The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-08-21
NEW SERIES. ---V0L. 3, NO.

cortege. WHICH, leaving washington NagS
passing through half the Union, arrived at
Ashland, amid the nations tears and griei-
patriot was brought home to be laid under
the green sod of the land which had so hon.
ored him, and upon which he had reflected
SO much honor. Fellow citizens, this is my
race-these were my people land with their
memories always present and clustering
around me, appeal to know whether it is
possible for me to be false or insincere.
Early in last year, fellow-citiz it was
apparent to all men that the Wing party, as
an organization party, was gone. The seeds
of its fall were sown in 1910, when the plume
of military chieftain was permitted to daz.
zle mems eyes. But in l84S, when adopt.
ing the doctrine that availability and sue
cess were rather to be looked to than right,
in lieu OF that noble idea that it was better
to be right than to be President, the Conven.
ton at Philade phia set the seal upon the
fote of the party. Refusing to e-assert
platform of Wing principles, it selected Gen
eral Taylor as its candidate for the Presi-
dency upon the single idea of his avaiabili-
ty. The handwriting was as plain upon The
wall as at BelshaZzar's feast, The Wing
party broken up p,disorganized, ,and apparently
hopelessly so, Od-line Wings began to ask
themselves the question which the immortal
sage of MarShfeld propaunded to himself,
where am to go!" Rumors came to us
OF u new party which said already to have
vast strength, even while many doubted its
very existence. Secret and mysterious, it
was reputed, like Minerva from the brain OF
Jove, to have sprung forth fully armed. Its
purposes were said to be the Introduction Of
a purer and better state of things in politics,
and the good only Of the country.
Seeing many of my old Wing associates
attaching themselves to it, was told it was
but Whiggeryin disguise; and that it only dif.
fered from the old Wing party in seeking
modification of the naturalization laws.
had myself always thought that some modifi-
cation ought to be made Of those laws. and
that greater safeguards ought to be placed
around the elective franchise. | was told
that its secrecy, which was abhorrent to my
nature, was oply to continue until the party
got fairly under way, when everything would
he nadc open and public. Deceived bv men
in whom had every confidence Il thought
it my duty TO join this new party. preser,
ted myself for admission into the order. Do
not be deceived-G did not get in. The first
questions that were propounded to me aston.
ished and startled me. They were in sub
stance these: Where was | born The
place of my residence Was TIVE nty-one
years of age! Was Roman Catholic (!
Were my parents Protestants ? Was my
wife Roman Catholic !! Was willing to
oppose fer all officers OF honor, trust or profit
in the gift of the people, all foreigners and
Roman Catholics
Fellow-ctizens, am not telling you un-
truths. declare to you upon nv honor, and
the presence of God, that believe these to
be substantially the questions which were
proposed to me; and appeal to those mem.
bers of the so-caled American party, who
may be present, to answer whether | have
not stated truly the obligations under which
they placed themselves in the early part OF
1855, whatever may now be the doctrines of
their party, which do not pretend to know.
| do not expect them to answer me, but do
expect them, when they 60 to their own
homes, to make answer to their own con
sciences whether have notspoken the truth.
Shocked and startled, l requested the pre-
siding officer to read again the obligation
against foreigners and Catholics. 1t was
done, and an attempt made to explain away
the force of the clear meaning of the words
of the obligation. l observed that had
been mistaken and deceived as to the pur-
poses of the party, or my shadow would new
er have darkened their door. | took my hat
and wished them good morning.
| Fellow-citizens, there was once in the
middle ages political society in Europe,
and especially in Germany, called the IHu-
minati; one Of its practices was that when
an individual became Partially or iuliy inti-
ated, and afterwards disclosed any OF its Sc
crets, two alternatives were offered to the
wretched victim-a cord and dagger were
secretly placed by his bedside, and he might
either hang himself or put himself to death
with the dagger; if he chose neither OF the
delightful alternatives, his nearest relation,
even his own brother, if member of the
society, was bound to take his life. Fellow.
citizens, all secret political societies are
alike. In this age, since letters and the press
ere come about, the cord and the dag ger are
no longer used venaf press affords a far
more potent weapon and more vindiclive
punishment By falsehood, |, by caIumny, by
libel and detraction, not only may the heart
of the victim himself be torn in pieces, but
the feelings of bis wife, his mother, his chill
dren, ,of his whole family are reached and lac.
Grated for vengeance sake. Fellow citizens,
such persecution myself have undergone,
and you know it. -, .s,-. d. q
] could not reconcile it to my conscience
to become a.Know Nothing, because be-
lieved the principles of the party to be an.
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