The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-05


the belief that have long enjoyed all these blessings
still my heart glows listen to these patriotic sent
ments, urged with such warmth and eodenee but when
ask for the means OF eiecng these desirable ends and
pointed TO secret political association which the trad-
ons Of our fathers yet glowing with the ifblood of the
revolution and the instincts OF my republican nature and
the creed Of the democratic party whose truths have been
taught to upon and to all warn TO shunwhen
am urged TO join in prescribing portion of my fell
owczens because OF their birth and another because of
their religious opinions naturally inquire the pur
pose Of those be good who employ such for its ae
compishment2 am far from charging upon the adro-
Gates Of any Wish to inlet es upon
their country yet they are Justly TO be held responsible
tor all the consequences moral social and POLITICAL which
flow from their doctrines
Thus Mr. Chairman, distinct questions presented
in examining this subject-frst the purposes which the
order has in view and secondly the means by which they
10 be accomplished
These PURPOSES gathered from supposed members,
om sssspapers protesting TO advocate the views OF the
order om the writings and speeches of those affect
ing 10 sympathize with it. are S
First The exclusion of all foreigners from office
Second The extension of the term OF naturalization
from five to twenyone years other period longer
than five years.
Third The entire repeal of the naturalization laws
Fourthly. The exclusion of Roman Catholics from
office. Ut.
The means by which these things are to be accomplished
secret political association in which the members are
bound by the most solemn oaths to obedience to silence
and to mutual fidelity.
shall speak first of the organization and then of the
purposes the order has in view.
can but 5eliego that secyst political association dan
gerous to the rights Of e people and TO The stability Of The gou
ern,aen In free government where every is entitled
to declare his opinions and there is punishment for the
avowal Of whatever doctrines he may entertain what
there be for resort to secrecy2 When the peo
pie oppressed by tyrannca government and the PEN
atty of death awaits every who dares speak think
against the power that is crushing him. there may indeed
be for patriots schemng in the darkness of mid
night and in the security OF unknown places of meeting
but in the midst Of people who enjoy every liberty that
the most liberal institutions can besow, where freedom OF
thought of speech, Of action and OF the press, are the
ham
ganzaton be allowed to take root and rights the dearest
that man exercise government protect be taken
from the people by means insdious and so fruitful of
danger2
The constitution allows oaths to be forced upon the
voter tests to be imposed in the of that franchise
The Of duty and the personal stake of each in
the welfare of the community thought sufficient to
insure its faithful exercise But this secret association at
empts to bind by the most stringent oah to exercise
the right of voting only certain nare patriots shall de-
ermne in the secrecy, and perhaps in the darkness of
midnight The citizen who assumes these oaths and ob
cations parts with his individual freedom abandons his
personal independence and comes to the polls not
rammeed voter, but machine to carry out by his
suffrage the elections and the purposes which othersper
haps against his consenhave determined He barters
away his freedom who makes any pledges any
oahs which impair his right to modify his ticket at any
time prior to depostng in the baotbox The electoral
franchise is which conferred each individual who
exercises it. and which he has right rammel the free
judcious of by private oahs and combinations
and his duty is TO his country and the constitution not to
midnight of ambitious and crafty men, who glaze
for the public good
is not to be supposed that an order so extensive and
the knownothings could exist great while
without revelation or betrayal OF its secrets despite the
strenuous efforts made to preserve them publication
made few weeks since in the Boston Post Of the
sution ritual &c. of the order in the State of Massach-
setts and those other States believed far they
have been revealed to be essentially alike. witness
who being examined in court of justice in Massachu
set asked he belonged the order and after much
eqaivocation, he admitted it; and being asked further if
the publication in the Post authentic copy of the
records of the order he replied that was Thus we have
reliable information to the method of initiation into the
order the signs passwords &c. the oaths the members
take, and the purposes they have in view.
have here the oath of the candidate for admission into
the second degree council given and far know
unconadicted in the Pennsylvania extra of October
1t is as follows
obligation;Yo and each Of you of your own free
witnesses, Your right hand resting on this Holy Bible and
Cross and your left hand raised toward Heaven, or
right toward Heaven token your sincerity
do solemny promise and swear that you will not make
MYSTERIES or Objects Of this unless il Be t.
those whom, after due examination or lawful information
you shall lind TO pc m members OF thus organzaon IN good
STAIN in any way, directly or indirectly, expose any of
the secrets objects OF this order nor suffer It to be done
by others if in your power to prevent it, unless it be for
official instruction that long as you are connected with
this organization if net regularly dismissed = from , IT, you
concerned comply with the will Of the majority, when
expressed in lawful manner though il may con let with
with the grand State, subordinate constitutions the
uton of the United States of America, that of the
State in which reside and that will not under
circumstances whatever knowingly recommend an unworthy
person for initiation suffer to be done il in your power
to prevent it, You furthermore promise and declare that
will not vote give your influence for any for
office in the gift OF the people, unless he be Amer
nbofn citizen favor of Americans born ruling Amer
it he be Roman Catholic and that you will not
under any circumstances, expose the Of any member Of
is order reuoal the existence IF such organization
all the foregoing bind yourselves under the less
penalty than that of being expelled from this order and Of
having posted and circulated throughout the diff
erent councils of the United States perjurer and
traitor to God and your country being unfit TO Be employed
and trusted coeHanced supported bhstoss trans
action, a person totally unworthy the confidence OF all
good men, aud whom the finger Of should
ever be pointed So help you GodE (Each answers, 81
do.")
There several things in this oath well calculated TO
excite the apprehension of udicious conscientious men 1t
Is easy perceive Ia how many instances il may happen
that adherence TO il will conflict with members duty as
CITIZEN II may very frequently that member may
be required to testify in court of justice of his
bership the instance before alluded TO- which in
Massachusetts, in which the witness endured the most pain
fu and hagassug struggles Of mind in determining where
the obligation of duty aywheher obey the oath taken
before the court the sworn in midnight assoca
tom which claim paramonntthnt ot his country, to
whom he owed duty aud allegiance from his BIRTH that
of proscriptive society," which had entanged him
with oats and dpged pitfalls about him for his conscience
Has citizen the moral right and if he has the right is it
worthy and judicous of it thus perpex his sense
of duty by assuming, unnecessarily, of the most
solemn character, and which he cannot disregard, even
ia obedience TO that higher and more ancient duty
which rests upon us all, without mourning the CEN
sure and perhaps the punishment of those with whom