Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-05-19
The Third DeRlee "

Tn pubii ation Of this portion Of the "know
Nothing ritual. obtained through espionage
and treachery by an Abolition JOURNAL, has fall
en- most uutimey aud d-astroasy upon the Anti
American party in Virginia, as j., evineed by the
rick aa3 shifts, Tie wiring" aud squirmne
rr',h A. r.-pffel 10 for the purpose of avoiding
IT,. -. 4si.c aal anan-wer4be contradiction II
gives TO the charge of Ahollfionism against the
American party IN the North. The eonvul-lHe
effort, Of the Anti American press and Of the
Anti American orators, 10 prevent the true zig
nifclnce Of this obgaton-ta csma-culatr t
are iarcical in tho extreme. Perhaps the mo4t
futile attempt of tLis kind Is 10 be found in the
Richmond Enquirer OF Thursday, which reminds
us very much of the defence set up by Western
lawyer whose client was charged with horse
stcaHg: "Gentlemen of the jury deny that
my client ever stole horse at all; deny that
this fellow ever had horse for my client to steal
aud finally, gentlemen, eau prove by respecta-
bic witnesses that the animal was not horse,
but jaekass -
OF a piece with this is the logic Of the Eaqri.
rer. 1t first attempts to throw doubt upon the
authenticity of this obligation; then eudcavors
to break ITS force and effect by reference To
antecedens of which it knows nothing, and Y
the round declaration that: IF there be any
such obligation it's taken only by members 81
highest degree in the Order that the grent
bulk Of the party Is not committed Ia the prucl-
pies which it pretcnds TO affirm" and concludes
by declaring the obligation to be no obligation al
all ut is nothing more says the ustute editor,
than declaration Of perpetual allegiance 10
the Union and Seward Wilson, Greedy or any
other Abolitionist will readily assume this obi
CATION With all due respect, MIR. Enquirer,
they will do no such thing or in the very next
breath they draw, if they utter Abolition senti-
ments they will commit moral perjury Have
you read this Third Degree" sir Here is what
it requires member to swear Tor affirm
That you do hereby declare your devotion to
the Union Of these States that in the discharge
of your duties as American citizens you will up.
hold, maintain, and defend ii; that gou iciH dis
courage and diSeouHtendnoe any and crery at.
tempt, coming from any and trery 9udrter,which
you btiieue to be designed or calculated 10 DIS
troy Subrert IL, or TO iceaken It's bonds and
that you wW use yoar influence, as far as in yonr
porer, in endedroring 10 procure an d@icabic and
equitable adjustment Of all political diScoHttntS
or differences mhich may threaten It's injury or
operthrolr."
Could Seward, Wilson, or Greedy take this OBJ
legation and still continue to agitate in favor of
Abolition No, sir; no more than you could,
and be open disunionist. Greedy and
those whom he represents have declared over,
and again, that the preservation of the Union was
secondary in Importance to the cause OF freedom,
i. e., negro emancipation; and if rs you say, the
threats of the South to set up an indeponden tcon
federacy have alone arrested the march of North
ern aggression, they must know their course is
calculated to endanger the Union; ito destroy,
or 20 subpert, or 10 toeaken its bonds What,
then, becomes of your argument if we must dig
Nifty it by that name and what will be your next
resort
If this Third Degree" be the trick you pre-.
tend, we only ask you to publish it far and wide
give il in all its Objectionable features to the pub
aa throae1 your columns and allow the pcopI,
$40 iaae ~ ..r ta..o,eyes. and condemn il if the,