Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1855-05-19
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MEssRs. Eprrons sit is with mo little embar-
rassment thatI at this time come before the pub
I lie gaze, but when / am assailed by certainset
of dcmagogues, cannot endure ii but am con-
strained to unfold the truth !. The facts ofsthe
matterare something like this Some time last
fall, Twas induced by friends Of mine, and by
Know Nothing documents p laced myhandsby
them, to john that bofgnnizatonto of men called
Know Nothings. But alter calmly and fully in
yestigating thc,matter, and seeing clearly tile
false position was placed in, ! resolved to a.
bandon the organization. i saw that in case /,
lived up to the requirements of that order, /
would be bound to vote for the nominee Of that
party, or else be posted aud published in all the
lodges ,thronghoutith the United States as apeIur-
er and traitor to God and my country, for the
oath taken by me compelled me, so long as 1 re.
NAMED a member Of tie order, to comply with
tic will of the majority in all th,ngs oiiiieai or
social, so far as that order is concerned, though
itmight conflict with my own personal prefer
ences. And further than that was bound 10 a
combination Of oaths 10 perfect secrecy, under
the like fearful penalty, inasmuch as the oath.
says !" that you will not under any circnmstanc-
es expose the name of any member Of this order
or reveal an. Of the signs, secret, or objects
thereof, tho existence Of such an organization,
And the ,oaths further declare thata member Of
the order shall not vote for any man, for anyiof-
American born citizen, in favor Of American
born ruling America, nor il he DO a Roman
Catholic. The last ! am convinced Is contrary
to tho spirit and letter Of the Constitution Of the
United States, which declares g that olrelig-
iots test shah eserbc required as qualification
for any Office, orpublic trust under the United
States" ! cannot see why a man may be bound
by an oath not 10 vote for man, when he was
before at liBertynot TO do SO, il he thought pro.
fper. When Iresolyed to quit the lodge as a.
boye stated, ] requested gentleman In Nor
gantown tolay my case before the council for a
discharge, either honorable or dishonorable, and
was afterwards informed by him that Twas gran.
ted discharge, but acknowledging me off too
easy, and withttoo goodia character thereimust
be put in circulation a base, low, and unprinci-
pied lie, tolthe effect that was compelled to
relinquish Kno,unoihin gism, or leave the farm,
on which reside, and where Ihaye resided for
the last five years, in peace and qpictness.TT7
untrue, ] am willing to testify. And would
SAY 70 these men, who are skuking about NTH
dark, that they had better be employed in some
more, honorable way thar; telling such unmanly
lies about nc. In politics l have always been
a TRhig, but always cndcayored TO vote forthe
best man; but if,the thing commonly called,
Knownothingism by the Wing party IN disguise,
as Iyerily believe It to be, under new name, and
new resulations--ii indeed il has become SO de-
based; then / bid farewell to Iphggry. do
not wish to belong TO ., party that binds me by q
fearful oath, not 10 own oft, even If enquired
Of No, i must lie, aud declare thatI do not be-
long nit. Such principles do not adopt them
selses tony comprehension Of Amsrieanism =
tits my desire to be an. American indeed. tits
my desire also, to be identified with true Amer
icans but not TO the so.called one, that pro-
scribes even American born citizens for con-
science sake, nor indeed on account of the acci-
dentiof birth 5j,5
In conclusion, Messrs. Editors, have seen
the suggestion in your last issue relative to hay
ing the entire vote OF the county publishsd ,and
/ must say that Il meets with my most hearty up:
probation. Ildesire, and indeed request, that
I my vote be published " ~ 1864
81 iei sida THORNTON BAKER.
/ MayIlith, 1866 si..s} n fiia AZ, iiijss
flTho Editors of the Mirror will please copy
The above and oblige subscriber dq5t +
a CAL
Messrs. Editors-I understand o re.
Z, Il, n;;rarl !, fiia,, in coma no,.fs al