The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-04-06
KNOW NOTHING EXPOSURE.
A Card.
BrRNslpE Tr., Frb. d, IS.

lie, for the first time ny life, 10 the columns
oil newspaper. TO vindicate my own charac-
ter, and to expose The corruption of secret
aath-bound political combination in our midst
is nv only object. ! have all my life endeav
ored to keep nv obligations with my fellow
man, and intend 10 do so IN future, Whenever
sound morality binds NE 10 DO so. | regret that
dntv 10 my conscience and my country, compel
me- thus publicly TO rpnounce an obligation ta-
ken without knowing IFS extent or lis charac-
ter. / mean the obligation imposed upon the
members Of the order of the ssSiar Spangled
Banner as it has been recently called, but
more familiarly known as the order Of "know
Nothings." becam- member Of the ORDER
previous to last election, and took the first
! two degrees. The order 10 which ! belonged
was called the "New Washington Council"
No. 26l. and held IFS meetings in the town Of
New Washington, Burnside township, Clear
field county. PENNSYLVANIA. The meetings
were held alwavs after night, in secret man
ner, in some clubhouse or uninhahited building,
/ with thr windows daFkenptl and made secure
/ from observation. One Of the meetings was
called in my wagoo-shed, being able to find no
better place where the Council could meet
without fear Of detection The instruction to
the members was, always TO approach the place
OF meeting alone, and 10 leave 10 The same man
ner, for fear OF exciting suspicion. ] must here
confess that alwavs felt degree OF meannpss
1 in going to and returning from thosr places, that
/ / had never before felt: and the more | knew
and learned of their secret organization, aud
/ their movements, the more ] became convinced
that no honest, upright, conscientious man
could, without great violence to his feelings,
! and an entire surrender of all seli-rcSpect ami
dignity Of character, continue IN their ranks
/ had always before felt the proud consciousness
of being an honest man and freeman. had
never known VI hat II was TO shrink from the
gaze Of anv man or SET Of men. ] bad alwavs
! felt, and feel now, that it is a high privilege
/ for s'frseman to express his thoughts" on all
( occasions and upon all subjects. ! have BEEN
taught TO believe that an 'shonest man is the
nob!cst work Of God'' and my highest ambition
/ through life has been TO occupy among my fel-
low men thai exalted position. J soon found
however, that had been c!ecoyed INTO secret
society, that claimed from me a very different
/ character-a society that not only asked me
voluntarily 10 faiafy the truih and TO act the
knare, but actually imposed upon me an oath
/ in advance, by which | was bound 10 tie at
! their bidding. Having without proper reflec-
tion assumed these oaths, and become member,
! | concluded for while to remain with them
/ and learn what | could of them. have now
/ left them and forever | shall no more meet 10
their secret conclaves, and no longer hear their
/ mpous oaths administered. | rejoice 10 feel
that am again freeman Those whose con-
/ science will allow them to remain in their ranks
can do 50. Doubtless ere this have been ex-
/ PEELED from their Council, for my denunciation
of the order, and if SO, oar obligations are dis
solved by e'mutual consent"
The question here arises in my own mind
have done my whole duty IN merely freeing
/ myself from their unhallowed influences Do
/ ! not owe it as duty to my felow-men to ex-
/ pose this combination, and to warn them against
what conceived 10 be the most dangerous po-
/ litical movement that has ever existed in this
( country. know there are those who will
think and say that am violating high obliga-
/ ton if | attempt to expose toe doings of these
midnight orgies, but | shall content myself
with the belief that they are not those for whose
opinions I Rave much regard. ] have thought
/ long and anxiously on the subject Nv con-
science approves the course. If the judgment
of the public is rendered in my favor, shall
feel glad if not, shall be- supported by the
/ purity Of my own motives | firmly believe
ilsS DdiilS ~ ll'itpIdI III iel
tendency, and corrupt IN their inflences Hav-
ing sworn to become dishonest, and to practice
| faIsshood, am bound 10 keep that oaih7 Having
sworn il needs be, to periure myseliin IN conrt
Of Justice. will the Almighty hold me- response
bic for thr violation of such an Obligation.
Believing as ] DO, that my duty, both to my
/ God and to my country demand at nv hands a
I full renunciation Of all such obligations, can
l. Il l. Z
my heart approve the course / have adopted,
and my friends will allow me alone to be re-
/ Sponsble for the consequences. | shall settle
that account before tribunal far above the
! reach of Know Nothingisn, and brfore which
neither their facors nor fropRs can affect me.
One thing know, should not be alone if 9th
ers were not afraid to GO with me- There are
hundreds in their ranks, whose outraged feelings
dictate the same course; and who, if they cat
summon 10 their aid sufficient moral courage,
will soon follow in my footsteps. shall thert-
fore proceed to unmask the monster and expose
lis iniquities to the public gaze.
ks.ssHhe organization Of the secret society to
Tflich ] alIud4sis after The following farm -
I II he besifAiig il was called society Of
'sKnow NotK5agA and may be allowed to say
thp name was ptcnliarIy appropriate. So soon,
| however, as that brcamr generally known,
they changed il for another, and then another,
uniil during the short period Of their existence
/ they have been known by several appelations,
! TIE last of which known TO me was the 'sSons
Of the Star Spangled Banner" There is a
sGrand Councii' for the United States, the
president qf winch has superintendent and
control over all the sCouncils'' of the United
States. There is subordinate ''Grand Coun-
\ Gil" Tor each State, with President who con-