Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-04-09
SECRET NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
ORDER.


1t may surprise many, but II does not
in the least surprise us, to hear that Dem
ocrats are arrayings themselves under
secret organization for the purpose Of in
auencing the politics of the country And
yet, such is the fact in regard to some of
the most able and active leaders of the New
York Democracy They have organized
secret political, association under the name
of "I'he Foresters," at the head of which
stands Fernando Wood, late Mayor of the
city, and Augustine Schell, the present
Collector, appointed by President Buchan-
an, and an ardent supporter of the present
Administration. This secret order is under
the direction of the old Tammany Society,
which is aided in its secret work by all the
Office holders and all the secret spies ofthe
Administration. Six distinct branches of
this secret order have already been put in
active operation, and an account of one of
them, which we find in the New York
Tribune, will serve to exemplify all-They
profess an unbounded devotion to the
Buchanan Democracy, andswear to sustain
the President in all his measures, be they
good or be they bad.-Read the following:
n"Tae F5reste,s" is the name assumed by
one of the last devised of these dark con :
spiracies against Independent action and
popular freedom, of which the specific
purpose is the the recovery by Fernando
Wood and his creatures of the control Of
Tammany hall. To this end they initiate
into the "Foresters" none but members of
the Tammany society. Wood il of course
the concocter and chief manager of this
machine, and he generally Cthough not
uniformity directs its operations. We
have been furnished from reliable source.
with the following account of its practical
| operation:
"The candidate, having been requested
to call on Mr. Sehell or Mr.. Wood, as will
be most effectivein inducing him to ac-
company the stool pigeon sent for him, is
conducted to no. 234 Grand street, on the
third floor, though the meetings are not
always held in the same place.
/ Gle is received at the outer door by one
of the Foresters (Winters) and is then in
! formed that he has been brought there to
join a society of democrats, which has for
its object the regenerat on of the demo-
cratic party.-"Are you willing to join,
and to unite in an obligation which we
have all taken?" Ifhe answers ives, the
reply is pass him. He is then taken to
an inner door, where the same form is gone
through, only little stronger. After
walking around the room lie is conducted
to the chair ofthe Tisible Vice (Vosburgh)
who addresses him as follows M - -,
"Son of Tammany! You are presented
here for obligation as a democrat and as
member of the Tammany society. The
secrets and working about to be made
known toyou are not to be revealed, under
the penalty of everlasting disgrace and
eternal damnation Are you willing to
take the obligation on the Holy Evange-
lists2" aie. HH8'afl
"lf it be answered in the affirmative the
scales fall from his eyes, and he finds him
self surrounded by men in masks The
Visible Grand Fernando Wood) then pro-
ceeds to administer the following obliga-
! ton: rs se
~ applicant for the c. H., do hereby
solemny promise to keep secret the work
ing of this association, in relation to all
matters appertaining to the Tammany So
ciety, and to support the ticket nominated
by majority of this association at the
ensuing election of Sachems and officers.
So help me God"
ale then signs the pledge, and is in
formed that Mr.. Wood is the Visible Grand
but that Augustus Schell is the Invioible
Grand, who will make his appearances
among them at a proper time, and that, in
conversation with the members of the
Tammany society, he shall so conduct
himself as to leave the impression that
there will be but one ticket, as the friends
of Wood intend to build Tammany Hall.
"The society has held but FIVE meetings.
Wood presiding thrice and Dan Clark
when hcwas absent. 1t is composed prin
Oipally of the gang who formerly surroun
ded the City Hail. and the weak brothers
in the Custom House, who are led to be-
lieve that this is the only way to secure
their places but some respectable men
have found their way in-Wni. II. @. Wad
dell, Sohn NimmO, Col. Bogart, DR.. Van
Zandt, the Murpheys, Avery, Robbins,
and others" $500
BREAK IN MISSISSIPPI LEyEE-We