Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-05-19

duty to yourself, your family. your conn
try or your Cod That's the frs, stca
You are then led on, step by step, with.
out the slightest knowledge of the fu-
hture-oath by oath sacrilega after sac,
rllege amid da knees like midnight. and
the end you know MT. Yet you move
onward, until you are drawn iuto and
fairly enyeloped by the meshes of this
internal engine. Tbs is the difference
between this and ordinary associations.
And here, sir, is one of the obligations
of the order:
81 voluntarily and freely, do SOLEMN
ly promise and swear, before Almighty
God, and these witnesses around me as
semblcd. tina, | will not, under any cir
cumstances whatever, divulge or make
known, to any person or persons, either
directly or indirectly, or to any human
being other than those whom | shall
know to b., good and true members of
the order, the name, secrets, objects, or
mysteries OF the same, or cause or allow
the same to BE- done by others, if with>
III f'HSi W Il'Ntut tiiC
81 also prom Sc and swear that | VILE
de OBJ dicnae p y to the constitution,
law, and cdicts of the Honorable Grand
Council OF the State of New York, and
to the laws which govern - Council,
No. -, so far us they may come to my
knowledge.
81 also promise and swear, that, when
ever | may vote at any election, that
vote, shall, in all COSTS, be given for ma,
tive-born American citizens only and
that viii ever seek the political ad-
vancement of those men who are good
and true members of this order"
We have in what is now passing be.
fore US the purposes of this oath Un-
der it, and by the power which it confers
upon he managers of the order through
its complicated machinery. the defeat is
sought of the noblrst and most intelec.
tual statesman at this time in the United
States, as Senator. This is the leading
Aohject of the assoc iation now. What
will constitute its future great work de-
ponds upon the will of the Grand Coun>
Tell. Who knows but its purpose may be-
the repeating of the institutions of the
country; | have learned, since the
house took a recess, and from a member
of the order that Barker is not only
Grand President of the Grand Council
of the State of New York, but of the
National Council also l repeat in sub
stance what L said in the morning ses-
sion. Had he the genius, intellect and
ambition of Caesar, an Alexander or
Napoleon, with 100, OOO-or in the
Union, many times that number of mem
bound by oath upon oath, prepared
by him and his conspirilors) to obey his
injunctions and commands, what might
he not accomplish Within two years
with the aid of a revolution and blood
shed, he might reign as emperor-dicta-
tor. 1t is SIR fearful to contemplate the
wondelfu and startling eng merry incios>'
ed within this organization. No Amtri-
can can contemplate it calmly and
prayerfully without fearful forebodings.
Here let me warn American citizens
to beware of secret political associations,
under whatever plausible guise or name.
| read on:
"OBLIGATIoN.-I = voluntarily and
iree y, do solemnly promise and swear,
before Almighty God, and these witness
ses around me assembled, that l will not,
under any circumstances whatever di-
vulge or make known to any person or
persons, either directly or indirectly, or
to any human being, other than those
whom shall know to be good and true
members of this Order, the name, Sc
crets, mysteries or objects of the same
or cause or allow the same to be done
by others, if within my power to prevent
the same. Binding myself under no
less penalty than that of being excom-
munlcateG from the order, and having
my name posted and circulated through
out the different Councils of the Order
as traitor and perjurer to my God and
country, and as being unworthy to be
employed. entrusted, countenanced or
supported in any business transaction
whatever, and as person totally un''
worthy the confidence of all good men,
and one at whom the finger of scorn
shall ever be pointed All of which
foregoing | voluntarily and freely sub
scribe to, so help me God !"
What blasphemy and damning immor-
atty is here. "a purjurer and traitor to
his country, and to God J" There is no
escape Tor the victim who hold to the
binding force of such wicked, illegal and
infamous obligations. And, sir, after
what | have read, am / not warranted
IN saying all have said : would not,
| sir, dare to trust n case to a jury, in
which'l was party without challeng>
ing that jury But suppose l do chal-
lenge Tor connection with this Order,
the challenged part, if he is what l chal-
lenged him for being, Is sworn not to tell
the truth What, in such state Of
facts is to 'e done
| Now, sur. word or two about the
binding litigation. of oaths. Here is
juror, sworn on the one hand to do bis
duty faithfully and honestly On the
other, he is sworn not to divulge, before
any legal tribunal the secrets of any
| fart coppoc+od ISL H. -. A.