Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-02-27
Tur GREAT CONSPIRACY.

mysteries OF the hho"--'''Ne
,hs idle curiosity OF frivolous persons ou' 'n'nA's
men will read it with feelings 0' 'a' n0'' '''''''A
character. ,,;-a.;,r s1rh;as tho
RI. completeness OF IFS orGani-atlon' toro'os the
q ~" ,,,on tbst Know -Ncthingism is the offspring
Of popular impulse or is OF an acc'dental and tempo
.,r existence. The intense study and perverted
sb;y displayed its Constitution prove it to be the
production OF profound policy and infinite ambition.
II ia the creature no: Of single OCCASION Il is design
"a rot :or particular purpose. The immenae power
hich arrogates and the with which it protects
Itself against the casualty Of dissolution, shoy con-
cssvely that it is meant to survive the Achievements
70 which pretcnIs to aspire and to stand as 'e.
,scept and dominant political organisation.
there Le any persons and doubtless tiore afe 'u"u1
,ov. sf,ocbsd themselves to the Order, with the |
,au =, relressug particular grievance and OF re.
particular disorder IN the state-Nithout !
d -. ish 10 Guild M au Immense and permanent
poTer il ar,aconsm to the sway OF puol'e oph'oh
.rd tue legitimate sovereignty OF governmental
.bsre be any such, we bid them contemplate tins Or
sn;z.,ou in ts rnuteucss and il itE completeness,
- is arrogant assumption OF authority Gad its avuw
ID sspiration after political supremacy and say
hay have not committed themselves to an enterprise
conviction OF the Judgment revolt.
! In ike manner as We know that ship laueh WIN
Arms and munitions of war, is not bound on any
psscefu enterprise of lawful commerce. o"' VII 'o'
expedition OF piracy hostile aggresS'oh VIC soF "'u
understand tina, this n:ganI-aGn >sia '4 a'''"'! "
esnop, OF oieLCe aid de,auce lis ample PROVISION"
;ar svts,,,eucs au4 cSvan2!on, aES ~ !ns's"W q
\ i.ower and sovereignty wlerewthal to c"nsecraie
and consolidate its conqne'ts-n like manner aho oE
the same compcison Of reason do we prcnc;Eca '"s
-ro.ni.s,ion TO pe a EfcG, conSpirdcy against The
,i,.d,,v of pOrcrnmea. a..9 the ibertrS u The
pyVpt
| This Order is not content with an ordinary pledge
Il si..v from its members, but it extorts an oath OF
i Aci2acs. with the ssnclior OF the Host appailin9
/ ne lries Before the neophEte ia initiated IN tho
,y.e;e. OF the first degree, on the threshold oi the
coupc he binds hnscl: tc perpetua! secrecy uho 10
II IN iect .upmiosoI 10 lie .-.ada,es oi 1Ee l.asF
,ay u. .sv as aa;iiical matters This obligation Is
r.,,wea at very step and with increasing soemni'!
Il ..;sacrics so that at last the votary bec"incsth
sproeasss and helpless slave OF the Order. In com
MARIAN vi,h this scrve Submission and these aWfu
r-s.s and penalties the oath oi allegiance by which
Il .,o t,e, a,ests mis- patriotism, and ne P.isAneh'
Nv which he e1pates lie treackery are Oh 10 obiga'
,on or sanction Featy 10 the constitution and dut!
n country nre subordinate considerations, and are Su
rar,e3ed by the stronger, higher and more exactng
l isvo.;cp and drty to TIE Order Ice victim may
| ,.e his oegrsdatioa and lo2g ior eacape from his
BONDAGE but lie is in the grasp nesarablo despof
lam and must saerce every noble inpulse OF patri-
,sr n tbe exclusive interests and guilty ambition
Of hi. Order. When he applies to leave the Order
be i, a, the mercy OF selfish tyranny which, accord
ing to itS caprcious humor, may grant him IN honora
Ne dismissal or expel him with every mark OF inamy
,pl with all the horrible of his oatE rPoA his
.:,i II e;the, ey5nt The obligation OF secrecy
-sisbs upon niIi through lfs.
,yr- y,L;,s;.,a is a conspiracy 10 ROB tie people
i.s, ls,rry and oj tksfr right 2f set-gosernRe"!
