Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-23

nite0 SfAtesf
Upas rec iyiEg proper ssswers. the Yies-Prssi-
dsnt sfl say:
Gentlemen, your answers TO the ques
tions propounded have been satisfactory
The fact viii oe duly reported, and will
doubtless secure your admission SIS mem
bers Of our society.
Ths yies-Presi4snt win then repair to the
Leagus and rrport:
Y. P-Mr. President | have made
the proper exanination, and End the
candidates worthy Of fellowship with us
P-The Herald will direct the Mar
shal to introduce the candidates to the
League
Ths Marshal then conducts The eaad dates isto
tbs 70 N. a5d pFessnss thsIn In frons q he PFss
dsnts chair
M-Mr. President, have the pleasure
Of presenting these gentlemen for initia-
ron into our League They have been
duly elected to membership. Their loyal
ty has been thoroughly tested and ap-
proved By our worthy Vice President
P.-Gentlemen: From the in,erroga-
tories propOunlisd to you in the ante
room, you hav,s learned the character
and purpose Of the organization Of which
yca are about TO become members 1t
is, therefore, scarcely necessary to give
you further assurances that that charac
ter and purpose are purely and ex-
elusively patriotic.
We claim TO be, solely, a loyal league
OF Union citizens, pledged 10 the uncou-
ditional support Of our National and
State Governments in their efforts to
suppress this aceursed rebellion, and to
an uneompromising opposition to treas
oa in whatever character it may assun e.
II is charged that ours is a secret or.
1 ganization. This We deny. We hold
our business meetings in private. as the
/ only practicable means Of excluding dis-
I loyal men frora membership with Us, but
| the existence Of our association, its
/ principles, aims, and purposes, we openly
avow aud publish TO the world And no
one need entertain fear that either at
our public or private meetings, he will
hear or witness anything that any other
than a traitor will condemn.
This is not 9 political organization,
unless 10 array ourselves on the side OF
our assaiIed and imperriled Gov
I
trsry it is its chief and crowniBg
glory that it sternly excludes from
its deliberations and aims all partiEan
politics whatever, aud thus enables all
loyal men to come together to the CON.
/ mon altar OF their country. aud laying
upon il ell differences of cFeeds and
parties and blood and lineage, bind them
selves, one % another, By the single but
indissoluble tie Of devotion 20 country,
10 do mems parts in assisting 10 save Il
from impending dissolution, destruction
ard death. Do you love your eouniry
Are you prepared, rising above all oiheI
earthly consid. rations. to stand BY your
country in this hour OF It's sore peril
These onls are the questions ~ demand
Of you. and ansSerng them affirmative
". whatever NAV be your parry, rrii lion
or lineage, - welcome T0a as bro bfF
'srh-a liir'. faith
Il car FsiiF 90. We k8aw
NJ hsFrt G bat ev~A.d kssvsa suA trsitars
whass' . roI y of ia efrsi,
Ess mAa fhsts ioyal sft.od 4.
We baHd ourselves together not A.
eonspirAtors, bat as loyal Union enizens
axowiag our undivided allegiance g. th'
Government Of our country, and nnd
the solemn c0nviction that the salvauor
Of that country. and Of our established
order Of society, from dissoiuiinu, a.
archv, and universal mob lsw. depend
nov upon the adhesion Of the people o
the LOYAL States, without distinction o
party or creed, to the Government, th'
cause Of the Government, 'the power
that be, aud the laws OF the land
Gentlemen, our worthy Vice Presiden
~ill now read 70 you the obligation Of
honor to which we shall ssk your assent
and your signature.
FLEDgE OF HONOR
Y. P.-Ws, the loyal citizens Of ----
County, Indiana, with pride and pleas
ure. renew and reafirm our devotion {,
the Uuioa. and our undivided aud IN
conditional allegiance TO the Govern
ment of the United States Of America
and having reason to believe that evel
here, in our own State, there are large
organizations Of disloyal men, bande'
together for the purpose Of aiding ;h
rebellious States in subverting the Gov
. ernment, and in destroying our gloriou
Union, even at the hazard Of that act O
! folly and madness, the organization Of
Western or Northwestern Confeds rAcy
Therefore, for the purpose Of resistin
, these trailrous designs of the enemies Q
the country, we do hereby form oUrselvs
into an association TO be called the URfo
League Of - To1aship, - Count,
and We do hereby pledge ourselves, on
i to the other, that We will, 70 the exter
/, Of our power, support, protecs, and d
!. lend the Government Of the Unite
States, and the laws Of the land, an
1 ever oppose aud resist all attempts, Il
: them come from whatever source the
may, TO destroy the union Of these State
), And We do further pledge oarselves thi
we will defend this STATE from any inv
!. sion, insurrscliOn, or rebellion, aud q
loyal citizens Of the country in the ls1
ful protection Of their persons, propsrt
!, and families; that we will keep seer
: the proceedings Of this League, exec
: when permitted to disclose them, al
|. that to the performance Of these obiig
tions We pledge our lives, our fortune
and our sacred honor.
Arr the initiates have siEnsd the lied =,
'S Pre- i'd nt or VIC President will address theEa
10 follows;
n Gentlemen: The obligation yeu ba'
or Just signed Of your own free win and q
cord, cannot rest lightly ou your co
sciences; nor can you violate It witho
dishonorinG yourselves and leaving t
sr stain Of perjsry upon your souls
The imminent dangers Of the hour
u mand that loyal men be prepared.
~ can not, we must not, omit TO do th
th which the safety Of the Union requir
n Not regardless o consequences, " nj
as yet meet Consequences; sseizg ths b.
re ard that surrounds the discharge Of py
lc duty, u must yet be discharged l
as then shan no responsibility justly {
- volvlng npon Us, here or elseEheFe,
tee attempting 10 maintain The Cnion-
Us caeerfally partake its fortune and
= p fate. Let Us be resdg 70 perform o
appropriate part, whenever and whe
,a- ever the occasion may call Gs, and ia
ZEE our chances among those upon whc
d. the blows may tall hrst ana isi tnic<e
Be faithful then to your country
N. --.--.... "a n.1issnfu1fr corusq.