The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-01-28
WHAT is TT?

We were shown, q few days ago, 4 singular
little document, picked up near certain
locality in the first district of this county,
that somewhat excited our curiosity to faith
ON the meaning of. 1t Is headed "Third
Degree Council" and goes on, aftera strange
fashion to describe that "this degree is to be
conferred with the National flag elevated in
the centre of the circle, by the side of the
President or Instructor; and not on less than
five at any one time-in order TO give it So
lemnity, and also for the formation of the
circle" &c. All this being supposed to be
DONE next comes an obligation in which the
party swears or affirms that he will not dis
close The name, signs, passwords or other
secrets of the degree, except to brothers of the
degree or i'll open Council for purpose of
instruction ; also his devotion to the Ameri
can Union, &C., and then proceeds as follows
That you will not r0te for any one to fill any
office of honor, profit or trust of political
character, whom you know or be1ieCe to be in
favor of a dissolution of the Union of these
States, or who is endeavoring to produce
that result; that you aoW cote for, and support
far all political offices, third Or Union degree
members of this order, in preference to all
Others; that if it may be done consistently
with the Constitution and laws of the land,
you will, when elected or appointed to any
official station, which may confer on you the
power to do so, remove from Office or place,
all persons whom you know OF behece to be
in favor of dissolution of the Union, or who
are endeayoring to produce that result; and
that you will in no case appoint such per-
sons to any political office or place arhatocer."
What does all this mean? Have we Ru
ktur in our midst? Just to think of mot
less than five" forming circle, with the
AmeTican flag in the midst, and then taking
strange oaths' as to who they will or will
not rote for! And signs and passwords, too,
that the faithful may he known-with hco
raps and rumble, perhaps before the door
will be opened to any one Are we not in
danger, and is the c0uatly safe? For our
selves we think il must be q league formed
for protection against such dangerous char
hCtoio dS many vi tilc pIOIllllcllJ IlopuD-
lican leaders, who prior to the war were for
kicking the South out of the Union" and
who denounced the American Union, so fond
ly referred to in the above as "a covenant
with the Devil and a league with He'll" OF
words to that effect. If Horace Greedy OF
Wendell Phillips OF any other of the many
prominent members of their party who were
for cutting adrift the South and Getting her
90" should ever chance to settle in the first
district of Hartford county, they would GER
tainly lose votes to the tune of ''not less than
five" if the ceremony above described has
ever taken place there, which we take it fol
granted has. The same would also be, in the
cases of any members of the present Con-
gress who voted for severing the Union, by
thrusting out Georgia, and keeping it severed
by refusing to admit Virginia. They could
never certainly get the votes of men who
swear so solemnly, sciM tie flag in the midst
an undying fealty to the American Union.