Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-02
DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

We invite the attention Of Democrats IN Ten
nessee to the developments contained in the speech
of Mr. LEACH at a late democratic convention in
North Carolina We quote from the Raleigh
Standard
Mr.. Leach said that he ioined the know nothings
in Baltimore last summer. Being in that city he
met with an acquaintance, who had Eeen at his
house, in JOHNSON county, few months previous
and who had heard him make some remarks
against foreign paupers crewding to our shores
This friend remembered the expressions, and soon
reminded him Of them, and then remarked: "Now
we have the very thing to put down the Catholics
and prevent these foreign paupers from coming to
our country" On enquiring further Mr.. Leach
learned that it was the know nothing organization
that was 10 effect this and he was solicited to Join,
nothing being said to him about oaths or pledges
He partially consented and after dark MS fiiend
called at his room and proposed TO walk They
went out together, and after going some distance
his friend put the enquiry to him, could he take
oath ? HIS reply was that he was not in the habit
of taking oaths except when witness in Court
Finally, however, he concluded he would see what
kind of an oath it was. He was taken up a pair
of stairs and he and other candidates were stuck
back in a little ante-room for q while. He was
then conducted into the lodge or council room and
the oath was administered and he was invited to
a seat In the course of the sitting the President
of the Council made a speech, denouncing Presi-
dent Pierce and his administration. Mr. Leach
who had ever been a sound and consistent demo-
Graf, SAID this began TO walen him up, and for the
first time he suspected some political movement in
opposition to the democratic party, of which he
was Afterwards convinced. After the council adj
jOurned he told his friend Of some things that dis
pleased him, when he was assured that he had not
yet got fairly into the merits of it-that he had
only taken one degree and kRelC nohmg-that
lap
all the beauties Of the order revealed to him. Mr.,
L. decided, as he had got into the "snap" that he
would 90 through with it. and the next night he
took the other two degrees, which made him q
'!Son of the Sires of '7G" that being the name Of
the order after taking three degrees. He was then
solicited to buy some papers to enable him to
tablish a council in North Carolina, which he did
with the understanding that if he concluded not to
establish council that he should return the papers
and get his money back. After he came home he
sent the papers back and demanded his money, but
never got IT, lie was thoroughly disguised with
know nothingsm and had never visited one Of
their lodges since. lie regretted the oath he had
taken, and prayed to God to forgive him. He
warned everybody, and especially democrats
against the order He said some good democrats
might be seduced into the order, but they would
not stay there No man who desired to maintain
the Constitution and allowed the privileges guar.
antied by it, could remain in the knownothing or
der. It's principles were repugnant TO the Consu-
tuon and in conflict with civil and rel gous free
dom. Every member was sworn 20 support the
candidate designated by majority. He had 10
choice no freedom in the matter. Tie minority
must surrender every thing to the majority, with
out even the privilege OF remaining passive. The
order aimed death blow at religious liberty for
AZ the majority ruled in every thing. the tendency
was to attack other denominations when the
Catholics should have been put down; and there
no telling where it would end Srifes and
contentious, and even blood-shed would be the
probable results.
One thing revealed by Mr.. Leach will probably
somewhat astOnish protestant; and that is that
the candidates for admission Into the X. N order
sworn upon--what do you suppose protestant
reader2-a Bble?-no indeed, bu; upon a cross On
enquiring the reason OF this Mr. Leach was in
formed that it was to keep ont Catholics, who did
not regard an oath taken upon a Bible, but would
in and get their secrets and reveal them but
when the cross was presented to them they would
not take the oath Thus X. Ms steal a symbol
of Catholicism for protestant use TO put down
Catholicism
Mr.. Leach concluded by expressing his sorrow
that he had ever deyiated from the beaten tack of
democracy, and asking that he might be received
back into the fold, declaring that he knew Sam"
and deepised bis principles and would GIT him to
the end.