Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-19
WHAT THEY sWORE TO.

n l. |VA4hhT
GEO. W. JoSEs.
WHAT THEY sWORE TO.
You may think that Know Nothings are good
swearers, but none ever pefjured themselves save
those who now belong to the Democracy, the rest
swore the truth and stand by it-Asmphis NsCs.
We commend the sincerity Of this mouth-piece Of
the Order. Its significance is worthy Of attention
We told ihatthOse who are still in the order have
not perjured themselves, and that what they have
to they Intend to stand b. This is Just as We
expected. Il is important, therefore that the pub
lie should remember what they have swornto. From
their oaths, which we have several times published
we extract the following as part of what, with
uplifted hands, uTon the Bible and Cross they have
sworn to, and now declare their intention to stand
BY. L will be seen that there is nothing said about
distri5utjol, except distribution Of the Offices
among the chosen leaders of the Order. They have
sworn
/. That they would never divulge any question
that might there be proposed to the and that they
would true answers make to the same, however i'm
pertinent the question, or whatever criminality it
might disclose.
Thus guarded. they swore-
2. Tha' they would never, under any circumstan-
ces, divulge the of any person or persons that
they might see present.
8. That they would deny, on all occasions, any
knowledge Of the existence Of such an order,
These were the leading features of the first oath
taken preparatory to initiation. Thus cautiously
prepared, they we're ready with a second oath, the
material points Of which we cOndenss as follows:
l. In the presence Of Almighty God, and the wit
Dir rio
and cross, and left baud raised towards heaven, they
sWore they would not make known to any person or
persons father, mother or brother not excepted,)
ANY of the signs, MYSTERIES or OBJECTS Of this
o ganzation," except to members of the Order in
nOd standing
2 That they would not cut carve, print, paint,
8 amp, STAIN or in any way directly or indirectly
expose any Of she secrets objects of the Order nor
suffer it TO be done by others.
g. That so long as they should remain connected
with the Order, they would IN ALL THINGS POLITl-
CAL or SOCIAL, so far as the Order is concerned.
comply with the will the majority though should
emf Ct r7ith their personal preference
4. That they will MOI give their influence for ary
mn for any Office, unless he be an American DO
citizen in favor of American born Know Nothings)
Iuiluk huleElCdg nor II he Ue q hOmdu lAlnOliEr
though he may be Americ IN born. Inhdels and
MOrmOns are moi excluded, as a large number of
them inhabited the country where Know Nothingism
first originated.
5. Thai they would not, under any circumstance,
expose the name Of any member of the Order, LOr
Ie,eal the existence of such an organization.
g. To which WIS appended the following shocking
and disgusting penalty: To all the foregoing you
bind yourselves under The less penalty than that
Of being expelled from this Order, and Of having
your posted and circulated throughout the diff
ferent Councils of The United States as traitor to
! God, aud your country, as being unfit to be en-
ployed aud trusted, countenanced or supporIe in
/ any business transaction, as person total un-
worthy the confidence of all good men, as one at
| whom the finger Of scorn should ever be pointed.
So help you God
The next oath taken is, to some extent, a reites
ton of the foregoing, with the addition,
| /. That they will IN all things conform to the
rules and regulations of this Order and to the Con-
stituiOn and Bylaws of this or any other Council
! to which they may be attached
2. That they WILL under all circumstances, if in
their power to do attend to all regular signs and
summons that may be tEroVa sent by brother of
this or any other degree of this Order.
g. That they will support in all political matters,
second degree members Of this Order. provided it be
necessary for the American know Nothing) inter
! ests.
4. That when elected TO any Office, they will, IN
less legally prevented all citizens of foreign
/ birth, who may profess the Catholic religion,
whether foreign born or not; and that they will in
/ no case appoint such to office.
Such are some Of the things SCorH to by Mr.. Hat
/ ton and those who are supporting him. The Ns0s
assures that if Mr. Hatton and his party get into
power they will observe their oaths-that they will
administer affairs of public concern according to
the rule and policy indicated by their obga-
tions; thus establishing an olgarchy in our midst
10 The subversiOn of the principles of civil liberty
/ and religious federation.
! Shall such party, upon such basis, be inaugu-
rated into power? This is the real vital question in
ISSUE aud all the claprap about the socsed "slien
suffrage" and land distribution is idle chafering
/ thrown out 10 withdraw public attention from the
/ hideous features of Know NOthingism, and thus
4 draw the unsuspecting within its embrace.
/ We urge upon our Democratic friends throughout
the State hold them TO the real issues-knOw moth
/ ingism in it's pure and unadulterated form.
"a The recent Grant National Know Nothing
Council that assembled at Louisville turned ont be
grand farce The Louisville Courier says there were
only 81 delegates present-not equal to town meet
ing.
! goUrHEnx PACIFIC RAILRoAD.-About one million
Of the stock has been skenn St. Louis for this road
Among the largest subscribers are Messrs. Jas. H.