The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-03

Wv" w "'e "o'o'u'o VI mo iiduon, pass intt
forgetfuluess, and that its author. should pine
and die in obscuriiy, we are willing 10 pre-
ven, such catastrophe by publishing i
below for the benefit OF whom il may
concern" We begin with the Preamble
PREAMBLE.
Whereas there has recently sprung M in
this Country an organization called Know
No,hingism," The members whereof unlaw.
fully and wickedly confederate, conspire
and bind themselves by extra-judic,al oa,bs
and pledges and obligations, iurtiyely and
secretly 10 array class against class, race
against race, and 10 establish unconsiiiuiion,
al tests as qualifications for holding office.
OF either political or municipal character
and by appealing 10 base prejndices and I'M.
worthy motives, and by the systematic EN-.
poyment and exercise of fraud, falsehooJ
and threats OF personal deirac,ion and injury
10 iniimidaie well disposed citizens, who
have through Ignorance of lis design Joined
the order, and have sought to withdraw
iherelrom -
And whereas, The said organization is
tsiriying with all the force OF concentrated
and wickedly concentrated action to lay
hold OF and 10 administer TO tho civil and
political affairs Of every detail ofour system
OF Government, from the School District 10
the Town. from the town 10 the County,
rom the County 10 The State, and so on 10
the administration OF the affairs of the Gem
eral Government Of the United States:
And whereas, we the undersigned, ci,i.
zens OF Biddeford, have, witnessed and are
compelled daily to witness, the penicious
working OF this organization in our own ai.
iairs, in that its members have violently
thrust themselves upon, and disturbed and
broken up the peaceable primary meetings
OF our citizens lin that they have publicly
abused aud insulled, and violently malreai.
Cd IN Town and District meeting our citizens
for no cause other than that they were no,
KNOW NoTHINGs i'm that they have
violently seized upon the persons Of citizens
who were peacefully within their own
houses, have dragged them without, war
ran. from their domicils, have restrained
'hom OF their personal liberty, and without
authority or any legal proceeding whatever
have thrust them into prison, trusting for
immunity for such outrages to The wicked
prejudices that they themselves have cxci,.
ed against the victims of their atrocities,
who are foreigners, and 10 the fayor,ism of
Municipal Officers, selected from their own
secret Jesuitical order -
Now therefore, we the aforesaid citizens
OF Biddeford, moved 10 oppose and 10 repel
oulIages, and 10 resist tyranny in whatever
form il may present itself, and TO nantes,
our indignant anlagonism against the ''lwie"
or branch Of the order tina, is flourishing 30
lmpudenily and so a,rociously here, and 10
encourage and strengthen each other in this
opposition, and by every orderly, peaceful
and lawfully effective means in GU: power,
to accomplish the defea, OF the unlawful,
wicked and pernicious objects and designs
Of The so called " Know Nuthings'' here in
This City where we reside, and moved more.
over with the design TO restore this commu-
nifty 10 healthy tone, so tha, good order,
and peaceful and quiet administration Of
affairs, may take The place Of the malicious
s'riie-slirring and abominabe spiri, that the
so called "Know Noihings" are now and
have been so sedulously stirring up against
those OF our citizens who will not submit 10
their dictaiions and prosecutions -
DO hereby resolve that we will unite our.
selves, with the common object herein be-
fore set out and reciied, and tina, we will
each and all, by all lawful means, sustain
each other, in opposition 10 the unlawful,
wicked and a,rocious ends aud aims and
designs Of the said order.
Now this Preamble is rs flowery as
Kitchen garden, and efervesces like 20,
OF Ginger Pop beer. It's author should not
stay in such limited field as our city,
We advise him TO introduce himself n, once
Into the field OF belle letters, by accepting
a situation in some large publishing house
Of" Yaller covered literature" where his
talents for doing up the indignation part OF
romance writing can have full scope. II he
fails in finding a place there perhaps he
might obtain an opportunity to display his
wonderful requirements before his " fsllsr
eiti=ens" in the capacity Of an atiaehe 10
travelling menagrie and circus. Such
wonderful gifts as no possesses should be
encouraged.
The preamble having been thus set forth
now comes the working part Of tho consli.
tuition, as follows:
And TO this end, and for the purpose Of
an elective organization 10 this end, This
association will have lis officers, its rules
or Bylaws and il shall be known among
ourselves by the name of the
I. BIDDEroRD ASSOCIATION.
2. It's Officers shall be President "a
Secretary, and any other officers for tenn
porary purposes, that the Association may
deem from time 10 time useful, such as the
exigency OF any particular time or special
occasion may require.
3. The place, or places, and time Of
meeting shall be such as this Association
by its members in open meeting, or by a
OF its members, may designate.
4. Tho rules for discussion and modes Of
proceedings in meetings assembled for
transaction Of business, or general discus
sion, or both, shall be such as arc approved
and observed in parliamentary assemblies.
s. The first election Of its officers shall
be at such time rs the Association may
direct after one weeks notice and vote 10
that end given by this Association itself 10
this, or ia any subsequent meeting.
6. Every signer to this preamble and
rules. who Is voter in town or State affairs,
shall be deemed member Of this Associa-
ton, as also every legal voter whose name
shall be received by committee appointed
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