The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-10-06
RAYENNA. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1855.

ly their own, but the tax due from the Bank
of Ohio, no wonder that we heard complaints
from all pats Of the county. Our burthens
were indeed greater than we could bear.
What is the remedy for this evil. 1t is
very plain, elect men to the Legislature, and
toall other public Offices who stand pledged
to cOmpell banks to pay their equal share of
the public burthens. ..f
Know NOthingismt. r.
Another question which is agitating the
public mind in high degree, is that per.
tanning to the existence of secret poiti.
cal order, known as "Know Nothings."
We cannot but regard this order or any
other secret political organization, as anti
republican and dangerous to the best inter
ests of the country It's proceedings are
secret. Its members take upon themselves
oaths which in the Judgment OF the commit.
tee, are extrajudicial and which bind its
members to the performance OF acts incon.
sistant with their duties as citizens. Our
first objection is to its secrecy. Every sub.
ject pertaining to public measures, is a mat.
ter of public Importance and should always
be discussed openly. A political organiza-
ton whose objects, and the manner of their
accomplishment cannot be made known to the
people of State, cannot be one deserving
of public confidence. Freemen; men con.
scious Of the purity of their motives need
not meet in barns and saw-milis at the
hour of midnight, to hold their councils.-
There is time and opportunity in broad day,
light. 1t is said that secrecy is necessary
in order to put down the Jesuts, whose or
der is also secret one. To put down Jes-
uitism must we become Jesuits also! Tt
put down darkness, must we become the
4 children of darkness ourselves! What o
fearful State of society must that be-
where all social and political measures are
carried on in secret; where one secre
sworn band, wars with another sworn band
until the whole structure OF society is minet
and countermined! When suspicion ant
distrust pervade every department; and mel
may not whisper their thoughts lest spy il
sitting with them at their own hearth -stoites
How much more noble and manly it is, il
an American citizen; to come out openly
and frankly, and declare his sentiments tt
the world, and challenge discussion of hi
principles and movements.
Our next objection is to the oaths and
principles of the Know Nothing Order
The following is the oath taken by the
first degree members:
OBLIGATIoN.-You and each of you o
your own free will and accord, in the pres
ence of Almighty G cd and these witnesses
your right hand resting on this Holy Bibl'
e and Cross, and your left hand raised toward
, Heaven, IN token of your sincerity, do sol
EMMY promise and swear, that you will no
make known to any person or PERSONS, any
of the signs, secrets, mysteries, or objects o
this organization, unless it be to those whom
s after due examination; or lawful nforma
ton, you shall find to be meifibers of thin
Organization in good standing; that you will
not cut carve, print, paint, stamp, stain, o
in and way, directly or indirectly, expose an!
Of the secrets or objects of this order, no
suffer it to be done to others, If in your pow
er TO prevent it, unless it be for official in
struction; that SO long as you are connected
: with this organization, if not regularly dis.
missed from it, you will in all things, polit
ical or social, comply with the Will of the
majority, when expelled in lawfal manner
though tmay conflict with your persona
, preference. SO LONG as it does not conhic
, with the Grand, State or Subordinate Con
, stitutions, the Constitution Of the Unite
States of America, or that of the State il
which you reside !; and that you will not un
der any circumstances whatever, knowlngl!
recommend an unworthy person for inita
ton, nor suffer it to, be done, if in your pow
" er to prevent it, You further promise an
declare that you will not vote nor give you
influence for any man for any Office in tn,
gilt Of the people, unless he be an Ameri
. can born citizen, in favor Of Americans rul
ing America, nor If he be Roman Catio
lie, and thatyou will not, under any circum
stances, expose the name of any membe
of this order, nor reveal the existence o
such an organization. To all the foregoing
you bind yourselves, under the no less pen
atty of being expelled from this order, an,
having your name posted and circulate
through all the different Councils of tn
D Uuted States, as q perjurer, and as a traito
r to your God and country, as a being unfit t
: be employed and trnsted, countenanced 0
supported in any business transaction, a
a. being totally unworthy the confidence o