The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-12

hltlou set yourselves right before The world, by
abandoning your evil associates, and standing up
mantnlly for your country The Scarlet Cord in
stead Of proving badge of security against the
| enemy, may serve to invoke the depredations OF
those who otherwise would have projected you to
the last drop of their blood, or to direct the hand
OF justice in the vindicatioa of our outraged lays.
Or IT, pcfchance, the iatec3 the conquered should
be ours, you will fud thai, Tin confding to the
plighted faith Of the Yankee race you have but
relied upon "a broken reed or a rope of sand
Plunder is their one great passion and neither
'oaths nor promises would serve as the slightest
impediment to its hesh qualification. Among
such thieves as they have shown themselves, there
only remains honor enough so hate the traitor
while they luxuriate in the fruits Of the treason
The meanest of Gods creatures would surely have
an indcteasible right to despse the wretches who
had sold their country, aad to betray them in
turn for their heartless perfdy. You need expect
nothing from the Yankees, even if successful, but
contempt and scorb; while the curses of your own
people, will cling to your children's children
through all time Remember, too, that the eyes
Of every true man upon you, and that act as
you may, 9etcctiou is ipcrita5e
To those who have acted as the agents of the
enemy in disseminating this infamous plot among
our people-to the high priests of this most dis
graceful scnism-we would simply say, that in
stead Of securing salvation in scarlet cord they
The Secret, Oah,bound, and Trcnsoaoble Gon
&pirocy fully Confirmed.
Since the above was written, we have received
the following communication from the Rev. o.
Churchill, ct Chatham county, which will fully
explain ITSELF.
The order Of the Heroes it has been ascertain.
ed, was imported from YaDkeedom, and it was ex-
pressly devised and concocted for the purpose Of
sowing the seeds of disloyalty and treason in the
Confederate States, under the specious pretext ol
afOrdiTg protection and giving amnesty to those
who should become initiated AID take the oaths in
the event the Yankee army should get possession
ofthe particular section Of country in which they
might reside In this way, no doubt number of
tmld and unsuspecting persons, with view Of
saving their property, and possibly their lives, in
the contingency suggested, have joined the order
of Heroes But we feel confident, that every
honest man who has been entrapped in this most
damnable invention Of the enemy, now that the
object Of the organization has been exposed, will
at once declare 'non-tellowship' with it and expose
the whole concern.
We append To the communication Of Rev. o
Churchhll who is an upright man and minister
Of the gospel, of the Baptist persuasion, in the
county Of Chatham the certificates of Sias Beck
with and Benton Holland. G II Holland, Il
Long, and r NJ Sugg The; certificates are duly
sworn to, and the certiirrs understood to be-
men Of truth and veracity presume will
dare to impeach ths sir testimony. se will have
more to say about this Secret oath bound conspra-
cy hereafter:
CHATHAM Co., n. 9.
Mr. Editor Sir:-I wish to state few facts
for the benefit Of the public, generally There is
a secret in this. and other counties, of our
beloved Old State Its name s,'Iierocs of Ameri-
ca. Its objects, or main objects, are protection
from the enemy. 1t has enc OF the hardest oaths
attached it, that has been invented SO as to
prevent its subjects from telling the secrets 1t
also has secret words and signs, every member
may be recognized; and the manner and way that
person is brought il to this concern, are calcula
ted to deceive. They taken before the person
who is to administer the Oath to them; then the
Oath man asks the candidate if he eau keep a Sc
cret. lie tells him he thinks he Then he
tells him there is nothing IN this against you cith
er politically or religously, nothing ont what is
right and proper Having this assurance, they
proceed |, poor deluded soul, went into this
unholy thing aud for a short time thought it was
all right and, during that time, the cause of
fouror five others becoming deludcd with myself
But, thank God, my eyes were opened to see what
| bad done for myself ard others. | at de.
clared non fellowship with the concern, and !
prayed 10 God TO forgive for doing vile q.
thing. Aud | believe God forgave for it
Then | told some Of NY friends my thoughts upon
the subject | am man that wishes to serve my
God and do my dpty TO my country. | think |
Il loyal man, and always have been, and do
want to be iii anything that has a dsloyal ten
dency.
Again, | thought oS'ny brave boy, who was
fighting for our independence aud Of all that bad
done.
Ii was said too that all those who belonged to
this concern were ezpuc.cd to vOte for Mr Holden
knew that l could not do thar, FOR have ever
been supporter of q B. Vance, and expect,
If permitted to live to get TO the polls. in August
next TO vote for him again | would friend,
say to all those who have been dciudcd aad mas
led, to come right out with this thing at oace.
Especially d. insist upon all gDod men 10 come
OUT ana / would Say to all of them that have not
as yet been brought into this miserable affair, not
to accept Of any proposition, that may be-nade or
offered; for tell you it is thing that ought not
to exist Our authorities say it is treason aud |
fear it is. So all Of you, who now Keeping its
secrets: come right out The oath is no: binding, /
because it is outside of everything that is
able and right | do not believe that individ- .
uaI is either morally or legally bound to keep it:
for the Oath is wrong in itself Do as | have
done go to your God and ask forgiveness, then
go to the Governor of Jour State and lay the mat
ter open before him, aud ask forgiveness, and you
will be pardoned at once, for We have Governor
who tries to do right.
l have said enough for this time. l may come
again. So, Mr. Editor, you can publish this if ,