Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-08

to disclose the coalition. The abolitonist must
swear the same thing; whilst both must swear to
the Southern man never to disclose that be had at
at last gone into the same council With the sboli-
ZIONIST and freesoiler-tbat he had kneeed Win
him at the same altar and vowed eternal hdeiity 10
the high DEGREES of known northern Isslosity'
eli might southern man trenble al the 'housn'
of its being known that be had been mere anu
well might he wish to swear his new aiies never
IN breathe the name of the coaitlon-never TO
breathe the name of single member OF it-nor
inter one syllable to disclose its proceedings to
,ba world. Such we're the Interior objects and
auch the means adopted, in order TO accomplish
them. In order to know that these secret oaths
are for mischief and not for good, look TO the for
nation of other parties and societies of men. This
brings Us TO third question, which We propose 10
answer.
Sd. Has the administration Of oaths Ike these q
the kaoD nothing party ever been pTacsed By other
parties and societiess
When the Baptist man joins his ehurch-whtn
the Methodist, the Presbyterian, or the Episco-
palisn joins his, no such oath is ever exacted. So
in matters political No man joining the wing
party the democratic party was ever required to
go into secret conclave and to knee down before
affairs reared by no sacred hands aud to take long
and horrid oaths OF secrecy. No He joined the
party when he walked in open day to the ballot
box, and there deposited TIE vote which his own
reason and judgment taught him to give-not
that vote which the secret DEGREES OF distant
lodge or council bad commanded him to giyel The
democrat or the wing, when he votes, is Q fre.-
man, because he votes as he pleases. Your know
nothing is a slave, because he votes as he is COM
manded! The country is full of parties, societies
and orders, but it las been reserved to this new
one alone to administer such dangerous oaths and
obligations. Osths ike these may soon become
the common means Of accomplishing the most
wicked design, subversive alike CT religion, good
morals and good government. They constitute
the very essence of ancient Jesutism and Roman
ISM What is it that the know-nothngs fear from
the Catholics, both native born and foreign? Il
IS that by secret osths and Obligations of like ma.
ture they suppose them to be bound to sustain the
Pope in matters political as well as ecclesiastic.-
How have the Protestants heretofore sustained
their cause against the Catholics? By Iesorting to
the same system of counter oaths? No. far from
it. They have appealed to reason, to sound ergu-
ments, and 10 the sacred writings. There are and
have been the all-powerful weapons used by them
But what do the knownothings now propose? To
resort to the same sort Of secret oaths and thus
perpetrste themselves the very evil Of which they
accuse others There is not one christian Protest
ant who ought TO touch the unholy weSon. -
What difference can therebe between being bound
to sustain the DEGREES Of the Pope and by the
sort OF oaths to sustain the DEGREES of coun-
CT: DEGREES passed, it may be, by only majority
Of one2 That council will, to all intents and pur-
poses, be the know-nothing Pope, whose thunders
will peal on his oath bound subjects loud as those
of the Vatican. The decree of to-day is that the
alien and sedition law in all its principles and eff
fees, must be revived; that OF tomorrow will be
that the fres Of persecution must be rekiudled
against the catholic for the pecuiarites of his re-
igious creed. Why may not some protestant
church coon, in like manner, be selected and pro-
scribed by the same iItoleralt and bigoted pro-
scription.
The Baptist Church has once felt its power. The
Methodist Church has already been MAJ ked out for
a victim, under the plea that its church government
is hierarchy too closely resembling the Church OF
Rome; and the day is not distant when the Episco-
palisn viii have TO bow his neck, because he has
had the insolence to mantsin the unhroken chain
Of Apostolic succession. Nay, there is 10 telling
what this irresponsible power, holding its councils
! in secret, and armed with horrid oaths, whose
| dresdful penalties can exact implicit obedience
we repeat there is no telling where its terrors and
I its prosecutions will end. Our solemn advice to
our countrymen Is, TO let them end now-to let
them end without beginning, in this very cleo
/ ton. Let every man who is good citizcn-every
mai. who is a good christian--every man who is
either democrat or.whig--let him take firm and
immovable stand against societies and parties or
gained on such principles If in moment OF
little reflection he may hsye joined them, let him
withdrsw-et him nevermeet with them IN another
council. 1t is sublime spectacle to see man who
has fallen into error retracing his steps, and no5y
correcting any blunder he may have committed