The true Democrat., 1856-07-15
Another Astonishing Disclosure l! '! The Young Defenders of the Con- stit11fi0n

red than any we have heretofore exposed. It is the order established for the purpose of in- weighing and swearing the youth of the coun- try who have not arrived at years of discretion. It is an institution established by the federaliss to build up in the rising generation asentimcnt hostile to democracy. It is subtle scheme cunnngly devised.
 We are in receipt of little red back pamph let containing l6 pages and entitled The or der 9f Touag Dete1aders cf the Union and Con- stitution." It was sent to us through the mail from an adjacent county and received last week. It Is the ritual of the order of youthful Know Nothlngs. We will give few extracts from it.
 When the little fellow is ushered into the august presence, he $ required to place his left har'd on tue Holy Bible, ana Ais right hand upon h1s hedrt, and take the following oath:
 :" do solemnly swear Cor affirm) Jetore A. mighty Gol and these witnesses, ond as / hone tor mercy ct the last great day of account that I will not divulge any question now to be pro- posed to me- whether determine to join this organization or not; that 1 will never make Known that saw here any of the persons pre- sent, or that know such an organization to be l Ill existence; and that 1 will true answers make 10 every question asked me, to the best of my knowledge and belief, so help me God; and reward me according as 1 keep this obligation" | What can be conceived of more horrible than the administering this oath to little boy of 16 or l7 years of age? What christian parent would not shudder when informed that his child had sworn it? Its an oath to he It is the swearing "in tue presence cf Almtghty God,' to deny the existence of that which has an exis- tence! Is not this Know Nottingham with a vengeance? The order is called the "o,aer of
 loung Detenders of tue Union and Constitution" If such midnight tramplng upon the sacred word of God, which teaches us "t0 s0ear not ct aN," is necessary to preserve the |" Union and te Constitution" we submit it to a free and an independent people, are they worth the sacrl- fee? Thanks to the democratic sentiment of the country the sacrifice is not necessary. The L Union and Constitution have truer defenders than secret midnight societies.
 And again, after the little fellow has taken this first oath, he is asked if he is over 16 and under 21 years of age; if he is native of the United States; if he is opposed to foreigners and Roman Catholics; and if he is willing to work and exert all his influence against them, and, when he arrives at Fl years of age, to vote against them for all offices. When he answers all Of these questions, in the affirmative he is considered 1t material for yo1ng mdniqM dete''der," and is accordingly sworn in as such. The little fellow is required to place his left hand again upon the book of God and his right hand upon his breast, and to swear. Here is the oath:
 "l, of my own free choice in the presence of Almighty God and these witnesses, and as hope for mercy at the last great day of ac- count, do solemnly and sincerely VOW and swear or affirm, that I will never reveal any ol the signs, grPs, pass words or other secrets of thls order, nor its name, or its objects to any person iii the whole world, except to those to whom the same may lawfully belong, nor suffer 1t to be done by others if in my power to prevent it; that so long as I an connected with this order, and if not regularly dismissed from it, will in all political matters comply with the will of the majority, when regularly expressed, though 1t may conflict with my own personal preferences and predilections, if it does not conflict with the constitution or sta tutes ot the order, the constitution of the Upi- ted States, or that of the State in which re. side; and that will pay due respect and obe. dlence to the authority under which this order Is organized, and keep secret the existence of that order, the name of which is unknown to me-"
 This is about half the oath-we have not space for it all. Read it once more, citizens of Arkansas! It ought to be gravelv reflected upon. It requires a mere boy, who perhaps has never in his life given moment of thought to the science of government, to swear to be governed by the majority of party whose principles he cannot and does not know that he will approve in his maturer judgment It requires him to swear to pay "respect and ole. d'er'ce to the autaority u1ader which his order ls organizea and to Keep se1et Me ertstence of that order, the name Of v1tch is uaaknown t2 him." Was more blind obedience ever expect ed of a slave? He is sworn to render obe- State Council of course,) of which he knows nothing--of which the very name is conceal ed from him. The slavery of the little boy. from the moment he is inveislei in, is com. plete and abject.
 Ii there is any thing more revolting that can be conceived of it is the penalty of di.o- befience imposed at the conclusion of the oath. which is as folows
 |" To all of which, solennly swear Cor af hrm) under the penalty of being expelled from the order, denounced to all councils as a per- 1u1'ea 1datm', banished from communion with all honorable men, and denied aid, assistance. encouragement, support and employment by all members Of the order and all honest men throughout the globe; and being ever after held 'ntamous. So he p me God, and deal with me according as keep this oblgationn
 What an awful penalty to inlict upon youth who has not arrived at years of discretion. and who might, in some unthoughted moment, be- tray the secrets entrusted to him, or fail in the abject obedience exacted of him. Is this the spi Tt of the 18th century-is it christianity? Can the light of the countenance of that God. SO of ten appealed to in this awful oath shine upon such snare laid to cntrap and ensave the youth of this republic? It is impossible.- Chrsts Sermon upon the Mount, recorded in the scriptures, condemns and denounces the concern as an engine of wickedness and evil. "Swear not at all,' was the injunction of HIM who, above all the world, had the welfare of the human race at heart.
 Think Of preachers of the gospel, and men il high standing, administering such an oath to a mere boy! Is it not time for the parents and guardians of the youth of America to rise in their might and banish the Know Nothing or der from the country-drive it back to the dark holes whence it emanated?
 Next week, we will publish the ritual of the Young Defenders of the Union and Constitu- tion," in full, with the key. There are many things in it, which the world ought t, see and