The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-04-18
Douglas Advice to Know-Noth-
ing Democrats

Il OCuS1aS AQV1CS 10 xAAOW-GSO JILL
ing Democrats
Senator DOUGLAS has recently made
a powerful speech at Richmond, Vir-
ginia, in the conclusion of which he
gave the following advice
"In conclusion, my friends, if any OF
you, under false allurements, have, at
an unlucky hour, entered the Know
Noting Council, and assumed its obli-
gathions, let me conjure you, as you re-
we're the Constitution and love the Uni
on, instantly to withdraw your allegiance
! from Council whose forms of proceed
ing and principles of political action
are inconsistent with your paramount
duty to your country. Let no false scru-
Piles in regard to the binding obligations
of unlawful oaths-ro timid dread of
the resentments of idle, illiberal, and
unworthy associates, impel you forward
in line of conduct which your conscien-
els cannot approve. Take warning from
the fatal example of Herod, as recorded
in the Holy Scriptures. That monarch,
we are told, in the plentitude of his pow
er and his pride, at feast in honor of
his birthday, became enamored with
the charms and dancing of the daughter
of his wife by her first husband. In
the fullness of his heart, and the deliri-
um of his passions, he said to his dam
sell: "Ask of me whatsoever you may
choose, and it shall be given unto you,
even to the extent cf one-half my
kingdom" And as an evidence of his
sincerity and devotion, he affirmed his
promise by an oath as solemn and terri
BILE as ever was administered in a Know
Nothing Council.
The damsel, after consulting her
mother, said to Herod, Il will that you
give me by and by, the of head of John
the Baptist in charger" Herod was
exceedingly sorry, for he feared and
loved John, and knew him to be true
and holy man.
"My oath he exclaimed, and in
obedience to that unlawful oath he di-
rected the executioner to bring the
head of John the Baptist in charger
and give it to the damsel, who immedi-
ately presented it to her mother in,
atonement of the mortal offense of hav
ing said that her marriage to the broth
er of her husband was unlawful. Let
the example of Herod be a warning to
all men how they violate their conscien-
ces in obedience to unlawful oaths.-
Are you prepared my friends, at the
bidding of a Know Nothing Council, to
become the executioners of that great
party within whose organization you
were born, and whose principles you
vindicate Are you prepared to be-
come the instruments of a secret cabal
to bring IN the heads of the Democrats
party in a charger, and to present. them
to this dancing Know Nothing mistress,
that she in turn may present them to
her mother federalism, in atonement for
the unavenged injuries which in former
days the Jeffersonian Democracy have
upon her pride and honor Bet
ter had it been for Herod, yea thou
sand times better for his fame in this
world, and for his salvation in the 9th
,r, had he acted in obedience to his own
by recalling his unlawful oath,
md preserving the life of the holy man
whom he feared and loved! Better for
7cu, yea thousand fold better for your
,wn reputation and honor, for your
children and your country, that you
should act in obedience to your own con-
icientious sense of justice and right
hat you should instantly withdraw your
allegiance from these Know N othing
and prove your fidelity to those
,ridciples for which you cherish he
editary reverence fidelity to that polit-
cal organization whose triumphs consti-
ute the chief renown of this glorious
Did Dominion that gave you hirthl!''