Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1855-08-18


this can be made for them or the secresy
feature. Ifthat dofcnce be well founded
bold set Of Americans there would be Il
rule America, wouldn't they be-? Had
represented the party as composed Of
such men, as it must be ii this defence
be true, should doubtless be charged
with having most outrageously abused
them.
The truth is, tho defense is only a pre-
text. For this Iexposod it and denounc-
ed it. In this country no man having in
view any good object is afraid 10 speak
his sentiments or avow theai- all kaow
tit, but the most shameless part Of this
pretext is the tyranny Of old parties. Il
What party on earth except this and that
gotup in Rome by Catalina, ever prcsuln-
ed to exercise over its members the ty-
ranny Of sovereignty over his subjects
in requiring an oath of fealty and secirsy !?
| present these views simply for your
calm consideration as intelligent freenlen.
After discussing at length one Of the
peculiar oaths Of the order; which, in
the face of the Constitution, imposes a
religious test, Mr. Stevens proceeds:
But | cannot dwell upon this first de-
gree obligation. Ii would take an hour
to expose the mischievous consequences
that may becxpected legitimatcly to now
from the practical operation Of the Sc
veral parts of it. Such, for instance, as
that which swears every member of the
party. in these words:
I" You will, in all political matters, SO
far as this order is concerned, comply
with the will Of the majority, though It
may confictwith your own personal pre-
ference" &c.
And again:
You will not, under any circumstances,
Fcxpose the name Of any member Of this
order, nor reveal the existence Of such an
association"
Mark this language" under any cir
cumstances." Suppose public duty should
demand Of good citizen, unwitiinglyH
drawn into it, to make known, not only
the existence Of such an association, but
the VOWS of its members, would good
men, with no objects but good objects,
ever want such protection against ex-
posture and discovery, as is here most So
lemnly provided?
But again;
"That you viii answer an imperative
police issued by the proper authority !;
obey the command Of The State Council
I president or his deputy, viii assemble by
such notice and respond 10 :l.o claim Of 4
sign Or cry Of order, unless it be physi-
cally impossible"
Fcllow-citizens, and friends who arc
Know-Nothings / do not wish to say
anything calculated to wound your feel
ings, but can you Imagine anything more
inconsistent with that manllness Of cha
racter winch should 5''i5iIactcrize frocmen,
than this obligation--ths oath to obey
the command Of the presidentand his de-
lputy2 Suppose that command should be
to raise q Iiot--as was the case in Cin-
cinnati. Toscattar red papers, bloody
symbols to light up civil war in The land !!
Ought a freeman then, in advance, to
swear that he will obey the command Of
any man on oarthY Did not VOW thus
inconsideratcly taken and much moro IN
considerably kept BY iIerod, present the
head Of John the Baptist on i charger,
and may not similaroccurrence happen
again? And to respond 70 the cluim Of
= sign, or cry, Of the "Order," unless
it be'physically impossiblel
Now what libcrtyo Of thought, orrightof
judgment IS reserved to a man az a free
man, after taking, or while under such
an obligation? 4 speak plainly, and /
tell you one and all, it | had ever taken
it, on If | were now under It, ! would not
let yonder sun 90 down before | would
throw off this restriction upon my own
right Of judgment-tlis bond upon my
own free win, and this heavy yoke upon
my Independence as q man--tnIcss it
should he physically impossiblcw /
would break tlH bonds as Sampson did
the "withes." a frccman's strength
lies in his sovereign independence
A gentleman m. the crowd-Mr.
Green interrupted, and asked Mr.. Ste
phens if he had read the admonitions
given in charge, after the obligation
taken just referred to by him.]
Mr. Stopbens-I have read the obi
CATION, and the whole Of it. What fol-
lows in the ceremony Of initiation, | in
tend to read. What the gentleman calls
the adinonitions comes after the third
degree, / expect. That will como to
after while, If my strength 10 speak 80
long viii permit. This Is the ceremony
which follows initiation into the first de-
gree But one word as to the conclnd-
ing part Of this oath:
Binding yourself in the penalty Of
communication from tic Order, the
forfeiture Of All intercourse with iismen-
bers, and being denounced IN nll The no.
cistica Of the eame, as wilfal traitor 70
your God and your country"
Now, who Commissioned yOn, or any
Of you, 10 denOuncs q man as ~ traitor
to his God or biz conntry% Whence is
your authority dcfiycdI What Star
Chamber Court, worse than Spanish In
QUESTION, ever gave sou such powcfoy
your fellow-citizcnsl Bat what follows
Il IN these goFds:
Tho candidates are then invested by
tho Instructor with cyeYythp appcriaiii-
ingtothe ietdcerce with thesigns, coun-
terivnsand passwords, with the sign Of
recognition, the answer. and the grip,
with The means by which public notice
Of q meeting i given, the cry Of die-