The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-02
A Brief Chapter devoted to Mr.. William
Window.

A Brief Chapter SSSSasato Mr. William
The Republicans, in the platform adopted
by their Convention, state that they pro
scribe no man on account of his religion or
nativity" Unfortunately however, for the
truth of this averment, there was placed as
candidates upon this platform, three open
and avowed Know Nothings-men who had
been initiated into the mysteries OF that Sc
cret organization, and had sworn upon the
Sacred Volume, that the prescription and
persecution of men, on account of their "reli-
gion and nativity should govern their po-
litical action through life. These men are
JAMES H. BAKER (already noticed as the
Ohio defaulter), GORDON E. Cole, and
WILLIAM WINDOW BAKER was the Know
Nothing candidate in Ohio, in 1855, for Sec
rotary of State; Cole joined the order in
Massachusetts, and attempted to establish it
in Southern Minnesota; and WINDOW was
initiated into its mysteries, and assumed its
degrading and proscriptive obligations, in
the town of Mt. Vernon, Knox county,
Ohio, in 1854.
We have before US the proceedings in
pamphlet form, of the Grand Council of the
Know Nothing or American order, of the
State of Ohio, at its session held in Cincin-
natl, in the summer of 1854. These pamph-
lets were published by the order, and COM
prise such portions of its proceeding as
were deemed advisable to make public. On
page SO, of the official proceedings of the
THIRD quarterly session of the Grand
Council, which met at Cramer & Wat
sons Hall, Cincinnati, on the 3Oth Of
October, 1854, at 1O1s o'clock A. M.-we
are particular about dates-the Committee
on Credentials reported WILLIAM WINDOW
as being present as delegate from the lodge
in Mt. Vernon, Knor county. On page 81,
of the same report, we find that the name of
Brother WILLIAM WINDOW" in connec-
ton with those of ROBERT HAMILTON of
Belmont county, and J. R. STANsBERRY Of
Licking, were presented to the Grand Coun-
Gil as candidates for Delegate to the
Grand Council of the United States"
from the ninth district. On page SO, we
notice the record of Brother WINDOWS +"
defeat, he not having been thought worthy
of election as representative of the dark
lantern oligarchy,' as the Times and Min
nesotian occasionally express it.
We have thus established by incontroverti-
BILE proof, that in 1854, Mr.. WILLIAM VIM
DOM, was member of the Know Nothing
order, and member sufficiently prominent
to be sent as delegate from the lodge in
which he was initiated to the State Coun-
Gil. To become member of theis order,
Mr.. WINDOW was obliged to assume certain
obligations. Let us look at these obliga-
lions, and see whether or not they prescribe
ga man on account of his religion or nativ-
ity," as the Republican platform has it..
Happily, the entire ritual of the Know
Nothing order has been made public, and
this investigation will cause us little trouble.
We quote from M'CLUsKsY's politica. text
book, page GO, the following outside obi
CATION" which was administered to the
candidate for admission into Know Moth
ing lodge before he entered the lodge room /:
You do solemnly swear (or afirm) that you
will never reveal anything said or done in this
room, the names of any persons present, nor
the existence of this society, whether found
worthy to proceed or not, and that all your de-
Ans.-"I do.''
Marshal.-Where were you born? Where
is your private residence?
If born out Of the jurisdiction of the United
States, the anstoer shaN be scriten, the candidate
dismissed Uith an adnaonition OF secresy, and
the prioileges of the Order, unless upon satisfac.
tory proof that he has been nisintormed.]
Marshal.-Are you twenty one years of
age?
Ans.-s'I am
Marshal.-Were you born of Protestant pa
rents, or were you reared under Protestant in
fuence?
dns.-"Yes."
Marshal.-!f married, is your ,oite Roman
Catholic?
[sNo," or 'Yes,"-the answer to be valued
as the Constitution Of the State Council shall
provided
Ma,skal.-Are you willing to use your infu.
ence and vote only for native.born American
citizens for all offices of honor, trust or profit
in the gift of the people. to the exclusion
of all foreigners and aliens, and Roman Catho.
lies in particular, and without regard to party
predictions?
Ans.-"I am"
After having sworn that he was born Of
Protestant parents, that his wife was not a
G.tholic and that he wOuld never reveal