Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-15
KNOW NorHINGlsm-THE ISSUE,

well understand the feeling and motive that would
induce an avoidance of such discussion we propose
q candid argument with them in refutstion of their
position
The simple and only argument they make in sup
port of this assumption is that they have removed
athesecrecy that ever attached to theirOrder With
out stopping to argue this point, we will simply say
that whatever obligations Of secrecy removed it
was not done until the Democracy had detected and
thoroughly exposed it for them.
But now that its hdeous deformities are exposed,
suppose it true that the secrecy of the Couueiroom
is thrown off desire to ask opponents in all
sincerity and defy them to make an honest answerif,
according to their Interpretation, the oahs not
in full force and effect and as binding upon their
conseiences now as the day they were takenf Come,
sirs, answer You profess to be honest. You
profess to have been sincere in your utilization with
the order. You admit now, by compusion, that you
took the oaths, and that they binding upon your
conscience. You have even gone so far as to init
mate that those who differed with you to their
binding efficacy and violated them, have been guilty
Of perjury. We desire to know, therefore, and we
desire the public to know, if the members of your
party, according to their Interpretation, not
to and carry out the requirements of these Oaths
if the secrecy of your councils was still observed!
not, who absolved you and why were you absolved?
Did you discover that the oaths were criminal?
Have you become convinced that their requirements
were unpatriOtic? Are you willing to admit that
the entire conception Of the thing was wrong? You
must do all this, before you can have even the neg
alive merit of repentant offenders, much less entie
yourselves precedence in the high places of honor
and trust, whose purity you so recently sought to
sully and destroy.
Let us once more examine the character of these
oaths what they oontan-what theory of politics
they inculcate-by what policy they would have the
government administered-and to what principles
those vino take them are pledged. We remember
that not long since the Memphis News, referring to
these oaths of its party, said YOu may think that
Know Nothings good swearers, but none ever
perjured themselves save those who now belong to
the Democracy; the rest the truth, AND STAND
BY IT."
Having carefully dssected these oaths, we are
now prepared state what it is they swOre to- and
are SO ready to stand by:
l. That they would never divulge any question
that might there be proposed to them, 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. That they would never, under any circumstan-
ces dvulge the names of anyperson or persons that
they might see present.
8. That they would deny, 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 were ready with a second oath, the
material points of which we condense follows:
l. In the presence of Almighty God, and the wit
nesses present. their right hands resting the bible
and cross and left hands raised towards heaven, they
swore they would not make known to any person or
persons, father, mother, brother not excepted)
"any of the SIGNS, MYSTERIES or OBJECTS of this
Organization, except to members of the Order in
good standing
2. That they would not cut, carve, print, paint,
stamp, stain, or in any way directly or indirectly
expose any of the secrets or Objects Of the Order
suffer it to be done by others.
3. That so long as they should remain connected
with the Order they would IN ALL THINGS POLITI-
CAL or SOCIAL, so far as the Order is concerned,
comply with the will Of the majority, though should
conflict With tF'ir personal preference
4. That they will not give their influence for any
man for any office, unless he be an American born
citizen in favor Of American born Know NOthings)
ruling America, nor if he be a Roman Catholic,
though he may be American born. Infdels and
MormOns are not excluded, a large number of
them inhabited the.country where nOwNOthingism
first originated.
g. That they would not, under any circumstances,
expose the name of any member of the Order, nor
reveal the existence Of such au organization.
6. To which was appended the following shocking
and disgusting penalty: To all the foregoing you
bind yourselves under the no 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, and your country, as being unfit to be en-
ployed and trusted, countenanced or supported in
any business transaction, as person totally I'M
worthy the confidence Of ally good men, one at
whom the finger of scorn should ever be pointed.
So help you God!
The next oath taken is, to some extent, reitera-
ton of the foregoing, with the addition,
l. That they will, in all things, conform to the
rules and regulations of this Order and to the Con-
sttution and By Laws of this or any other Council
to which they may be attached
2 That they will, under all circumstances, If IN
their power so to do attend to all regulr gHs and
summons that may be dro'rn or seni by brother q
this or any O.her 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) intre-
ests
4. That when elected to any Office, they will, IN
less legally prevented remove all citizens Of foreign
birth. or who may profess the Catholic religion,
whether foreign born or not; and that they will in
no case appoint such to Office.
To all the foregoing Mr.. HattOn and his party
stand sclemnly committed Now are not these IS
sues-imporrant issues-tOr this canvass! Has any
r.opostion ever more seriou,ly concerned the peO-
% nile of Tennessee than is here involved: What is
it? To inauCurate into power, in free and SOW
ereign State, party based upon the principle IN
such an idea may be termed principle OF o0t"ln
ing control and administering the government ~
secret political clubs mil ted by mysterious rites
and solemn oa,hs-held together by the hope OF re-
ward and the fear of punishment-submerglng lhe
will of the citizen upon all matters political ana
serial inio the dominant will Of the majority