Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-07-18
MYSTERIES OF THE DARK-LANTEkNS.

We copy to-day, from the Richmond Enquirer,
full exposure of the secrets and mysteries Of !
Know Nothingsm embracing the Constitution of !,
the National Council, with the three degrees, the
grips, signs and passwords; and also the Consti- !,
tuition of the North Carolina State Council; its mode
of operation and principles and the of its Of
fcers This document Is no doubt genuine. Its au-
thenticity will not be denied 1t is, moreover, the
fullest and most important exposure yet made of the
principles and workings of this nearous, midnight,
antC Constitutional and anti-Amcrican organization.
All the signs grips, and passwords are given and
this has not been heretofore done.
1t may be stated as significant fact, that the
officers of the North Carolina Council are Wigs.
We do not know the politics of the Vice President,
Mr.. Matthews, but presume he is a Wing; and ifso,
all the officers are Wings. -,
We>caIl the particular attention of the peopls of
North Carolina to the sConstitution of the North
Carolina State Council.' They will see, after an
examination Of this instrument with what art and
skill the plot for controlling them and their affairs
has been laid The State Council, meeting in the
night and aoth closed doors has taken charge of the
election of United States Senator's, Governor Sec
retary of State, Comptroller Superintendent Of
Common Schools Judges of the Supreme and Su-
perior Courts Attorney General and Solicit
ors, and all other offices to be filled by the
General Assembly; and members of the Legislature,
who are Know Nothngs are bound to vote for the
nominees of the State Council aoithout reference to
the oiU or the aoishes Of their constituents under
penalty of being &c dealt with as the Council may
determine This great "JACOBIN CLUB Its
members unknown, unless they choose to reveal
who they arc, and appointed, not by the people, but
by midnight subordinate factions, called Councils,
is to issue its DEGREES to the Legislature of the State
and its WILL like that of the Jacobin Clubs of Paris
during the reign of terror and of blood, is to be
preme and final, not only against all parties, but
against the people themselves! This Jacobin plot,
it will be observed includes not only the political
Offices, but it acould drag tile Courts Of Justice and
the office Of Superintendent Of Common Schools
down into the of partizan strife; it would taint
not only the streams of justice between man and
man, but it has even dared to attempt infusion of
its poison of bigory, intolerance, and all uncharita
beness into the pure fountains oflearnng, flowing
out through State municence for the benefit Of the
States hope, the boys and girls now and hereafter
to be instructed in our Common Schools! Calling
the pulpit to its ad-for it appears they have Chap
| lain this wicked and Heaven-defying Order would
doom men to degradation and perpetual nferiority,
simply because they "worship God according to the
dictates of their consciences'; and then taking
the world in the other hand it grasps at all places
of honor profit and trust in the State, subjecting
those of the unfortunates who have Joined them,
and who refuse to be bound by their DEGREES, to be
published as perjurers and traitors, unworthy the
notice regard Of good men!"-nay, more than
this-those honest men who are seduced into the
Order, as well the dishonest who go in with the
view of obtaining Offices and spoils, required to
take solemn oath, before persons not legally
thorized to administer the same, thus dcsecrating
the Holy Gospels and the of the Son of Goo,
who died for their redemption and if not true to
this OATH thus taken and which cannot in the nature
of the be binding, they to be posted per-
jurers and prosecuted socially and in all business
relations with purpose and vengeance utterly
disgraceful to civilized and Christian people.
1t cannot be possible that the people of the State
will sustain slch an Order. The day for deciding
upon it is near at hand We appeal to you fellow
citizens, to examine the whole subject moro thor
oughly, if possible than ever-to look to your lab
critics, thus in peril of being swallowed up by this
midnight, grasping irresponsible, anti-Amercan fac.
tion and to go to the polls and vote and work with
spirit and purpose worthy of the great interests
committed by our forefathers to your hands. Bear
in mind that the election of President may devolve
upon the next House of Representatives; and thai
if a majority Of Know Nothings should be chosen to
the House from this State they aoiN be bound By hei'
oaths to COTE without reference to the aoiU or ht
ishes Of the people Of their repectioe Districts. Jo'
the nominee for President, a6olitionist though h
may be, Of the National Council We beg you tc
remember this-tell the people oft everywhere, and
act accordingly.