The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-19
From the North Alabama Register.
arO,TH-BOUND PRESIDENT
Let the People Reflect before they Act.

An ,THBOUND PRESIDENT
Let the People Reflect before they Act.
This free and happy country has never
vet elected to the Office of Chief Magistrate
any man, who favored religious persecution
and intolerance. Neither have they yet
{ elected President who had taken a solemn
| oath 10 prescribe large portion of the A
merican people on account of their BIRTH
| and another respectable class on account OF
their religious rie,cs- No! the People OF
| the United States have never yet done this
| and God forbid that they ever should
When they do, farewell to religious liberty.
! The land of Columbia would be fit COM
parison to Spain in the days Of the lnqui-
! sition. 1t could no longer be consistently
called the beacon light of liberty-the land
of religious freedom, but woald be the land
of religious bigotry and persecution.
| Startling as it may appear, the freemen
of the United States are called upon to cast
their vote for a man for the highest office
I in their gift, who HAS TAKEN AN OATH
/ TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION
OF THEIR COUNTRY We shall
make this charge good before we are through.
Here are the OatLs which Willard Fillmore
| has taken. He was regularly initiated in
/ Council III, in New York. We assert,
that he has taken the oaths of the order, of
which the following are extracts;
OBLIGATION OF FIRST DEGREE.
I'm the presence of Almighty God and
these Witnesses, you do sclemnly promise
and swear that you will not vote, nor give
your influence for any office in the gift of
the people, unless he be al american born
citizen III favor of americans ruling 4mleri-
ca, nor if he be Roman Catholic; that
v on will in all political matters, so far as
this Order is concerned, comply with the
will of the majority. though it may conflict
with your personal preference, so long it
does not conflict with the Constitution of
the United States of America or Of that of
the State i'll which you reside
OBLIGATION OF SECOND DEGREE.
"You and each of you, of your own free
will and accord, in the presence of AlmiSh-
ty God and these witnesses. your left hand
upon your right breast, and your right hand
extended to the flag of your country, do
sOlemnly and sincerely swear, that if it may
be done legally, you will, when elected or
appointed to official station comforting on
you the power to do so, remove all foreign
ers, aliens, or Roman Catholics from office,
and that you will in no case appoint such to
| Office or place in your gift"
OBLIGATION OF THIRD DEGREE.
You do further promise and swear Tor
| aflirm) that you will not vote for any one to
fill any office of honor, profit or trust of a
| political character, whom you know or be-
icUc to be in fdror Of a dissolution Of the
| Union Of these States or who is endeavoring
to procure that result: that you will vote
for, and support for all political Offices
Third or Union Degree members of this
| Order, in preference to all others; that if It
may be done consistently with the ConSti-
tuition and laws of the land, you will, when
elected or appointed to any official station,
which may confer on you the power to do
So, remore from OFFICE or place, all persons
| chom yOu knO'c bctiere to be in taror Of
Dissolution Of the Union or who are en-
dcavoring to produce that result; and that
you will IN no case appoint such persons to
any office or place uhaterer. Allthis you pro-
mise and swear Tor affirm.) upon your hon
or as American citizens and friends of the
American Union, to sustain and abide by
without any hesitation or mental reserva-
ton whatever. You also promise and swear
Tor aflirm) that this, and all other obliga-
tions, which you have previously taken in
this Order, shall ever be kept sacred and
inviolate. To all this you pledge your lives,
your fortunes, and your sacred honors.-
So help you God, and keep you steadfast-.-
Each one shall answer, IS dol
Just think of the once dignifed and con-
servative Film ore taking such set of poll
teal oaths. Think of Mr.. Fillmore des-
cending from his lofty position and taking
such ACCOUNTABLE OATHS!! Yet he
is now asking the disinterested masses for
their suffrages. After swearing. most sol
emily" that he couId not support YOU, I'M
less you were Third Degree members of
the Order. he now politely calls upon you
to support him for the highest office in your
gift! He has SIcOrn not to support for ann
political Office any Democrat, old line Wing
! or any body else, unless Third Degree Know
NOthings, and now asks them to support
him for President. VIII you do it Will
you support man who has taken the solemn
obligations Of an oath to prescribe you!-I
Can any man be prevailed upon TO do this!
Will the Alabama Journal aid in elevating
a man to the office of President, who would
not support the Editor of that paper for
any political office? A secret, oath-bound,
political party, assembled in secret, select
ed the Delegates to the National Conven-
ton who nominated Mr.. Fillmore This Sc
,rnN., L.. i Il