The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17
THE KNOW NOTHINGs-PREsEN OF
THE ORDER BY THE GRAND JURY.
From the Rochester Democrat, May Sd.

We give below document emanating from
the Grand Jury of this county, which closed its
session yesterday. 1t will be widely read and
criticised, but its positions are such as cannot
be successfully assaulted. The Grand Jury de-
voted three days to the investigation in pursu-
ance of a suggestion from Judge Welles, that it
was their province and duty to inquire into any
infractions of the election law. The section OF
the law quoted has been clearly and hagrantly
violated by the threats held in ferrorem over
members of the Know Nothing Councils, and
the leaders of the Order do not disguise their
purposes to pursue and repeat these violations
of law and interference with the personal free
dom of electors.
Several witnesses, it appears, refused to an
swer, and were taken before the Court for its
direction. In every such instance, we believe,
Judge Weles has discharged his duty like a
pure and upright judicial officer. Witnesses
who swore, and it is reported there were such,
that they could not answer the questions "with-
out eliminating themselves, or making them
selves Infamous" were of course excused from
answering! That is the privilege of all witness
es who are apprehensive that their conduct has
been in violation of law and the rights of indi.
viduals or the public.
The presentment follows:
To the Honorable Court of Oyer and Tsrminer
Of the County Of Monroe:
The Grand Jury Of this county, having been
specially charged by the Court to make inqui-
ries as to all violations and infractions of the
election laws of this State, have, in discharge of
their duty, called before them a large number
of witnesses, and made diligent inquiry upon
that subject. They find by section of the Gen
eral Election Law, that eff any person shall by
bribery, menace, or other corrupt means, or de-
vice whatsoever, either directly or indirectly
attempt to influence any elector of this State,
in giving his vote or ballot, or deter him from
giving the same, or disturb or hinder him in the
free exercise of the right of suffrage, at any
election within this State, held pursuant to this
Chapter, and shall thereof be convicted, such
person, 80 offending and convicted, shall be adj
Judged guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined
or imprisoned, according to the discretion of
the Court before which such conviction shall be
had such fine in no case to exceed five hun
dred dollars, nor such imprisonment one year -
1t appears, from the testimony taken before u.s.
that there are a number of societies or orders
of men in this country who have formed them
selves into secret combinations for political ac-
tion-that these societies meet only in secret
that their members are admitted undor oaths
| and obligations, and pledged to inviolable score
sy-that they are induced to enter the society
under variety of pretences, and to take upon
| themselves oaths and binding obligations, that
they will not vote for certain particular classes
of their citizens-that they will cast their
votes and use their elective franchise according
to the behests and requirements of their Order.
or the officers thereof, or of certain degree or
circle thereof, under the rules of their Order
That, by their oaths and obligations, they are
| bound to vote, under the penalty of perjury, or
| being considered as perjured, and as being un.
worthy to be employed, countenanced, or sup
| ported, in any business whatsoever, and as per.
sons totally unworthy Of the confidence of their
| fellow-citizens. Under these penalties, thew
are bound to vote for the persons designated by
the Order, without regard to their individual
choice or preference of candidates. That mem.
bers of this Society or Order, having taken
these oaths and obligations, are informed BY
the Order, or the officers thereof, that refusal
to vote for the candidates of the Order will
subject them to the charge of perjury, and rem,
der themselves Infamous, and unworthy the
confidence of all good men. And thus they are
directly influenced in giving their vote or ballot
or are deferred from giving the same. and are
disturbed and hindered in the free EXERCISE al
the right of suffrage.
And 1t further appears that members have
been, threatened that if they did not vote accord
ing to the acquisitions of the Order. that thew
should be deemed as perjured under these oatbs
and obligations, and should be subject to dis.
grace and infamy, and, as false and periured. be
expelled with dishonor. That such Societies. or
Orders, after the last general election. called
their members to account to them, or their off.
GERS, as to the manner in which thew discharged
their elective franchise, and required them n
declare upon oath for whom they cast their
votes at the said election.
The Grand Jury have been much embarrass
ed IN their investigation by the refusal of wit
nesses to answer questions put to them, as tc
their proceedings in secret session, on the ground