Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-29

| His aletter from San 0ld-line Democrat, ? who,
though fortyfouryears of age, never gave Wing
vote in his life, The author Is Daniel J. Hoge, Of
Montgomery county, member of an old, respect
able, Democratic Virginia family, who has hereto
fore been in good and regular standing with the
Democratic party, and thought worthy of receiv-
ing their highest honors. Mr.. Hoge was Demo.
cratic member Of the Reform Convention, has been
in the Legislature, we believe, and was spoken Of
1 as the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Gov
ernor of the State in the present canvass.
| From the Salem Register
| Know-Nothing Expose.
GENTLEMEN: In your paper Of the 9th March, ia
q publication which purports to be an expose Of
the secrets Of Know -Nothingsm." had seen il
in the Enquirer, but did not think worth while 10
read IT, for regard it, as do Morgan's professcd
! expose OF Free Masonry, a vile and contemplate
forgery; or, If true, regarded ii as the betrayal
| of trust by some infamous scoundrel, that rem
| dered it unworthy the countenance OF gentlemen.
was, therefore, surprised to see such thing in
| the dignifed columns of the Richmond Enquirer.
And this surprise at seeing it in that paper, and
then in yours, Is greatly increased by examinngit,
| to find how easily you have both been entrapped
by this Ill concealed stratagem. You must have
suffered yourselves entrapped by publishing the
thing without examining It by the key given
in the commencement Of it. And those who
set the trap, no doubt, expected its publica-
tion without q critical examination of it and
then some editor was to fly the trigger after all the
Democratic editors had been carelessy drawn under
the trap. They reasoned correctly when they sup
posed the Democrats in their eagerness to expose
the secrets would overlook the +" weghter matters
Of the law, i" or the principles as laid down. They
were correct when they expected eur editors, in
hair in tha rl.aff rf
grips passwords, and intiatory ordinance for some
thing to object to, would overlook the great prn-
ciples therein enunciated, and which are alone
worthy of attention Let us examine it little
by the aid of the key given at the commencement
of it, "a .a
The principle Of the obligation, in the first de-
| gree, is as follows: 9ef
You furthermore promise and declare that you
will not vote, nor give your influence for any man
for any Office in the gift Of the people, unless he
be an American-born Citizen in favor Of Americans
born ruling America, nor II he is a Roman Cath
Ole" Are the Democracy opposed TO these things,
and win they suffer the Richmond Enquirer to lead
them into blind opposition to those great princi-
Piles, without even inquiriHg their import or whence
they cameY For mark, there is no prescription of
foreigners here but simple resolve as TO how
they will vote between native and foreign born,
just as they resolve how they will vote between
Whig and Democrat. And If this resolve Is pro-
scription of foreigners, then every Democrat pro-
scribes every Wing in the land when he resolves
TO vote for none but Democratic. And are the De-
mocracy opposed to our people voting for Ameri-
can-born citizens in preference toforegn Catholics
| Hindoos, Hottentots and Brtains Is the Demo-
cratic party opposed TO Americans born ruling this
''land Of the free and this home of the brave and
do they want our own native land brought under
the dominion of the Pope of Rome, and be ruled
/ by foreign Catholics 7 IL So / am no longer
| Demnerat T tlou Enrtv- -fsrr Ala "a
never gave Wing vote in my life But If the
/ good old party have loved and cherished from
my manhood, and whose principles of religious
freedom were instilled into me by fathers teach
ings and mothers prayers, is 20 be laid at the
feet of the Roman Pontif, and It's members made
to bow down and kiss the Pope's big toe, | must
| cease 20 be a Democrat. i have always been q
Democrat, but cannot and win not go with the
Democratic party or any other party, against
Amercan-born citizens ruling their own country.
| IL Is their natural birthright and win not con.
sent TO take Ii from them and give into the hands
Of foreign Roman Catholics. And if the issue be-
| tween the Democrats and Know-Nothngs s,
whether foreign Catholics or Amefican-born citi.
zens shall rule America, ain bound 10 take sides
with the Know-Nothings In favor OF American-born
citizens, and against the present Democratic party
In their support Of foreign Roman Catholics Thus
much for the obligation In the frstdegree. .ar
| Then, after some more fummery, they came 70
the final charge 70 the initiate, which by the aid Of
the key given, / read as follows 81 II has, no
/ doubt, been long apparent 10 you brothers. that
| foreign influence and Roman Catholicism has been
making steady and alarming progress in our coun-
i try. You cannot have failed to observe the sg-
nifcant transition of the foreign-born and Roman
lists from character quiet retiring and even abect,
TO one bold, threatening, turbulent, and even des-
potie in its appearance and assumptions. You must
have become alarmed at the systematic and rapidly
q
raj elements Of our national condition So tits,
brothers, with others besides yourselves In every
/ State Of the Union. A snse OF danger has struck
the great heart OF the nation. In every city town
and hamlet, the danger has been seen and the
alarm sounded. And hence true men have de-
vised this order as a means Of disseminating pa
triotc principles Of keeping alive the fire OF ma
tions virtue, Of fostering the national intelligence
and Of advancing America and the American In
terest on the one side and on the other Of check
ing the stride Of the foreigner or alien ofthwart
ing the machlnations and subyerting the deadly
plans Of the Jesuit and Papist7 And IL the Dem
ocratic party opposed 70 these principles : Are
they opposed to keeping alive the FIRE Of national
virtueb Of fostering the national intelligence
and Of advancing America and American inter.
ests p Are they opposed 10 checking the strides
Of Aliens and Of athwmting the fnschinations and
deadly plans Of the Jesuits and Papists ~ No
gentlemen, such charge is SANDER upon our
good old party. Whatever designing demagogucs,
political aspirar,ts, new converts, partisan wire
workers may think and do, the masses, the honest
people Of the party, never viii concent TO bring
down this great and mighty milton beneath for
| eign bondage, 10 wear the yoke of a Roman Pom
tf and they win spew out OF their mouths those
unnstbralized and unworthy members Of the party,
who are trying 70 bring US in subection 10 foreign
Catholic influence, by courting their support. The
true position for the Democratic partyat this time
| would have been 70 stand firmly on her ancient
| platform. But no. that was too old-fsshioned for
our new-light Democrats ofthe present day, and
the good old ship was torn from her ancient moor.
ings, and thrown upon the wild billows Of foreign
Catholicism, 10 be tempest-tossed and lashed in
pieces In an unknown sea.
But to proceed with the expose The obi.
gaton in the second degree is the same In principle
With that In the hrst 80 pass that and the sub.
seqncnt fumnery, and come to the final charge In
this degree BY the aid Of the key Il reads as fol-
Iosru I.,f fadt