The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-02-28


initiation into an Organization which requires
Of them as condition of admission the re.
nunciation Of the right to tell the truth-ths
right to think and win, and obey the vOlitiOns
Of their own minds! and as If this sacrifice
is not enough to satisfy the projectors of this
order-,hey are required to agree, that ifthey
repudiate in any after time this bandit oath
that they are TO be branded as perjurers
and pursued and hunted down as feilons;
thus precluding a manly vindication Of their
manhood and mental and moral indepen-
dence under such dreadful penalties, that he
must be man of iron nerve, and heart oi
steel, who will dare to spurn and defy their
wicked Vaccinations and brutal despotism
over his free right to think and act for him.
self
Again, sir, by this cath we see who and
who only are to be voted for in otice-to
wit: "that you will support, in all political
matters, for all political offices, the second
degree members of this order" This, sir BY
every fair rule of construction, means that
nobody but we Of the "first families" our
noble selves, shall hereafter be supported for
any Office in this state ! This, sir, without
"putting too fine point upon it," is the
height Of modesty and virtue. We will not
vote for any body who does not belong
to "our set;" but waen we run for Of
office we will deny Gas we are sworn to dU),
that we belong to this order, aud thus beguile
even poor foreigners to vote for US!
Sir, we have seen recently most mortiiy-
ing instances of 'frst families sacrificing
their ease and luxurious comforts, and offer
ing themselves living sacrifices 'to save the
Union and their country" from the vandal
hands of those who love to breathe free air.
Young America, conscious Of his own youth
ful vgor and ability to protect and save him
self not only from foreign but domestic foes,
simply, but courteously thanked the first
families" for their great condescension, and
smiled and bowed them out.
But row, sir, when he comes to learn this
new impulse of generosity from the FIRST
families" 10 save him from the Jesu.s and
the Pope-and sees the unholy Invocation OF
his "hag" to witness the debasement and
prostitution of his sons 10 falsehood and
treachery, his indignation may teach traitors
the just reward Of their dement's.
Sir, while I am on this subject of the ''frs
families" desire to draw brief parable
between the "bigher law" doctrine of Viii
liam Fl. Seward and that Of the "Hindoo'
or "frst family" order of Nnow-Nothings
William II. Seward believes it to be the du
ty of all human legislatures to make thei
laws in conformity with the laws of Him ii
whom we live and have our beifg," wh
breathed into us the breath of life," the ten
ure of which is in His hands.
But this branch OF the "Know- Nothing
order believe in taking oaths to practice de-
ceit and falsehood-to prescribe and perse'
cute men for conscience sake, although oul
constitution has guaranteed "the free exer.
else and enjoyment of religious profession
without discrimination or preference" ye
they bind themselves by their oaths to make
a discrimination and preference against tht
Catholics, whether Of American and foreign
birth; this oath or obligation is their "hishe
laws" to them it is higher than constitution
of the United States or of the state Of New
York This, sir, is one of the great "inst
tutons" of the "frst families" that "Sam
is so arde ntly in love with.
Sir, while in this connection cannot le
the illusions which have been made to tn
Speaker pass by without single remark
And first, sir,I was surprised to hear the gen
tleman from Westchester (Mr. Waterbury,
and the gentleman from New York (Mr
Petty, attack the speaker on the ground O
his "higher law" afinities, when they them
selves each and both acknowledge the dom
inant authority of the "Know-N Nothing path, ;
or obligation over their own minds to sucl
an extent that they dare not tell me who
their candidate for Senator s-but will say
! don't know.
ask the question, dare aLy Of the lrater
nifty tell no one answers, and no one dart
answer, because they arc under "highe
law," higher, sir, in their judgment, tina,
truth and candor. And, sir, again say it il
refreshing to see some men in this body ca
pab!e of rising above the binding oath of th'
order to deceive and concede the truth, from
the gaze of all men, but in reply to the
charge implied in the illusions, can say
and think from good authority, that the
Speaker never belonged to the order Of Hin
doos in Oswego, but that his adversary gol
them to adopt him as their candidate, ant
gave him their support. ..."
/ have said, sir, that this order are boun,
by their oa,hs TO conceal the truth; and las
fall, when many members we're running fol
the offices which they now hold, they dene
} all connection with the "Know. N othing' OF
der, and by SO doing received the votes an
, suffrages of many men, and even foreigner.
wLo would not have voted for them, had the
) known of such connection. /, sir, shoul
feel ashamed to hold seat upon this foe
. conferred upon me by the votes of these me
l came here to prosecute and prescribe--an
! to get those votes, too, by cohcealing the fa'
of my connection with the order; yet, 81
there are men here who did receive such vote