Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-10-27

trait of John Morgan is exhibited for 4 similar
purpose.
Other signs are used hy the members and cspe-
ci.tly by the officers of ho order, in their CORES
pondcncc. Their letters, when of an official char
acter, arc generally conveyed by special messen
gers, but when transmitted through the mail are
usually in cipher. When written in the ordinary
manner, chara ctcr at the foot of the letter, con
sisting of circle with line drawn across the
center, signifies to the member who receives il
that the statements as written are to b. understood
na sense directly the opposite to that which would
ordna rily be conveyed.
1t is to be added that the meetings of the Order
especially in the country. are generally held at
night and in secluded places, and that the approach
to them is cirefuly guarded by line of sentinels
who are passed only by means of Il special coun-
tersign, which is termed the picket"
vI-Irs WRITTEN PRINCIPLES.
The 'Dcclaration of Principles" which is Sc.
forth in the ritual of the Order, has already been
alluded to. This declaration, which is specially
framed for the instruction Of the great mass of
members. commences with the folio wing srecious
proposition:
"All men endowed by the Creator with Ger
tain rights equal FAR rs there is equality in the
capacity for the appreciation. enjoyment and ex
ercise OF those rights" And subsequently, there
is added 'ln the Divine economy no individual
of the hum IN race must be permitted to cucumber
the earth. to mar its aspect of transccndent beauty
nor TO impede the progress OF the physical or in-
teectual man, neither in himself nor in the race
TO which he belongs. Hence, 4 peo5lc, upon
whatever plane they may be found in the ascend
ing scale OF humanity, when neither the divinity
within ,hs M the Inspirations of the divine ant
beautiful nature around them can impel to yirtu.
Gus action and progression onward and upward,
should be subjected to just and humane servitude
and tutclage to the superior race, until they shall
be able 10 appreciate the benefits and advantages
Of civiliz tion.''
Here is the whole theory OF humln bondage
the right ofthe strong because they are strong to
despOil and enslave the weak. because they are
weak. The languages of earth can add nothing
to the cowarlly and loathsOme basencss of the
doctrine as thus announced. 1t is the robbers
creed, sought to be nationalized, and would push
back the hand on the dial plate OF our civilization
to the darkest periods of human history. 1t must
be admitted. however, that it furnishes a fitting
''corncr stone ior the government OF 4 rebellion
every fibre of whose body and every throb of
whose soul is born of tho traitorous ambition and
slave pen inspirations OF the South.
To these dctcstablc tenetS is added hat other
pernicous political theory of State soverciguitv
with its necessary fruit the monstrous doctrine of
scceSsion--a doctrine which, in asserting that in
our federate system part is greater than the
whole, would compel the general Government,
like a japanese slave, to commit hali-karl when
ever a flithlcss or insolcnt State should command
il to do
Thus. the ritual, after rccitng that the States
ofthc Union are free, independent and sOyer-
cign.'' proceeds as follows:
The Government designated The United
States of America" has no sovereignty, because
that is an attribute with which the people, in their
several and distinct political organizations, are
endowed, and is inalienablc. Ii was constituted
by the terms OF the compact, by all the State.,
through the express will of the people thereof
respsclivcly-a common agent. to use and exercise
certain named specified. defined and limited pow
crs which are inherent OF the sovereignities with
in those States. 1t is permitted So far as regards
its status and relations, a common agent in the
exercise of the powers carefully aad jealousy dele
gated to il, TO call itself supreme but not soy
ereign," In accordance with the principles upon
which is founded the American theory, Govern
ment can exercise only dclegat, power, hence,
if these who shall have been chosen to administer
the Government shall assume to exercise powers !
not delegated, they should be regarded and treat
ed as usurpcrs. The reference to inherent pow
err" s'war power" or military necessity" on the
part OF the functionary for the sanction of an ar
bitrary exercise of power by him. we will not ac
cept in pailiation or excuse"
To this is added, a corrolary, at is incom
pltible with the history aud nature oi our system
of government that Federal authority should CO.
cree by arms Il sovereign State.
The declaration OF principles. however, docs not
stop here, but proceeds enc step further, as iOl
lows:
"Whcnevcr the chosen officers or delegates
shall fail or refuse to administer the government
in strict accordance with tile letter of the accept d
constitution, il is the inherent right and the sol
emn and imperative duty of the people to resist
the functionares, and. if need lie, 10 crDeI them By
force Of arms. Such resistance is not revolution.
but is solely the assertion Of right-the exercise
all the noble attributes which inpart honor and
dignity to MANHOOD ~ 81 Yloll-
To the same effect, though in mildcr tone, is
the platform ofthe order /. Indana put forth by
the Grand Council in their meeting in February
last, which declares that the right TO alter or a6ol
sh their government, Whenever it Tails to secure
the blessings OF liberty, is one of the inalienaSle
rights of the people that can never be Surrender
ed"
Such. then, are the principles which the new
member swcars to observe and abide bv in his OBJ
loaton set forth in the ri ual, where he saws: '.I
do solemnly promise that will ever cherish in
my heart of hearts the sublime creeds of the l.. X.
Excellent Knights and will so far as in me lies,
Illustrate the sLme in my intercourse with men,
Il will defend the principles thereof, If ed be,
with nv life, whatsoever aSsailed, in my own coun-
try fl st of all do further soemnly declare that
L WI II never take uD arms In behalf OF any gov
eminent Which does not acknowledge the sole au-
thority or power to be the will of the governed"
In the same connection may be quoted the fol-
lowing extracts from the ritual, iilustrat ng the
principle of the right of ofrevoution and resistance
to consi uted authority, insisted upon by the or
der: %.
"Our swords shall be unsheathcd whenever the
great principles which We aim to inculcatc and
have sworn to maintain and defend are assailcd."
Again: 81 10 solcmnly promise, that whenso
ever the principles which our order incucates
shall be assailcd in my own State country,
will defend these principles with my sword and
nv life, in whatsoever capacity may be assigned
me by the competent authority of four order."1
And further: II do promise that will at all
times if need be, take up arms in the cause ofthe
opp ressed-in my own country frs. of all-against
any power or government usurped, W ich my be |
found in arms and waging war against people OF
peoples who are endeavoring to establish, or have
government for themselves of their
own fr,c choice l /
Moreover it is to be noted that all the addresses
and spcaches its leaders breathe the sam, prin
ciplc of the right of forcbe resistance 10 the Gov
ernment. as one of the tenets of the order
Thus p. C.Wrght, Supreme Commander, in his
general address of December, 1853, after urging
that .the spirit ofthe fathers may animate the free
minds, the brave hearts, and still unshackled
limbs Of the true Democracy" (meaning the mem.
bers of the order) adds as follows: "To be pre-
pared for the crisis now approaching, we must
catch from aar the earliest and iantest breathings
of the spirit of the storm; to be successful when
the storm comes, we must be watchful. patient,
brave, confident. rganized armed - CO