Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-02-13
The Dark Lantern Mystery to be Investiga-
ted

Governor T W. Ligon, Of Maryland, in
his annual message to the Legislature, recon-
mended as a fit subject for its attention an ex-
animation into the existence of secret political
societies, which have for their purposes g the
subversion of the well-established and deeply
cherished principles ofour government" Mr..
Kennedy. an American member from BaItl-
more, was appointed Chairman of the Commit
tee, (the Legislature being also largely of the
same complexion to Investigate the matter,
and he addressed letter to the Governor in
quiring if he could give any information con-
corning the existence of secret political socle-
ties having such objects In view as intimated
In the message. His Excellcncy Immediately
replied, thanking the Legislature for its prompt
action, and then goes on TO say, g am cred
IDLY informed by a large number of citizens
that ia their opinion and belief there exists
now within this State numerous societies of
secret character, whose object and purpose is
to prevent the election or appointment to Office
of any person belonging to the Roman Catho-
lie Church, or who is not a native born citi-
zen of the United States that in such secret
associations, councils or lodges, oaths, pledges
and obligations are administered to effect this
object" He further suggests that the COM
mittee procure copies of the following:
'' The Constitution of the National Council
of the United States Of North America" and
the accompanying q Constitution for the Gov
efnment of Subordinate Councils" ;" s'The
Constitution of the North Carolina State Coun
ell, adopted Junuary 18th, 1855 - an Address
adopted in the State Council of Massachusetts,
June 29th. 1855; resolves of the State Coun-
Gil of South Carolina, adopted at meeting
held at Charleston, August 14th, 1855, cop
1o- g nh I I haya moi at
hand to lay before you. [ have no doubt,
however, the committees viii be able, if they
desire it, to procure them. l would further
respectfully suggest that you summon before
you the delegates from this State to the Con-
vention said TO have been held at the city of
Cincinnati about the close of the year 1891,
and also the delegates from this State to the
National Council held at the city of Philadel-
phia in the month Of June last. This last
BODY, whose proceedings are said 10 have been
conducted in secret, issued what purports to
be platform of principles to which L would
respectfully refer YOU [ do so, because in
the eighth section of said publication the poll
cy of the Roman Catholic Church in cur coun-
try is denounced as aggressive, and an organ
lied political resistance to those of the Catho
lie faith plainly indicated and encouraged
thus Introducing g religious issues into the
field of political agitation" The 14th section
of this platform declares '' that all the prin-
cipIes of the order shall be hcacetQrth every
where openly avowed and that each member
shall be at liberty to make known the existence
of the order, and the fact that he is himself
member, and it recommends ttat there be no
conccalreat Of the places Of meeting of subor-
dinate councils"
Gov. Ligon has now given the Dark Ian
tern Committee a chance to make clean
breast Of it but we don't imagine that they
will do any such thing. They would make
more headway if their lafors were to investi-
gate nunneries and peep into the bedrooms and
under the beds of the sisters. What has be
come of Joseph Hiss-and Mrs. Patterson