Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-26
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The great Know Nothing national council. we Il
told, at its last meeting authorised the State coa
ellis 20 abandon the oath and iastitate a o,sdos.
honor! That is, as We understand it. that. Will
those who are already in the concern are still 10
bound by the wicked and scandalous oaths whiel
we're administered to them on joining. yet the Stat
Councils may hereafter authorize their subordinate
to admit any particularly poor deuded fool Wit
can be cOaxed into the neighborhOOd of Sam to sc
that individual on his pledge of honor not 70 tel
that he has seen himi
Our opponents argue that the permission to exercise
this privilege, even although il has not been exer
cised, removes all objection from knOw-nOthing
ism, and makes very patriotic party out of what
had become an infamous one.
/ Let Us see how this works. Let us see how the
case now stands, substituting the pledge of honor
for other obligations"
FIRST DECREE COUNCIL.
OsLIeATIoS.-You do Gpledge your honor, I that
you will not diyulge any question now proposed TO
you, whether you become a member of this orgaui-
zation or not and that you will never under any
circumstances mention the name of any person or
persons you may see present, nor that yeu know
such an organization to be in existence, and that
you will true make 10 every question asked
you, TO the best of your knowledge and belief so
lyOu pledge your honor.
Rhe words in [braeketsl are substituted foe the
solemnly swear" of the original
Making the same substitution in the next obliga-
ton of the same degree-the only change authorised
by the National Council-and it will read thus:
OBLIGATION.-YOu and each of you, of your own
free will and accord Ido pledge your sacred
honor, that you will not make known to any person
or Persons any Of the signs. mysteries objects of
this organization unless it be those whom after due
examination, lawful information yOu shall find
to be members Of this organization in good Standing
that you lWill not cut, carve, print, paint stamp
stain, or in any way, directly or indirectly, expose
any of the secrets objects of this order nor suffer
II TO be done by others, it in your power prevent
IT, unless II be Tor official instruction that sdong as
you are connected with this organization, if not
regularly dismissed from it, you will in all things
political or social as far the order is concerned
comply with the viii of the majority when express
ed in lawful manner, though nay confjct gk your
personal preference, long it does not conflict
with the Grand, State Subordinate Constitution
Of the United States OF America that of the State
in which you reside; and that you will not, under
any circumstances whatever, knowingly recommend
any unworthy person for initiation, nor suffer it to
be done If IN your power to prevent it. You further
more pledge your honor that you viii not vote nor
give your influence for any man for any office in
the gift Of the people, unless he be an American,
born citizen, IN favor Of Americans born ruling
America, nor if he be a Roman Catholic and that
you Will not, under any circumstances expose the
name of any member of such an organization. To
all the foregoing You bind yourselves under the no
less penal ty than that OF being expelled from this
order, and Of having your name circulated through
out all the different councils of the United States as
traitor to God and your country, as being unfit to
be employed and trusted, cOuntenanced OF support
ed in any business transaction, as person totally
unworthy the confidence ofall good men, and as one
af tbnaf - IL. II
Lyou pledge your honor.
SECOND DECREE COUNCIL
The obligation of the second degree, substituting
the pledge of honor for the other obligation" would
read thus:
OBLIGATION.-You and each of you of your own
free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty
God and these witnesses, your left had extended to
the sgofour country, do pledge your sacred honor
that you will not, under any circumstances, disclose
IN any manner, suffer it to be done by Others
II IN your power to prevent it, the name signs, |
passwords, other secrets of this degree that you
Will IN all things conform TO all the rules and regu-
altions and bylaws of this any ether council 70
which you may be attached, so long they do not /
conflict with the constitution of the United States
nor that of the State in which you reside; that you
WILL under all circumstances, if in your power so to
10, attend to all regular signs and summons that
may be thrown or sent you by brother of this or
my other degree of this order; that you will sup
port IN all political matters for all political Offices
second degree members of this order, provided il be
necessary for the American interests that ii it may
be done egally, you will when elected TO any Office
'emove all foreigners, aliens, Roman Catholics,
rom Office, and that you will in no case appoint
such to office. All this you promise and declare |
IN your honor as an American to sustain and abide
by, without any hesitation or mental reservation
whatever, so help you God and keep you steadfast.
Zach will answer, l do"
There, reader, you have Know Nothingism as it
low eXists-there you have the obligations, which
hey now administer to such few green-horns as they
re able to invege into their dnes that is, provided
he State Council of Tennessee has availed itself of
he permission granted by the National Council to
substitute the pledge of honor for the other obi
ations of the order We don't know that they
avSdone this so far as we know, the oaths are
I'LL in force. But, at best the obligations stand as
bOve printed. And remember, that those who took
he oaths are not absOlved by this action of the ia
onal Council 1t is only those who hereafter join
no are permitted to take these pledges of honor
'e have shown from their own papers that the |
now Nothing order still exists that its National
Ouncil lately held session; that has its executive
ommittee of which Gen. F. X Zocoffer, of this State
member; that it claims the allegiance of all who
ok the Know Nothing oaths; and that, so far as
e are authenticity advised, the only changes in
) old ritual are those pointed out above.
This Know Nothing party is now seeking to elect
candidates for office in Tennessee, on the issue of
distribution" That is dishonest and hypocriti- Q
Pretence; for President pledged against distri-
ltiOn, Senate pledged against distribution, and
Ouse Of Representatives pledged against distribu-
IN are already elected secured. The real issue
KHoV NothiRgism, which only pretends to have t
Odifed its old ritual by the Substitution of the
edge Of honor" for the other obligations of the n
ier-cr rather to have power to make this modif- h
ton VIII it chooses to exercise it. Il
REoU NothiRgism is the issue; and if Mr. Hatton fC
re by any chance to be elected, Know Nothngism, I
mitigated Know NOthingsm, would claim the VIC Ell
y.
MRS. DECISIONS NEW PETTICOAT. n
meek quiet looking person calling himself John