The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-12
THE SECRET, oath-bound SOCIETY.
From the Raleigh Conservative.
THE CONSPIRACY EXPOSED

character, exists in North Carolina There can be
no doubt of the fact. The proof has been grad
naly accGmplating and is now overwhe ltping.
The names of some of its traitorous leaders are
known. Their places 'ot assemblage have been as
certained. Their channels Of communication
h;sso been discovered And rs an evidence alike
of the extent to which treason has ventured to
promulgate its fagitious doctrines in our midst,
and Of the positiveness of our knowledge respect
ing the organization through which it seeks to de-
stroy the Gonfederacy we would call the attention
of the public to the following facts, which have
been disclosed by the initiated.
l. The organization is known as the H o. A.
Society-the letters standing for the words He
r0es of America.'
g Its motto is truth, Honor. Fideliv and
Justice.
B The Oath is as follows:
|, \. B., of my own free will and accord. and in
| the presence of Almighty God, do hereby and
hereon most soemnly swear affirm, that | will
never reveal the secrets of the FL. O. A. to any
person, except it be to a true and lawful brother
Hero I furthermore promise and swear, that [
will not confer the degree Of the Hero upon any
persun.in the world, except [ am authorized by a
brother who has power to do So [ furthermore
promise and swear, that will not give the secret
words Of the Heroes in any other manuer than that
which shall hereafter receive it. furthermore
promise and swear, that [ will not write cut,
paiut print, or stain anything movable or i'm
movable, whereby the secrets words of the II o
y. may be made known. [ Furthermore promise
and swear, that I will not speak evil Of brother
Hero before his face or behind his back; but will
give him timely notice of all approaching danger
binding myself under no less penalty than that
of having my head shot Mrouqh-so help me
God and keep steadfast in the due perform
ance of the same.
This Oath is preceded by an injunction to read
the I'd Chapter of Joshua; and by the questions
Are you willing te keep secret! Are you will
ing be qualified to il? If affirmative answers
are given, the candidate is told repeat his name
and begin
T. The signs are these: Ordinary Sign: Two
| fingers on the mouth. Answcr-Oue finger pass
ed by the eye.
Signs IF distress: Right fist closed on the breast
and left hand across the mouth.
5. The words Of the H. D A, are: These are
gloomy times Yes, but we expect better
why do you expect bettery Because We look for
the corti of our -'deliverance'
Also, the words '1hrce,' Days. Duty and
Washington, will be comprchended by the in
formed.
1he@scriptural illusions refer tc the story of
Rahab the Harlot, who hung scarlet cord from
her house; secure the protection which had been
promised by the spies of Joshua, for the assist
to hang out the same or some similar sign to the
Yankees 50 that theg-may recognize their friends
and afford them protection and relief.
/ From this exposition of the secrets Of the asso.
citation, it must be plain even to the most conf
dent of its members, that their Vaccinations
understood; while, at the timc 1t mast serve
to convince tie unwary of the existence Of most
dangerous conspiracy against the Conederacy
We expect to be able to obtain in short tine
accurate list OF all the members Of the IL. .. A,
together with its officers, places of meeting, mode
Of communications, &c; and though we may be in
duccd to spare many who have been unBittingly
iuveigled into the organzation Its rlngIeader5 had
better Geacare.
The objects Of this association are prominently
reasonable. An un<uspcctiDg man is approached.
and questioned as to his desire to have his proper
| ty protected in the event Of raids. If the bate
takes, he is made to believe that subj ugaticE Is in
evitabie; the story of the Harlot is reled to him
as indicating mode of escape from the evils Of
such fate; the Oath is then administered, and the
objects Of the society fully made known TO him
The Hero finds to, his surprise, perhaps, that; in
thus attempting by uneenerous and unpatrio;ic
efforts to secure favorable terms for himself and
bis houseilod-in thus seeking to prosper upon
the niserics of his friends and the downfall Of his
cou0try-he has become the member OF an asso
citation deUised by the Yankees hcDseires, as a
covert anu cOVaruly meanS OF eHectlnS the SuoJu-
CATION and slavery of the Southern people. Ii is
placed in as direct antagonism to the authorities
aud laws of the Confederacy, as if he had taken
the Oath to Lincoln, or had enlisted in the north
ern army He becomes really spy, a conspira-
tor and traitor, in :he fullest meaning Of these
words-subject to the peuaisy, OF death at the
hands of the hang-man, aud with no redemption
before him that afforded by the utter SIn OF
the land which gave him birth.
In roof Of this, it is only Decessary to refer to
that portion of ''the cath which binds each mem
Der assist brother Hero, and to "give HIM
timely notice of all approaching danger This OBJ
legation necessitates the harboriug of deserters-
giving of aid and oomfor, to Yankee spies con-
veyng improper information to the enemv-and
the performance of any act however unpatriotic or
reasonable, which may be demanded By such as
give the sign of distress.
Let no mar deudc himself, with the reflection,
that 'sefpreservation is law Of nature. Snch
an Interpretation would justify the craven in his
most al,iect cowardce-the traitor in his widest
dream Of treason-the william in all that can be
conceived of peIfdity. The laws of God and man
regard all such correspondence, pottngs, or at
tempts a: making terms with the common enemy
as crimes deserving Il felon's death and traitors
doom. NJ subterfuge sopbistry can furnish an
escape from the consequences of SO deliberate and
wicked a conspiracy against liberty and country
from such damnng guilt in the climax OF
nations struggle for existence.
Many good but unsuspecting men have been lns