The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-22
Prom the Democratic tdiss.) Flag.
ANOTHER ORGANIZATION

the office OF probate judge at the ensuing November cleo
ton Within the last few days considerable excitement
has been produced In the community by the exposure Of
an organization yclepi the know-nohng party with It's
aliases Of sars and stripes "nstye-A mecan, sc, &c
with which exposure my name has been associated aud
subjected asperSion BY the Inscriptions OF the adhe
rents of that party. As an incumbent Of apube Office
asprant for promotion and private ctzenl feel
II duty owe TO the public and myself TO give orei his
tory my connexon with the order and my reasons Tor
abandoning and exposing publicly. here beg leave
state however that not the FIRST TO lift the veil Of
secrecy hut having declared lis members my absolute
determination do what conceived TO be the proper
time have disposition 10 shrink from the respon
bility nor making this still morepubc exposure Of
an organization which had denounced 10 its members
early in the of my in it as dasardycorrupt
in lis aims, and hypocriiica in lis professions.
Some time in July August Of last yeag gentleman,
or il you prefer Yankee piano peddlera whiginro-
duced the order in through two other gentlemen
and myself most soemniy ured that IL had not
could have the remoest connection with either Of the
old partesthat its principles would not clash with any
political religious sentiments heretofore entertained
provided not myself Catholicthat the secrecy Of
the identity Of the order which offered serious objeo
tons, merely policy for tie protection Of its
bes from the violence Of foreigners in the cltiesand that
when il should have attained sufficient numbers and inn
portance for sefproteeon the mask to be dropped,
With these, aud many other assurances, submittedno
osity and unwillingness to condemn anything thus
plausby presented and which had already attained de-
gree Of consequence in the land, without better
grounds doing than any had hitherto enjoyed was
Immediately made president of the council at this place
presided over three four meetings at which many
were nitated-whigs rushing into it with great eager
ness sometimes democrat presented, which latter
occasion the chuekie was rather Unsurpassed
mysterious order, exciting to the curosity-so
well calculated enlist the sympathy of the religious Prot
estanwas seized upon for its availability by the wing
party once and has swept the country like Wild
reembracing this time within its pale the entire wing
party with but few isolated exceptions, and considera
Bile number Of the democratic party imposed upon by lis
pretexts and unsuspcous of its aims in all about twelve
hundred lin this county, initiated eight hundred Of whom
are regarded BY the leaders reliable in emergency
somewhat remarkable that among its Jealous supporters
are men heretofore have been haased by dread from
foreign political influence and made their indifference to
all religious crceds rather boast bat suddenly
warmed into ervd enthusiasm and serious apprehensions
for the safety of political and Protestant nsttuons
abandoned II in disgust but with careful attention to
its various modes and phases till the time of its recent pub
lie exposure denounced 1t at best an adroit party
whg trick fraud practiscd upon myself and other DEM
under the guise of religion and love of country
the desperate hope they admitted OF the wing party in
this State and country felt that was presiding over
unhalowed ceremonies the holocaust of the democratic
and the patriot President the party of my early adoption
and warm support through life, which was called
upon 10 pronounce aAmen choking to the utter
that OF Macbeth
The obligation Of the order requires the candidate for
admission that he twill reveal none OF the secrets
signs grips passwords &c, Of the order" and further
more 10 promise and that he will eote the
nee of he haorp-nog party he conscentously do
if he cannot he oH not roe against him and of "he
of the order that you not to let 1t be known
that you are or that you know Of any else being
member of this order do you know that such an
der exists community But when asked any ques
ton reference to it, you to say that you how notk
ina about it. or give at least evasve answer 1t may
here be remarked that the express direction of the charge
is to convey deliberately fcie impression to lie the
plea of public pocya plea which in this receives
paation in moral sense.
When you wish to get friend to join the order the
precise mode entapping enoined in solemn charge
You first to ascertain his views of the order If he
denounce you drop the subject for the time being
If his views favorable however, you express
anxiety yourself TO learn something about it. per-
haps to join it. il you thought you could discover their
place of mcetng that you have suspicion that such
order may exist in the communiy then propose that you
and he join together and that you viii endeavor to
tain their place Of meeting &C. &c. The unmany du
plicy of such conduct order contemplating great
religious and political reform needs comment
The which offer to the public for an nfraction
Of what the order claims be sacred obligation and
which invite the attention Of my accuers the follow
ng
First An obligation administered by the representative
officer of incorporate body in this case is nuga-
tory Whatever the obligations of Free Masonry aud odd
Fellowship may be, the analogous These
corporate organizations operating under the sanction and
of the State where they exist have chartered right
10 sue prosecute recover &C. without which their obliga
ton if they have SUCH would be nugatory This position
no respectable jurst will question.
Secondly. moral obligation, the preservation Of which
enorces the commission of moral wrong to create false
mpression-to lie, in ACKNOWLEDGMENT, is void be-
every RATIONAL accountable is under prior
obligation his Creator do what he knows be right
or to adopt tho precise language Of Paley whom none
dare say question: Promises Tor promissory oehs
binding where the performance Is unlawful, even where
the unlawulness known to the parties the time Of
making them where assassin promises his employer
to despatch his rival hisenemy heray his
master friend assist in scheme Of seduction &c. &c
The parties in these Obliged perform
the promise requires because they under prior obliga
ton the country. From which prior obligation what
Is there TO discharge ihem Their promise their own act
and deed. But obligation from which man can dis
charge himself BY bis act is obligation all The
the breaking of them and it. in The nervnl between The
promise and the performance Ear recover his re-
Election to repent his engagements he ought certainly
to break through themH
Thirdly. Aside from the above reasons feel myself alb