Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-06-29


-, the State council of know-nothngs at its recent
Whe Norwch in the groSsest violation of its constitu
% laws by which it processes to be governed and con;
% e charter of this council on the representation of
1sieats of two other councils IN this town-Nos los
g n accordance with the dictates of their consci
aa0UT thou fear or favor of any man: Therefore,
ass GrcJ That regard the action of the State
R in thus revokng charter without even notifying
@aGe cb Intention in other light than that of base
usurpation of power, oppressive alike to us and
ad HTbordnate council in the State. -
@ T That this action fully opened our eyes to the
Jsternnation of the crush out both freedom
End action the part of its members; to utterly
~ its assurances and gations, professedy made in
whenever it shall best suit its secret, dark, and
lai purposes and henceforth to regard other law
of passionate impulse and arbitrary prescription
a heen the last resort of those powers only that
s tempted shield the most gigantic wrongs under the
3a,.rons Plea of necessity and absolute authority
P5arcd That, in our opinion the time has arrived for
farm TO be sounded in the ears OF the people of Ccnnec
i1 n3 to inform them of secret order in their midst
l6 is striking blow in the dark against our institutions
F and religious liberty, and which, if suffered go
on destroy all prize most dear in religion, politics
nd morals. ~, . 80 e. H.. MN lra oo,, cloe n o
legations to God and our country II we were kGeP silent
'Ssb time this, and that hereby set forth to the
Liable the following exposition OF the order ana Inc oDJec
which arise in our minds TO the principles OF It's organl
afon and action
m our admission 10 this order we had given 10 US
n, solemn pledge and assurance that no Obligations
,nId be imposed upon US which would conflict with
1850 we had already taken, and owed 10 God, our
.D and our families For the sole reason that
~. acted as we were bound 10 do under the constitu-
ian Of the State and that we honestly complied with
MP sacred obligations electors, we were elected
am the order mathematical unworthy of re-
oct undeserying of any confidence trust in any
nsness transaction, and deserving only the scorn
ol rprroaCh Of all good men. We were subjected
N, most fearful denunciatiOns because would
, surrender up TO this most accursed of all despo-
inns our freedom of citizenship, and degrade our.
Dives down to the ignominous serVtude of wearing
amastit collar.
In view of such things, what honest man would
.77tend that any obligations which might be i'm
oei by the order in the least binding or entitled
n moments respect? Who would not 20 rather
me step further, and say that is guilty of per-
uv in the highest degree who would act with the
,rjpr against his own honest convictions
We believe if the parent for such a cause disowns
The offspring, the obligation 10 keep the secrets of
aol parent is forever abs0lved and the light of
dsy SHOULD be permitted to penetrate into the dark
eceses of this institution, worthless, and at the
same time dangerous and destructive to the genius
If American institutions. 1t is arrayei in warfare
against the whole machinery Of q republican govern
ment.
Il has enticed the people from their homes in the
It'll hours OF darkness and at its numerous 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 to-
ward Heaven to yield themselves unreservedly 10 the
control of this secret power, and to deny &c
heir families and the world that they hold connexion
with the order. No person is permitted to hold an
opinion which has not the sanction of the self con-
sttuted mouth pieces of the party Within this
enple Of superstition Sir Oracle reigns supreme.
The devotee who Worships at its shrine is completely
unnamed. He no longer feels acts his former
self. In secret he steals away like conspirator TO
the place where the most nveterate hatred is engen-
aTed against the descendants and countrymen Of
hose brave men whose heroic valor assisted in
+hol oh In
same manner, and often at the hour of midnight, he
gopes his way back to his family again to repeat
the hundred-times told lie of TO c0aneXiOn with this
order So much falsehood in the family circle, where
he utmost confidence, truthfulness, and harmony
should exist, has direct tendency to produce suspi-
COn and mistrust on the part of wives and mothers
towards their husbands and sons; hence we find in
every town where council exists the female portion
Of the community speaking out boldly their moral
Indignation against an order whose influence is so
mantestly baneful upon all who are connected with
It, whether nearly or remotely.
He who does not here behold the sure workings OF
generalization and ruin must indeed be poor moral
list
But all these dre evils of small magnitude and con-
sderatlon when compared with some other gigantic
wrongs with which it labors to curse our land. The
scattering of few pieces of red paper of peculiar
shape Obliges every brother " to arm himself with
bowie knife and revolver or other deadly weapons
and follow the beck of their leader even to the shed
ding Ct blood The Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis
and other fearful and bloody know nothing riots, are
out the legitimate works of the ORDER and but the be-
ginning of such scenes as were enacted on the soil OF
france under red republican rule.
Those who control and manage the affairs of this
corrupt concern in it for the spoils Of office and
no means, however desperate, are left untrled tt
compass this end.
The order is engaged in crusade against religion
evives the cid spirit of persecution for opinon's
nd IF re Hop1fh
ands who are always found more willing to fight a.
galnst Catholicism than to practice their own profess
AcI. Odious religious tests which have been sue.
ceSStuIy reasoned down and removed from the sta
lutte of our State speedily dragged from theil
NathsoTe tomb and quiCkened into life. No Catho
lc to be tolerated, matter how sincerely he may
revere his Maker; he is to hold no Office IN the gift
Of the people, have no part in the government no
interest in any of its concerns, while the atheist
dest, debauchee inidel, Mormon, or buddhist, is re
cognised as good and worthy brother.
They have fearful apprehensons that the CathoI
church will soon overrun and possess the country, It
Inc ruin alike of republicansm and rellgion-and al
this, tOo when that church is in the most rapid de
cine in the old country, and while 1t is only con
Nnung IN It's fold moiety of those who reach ou
shores strong in their attachment TO its cause Thes
apprehensons, then, are entirely unfounded in fac
and opposed TO common sense 1t is only trick O.
"yty political managers to bring to their aid TIT
religious element of their country, while it is genera
ing dissenions, sectarian animosties, and the rank
est Intolerance
History and experience alike teach that no people
we're ever prosecuted for opinions sake without com
Ing out in the end vastly increased in numerical
aength and public favor. 1t is a saying, both oil
ana true in all ages, g the blood of the martyr is tn
seed OF the church" No form of religion has beef
pull down by persecution of its professors
MS order Swears its members never to vote for
"reIgn-born citizen to fill an Office in the gift of TIT
rsoPle Thus, birthplace, rather than virtue ant
NELL gence, is made qualification for places of trus
t anu responsibility! What an absurdity is here Thu