The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-08-23

peeh n9ntlng open Americanism all theil
lives, and as many fierce Democrats, rushe d
into these lodees--were initiated by some
mock ceremony and swore thai they would
neveLvote or assist or aid, me mbers of one
Christian cenominat on-ibat they would pro.
scribe every naturalzed citizep; sw1re, too,
though nominal Wings or Democrats, that
they would break faith with ancient friend S
and abide by the decisions of secret lodges
swore further TO a code of disingenuousness
which required them to deny their member.
ship. Its mystery made il attractive and
seemed 10 make it safe. Many a man who
was ashamed publicly TO preach intolerance
and prescription, could DO it safely in se-
cret council room. This system of denial
and equivocation--s csrfinal Principle of
KNOWN -Nothinsism--led TO some instances of
personal degradation in this city which do
not like 10 think of.
II was not long after this election when The
glory of triumph was brightest, that the Wbig
State Committee met for the first time in this
city. | am confident in The belleflhat at that
lime this secret party bad no considerable
foothold in our Committee. have no idea
of iecapilulating the acts or couusels of the
Committee then or thereafter. You will do
me the justice 10 say, that from first 10 last,
in every form and guse, opposed all affin.
ily to this new pany aud | am glad 10 do you
the justice. that you were equally decided
and resouIe on the same side. We worked
together most harm oniously. Then, too, it
was, that the question of our duty to George
Darsis was considered and discussed, and
then We were, or seemed 10 be, unanimous,
that ii was matter of duty and honor 10 sup
port him. The fact is now confessed, regret
TO say, tina: some of our Committee, thus
pledged in fairness and honor, recognizing
tho superior obligation of Know. Nothing
oath, voted for Mr.. Mott, the Democratic can
dleate, believing him 10 belong 10 the order.
The same subject Of discussion arose at our
meeting in Pltsburg, with the same apparent
result, though have no doub: the scheme of
sacrificing Mr.. Darsie was in The meantime
matured. II certainly was most sysiemati-
cally perfected, and thus one of the ablest
and most upright men in The Commonwealth
who, in spite of hissnatviy and few years
of infancy in Protestant Scotland, had been
Pennsy lvania legislator for nearly fifteen
years, was sacrificed at the bidding of se-
crst oath-bound association, composed, 10
large extent OF individuals who openly claim
ed cpmnupion With The PsIiY hey bsWay-
ed.
How little the State Committee could do 10
avert this discredit, you very well know
The secret influence was around them, and
upon them, and within them, and those who,
like myself and others, were open and can
did IN their condemnation of This secret ac-
lion and organization, were not fairly met or
answered. The secret order was satisfied
with rapid recruiting. Their oaihs prevent
ed discussion or fair play, Ii was confident
ly alleged and assumed that Mr.. Pollock
himself joined the order. From his own lips
| have it that, al The time Of his election, he
was not member of any party whose organ
izatiou required him TO ptoscribe any poIliou
of his fellow-citizens, and rel, ing on tina, as.
suIance, continued my exeTlions, and voted
for him. voted for the Wbig ticket al ths
fall election. voled for Mr. Tyson for Con-
gress, after he obtained the Wing nomination,
though | confess was perplexed by many
rumors lha, be, too, hal joined the order, and
taken the requisite oaths. could not per-
suade myself that man al his time OF Lille,
who had pronouced so many elaborate dis
courses in favor of religious toefation, and
who venerated with faith SO sincere and
protesting, the name of William Penn-the
friend and lavori,e of Englanc's Roman Cath
Ollie King-I could not persuade myself that
he had ahjursd the principles of his educa-
tion, and sworn 10 this new allegiance. Had
lived III the FIRST Congressional District,
should have no doubt have voted for Mr..
Morris, for they would have needed much
more than rumor 10 convince me that he, the
ancient antagonist of Native Americanism,
(Which was at last manly party,) had re-
tracted, and joined the secret order. If these
were errors on my part, they were errors on
the side of fidelity to my friends and party.
After the month of September, 1854, the
State Committee never met. Gov, Pollock
and Mr.. Mott were elected, and those of us
who felt we were excluded from the new
communion, had scarcely the heart TO rejoice
the means OF triumph in our opinion being
so unworlhy-and nothing 10 console US but
the dim hope that things might turn out bet
ter than we feared.
In January, OF this year, the new admins
tralion was inauguraied and the new Lesisla.
lure met. Of the dongs of that Legislature
need not speak, and especially of that scene
of impolent intrigue, the canvass for United
States Senator. Though thefs was nomi-
nal Wing majority, the very name of Wing
was ignored. The caucus was one of {" Sc
eret Americans from which Whig Senators
and Representatives were excluded-and
within and upon that caucus, everything be-
ing veiled by what was thought to be safe
the influence of corruption, person.
al, pecuniary and political, were thought to
be brought to BEAR What better illustration,
q nov. appeal toyour own observation, )could
there be of the mischevous capabilities of
this secret organization that Gen. Cameron's
success in the "Amercan caucusp | do
not unite i'm the denuncialjon heaped on that