The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-02-28

/ supposed your main object was 10 carry out
the great American principle of Jefferson,
that a u men were created with certain inal-
ienabe rights, among them was life, liberty h
and the pursuit Of happiness. consider Mr..
Seward the great embodiment OF this great
American idea. Tue Shareholders at the
South consider him so, and on this account
alone they desire his political annihilation.
cannot consent to this, much less TO be
urged 10 assist and take part in the horrid
sacrifice. .5. .--
When your order, by formal vote, sent |
by the hand Of special messenger, requires
a brother to do such deed, all have to say,
is, | was mistaken in your designs and wish
to Withdraw my name as a member of the
order. In doing SO, | hope the personal
friendship and good feeling that exists be-
tween us may continue, for can see no tea.
son why political opponents may not be per-
sonal friends. ,s. "a. --. Sab. .L.E-l
CHAS. e. LEIGH.
To Messrs. F. c. WAGNER, C. B. HAwLEY,
GEORGE A. WARDELL-Committee OF jus
per Chapter, No. 35, o. U. A.
Assembly Chamber, Feb. 2, 1855. !
MIR. May obtained the floor. He said he
should not have said word on this question
but for communication he had just receiv-
ed from home. 1t was well known that be
was sent here without shackles on--that he
was not in any wise mmeled-but that he
was regarded as an independent whig, ard
was elected as such. AS such he should dis
charge his duties here, and without regard to
dIctation from home. The communication
to which he referred was in these words:
ALMOND, February l, 1855.
Hon L. S. May:
Dear Sir At the last meeting Of our
Order there was passed unanimous vote re-
questing you to vote and use your influence
against the election of w. II. Seward for u
nited States Senator. Our Council noW con-
trolls the vote OF the town. We, the under
signed, were appointed a committee to In
| form YOU of the action of our Council.
Fraternally, ISAAC RAWSON,
w. r. GARDNER,
JAS. w. BLACK.
Mr.. May remarked that the Order from
which this emanated did all in its power to
defeat his return to this House, if the vote
of the town was to be regarded as proof ol
the fact. And yet, it assumed to instruct
him on this question. He wished here to
protest against this attempted dictaton. He
desired to stand here es a freeman, at liber-
ty to vote as he saw fit. He designed TO act
as such, in defiance of factions or cliques at
home. His position was distinctly under
stood by his constituents at large when they
cast their votes. He was not questioned on
this subject. 1t was unnecessary. He was
, voted for by the bone and sinew Of his dis
trict as a Seward whig. AS such he should
vote on this Notwithstanding all commu'
. nicatians like these from such sources.
Mr.. Baker said:
Twill proceed to the discussion of the maiT
question, which purpose to bring to the no
:, tice of this House, namely: the paral ell be
!, tween the oath required to be taken by th'
r Jesuit and that required to be taken by th
Hindoo branch of the KnowNothings.
= Sir, we have heard the oath Of the Jesul
: read and commented on by a Known othini
: in this House--and as there is no denial tha
7 the Know. Nothings require the members @
their order also to take an oath, confes
that felt that there was want of candor
when the gentleman who read and comment
ed on the oath Of the Jesuit, refused to rea
= Tor the information of this House, the oath
h the Known Nothing, although requested to d
s., /, sir, for one, felt that as a matter
: honor, and justice, and right, when gentle
!. men were making structures and criticism
=, on the Jesuitical oath, the Know.Nothin
:. oath should also be read, that we may Sc
l. and Judge for ourselves which is the mo
y, ~ proscriptive, intolerant, bigoted and slavi:
at Jesuit or the KnowNothing q mean
= the Hindoo stripe) And, sir, as the meri
~ of the respective parties are before us !
&c. consideration, shall propose the reading
IA. the oath required by the members OF the
On der of Known Nothings--for the purpose
nd exhibiting the parallel between them and t
At. Jesuits. We cannot form correct opinio
as sir, without hearing both sides OF the ca'
f, and as we have heard the oath of the Jes
sh read, will now read that of the KNOWN
De- things. e1.,o t.ul .t.' ,t.s at"d
do. And here sir, will say to the leaders
Md the ow-Nothings in this House, II Il
cit can, they may deny the genuineness or
at thenticitv Of what am about to read; bu
der they deny it, desire them to remember
Ter. mere denial is not proof, and as they h
emit, the means to prove it forgery or a traut
as il be SO, by producing and reading in
be- dence the true and genuine Know-Notf
pie, oath. II they iail to do SO, ] shall tax
uer. for granted that they cannot successfully
us, nv it--and that what read is true kn
ing Nothing oath. l make this challenge
nose offer, sir, before proceed to read, that
50, | honorable gentleman who can deny IL
,eor- have the opportunity--for ! do not wisl
give misrepresent this matter, and II J an WI .
oun- wish to be put right--for it is very IN
ali rial point in this controversy has B
rra- will read, sir, the oaths, for it seems
ay. have two--one for each dsgree in this .
" TO tifu, school of virtue and purity, Yes
,nce. they have two oaths, either OF when
ggy chill the blood of,American citizens wh
the not already sunk to the lowest stage Oh
emed al and mental depravity. Sir, Jesul'lsm
lvea' darkest age of bigotry, superstition A ane