The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-19
From the Salisbury Watchman.
THE SECRET SOCIETY In ROWAN
COUNTY.

IF bomb shell had come crashing through the
roof of our Office we could scarcely have been
more surprised than on the reception OF the SUBJ
Joined letter from Mr. B. FL. Fans, last Saturday.
We had read of the "Heroes of America, and
seen their confessions in the Raleigh papers, but
we had not realized that this secret, oath bound
and reasonable association had spread itself among
our county men, our neighbors and friends; when,
lo! the evidence of its existence all around US
bursts upon the astonished How many
and aoho Of our people have gone into this thing
is question which will not, for the present. be
pressed Suffice it to say, that every man who has
permitted himself to be deluded into joining this
wicked and tratorous clan, should eagerly seize
the earliest opportunity to purge himself OF It,
Come out of it, without delay, and Of your own &C.
cord; for it is quite certain that those who persist
in it will bring themselves to grief The secrecy
of the society in Rowan no longer exists. MIR.
Fans having become convinced that it was COM
pact with the enemy and we'll calculated to demon
alize our people and unnerve them for the duty of
defense against our cruel INVADERS very soon after
joining it resolved that he would not regard it's OBJ
legations He refused to be bound by it when the
two yankee prisoners called On him. But are
OBTAINING the reader; the letter speaks for itself
We present it almost exactly as written:
Rowan Co, July 9Th, 1864.
Mr. Bruner: Dear Sir-I have noticed in the
Waterman and the Conservative, an article speak
ing of an oath bound reasonable society; and
also see the afidavits of several gentlemen acknow
lodging themselves as having been members of the
said society, called ''Heroes of America" sir,
:ake the present occasion to inform you that l, my
self, have been initiated into this society
trap, and as see that it is thought to be detri-
mental to the welfare of the Confederacy, l now
declare myself separate and apart from its member
ship. But never did understand the thing as
nora T L., IL e Al
gentlemen alluded to above seem to understand it.
l was told that the thing came from the yankees;
that the yankees were disposed to favor all good
conservative men, and that this was the means by
which they would know them; anG then in raids,
or even in subjugation, We would not be hurt [
was told, aso that should be placed in the army,
and should unfortunately be captured that the
yanks would release me and treat me well, give me
money, &c !, to come home on. But did not un-
derstano that was to give them any aid, to
vote for Holden If they had told me that, 1
would never have went into it, no, I'd seen them
ID first. [ don't like Holden or the yankees
either. L was determined when | went into it that
it should never do me any harm, neither should it
do them (the yankees) any good. 1t is perfect
trap: man does not know what it is until he gets
into it, and then it is too late. I now have bad
opinion Of all secret societies and think that there
is of any thing that is right to be kept
secret. l hope that will not be looked upon as
disloyal untrue to the Confederacy | dare say
| have fed as many soldiers in the last Is months
as any private man in this county, and [ expect
have received less pay for it; but hardly ever did
repent thing in my life as did repent belong
ing to this clan. The night that the two escaped
yankee prisoners came to my house, they told me
that they heard that was good Union man, and
that they wanted me to put them in the way to get
along. I studied moment, and then told them
that [ be ID if | would do it. Now l do not
come forward and make this acknowledgment
through any fear of being caught in this thing and
punished. I do it because [ discover that it is
thought to be detrimental to the government, and
if so, do not like it.
fsuppose that have been somewhat instru-
mental in getting two or three others in this thing
and hope that when they may see this, my con-
fesson, that [ may be instrumental In bringing
them out again. [ do not think the oath is bind
ing in the least, because the administration of it
was illegal; and we should not feel any hestancy
in dropping a mean thing thought it was right
at first; but now think it is wrong. [ repeat that
the understanding never was here that we should
aid the enemy harbor deserters or vote for Hol-
den. | was told that it would not interfere with
my legal rights in any way, shape or form; but l
admit that when commenced swallowing down,
the oath, which is very hard one, that it came
very near choking me. and has never set well on
my stomach since But think after get it off
iD this way that [ shall feel better. L am very
much obliged to the old preacher, O.. Churchill,
for breaking the way. see he is Baptist: like
him all the better for that.
l suppose, Mr.. Bruner, that have said enough
I want you to particular understand that l am no
longer member of the Ii. . A. Society. You
may publish this if you choose. Alter it in any
way to put it in better form that you choose, it
means and reads the same in substance. [ know
all about this thing so faras it goes in Rowan, and
would not object to telling all about it in public, if
[ was requested to do so by the community; but as
to its being only in few counties in North Caro-
lina think is a great mistake My impression
is, that it exists pretty extensively.
Yours respectfully,
BLAIR Fl. EANEs
In compliance with request sent to Mr.. E.
shortly after this letter received, he into
town yesterday, and met several gentlemen with
whom be communicated freely about this secret
society. He gave copy of the oath, and CON-
municated the signs, pass words, &C. all of which
agree with the revelations of O Churchill, and
Others whose af6davts have been published.
There is class Of fellow citizens debarred
from membership in this society. Mr. Eanes says
soriginal secessionists' were excluded They |
were all to be left to the slender mercy" of the
yankees; but all good conservatives" who would
take the oath, to be admitted. Now as a
good conservative who never had the misfortune |
to be trapped into this wicked society, we warn all
good and true men who have gone into it to make |
haste in getting out of. it. Let them renounce it,
10 heir nd oil svritb