Wilmington journal., 1872-09-06

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HENRY WILSON.
But this denial did not satisfy the peOpl,
and accordingly a number Of B.oOk)yr
Germans, amOng whom were B. Flevert
T. Boedeker, Chas. Schiller, H. Lindenith h
NJ. Maier, and John Fischer, about foul
weeks ago sent a letter to Senator Wilson
inquiring concerning his previous connec
ton with tho knoW-Nothing party, and
asking him to inform them whether he was
ever member of it. Wilson sent a reply
written in German, of which the following
is literal translation:
NATICK, MASS, Aug. 26, 1872.
MeSSrS. BERNHARD, FJEVERT, and 9TH
eTS-Gentiemen: l am in receip1 of yOur
honOred favor in which you inquire wheth-
e. the reports that l was once a member
OF the know-Nothing party, are founded
in truth, or are tictions created by political
enemies. Let me say to reassure you
that L have never been men,
ber Of the Known Othing party.
and have never voted with it, but that |
have always eXerted myself to fight against
is detl inental principles from the heg'n n
ming of its existence, both by word and ac-
tlon, ana upon every occasion. FROM the
subJolned extracts i'll my speeches, which
have appeared i'll several German papers,
you may gather that | have always de-
clared freely and openly the princil lie that
adopted citizens of our Union ought to en-
joy the same rights as the natives, and that
whatever depression of any class of citi-
Zens exists because they differ from some
other classes and principally because they
are foreign born, is i'll striking contradic-
ton to the principles of true religion, the
fear of God, and the spirit of our enlight-
ened age, and that such warning against
our immigrated citizens is most unjust, in
human, aud impoIitic.
These utterances are in perfect accord
with the liberal views which l have always
entertained during my long political career.
On this basis rests the whole fabric of our
powerful Republican party-the party of
prOgress-whOse immovable pillars are
freedom, equality, and fraternity, This
now is and will be my watchWOrd as long
as | live and labor. With the greater en-
ergy, therefore, | must denounce such a
eaIumniOus slander, and declare it a
contemplate election maneuver which
though without success, has been
used against me several times,
especially in the years 1855 and 1858, by
the opponents of the Republican party.
AS you, honOred gentlemen, are wen able
to distinguish truth from falSehOOd, you
will, L hope, Sirs, favor me with your kind
confidence in the future. In this agree
able expectation, and thanking you most
heartily for your frank letter, | subscribe
myself, with all due respect, your obedient
servant, HENRY WILSON.
How much Truth there is in these denials
of the pious Wilson, will be seen from the
following
CARD FROM ALBEIT PIKE.
To The Editor Of the Tribune:
SIR; "Was Henry Wilson a Know
Nothing >" You say that yOu are con-
stantly receiving letters asking an answer
to this question.
| will answer it. | was a dtlpgate to
and member of the National Council Of
the Known othing Party, in the summer
Of 1850, at Philadelphia, and one Of the
seven delegates from a Southern Safe.
found the present Senator Henry Wilson
in that body when l entered it, and he sat
in it during the whole session, and helped
settle the platform being one of the seven
delegates Of Massachusetts,.
TO be there, he had to have the sign,
word and grip; and necessarily had taken
the same Oa:h which we all had taken on
entering the order, i. e., not to assist III
any way in elevating to any office OF trust
or profit any person of foreign birth, or
any Romau Catholic. The oath is as bind
ing on him now as it was then.
My name will assure you that know
that of which | speak. ! object to 9hif Iii
Wilson's sneaking out the scrape, by
hot,h9. tie 'yrl5pressio rer' and sttggestto
faIsi.
ALBEIT PIKE,
HdSLingt0n city, Aug. %, 1872.
The absolute veracty of ALBEIT PIKE
is kpown to the whole country; and for it
we dou.t not that every Mason in the
land will stand ready voucher. 1t is
idle for us to tell mcn Or Alasnns who
Albert Pike is,
The following is the oath taken by
Senator Wilson as a Known othing in
1854, and we commend it to the especial
consideration of our foreign born and
Roman Catholic population
In the presence of the true and eyer-liv-
ing God, and on these sacred Scriptures,
His Holy Word, | do declare that L will
truly fulfil all my obligations toward my
brethren of the Order of Known Othings,
and that l will keep sacred all the signs,
tokens, pass and degree words, emblems
and proceedings of said Order. And
| further declare and sOlemnly swear that
| will not knowingly vote FOR, appoint,
or elect any person of foreign birth, or a
Roman Catholic to any office in the local or
general administration of the American
government !; and l further declare and
swear that | will use all the means in my
power to counteract and destroy the tnt1u-
ence of foreigners and Roman Catholics in
the administration of the government OF
the United States, and in any and all
parts thereof, both local and general To
all this, free and voluntary obligation on
my part, without reservation, and pray
that | may ever be able to remain true and
steadfast, so help me God.
Though this oath seems comprehen-
sive enough, it was explicitly understood
to compromise more; because on the Occa-
sion OF taking it the formula was that s'the
President COT the Lodge will address the
brethren as follows :"
g AS member OF this patriotic Lodge
it will become your duty TO disregard all
personal interests and predictions in the
service of your country, in order that the
corrupt and evil influence of foreigners may
be effectually combatted and destroyed, and
here it will be understood, Sons of foreign
ers and of Roman Catholics are included
We venture to say that no man