Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-18
THE THIRD DEGREE" OBLIGATION.

A TRICK OF THE ENEMY.
One week in advance of the elections in Virginia,
the public are for tho first time informed that the oo
legation of the Third Degree" of tho Know Nothing
Order aflirms principles which no Abolitoni!t can
profess, and imposes the duty ofdevotion to the rights
Of tho South The sudden revelation of so important
fact I'VE will show presently that 1t is all tction)
under such suspicious circumstances is enough TO ex-
cite di.rust in every candid mind. Why was not this
obligation brought to light in earlier stage OF tho
capvass7 Why was it withheld to 30 late period
that any false impression might make upon the pub
lie mind could not be removed until after the clection'
The thing is manifestly fabrication, for po'loal Oh
feet in this State. 1t is that "soneth!ng' when me
New York Herald said, the Syracuse Council must
do to tell IL Frgna. Its Senuneness is attestcd by
no RESPONSIBLE authority. The Washington Organ
of Tuesday refuses to admit ss authenticity. "hat
faith theu will tho public attach to this pretended re-
violation from the lower regions Of know-Sothiig-
isml Can the popular intelligence be imposed upon
and deceived by any such artifce' Not tor mo.
mont. The people will laugh in contcmptuou' derl'
sion of this clumsy attempt to bolster the falling Tor
tunes of the Know. Nothing party in the South.
There is another orcun,.tanoo touching this matter
which is worthy of especial reu,ark.-Ths obligation
of the Third Degree" according to the statements
Of the Know Nothing press was not adopted al Syr"
cuse for the FIRST timc The report is that 1t was re-
ahrp,d aud US it has heretofore been altogether ine-
fec,ual in suppressng anti-slavery agitation in the
Order we can expect no better result from 1t III The
future.
If there be any such obligation it is taken only by
members of highest degree in tho Order so that the
great bulk of the party 10 not committed TO the prn-
ciplss which it preteuds to AFFIRM II can have and II
bas had no effect whatever in excluding ahoitionlsts
and dsunonists from the Order. Not only "iison
but we'll nigh the entire Legislature Of Massachusetts
belong 10 the Order. in :hc other States ot 'e >o'"
tho ranks of Know -Nothngism are almost exclusive
" recruited by abotionists. The stupid fellow who
shut the gate keep the ont of his field, nc
compsLed his object quito egectualy does this
"obliga,on of the Third Degree exclude abolitonist-
from the Know. Nothing Ordor. 1t may do to parade
before the people OF the South. US evidence of the
nationality OF Know Nottingham; but it drives not
single abolitionist-ne,her Wilson nor Miner-from
the Know Nothing Order.
But, after all, what doos this famous obligation
amount tol Does il contain any declaration IN favor
of tho rights of tho South Does it affirm the consti
tutionality Of tho fugitive slave law I Does II mp
prove the repeal OF the Missouri restriction Does II
commit tho person who assumes il to any principle or
measure Of Justice to the SOUTH Not at all. II /"
nothing moro than declaration of perpetual al!egi'
,noe 70 the Unon and Seward Wilson Greeley, or any
other abotionist, will readily assume this obligation
The perpetuty Of the Union is an essential part OF the
policy of the abolition party They will not suffer
tho South to escape from their grasp by secession
Thew bind the victim before they begin the work OF
plunder and oppression. They mean to keep tho
South in the Union, while they employ the power of
.be Federal Government to carry out their schemes
of abolition What hos heretofore arrested the march
If northern aggression but the threats Of tho south
ern States to set up an independent coniederacy
Secession ia the weapon OF southern defence p"''
if the South binds itself to unconditional and aoect
allegiance to the Union, under all circumstances then
may the Abotonists press on the work OF encroach
ment and spoliaton without hindance or fear OF con-
sequence. The Third Degree" Of the Know Moth
ing order imposes precisely such an obligation ana
il the Aboitonists can only bind our people IN its
feters, then is there longer any security Tor the
rights of the South II the South assumes this ooiga
tion she insanely or meauy submits hor neck to the
yoke Of northern oppression.
Tho Democracy acknowledge nosuch obligation.
We love- rovere and will cherish the Union so long as
the rights Of the South are respected and the 'tpula
tions Of tho Constitution arc executed in good faith
But when the spirit and the letter of the Constitution
violated, and the North employs the power OF the
Federal Government to plumber and oppress the
South, then do the Democracy recognise tno ALE
glance 10 the Union.