Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-09-07

The following Letter published II ibe New
York Tribune" settles conclusivsly tbs
question whether Hon. Henry Wilson was or
was not Know-Nothing
A GARD FROM ALBERT PIKE.
To the Editors Of the Tribune
SIR" Was Henry Wilson Kuow-Noth-
iug?" You say that you are constantly re-
ceiving letters asking an answer to this Ques-
ton.
| will answer it, l was delegate TO and
member Of the National Council Of the Know
Nothing party in the summer Of 1855, at
Philadelphia, and one of the seven delegates
from Southern State. found the present
Senator Henry Wilson in that body when
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 bo there, he had to have the sign, word,
and grip; and necessarily had taken the same
oath which we all had taken on entering the
order, i. E., not to assist in any way in elevat-
ing to any Office Of trust or profit any person OF
foreign birth, or any Roman Catholic. The
oath is as binding on him now as it was then.
Ny name will assure you that know that
Of which l speak / object to Mr. Wilson's
Sneaking out of the scrape, by both the sup
pressio Ueri and suggestio tdisi.
ALBERT PIKE.
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. 90, 1872
No intelligent citizen Of any part Of the
United States needs to be told who Albert
Pikeis, and no one doubts his absolute veraci-
ty. We append to lis statement above a copy
of the Kuow-NothiDg oath as administered in
the Massachusetts, lodges, and forwarded to us
by reputable and responsible Massachusetts
Know-N Nothing. Mr.. Pike has seen this, aud
vouches for it as the same obligation which he
took himself. If Senator Wilson should be-
come President, he would thus be kept, by an
oath under whose obligation be still rests,
from appointing to office the representatives Of
over one-third Of the population, and bound to
use all his influence to prevent their obtaining
Office Perhaps he might prove as true TO bis
obligations as did President Grant to those he
took with Baez, through BabcOcl, to exert his
influence with the House and Senate on the
question OF Santo Domingo.-Ed. Tribune.
TEXT OF OATH TAKEN BY HENRY WILSON IL
1854. ....
In the presence Of The true and everything
God, and on these sacred scriptures, His Holy
Word do declare that will truly fulfil all
my obligations toward my brethren of the Or
der of Know Nothiugs, and that viii keep
sacred all the sjgns. tokens pass and degree
words, smblems and proceedings CT said Or
der. o And further de-
clare and solemnly swear that will not know
ingly vote for, appoint or elect any person Of
foreign birth, or a Roman Catholic, to any
Office in the local OF general administration Of
the American Government and l further de-
clare and swear :hat will use all the means
in my power to counteract and destroy the in-
fueuce Of foreigners aud Roman Catholics in
the administration Of the Government of the
United States, and in any and all parts there
Of, both local aud general. To all this, free
and voluntary obligation on my part without
reservation, pray that | may ever be able to
remain true and steadfast, so help me God.
Though this oath seems comprehensive
enough, it was explicitly understood to com
prise more, because or the occasion Of taking
it the formuls was that tie President 'of the
Lodge will address the brethren as follows ~
As amember Of this patriotic Lodge, it
will become your duty to disregard all person.
al interests aud pTsdiectiensiH the service Of
your country, in order that the corrupt and
evil influence of foreigners may be etfectHslly
combatted and destroyed, and here It will be
understood sons Of foreigners and Of Roman
Catholics are included.