The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-05-18


republican, and dangerous 10 the spirit Of our
free institutions, hereby renounce all CON
npction with those associations and will hence
forth act against them at every opportunity
TO the truth of which statement, | selennly
pledge myself to the citizens of Tarpntum.
WILLIAM ADAMS.
THE MORALITY OF KNOW MOTH
lNGlSM.
We published yesterday, the report of the
Committee of the Legislature Of Massachusetts,
with reference TO the conduct of MIR. Joseph
Hiss, member of the House, and which, of IL
self, developes sad state OF morality. 1t was
such men as Hiss, reeking with moral leprosy,
who raised the cry Of immortality and licentious-
ness under which the famous N1nnery Com
mittee was appointed. The acts Ct that Com
mitpe are known, and all good men, both in
Massachusetts, and throughout the nation, blush
at the scandal. Bot now comeS still more
pitiable and dsgraceiul exhibition. Tie re-
port is made to the Legislature, aud the
recommendation for the expulsion Of the leYrr
adopted, when, with shameful efFrontery, he
presents memorial asserting, in one breath, his
innocence, and the next almost admitting every
crime charged, but justifying himsrlfand claim
ing exemption on the ground TINT like criminal
conduct acas the practice Of most members Of the
Committee, and demanding the opportunity to
prove it. We copy the concluding portions OF
the memorial. It's author, be it remembered,
was, until very recently, the Chief Instructor
sucb is the titlel Of the Know-Nothing order in
Massachusetts,. 1t furnishes fair specimen OF
know-nothing morality, and exhibits Joseph
Hiss, by his own confession, leprous and lustiul
beast, having only the form of man. Hessays;
Your mrmorialist proposes TO show that the
conduct th which be IS charged, has not here
totore been SO considered by the members OF this
Committee and others, members OF this House,
inaSmuch it the opportunity Is given hlm hr
will show by such testimony, under oath, as IN
the Supreme Judicial Court OF this Common
wealth has heretofore been found sufficient to
authorize DEGREES Of divorce for the cause OF ad-
uItery, both against husband and wifi; that the
Chairman of your very honorable Committee OF
investigation, both while with Committees OF
this House, as we'll as while connected with II
as member, and while acting in said several ca
pacities, has done the same acts with which your
nlemorialist stands charged BY the report OF your
Committee.
And your memorialis!, if permitted, further
proposes to show By similar evidence under oath,
that other members of the honorable House, both
while upon Committees and during their con-
nection with the House, have been guilty of like
improprirties and indiScrtions, as those charg-
ed upon your mrmorialst in said report
And your memorialist respectfully represents
that having been charged with doing no more
than can be shown that others, members OF the
same body, whose age, Standing: requirements,
and reputation have entitltd them to his respect,
and to whom he might and ought 10 look for ex-
ample-that it is unfair and unjust, without any
previous warning Oh the pavt of the house, that
said precpdents wrle not to be- followed, that
be should be singled cut for the heavy penalty
/ ola vote of censure of this House.
And he therefore respectfully prays, that if
he is deemed unworthy, for the causes before
mentioned, of a seat in this body, that the cases
! of others to whom be has adverted, and which
/ at time and place he is ready to specify and
j verify, may be investigated and passed upon by
/ the house in order that it may be seen that his
j acts, even as reported and unluStly charged, are
not without parallel, mitigation and excuse, by
/ precedent and contemporaneouS acts.
In fine your memorlalist claims thai his con-
duct ought not 10 be- found exceptional snd pun
ished, with severe penalties, if upon in5estga-
ton it is found no other or different fromlhat Of
other members Of this house, who still 5etain
their seats upon this floor.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH HISS
The Legislature, after the presentation of ttis
memorial, concluded TO reconsider the vote ea-
pelling Hiss, aud it is now more than probable
ifhis assertions are to be believed. that Other
members will accompany him when he is final
ly expelled. He offers to Prore, moi has ow1
Innocence, but that the acts with WAtch lie a
charged are the common practice among mem
bers Such, then, is the KnowNothing Legis
( lature of Massachusetts. Ii remains to be seer
/ if they will dare to meet the investigation int
the morals of Know-Nothingism, which Mr.
1 Hiss demands.
/ There are sirty Know-Nothing clergymel
in the Legislature of Massachusetts, Phiiadel
pdin .7rgus.
FoREIGNERs IN THE u. S. ARMY.-Fhe Bos
ton tMass.) Atlas learns from an official source