Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-05-16
Te.lhs People 81 Putnam.

Tetht People Of Putnam.
FztLow. cirrzESs. You. have seen in
yhs last "S,ar Of the Kanawha Valley
bat have Withdrawn from the Know,
Nothing organization. I~expaeted when
ssigned the card Of withdrawal TO have
hothing moro to say in relationto. the OBJ.
bets Of the order, or the dishonest man
terin which the members endeayorto in.
3uence persons to join or remain in: the
Council but since my motives have been
Inexperienced, Capt AMBROSE THOMAS,
tny neighbor and friend, has been most
nnjusily assailed. Ms motives, misrepre-
asnted, his eharactertraduced by some.of
- members of the Council, with view
cfprejudiStug the members and preventing
bin from having any influence with those
Who are undecided and still remain In the
organization. feel il my duty as Wing
md as hope an honest man, to give the
public my reasons for having pursued the
Course have. Some time before the
Know. Nothings nominated their candidate
for the Legislature, / informed Capt.
Thomas that was dissatisfied with the
order, and thought l would withdraw -
IIa thought / had better hold on, and not
act prematureiy. A few days. after, the
Captain told me that he had been reflect
ing upon the subjectof my withdrawal and
remarked to me that he had come to the
same conclusion. to withdraw This was
beforS the nomination of Dr.. Sebrrll. AT.
Ter Mr.. Carlle addressed the people OF
Putnam at the Courthouse, and made the
acknowledgement ard confession that he
did. Of being amcmte' Of the or sanizatiop,
which 7 deemed. at the time, . violation
of th5 oath be had taken, | was induced
u believe that it was an organiza ion to
mislead and deceive the honest and -un.
suspeeting voters of the country; that we
who had not the advantages of knowing
Whist was legal oath, that was considered
binding in law and morals. would DO in.
.fueneed to vote for such men rs John S.
Garlic, whether il should conform with
2our views Of right or not-a man without
character, who is publicly denounced
throughout the State as d man unworthy
Of trustIor Confidence at once CO hle 10
the conclusion to withdraw from tn J or
ganization. / did So. Since then, infu
, entail Wings of the county, knowing me
% be a Wing, have called upon ne and
, used their best endeayors to prevail upon
me to reconsider the propriety Of with:
drawing remain with them, that the
object Of the order was to benefit the Wing
party, and the election Of Wings to office.
Looking upon the means used to accom-,
plish this purpose as dishonest, as I'M
worthy Of every true Wing and patriot in:
Virginia, it but confirmed me in the course
4 had pursued, in leaving an organization
that was trying tomislead and deceive the
honest and unsuspecdng Wings Ind DEM
ocrats, TO aid them thus dishonesty to &C.
complish their purpose. This Know
Nothing organization is one Of the most
insidious and dishonest organizations that
has ever been devised by the enemies Of
the Union and the Constitution. lis very
object il destructive Of rcpubIieanism, and
must tend, ultimately, TO overthrow the
governInon. and the liberties of the Amer
lean people: The whole political power
Of the organization is.placed .in:the Ma
tional Council tina. hold their meetings in
the city Of New York In the ritual aud
Constitution Of the Grand Council Of the
: United States of North America, ." you
viii find this clause, that at shall have
power to decide upon all matters apperta-
ming % National Politics" III. =. - T.
The members are bound by the most
solemn and horrid oaths. to be4controlled
in all things appert.ining TO the order.
Elect the Know Nothing. ticket from the
members of the Legislature up to Gov
ernor, and they WILDE compelled to be
Influenced and controlled, not by their
respective constituents, in matters "apper
tanning to National Polities,' but must be
controlled by the .edicts aad mandates IS
sued by secret iupto, that sets and holds
in their hands, in the city Of New York.
the destiny and liberties Of the. American
people. Great,God! Has it come to this,
that the Constitution Of our country is TO
be trampled under foot, and the adInoni-
tons of the fatherof his country SO soon
forgotten: -. -
General W s5uSeroS: says, in letter
20 Mr.. JOY: "rhat the self.created socie7
tiesw have spread themselves over this
country, have been laboring necessarily
to SOW the seeds Of distrust, jealousy and
Of course discomfort. hoping thereby, 70
effect. some revolution in the government
is not unknown to you."sz Through the
influence then, Of the father Of our coun-
try. secre. political ! societies were put
down. Let the people Of Virginia now
show, that his admonitions and warnings
against the effect of secret societies are
not forgotten--that we are worthy decen-
dants Of our noble and patriotic ancestors,
Lot every lover Of his country--every true
Wing and Democratic patriot-come UP
to the polls on the "a of May and put
down these midnight conspirators-this
darl.lantern and dstestable party.
i -. THOMAS ]. LANHAM.
4 Mourn PocA, Putnam Co., May 18th.
- We, the undersigned, do certify that
THoxAs J. LASHAN has always, to the
best Of our. knowledge and belief, been
a consistent member Of the Wing party,
that we know him to be a man of truth
and yeracity, and a strict member OF the