The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-22
MR.. sEwARD.s FRIENDS AT THE CONFESSIONAL.


that NO ONE Nan KrEcrKD coSGREss As
KSow-sorHNG VINO PLEDGED rHk RIGHTS
or rHz sourH We have not hssiated 10 denounoe the
prOhgaie disregard Of pledges which this exhibit has made
clear on both sides Is the South willing 10 see dishonest
and fraudulent practices like these repeated within lis Dor
ders7 And yet IA Vgynia tisss kA0aoAisgs closely
tate he Serard 0iewith this difference the friends Of
Seward took the OATH and sitter using il TO help them
selves broke il in cold blood In Virginia the know
nothngs make their nominations and in order deceive
others 20 out and declare that these nominations
srs In the one case the Seward know-nothngs take
oath in order to break after using il for their purposes
In the other the Virginia knownothngs take an oath
cheat their neighbors
Now that Mr. Seward is reelected tbs abest and
angerous abotionst in Congress his knownothng sup
orters have made clean breasts of IT, We give the follow
ing confessions made few days ago in the legislature Of
New York after Mr.. Stewards reelection
Mr.. Leigh, Seward know-nothing breaks his OATH
and excuses himself as follows:
~ did dishonorable act, OF which heartily repent
and ask the country forgive and here before Heaven
and my countrym declare myself absolved from all
nexion with and allegiance to the fraternity"
He adds:
The first communication which read is by the
seal of the Chapter Hancock Chapter No. ll0 eneircng
SCROLL upon which Is inscribed independence Was
sacred seal so shamsIay prosuted thisf wys the
cred term independence before brought to such base
ues The aested aso with the seal Of the chapter
Columbia No. T. with eagle resting upon shield in the
centre Of circlel Yes sir the Of Columbia is thus
ated American dshonoreda the emblem
ganzation whose members have the mpudence and
audact seek CONTROL by ntimidaons and threats the
representative OF free constituency Sir the dasards have
mistaken their They viii fail in their nearious pur
pose No human power control my actions prevent
from following where my conscience and duty lead
here and stand before you the representative of $4,000
freemen do here the representative OF band
of midnight conspators who assemble in the dark hour
Tin halls barred and boted and sentineled) when
good their family hearth, engaged in pursuits
of honest industry works Of bsnevolence and mercy
came here SIR represent such menwho esecrate the
name Americanbut to discharge my duty, openly and
feaessly accordance with best Judgment and ability
so as to interests Of the State and of the
Mr. Baker another recusant declared that had
always in this free country published our political
views and opinions, but here party concealing
them from those whose patronage they solicit and he
added:
al can tell you sir motive. IL is to get the votes Of
men under a false pretence for it is less maxim in
morals than law that the suppression of truth equya
lent to the preparation Of falsehood They know sir
they were disclose the fact that they bad taken such vile
OATH they would lose the of plain honest who
are opposed intrigue and doubedeang and also of the
poor foreigners for whose persecution they banded to-
gether."
He further said the know-nothings required TO
swear that they would support any person for office
he be Roman Catholic This contrary to the const
tuition which recognised such test but provides that
ihe exercise and enjoyment of religious profession
and worship without discrimination preference shall
forever be allowed in this State to all mankind Has IT.
asked Mr. Baker in the most pointed and emphatic
ner-has it this sir, that American interests
quire sehood and perjury and prescription intolerance
and persecution to defend them2 Forbid it. just Heaven
and save our beloved country from such defenders
these"
He then read the oath taken by those who enter the
second degree of the order In this they their
left hand resting their right breast and their right
hand extended to the flag of country the same
even still deeper secrecy than before especially to the
deliberations of the council I; and then to the
pith of the oath, which is
That you will support all political matters for all po
cal Offices seconddegree members Of this order, pro-
vded be necessary for the American interests that it
may be done legally, you WILL when elected to Office
all foreigners, aliens Roman Catholics from Office
and that you will not appoint such to oice-a this You
promise and declare honor Americans to sustain
and abide by without any hesitation mental reservation
whatever help you God, and keep you steadfas r
Mr. Rickerson, another know-nothing, next spoke He
said that attempts had also been made control his action
in the of his duty legislator He read let
which he had received from the president of know
nothing lodge Caskll, in which this passage:
al hope that you viii be the sacred obligation you
have taken and promises you made to but you
not, will be permitted to withdraw from your c.
but you win be expelled and notice every c. in
this State (some 900 in number) of your expuon and
Why namely for being traitor and perrer, and
to be trusted in transaction and than this
members they win burn you egy ersry rii
lage in the county " yow do not prore true.
"Now these not threats to be forgotten, but
rN be carried to the rery letter."
Mr. Rickerson concluded with the following declara-
ton;
al win take occasion say that the who wrote this
letter those who with him have reckoned without their
hest share largely the independent spirit Of dis
be awed by such threats these bid their authors
defiance slave be dashed into obedience TO nso
lent Their threats pass by the idle wind
trampie upon them the dust beneath my feet"
These confessions used by the satanic press the
New York Herald to show that know-nothngism is not
abolition organization And this in the face Of the
lection of abolition representatives in Congress by every
know nothing lodge in the free States But there is
startling for this change of front Mr. Sew
ard is bold and fertile manager. The know-nothngs
him they elected his friends and
that he and his followers safely in possession Of their
pacesnow that nearly every free State has voted in favor
of sbolitonis to Congress aided by the knownothngs
he deliberately himself eork decepe the South BY
snaIrag friend. 10 a5nss and des,rf re order