free tickets and liberal con-
tributions; and complimented particularly,
the U. S. Marshais and their Deputies for
their exertions in the cause. The report
closed with fierce denunciations of the Know
Nothings, and recommended renewed excr-
tons for their extinction.