Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-26
THE "UN1oN" OR THIRD DEGREE

the States OF the Union-forming ring, in token
of your determination that, far as your efforts
can avail, this Union shall have no end-do solemn
~ and sincerely swear (or affirm that you will not
under any circumstances disclose in any manner,
nor suffer it to be done by Others if in your power
to prevent 1t, the name signs, pass words other
| secrets OF this Degree, except to those whom you
may prove on trial to be brothers of the same De-
gree or in open Council for the purpose of nstruc-
ton that you do hereby solemny declare your de-
voton to the Union Of these States that in the dis
charge of your duties American citizens you will
uphold, maintain and defend it; that you will dis
| courage and discountenance any and every attempt
! coming from any and every quarter which you be-
lleVe to be designed or calculated to destroy, sub
vert it, or to weaken its bonds; and that you will
use your influence, far as in your power in en-
deaVorlng to procure an amicable and equitable adj
justment of all political dscontents and differences
! which may threaten its injury overthrow. You
do further promise and swear (or affirm) that you
will not vote for any to fill any Office of honor,
profit or trust of a political character, whom you
know believe to be in favor of dissolution of the
Union of these States who is endeavorng to pro-
duce that result; that you will vote for and support
for all political Offices Third Union Degree mem
bers of this Order in preference all Others that
if it may be done consistently with the Constitution
and laws of the land, you will, when elected APP
pointed to official station, which may confer you
the power to do So remove from office or place all
persons whom you know or believe to be in favor
of dissolution of the Union, endeavoring to
produce that result; and that you will in no case APP
point any such persons to any political Office
(or afirm) upon your honor as American citizens
and friends of the American Union, to sustain and
abide by without any hesitation mental
ton whatever You also promise and swear Cor af-
rm) that this, and all other Obligations, which you
have prcvo usly taken in this Order, shall be
kept sacred and nviolate. 70 all this you pledge
your lives, your fortunes and your sacred honors.
So help you God and keep you stcadfast Each one
Shall answer, II do.
This degree, it will be observed, imposes an oath
uDon the to nv Union of he States
under any and all circumstances and to oppose every
thing which he "6cEicrcs" calculated to subvert it
weaken its bonds. This is the substance of the
degree 1t is one which no Southern man ought at
this time to take. The South is the weaker section
and the free States continually encroachng upon
our rights. Massachusetts dcberate nullities the
fugtve-slaVe law, Connecticut has done-it is
every where avowed among the Know Nothing ma
orities in the free States that slaveholding
States shall be admitted into the Union; and if such
a policy is carried out the Southern States will be
compelled to choose between prompt and stern re-
sistance aggression and submission and subnis-
early day result in the destruction Of
the institution Of slavery and their consequent ruin
This oath binds eccry person tahiag it to submit TO
aohate0er the majority may decide to be desirable and
erpedient; and that Southern who takes it is at
once the manacled slave of the freesoi ma ortes Of
the Northern States! There is not word in this
degree about the reserved rights of the States-no
pledge maintain the fugtve-slave law in its letter
and spiri-no declaration that the Missouri restric-
ton shall not be again imposed on the South-no
assurance that slavery shall not be crcumscrbed by
federal legislation, and thus ultimately starved out
and the slaveholding interest utterly destroyed 1t
is the old song of Union By force and without regard
to Southern rights. Seward, Wilson, Hale, Tuck,
and the whole abolition horde the leading par
ties in pitching the tune 1t is favorite of theirs.
They declare that they the best friends the Union
has-that their scheme of circumscribing slavery,
of abolishng it i'll the District of Columbia, of
peang the fugitive-slave law and the like, Is the
Uer thing to gire rep0se to the Union and to make 1t
perpetual; and that those who may resist this
scheme will be traitors liable to be hunted down and
punished. We assert this upon the authority Of the
speeches Of these men, and we defy contradiction.
They for slavery it exists in the Statesthat
is, they do not propose to disturb it. They Union
men, they say, and those who differ with them
its enemies This then, is the nature of this great
est Of Know Nothing humbugs, the " Union degree"
Gov. Gardner of Massachusetts,, whose veto message
we publish in another column, has taken this third
degrce-so has Minor, the abolition Governor of
Connecticut Gov. Gardner, it will be seen declares
that every many of the provisions" of the act of
hsaTty dpprogaP'-he is hostile to the law, and would
be glad to see it utterly imperative in Massachu
sets but then he cannot approve bill papably
unconstitutional In this connection ask attention
to the following article from the Boston Post, De-
mocratic paper. The Post printed in the midst of
these abolition Know Nothings, fully sustains our
views of this "Union degree. 1t also gives some
of the features of the act multiplying the ugitive-save
law, passed by the Know Nothing Legislature of
Massachusetts,; which act, as we have stated, was
vetoed by Gov Gardner, but 1t has been passed
his Ueto By too-thrds cote Of both Houses and the
Legislature has adjourned!
From the Boston Post
TREASON IN MAssACHUsETTs-THE PERSONAL LIB
ERrY BnL-The bill entitled {" An act to protect
the rights and liberties of the people of the COM
monweath' is passing through the various stages
and will soon be before the Governor for his sigma
ture 1t is the completest code of notification ever
adopted by State legislature. Its inevitable effect
will be array the State government against the
general government; to prevent the execution of
the laws of the United States within the limits of
this State
a few years ago. the abolitionsts put forth docu-
ments in which they boldly proclaimed their deter
mination TO do what they could to produce dis |
solution of the Union. There was this merit in this
fanacism it fraud, plain, easy to be under /
stood and the people could not be deceived by it.
1t is worthy of note that in the prosecution of ,
their purpose the abotionists proposed substantial
ly the same measures that proposed to-day.