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


honor and interest than the murky resolves Of any asso
citation that adopted persecution for s creed and an
irresponsible secrecy for its means be- they viii
their open associations with their eoweitizen and alb
thenceorth the enemies of freedom, all po-
ca organizations which employ oahs secrecy,
secuon An oath such this il culpable 10 take but II
is far more culpable to execute il An oath do wrong
to violate known duty to in excitement or heed
essness il Is safer for the soul manfuliy abure than
under the deusve prompngs Of arrogance and pride 70
persist IN it's completion
The oath provides that the member shall not under
expose the name Of any member OF this
order reveal the existence Of such organization
This portion of the OATH perhaps explains why those not
in the order have met who confessed that he
belonged to it. And sir we have heard men deny connex-
on with il who have every reason to be satisfied were
members Has any the right TO take oath binding
himself to the continuous statement of untrnh Can
that institution be good whose first fruits thus evil
No, sir il Is wrong. radically wrong. Nor can the guilt
o. the deception be escaped by the msy evasion that the
real of the order is not @knownothinga and that
consequently may safely say he does not belong TO
OF that name though he really connected with the
order which the public have designated by that title and
he well knows it is the one alluded by the inquirer
Since his intention s deceive he is responsible for the
deceit Nor he escape by the plea that the querst has
right TO put the question: and that he is therefore, at
liberty Disregard the truth in his 1t is
by certain that each citizen has not the
right to ask every other any question he may fit in
reference 10 public matters without being liable to the
charge OF nquision impertnence and though the
asked may have the choice of silence speech,
be is under the obligation that rests all men,
he dasWers al all 10 tell the truth No oahs suorn hom-
solemniy e Me drest penalties that secret mid
night association dsgsed discharge ctizen from
The eternal duty Of veraciy The difficulties in respect to
truthfnness in which member is involved arise from
his oath conceal the existence of the order and his
connexion with it. If he allowed to confess that
there is such order and that he belongs it he then
might frankly and consistently refuse to tell anything fur
ther But the object to be to protect the members
from the odium with which secret political associations
have been viewed in this country and to the bene
fits of such organization while they escape the respon
sbity of connexion with it. There is of willy
ming than of republican rankness and manhood in such
course.
But his secrecy necessarily destroys all confidence bs,ceen
Till this order sprung into existence with its
rghtu demands upon the conscience ots members there
existed among the citizens of country such mutual truth
ulnes that the statements of of good character
received without dstrust upon all subjects but since
has to be admitted that some men, of hitherto
questioned veracty, have falsely denied their connexion
with the order of the knownothngs and it has been
than suspected that of those from whom we
have right expect especial purity of life and by
whom we have been accustomed be taught that il is
better to die than to stain lips with untruh have
taken the oath before quoted and which requires of them
conduct much at variance with their teaching it is not
to be wondered that hare become skpcal of The
Of human peraey The whole social fabric rests
upon the belief of truth among and the strongest
bond of faith in individuals truhfulness is the
well-founded opinion that be has yountar
lily dc6led his soul with falsehood. To conceal effect
ualy their connexon with the order the members may
be, and some possibly have been, driven to line OF
conduct in my opinion reprehensibe than direct
denial of the rnh-the acting of protraced and syse
matte falsehood Having formerly belonged to the old
whg and democratic parties, and not daring to excite
suspicious to confirm those already entertained OF
their belonging to the know-nothngs, by separating
themselves openly from their old friends they still af
feet to retain their interest in party action and party
cess allow themselves to be treated members of their
old parties become possessed of information, which is
given to hem they well know the belefofh being
still faithful to their former friends and yet while acting
thus, they under oaths which bind them to different
parties, different principles and different candidates.
That this is no idle supposition of my cred
nj ga la in n
free and manly country like own may be tempted to
exclaim will quote from the resolves ofa know nothing
council in Brooklyn, New York The preamble those
resolves declares that good and had already been
nominated by the great political parties of the State
NOMINATION OF SOME OF WHOM WAS EFFECTED
ORDER Ifany man. whigorde democrat had snug
gled himself into meeting of the other party by pretend
ing to belong to it, the judgment of all would repro
bate the act per6dious and dsgracefu The contempt
of all honorable men would follow him like What
rule of morals can tolerate in members of this order that
which is condemned in all other parties Their first de-
parture from sound principles in joining the order involves
subsequent denquencies to conceal it, and make it effect
ual If trade and require good faith and sim
certy in those who follow those cangs how much more
they indispensable among those who acting for the
public and whose conduct may influence for years their
country's welfare!
1t be expected with absolute certainty, that an
sttuton thus organized and pursuing such purposes will
be despotc win trample all those sacred rights which the
contryers of the order and those who profit by the deu
sion pretend il established secure This is one of
the wicked consequences which the untutored sagac
could not fail TO predict But all that could be antci
pated than realized by the declarations of the Brook
yu council which find in the New York Herald paper
friendly to the order and which treats the whole proceed
ing as authentic;
Whereas the action of the Grand Council the State of
New ork, their late in October last making an
independent nomination for State officers without instructions
that the subordinate councils State
without giving them opportunity to participate in the
lection of such candidates and when necessity existed
such course inasmuch and ~RuE had already
been By the great political parties Of the State
the nomination OF of whom effected by the direct
action of this ORDER departure from the true interests
and objects of this order unwarranabe assumption of
and in direct violation OF resolutions adopted BY
5 grand council in June last;
And whereas the said grand council adopted resolutions
presented BY Chauncey Shafler putting unwarrantabe
and post construction upon the obligations of the
members of this order, thereby endeavorng and
compel them by and PENALTIES, to for the
candidates nominated by said grand council, in direct
violation of the constitution and laws of the land and
yersive Of the genius and spirit Of republican nsttu
tions
And whereas the said grand council their recent ses-
son adopted resolution, originally suggested by Ill. A. T.
ranbury requiring the members this Order
pains and penalties to under OATH how they voted
the recent election papable violation Of the rights and
privileges secured to- and highly priced by every
American Therefore,
" Resotred, That repudate and condemn the
toned action of the grand council aaye-
pubiica and the unwarranabie abonaabie and
gros assHstioa OF depoe oser attempted in this
republic in its Confessional eRaHee, and threats Of
and only worthy Of imitation by the grand card
mails at Rome.
Resolred That any asserting or yielding obe-
dience to such degrading and nquisitorial
herita not the spirit of his revolutionary and
thy the of of 6 and descend the level of