The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-04-06

him and under hiS advice ana sllrecsiohS f4acD
ssfsonnci'' is bound in everything TO the strict
.st obedience TO its superior. Tbs arrangement
tirsl alarmed me. joined the order. because
had been induced 10 fear the power oil the
..Pol5e' But when | learned that the Presl-
dent Of the ssGraEd Council had more power
Than is even attributed to the Pope OF Rome,
ihatie was constituted for the purpose, and
willing to use his power TO further the designs
Of the basest political deniagougeism, ! could
rot close nv eyes to the fact. that he was
more dangerous enemy 10 the civil institutions
of our country than | had before thought the
Pope. | fear now that my worst apprehensons
will be realized. Fl. Bncher SwooPe, OF the
borough OF ClearfsId, is the ''IosiTuctor" Tor
Clarified county, and directs the movements
-of all the s,Counciis" in it. He is understood
TO be among the first members oiihe order 10 the
county.
in Burnside township there areAbree s'Coan-.
cils,'' onr held at New Washington, one near
Patchins, and one called the "Crooked Ran
Council.'' DIR. James M. Bum is the '.Dr-
puty Instructor under Swoope, for the New
Washington Council, and those who know that
individual best, can Judge ofthe character Of the
instruction b. would be likely TO itppart. ! am
sarp they will not charge him with much moral
instruction or many long prayers. In recent
instance in our township, after regular nolDlna-
ton had been made and ratified by vote OF the
Councils for township officers, these instructors,
H. Bucher Swoopr and DR.. Bum, Ia pretty
par,l orders new nomination TO be made, and
the Councils as IN duty bound had 10 obey. How
humiliating to the old inhabitants of the coun-
try, who were s'pioneers' in IFS early settle
.nent, and who have had voice heretofore in
its political welfare, TO be obliged to bow before
the dictation Of one who has not resided two
years in the county. Let those who are oppos-
I'd to 'sforeign Influence" condemn at the same
time This kind of foreign interference and am
with them. No matter how great proaigate.
or how corrupt the man may be, the '=Gonncif'
must yield implicit obedience to their s'InStruc-
tor" He may be a gambler, drunkard,
basphrner of frrligion. and fresh from the scour-
ges earned by his lniamy, and yet the bylaws
Of this secret oath-bound society require better
5uen to surrender, not only their own Judgment,
hui .hplr sense of right and wrong, to bIInd!y
follow such leader. Such is Know Nothing
ism, and such IFS yotares know it 10 b..
The meetings 50 far as attended them, were
generally occupied in initiating members. They
have no object so far as | can learn, but that Of
controlling the politcsofthp country, and grasp
ing the Offices. The President for each Coun-
Gil call the meetings together by written no.
tice uninteligibie to any except the initiated.
He takes the chair and presides during the ever
ing. The general topic OF discussion in the
Council before the election last fall, was how to
best dpcoy the Democrats into their ranks. and
generally how to augment thrlr forces, and gain
th- ascendancy. Their hope is 10 ride iuio
orf h. oraIt,,l;r.a o.ra uS{
Roman Catholic church, and indeed they arr
making rapid strides towards eftcting their OBJ
Iect. ! could 90 with them in an honest effort
against any political power attempted on the
part of that church, aud with that object in
view many joined their ranks. But wheat
saw that bad men Of all parties had joined them,
and were willing TO prostitute the association 10
the basest political purposes to obtain power, /
3could 20 longer SEE any hope. of accomplishing
the original object. They are now composed
very largely of the ignorant. who are 10 be
pitipd; the bigopd sectarai:, who is more design
ing than foolish the broken down and disap-
pointed politicians If both parties: the denago-
CUES, who love spoils more than party. and who
fancy they can see gimmer OF hope ahead a
part of the clergy in some of the Protestant
churches, who are longing for power, and
who carry with them more or less their mem
bers, the floating population ofthe country, with
no fixed principles either moral or political,
usually denomnated ''najority men," men
VITO vote on the strong side il they can find it.
If these classes of men combined have the nu-
mericaI strength they will succeed. The order
HOPES to be able in 1886 to hold in their hands
sufficient power 10 secure the election OF Know
Nothing President, and by obtaining the reiDs Of
government 10 perprtuate their power. a deS-
peFatr effort Will be made perhaps such one
as this country never witnessed. In my opin-
ion, if rirtue, Intelligence and honesty Of pur
pose isin aScendancy in this country, they will
be deifated: if not, they may triumph For
my own part have heretofore been a Wing,
and have always g'oried in the triumph Of
Whig principles, but even to accomplish that
object the sacrifice is too great,
The following is copy Of the oaths and eX-
animation which every member must undergo,
and subscribe TO before becoming member, as
nearly as | can recolIect. That they are sub
stantav trne pledge myself 10 prove in a
court Of iuStice il opportunity BE- afforded me-.
They are contained IN book, one copy of which
is furnished TO each Council. The '.lnstructor"
has possession of If, and administers the oath
from it, bot the members not allowed 10 have
It, ! suppose for the same reason that Roman
Catholic Priests do not let their members read
bible; because they are too ignoranto read and
understand it. thoughtit strange that they as
an order should adopt course they so much
diSapproved in others.
The candidate is first proposed by member
of fthe order to the Council, without his knowl
edge. Three negative votes black ball him.
II elected, he is secretly requested to present
himself in the ante-room of the Conncl, when