Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-06-20
LETTER No. III,

In attempting 20 SeL lolIu LUG prdctcal conse-
qhences of the success of this Order, the only
difficulty can experience, is in securing atten-
ton to the dangerswhich are involved We have
been 80 long blessed With internal tranquility; so
<large proportion Of our fellow-citizens have
never had any other idea of internal dissension,
than such rs are derived from the contemplation
of it at q distance and the task is so difficult
and of rare. accomplishment, to bring home to,
ourselves the condition of others, and realize in
ourselves, the unhappiness to which they may be
doomed: that he who attempts to set forth>the
perils Of certain. measures, begins with convlc-
ton, that to great extent, his argument may
appear too highly colored and even if not 80
considered, that it's effect is by so much short of
what it should be- as the inexperienced conjec-
ture of. evil, falls short of its reality. Yet in
this case, it will be so easy to point out the evil
consequences which must ensue and these con-
sequences will so clearly appear to be, not only
of public, but even Of n private nature, that
trust, will not fail, in awakening all who may
read this, to just conception of the dangers,
that in the operations of this Order, are at once
imminent and concealed.
The frat peculiar feature of this Order, is, that
it requires obedience to its Grand Council, under
the obligation of IN oath that this Grand Coun-
Gil is clothed with authority for the accomplish
ment of certain political purposes; and that the
. omplishment'cf these purposes is to be OBJ
tanned through the selection of certain persons
for certain Offices; that this plan, conducted
throughout the United States with all possible
concert among the members of the Order in
the various States, must, or isiItended to result
in the possession of the Government, and the
control Of h.for the purposes admitted as hav-
ing induced the formation of the Order. This
purpose, maintain, is at war with the duties OF
the citizen of the United States at war with
the principles of our Government: at war with
The Constitution Of the United States.
- In the first place, the citizen of the United
States owes his highest duty to his country, and
not to any party or clique. And at organization
which he allows to assert paramount control over
him, so that for purpose not sanctioned by the
Constitution of the United States, he shall yield
to,it implicit submission is hostile to the duty ne
owes his country, and hostile to the Constltu-
'tion.
Is the exclusion Of the disqualification of the
naturalized citizen, OF the Roman Catholic, sane
toned by the Constitution? Show ME the
clause! So far from being there, its opposite is
there. All admit, that under the provisions Of
that instrument, (and to its integrity and free
dont.f from Interpolation or addition, no people
have been more strenuous than the people OF
this Stated citizen naturalized, no matter what
may be his religion, is entitled TO any Office, ex-
cept those specially named, for which he may be
elected Ii then this Order, as it does, proposes
to its members, that a citizen naturalized: or a
Roman Catholic, shall not be elected to ofhce;
and having resolved this, swears its members to
the accomplishment of this exclusion; is it not
apparent that thing is done, or attempted TO be
done, which is at waf with the Constitution OF
the United States; and therefore with the duty
of the citizen, whose highest civil duty is TO pro.
tect that instrument! But it is said that this,
which is now condemned, is really nothing more
than what is done and has been done, by the po.
1itical parties which have divided the country;
and that the exclusion of the Wing or Demo-
crat, as the case might be, when the one or the
other Of these parties was In power, Is the same
as the effect produced by the rules of this Order.
But the difference is TOO plain TO be mistaken.
.Both these parties have been, and are, public
in all respects Their principles public; their
meetings public; their measures public; their
men public. It could not be otherwise, ,when
their end was public; and their success intend
6at The elect arc adSitssd e14e e.ets
is no part or party organization in the United
States, held to be so Objectionable and idle, rs
that of the Caucus land may add, so useless.
This oath, then, is the Improvement, and TO it
now propose to address myself deny that
any man, or set of men, have the right or power
to administer or take IN oath, touching matter
which pertains 10 the discharge of public duty
unless such oath is prescribed by the constituted
authorities Of the country, and administered by
It's officers.
For what purpose is the oath taken! To con.
secrate, by the highest of human responsibilities
certain obedience to some rule, or the perform
ance of some duty. Who has the right to re-
quire it? The Sovereign, and no one else. Who
has the right 10 administer it! No one but the
delegate of that Sovereign. And neither in the
United States, nor in the State, is it allowed that
one should administer an oath, without special
authority conided for thatpurpose. And ifthis
is so. in public matters of ordinary import, how
much more must it be so, when the act or duty
is of very high public character. This native
born citizen, unless on his acceptance of some
office or trust, makes no oath preliminary to his
enjoyment of the right of citizenship his birth
is held sufficient to ensure his allegiance. The
oath, then, so far as it is used to secure obedi
ence to the Government. or enforce the perform
aace of public duties. belongs to the Sovereign
authority, and rightfully SO. Common prudence
and common sense, would place it no where
else.
Now, although the oath is not administered to
him who is native, yet tits from the oath which
is administered 10 the naturalized citizen, that
we lcarf, what is the duty of both. .Unquestion-
ably it is not held, that different class of duties
belong to the naturalized citizen and the native
born. The duty of citizenship is one ard the
same In Rome it was, that the Commonwealth
should receive hurt. With US it is, to pre-
serve, protect, and defend the Constitution of
the United States. What is meant by preserv:
ing protecting, and defending The Constitution
of the United States? Is it that one. should
omit from it. what he thinks wrong; or add to
it, what he thinks judicious? Such eonstruc-
ton is palpably wrong. 1t must mean, to pre-
serve protect, apd defend that instrument as It
is written But if that instrument entities one
and all to certain privileges without reference
to certain tests, is i. consistent with that nstru-
? mcnt to apply certain tests, in the enjoyment of
such privileges under that instrument! Is. it
!, consistent for US to discharge our duties under
the Constitution, in manner different from
what is prescribed by the Constitution? Ger
taiuIy not. Yet is not this done, when, proceed
ing TO discharge our duty under the Constitu.
tion, we create certain tests to determine our
conduct, not sanctioned by the Constitution,
and indeed forbidden by it! And if to secure
the accomplishment of this political purpose, an
oath is administered; is not the oath, so admin
istered, an usurpation of power by him who
undertakes to administer it; and on the part Of
him who takes it, does it not involve or create a
conflict. between the obligation which the tax.