Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-12

and who these correspondents are, are matters
of some mystery. They must be Know-nothings,
for none but Know-nothings are admitted into
the convention, or they must get their informa-
ton from some frail and leaky member OF the
Order The Order adopts the most stringent
rules, il administers the most solemn oaths, and
il adopts all conceivable means to preserve its
secrets but il may be mentioned as remarkable
fact, that it has never yet succeeded in keeping
single secret. No matter how it hens in its
members with obligations, and dams them up
with pledges and oaths, they break over the
barriers. This is a sad practical commentary on
the morals of its members. The secret of the Ma
sonic Order has yet been revealed, the secret
of the Odd Fellows has never yet been divulged,
although the former was founded in remote an
tiquity, and the latter has existed some thirty
years more. There must be some sad scamps
in this Know nothing organization. 1t is not un-
likely that many have joined it just to sell its
secrets, and publish its proceedings-for money.
The Northern newspapers find no difficulty in
getting insight into all its movements No
matter where they meet, how dark the night,
retired the place, or how well secured against
intrusion they imagine themselves--in spite of
all this, every thing that they say and do is pub
lished to the world.
This unhappy condition of affairs, for which
there seems to be no remedy, will no doubt force
them to abolish the feature of secrecy, and then
they will claim as virtue what was the result OF
necessity This will be sad thing for the rogues
and spies who betray them to the newspapers. ID
will break up the profitable trade in which they
shop-fting and picking.
From present appearances there seems to be a
likelihood that the convention will hold ten days
or fortnight longer They found it hard to or
ganize; they will find it difficult to agree
upon platform. The prominent Wing journals
of Virginia announced, in advance of the meeting
of the convention, that Virginia Know-nothings
would be compelled to retire from the lodges and
break them up unless the National Convention
gave them safe, suitable, and satisfactory plat
FORM They require that the slave interest shall
be fully and completely guarded and protected.
On the other hand, the Massachusetts, Know
nothings, together with Others from other States,
abhor slavery, and to wiring from them such
guarantee would be more exeruciatingly painful
than to draw their eye-teeth. We opine that
there is but little prospect Of union and harmony
between the Northern and Southern delegates to
the convention. However, as the magicans say,
we will see what we will see. Yet, after ALL we
would not give fig for all the pledges of the
abolitionized Know -nothings of the sanity State
of Massachusetts,. They are no more binding
than diccr S oaths.
1t seems that the convention has had some
trouble with the Louisiana delegation. Itnum-
bered among its members those reallyremarkable
specimens of humanity, called-Catholic Know
nothings, a kind of creatures whose nature is to
us incomprehensible Except Foreign Know
nothings, we imagine nothing more mon
strous and unnatural. After some discussion the
Catholic Know-nothings were excluded.
The Northern Know -nothings may be induced
to patch up some sort of paper contrivance to
operate upon the approaching elections in sew
eral of the Southern States; however, we leave
that to the future to decide.
The defeat of the Order in Virginia has no
doubt tended to impair the influence Of the dele
gates from that State. The CHIEF and signal sue
cesses Of Know-nothingism have been in Massa-
chusetts II is the banner State Of the Order,
and its delegates will no doubt exert command
ing influence. What though they passed. in
their Legislature, that bill of denominations known
the personal liberty bill;" what, though they
appointed the infamous nunnery committee;
what, though Joseph Hiss, legislator from the
''solid" city of Boston, covered himself, his fel
low-memberS, and his State, with contempti
These things are but trifles The people Of Mas
sachusetts, the Legislature of Massachusetts, and
Joseph Hiss, esq, are Know-nothings That is
the main thing.
We will watch the proceedings Of the conven-
ton, and make our readers acquainted with all
that we learn.