The mane,t design and the sssen.a. tchdehcy OF the
Lnc j. e transfer political power from the masses
% the hands Of Ell irresponsible osnrchy. IL THIS
c,r-ci-Ucn attain The pu7er 10 which 1t aspires, the
..,,ls urc Q! no effect in our political syatem' Their
voice il no; hesrt. or i, proclaimed, il ls:eSerded
Ind .et ?. naurh. by the Mandate Of O. Power On
rou,d N Iarkrcc. ard iraccessble TO attack. Aea-
ues Of government ere :Ct discussed nor approved
By The pcoolc but are projected and mstnred IN Sc
crecv aui carried into e.c; By the absolute H"'no
9. i ~ OF an invisible aud inexnrable iespo'ism. Inc
Il
ia.e and reign society by the dread terror'p
1 OF mysterious and rrcsistble power.
n In tho Con.il,uton und Ritual OF the Order sys
,sn Of Go,,rumcut !. elaborated which is irrecon'
sp,y .ntagon-tc H. ,.,itt. ar: tendencYto tue es
cs tatthsS so7ernG.L, Of he atate. The machinery
n this impism "A .'trrio is complete in its detas
end wi! move the it feels the impulse OF pow
VI or ihe Order s endowed with Executive, judicial
oy I'D Legislative C-9l!y. e.acts lava preScfioes
M IeLa!;ies, tries Tor oacnceS ard inEcts punishment
1 Efossesse: au unconditional and unlimited power OF
taIa.On, anau order ograrahteetsc complete ndepen-
der"e Of society, supports It's officers from its own
~ ris'=Tg ihe principle OF tue sovereignty Of the
ietie whe iies at the otndaioI Of ell free govern
Az sa: Is ignored and reUdiaed md all the authority
nt power of the Order centres In flows from and re-
yst. To- C. Supreme Senate or '.Grand Coprcil," TO-
EA shlu he Constitution grants EXCLUSIVE lUrl'dlcon
a ;Hgc:- all ,attt,s Of NATIONAL PoIlTics, end in
be V,s. r mayer 10 o,:hatscsrer nay 6e necessary he
ta.s of NE orgast sa,cn The Grand Council pos
RISES only aupreme Legislative and executivepo pow
I'M Tos; is also the court OF final appeal Its power Is
not t.ded with coordinate branch of Legislature,
nor M "a by executive veto, dependent on popu'
icb- approval. 1t Is not esS absolute than the despo-
.aI Of Russia
as} A. " [ct sp:Gk tie trC,h we affirm that fhs
se' Ssa'ntaon, II Successful, will draw 20 itself and en-
8p "s' Ill the energy and Vitality Of the state!Gover.
zee leA' system ., occher. and posesees no Gr.
tAM HIo in''ete"i ro:5er. Ihe power resi- ides with
We people end government impell-l and controlled
'rN ey the iop"ar Will hU, this qrauizatou robs the
seop' {" 'Nrr WILL aai usurJs dominion over the
ssT government. Conceive the dire calamity Of its com.
pe!e ascenianey n The country and behold the con-
hR Flnenc'a In every locality puhc on;,on is crea
6ns 81 'Hd controlled by lis secret but resistleas infu
ons 'F *h 'ht deEGitmeut: AKA functions Of govern
vunt ~ " '"e possession OF It's members. Recollect
- over liz vcGcies, aud say if the
use s"' s' 'Ae pF's"e aHd tie authority Of govern
Pre- " "o A'' "o''s' !" II. hnnis, It possessea
T. 10 sLsolate right Gf iEs,rcc,ion--,
- bean! by an imperative obligation Of .,,,,ni.s;on
Hs F~lr'ai Executive 'ue rooera! Legislature tho
Federal Judiciary are all its slaves bound j.; ,,,. =.
;t oi Oath. driven by the penalties Of p.r;u~,
ittsson. All the functonaries OF goveruu,ru, n,.. :.
paramount. allegiance to the Order With the Grand
resides all authority and all power und bv il.
asI'a,e, lle policy of government ID con,roied- 1t
"S.ac; ta Govcrnment-Is not Know -Sothingisr
s"''rro against the Government Of the coun:r,
S'- IL" .'her'r- "i the peoplel
II 'e ;rr. from the organization to the immediate
'~V Ea"M -Aohings,a, we discover the ssme IN
-sV-'E 10 p"pnIGr privilege and the spirit Qf thi
I'ss''a''m know -Hothingi4m contemplates
IS-se 'D tie constitution, by aholishins tho gqaran
'" fe'E'"us liberty, and establishing an exclusive
ie. 'o privileged per.ons, The constitution express
t'VH'o'' the Acknowledgement Of any citizen or
~, Ia h!' religion. Know Nottingham makes the
npy 'a o' Inc Catholic hadoe of infnmv and n cause