The Wyandot Pioneer

STARTLING
DISCLOSURES.

OATH BOUND DEMOCRATS.
Treason Unmasked.

We ask our readers to peruse the following brief extract from the expose of the traitorous Secret Society, known in our midst as the Sons of Liberty. With such purposes in view, we ask the loyal sons of Wyandot County, whether they can countenance such men. Let it be remembered that the leading men of the county are at the head and front of this Society. Our County officers are all we believe oath bound members of the order. Read, reflect and despise the men who would lift your bleeding country.

VALANDIGHAM.

The next step was a gigantic conspiracy between himself and the rebel authorities, to inaugurate another rebellion in the loyal States to separate the West from the East, and thus give aid and comfort to the Southern rebellion. To do this he was made Supreme Commander of the Northern section of the order, embracing the loyal States, and was assisted to make his escape through the Blockading fleet to Canada, whither he fled to establish his headquarters and to commence the organization of the Northern section of the orders of traitors.

DEGREES IN TREASON.

The programme agreed upon at Windsor, in the beginning of April, will be given, after adding some further remarks with regard to the character of the organization-its degrees, the first being published in one pamphlet, the two next in another, copies of which have been obtained, and the contents of which will, no doubt, at the proper time, find their way into the newspapers.

The first degree seems to be a weak and diluted dose for novices who may have squeamish stomachs. The great mass of the members of the order are admitted only into the mysteries of it thus far, the leaders thus securing their followers to know too much of their treasonable conspiracy. Once thus entrapped under the solemnity of the oath, those of the first degree become the blind and ready instruments of the more intelligent, knavish and traitorous, who are admitted to the mysteries of the higher degrees. The lodges or temples have a list of members in the nature of a lodge muster roll, copies of which have also been obtained, and are in themselves a curiosity to look at. These rolls one would suppose to be a list of members of a literary association, while those understanding its real meaning would readily know that a member marked down as having a copy of the St. Louis Republican was the owner of one rifle, and that he who was set down for two copies of the St. Louis Union was the owner of that number of revolvers, and so on.

RAW HEADS AND BLOODY BONES.

The obligations of this order are of a truly astonishing character. A few extracts from them will show their nefarious character:

"I solemnly promise that I will never reveal or make known to any person or persons, by sign or signs, word or words, nor in any other manner, the ceremonies we have just taken part, nor the names nor persons who have participated with me, nor any single word nor thing which I have heard or seen herein."

"I do solemnly promise that I will never reveal or make known to any one, any or either of the signs, hails, passwords, watchwords, initials, cyphers emblems, insignia, nor signs manual, of the M. E. D.-O.A. K.-except to prove a man claiming to be a member of that degree."

"I do further solemnly promise that I will, at all times, in all places, yield and observe a prompt obedience, without remonstrance or question, to every mandate, command, order, or request, of any immediate Grand Commander, in all things touching or relating to the purposes of the O. A. K., if in my power to do so."

"I do further solemnly promise that whensoever the principles which our order inculcates shall be assailed in my own State or county, I will defend those principles with my sword and my life in whatsoever capacity may be assigned me by the competent authority of our order;"

"that I will never pronounce the name of this order in the hearing of any man, woman, or child, except to a member of this order whom I know to be such; that I will ever have in most holy keeping each and every secret of this order which may be confided to me by a member, either within or without the temple, and rather than reveal which I will consent to any torture, even unto death by torture."

"I do further promise that I will at all times, if needs be, take up arms in the cause of the oppressed-in my country first of all, against any monarch, prince, potentate, power or government usurper, which may be found in arms and waging war against a people or peoples who are endeavoring to establish, or have inaugurated a Government for themselves, of their own free choice, in accordance with, and founded upon, the eternal principles of truth. This I do promise without reservation or evasion of mind, without regard to the name, station, condition or designation of the invading or coercing power, whether it shall arise from within or come from without."

"I do solemnly promise and swear sacredly to observe, perform and keep, with a full knowledge and understanding, and with my full assent that the penalty which will follow a violation of any or either of these my solemn vows will be a shameful death!"

BREAKING FOR SIGNS.

The signs, passwords, &c., being of a changeable character, it is not worth while to describe at length. As originally organised, the passwords of the first degree was "Nu-oh-lac," being the word "Calhoun" spelt backwards. That of the second degree was Webster. The signal of distress is "Ochone." "Ochone" "Ochone." The street sign of recognition is given by placing the hand of the arm on the right breast, and raising the right to an angle of forty-five degrees, with the shoulder on a right line with them.

The grip in a full grasp of the hand, with the index finger so extended as to rest upon the wrist of the person addressed. The toe of the person desiring to be recognized is also placed at the hollow of the foot of the other.

This order has also badges by which members recognize each other, which are worn in various ways and manners-in many instances as neckties: samples of these have also been obtained, and the house that imports them in this city ascertained.

HOW NUMEROUS IS YOUR HOST?

There are different accounts of the strength of this organization among the members themselves. At a meeting not long since, held by the Wayne lodge or Temple, in this city, the Grand Worthy, in his lecture to the newly initiated, gave an account of the condition of the order and its rapid progress in numbers and strength, in which he stated its membership to be as follows: Between 20,000 and 30,000 in Missouri: nearly 150,000 in Illinois, of whom 80,000 were well armed and organized; 100,000 in Indiana: nearly 100,000 in Ohio, of whom one-half were well armed and organized; in Kentucky, from 60,000 to 70,000; in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, already very strong, are rapidly on the increase; in Michigan, Iowa, and other Western States, not yet very strong, nevertheless making rapid progress. A principal officer of the organization in New York State, where it is known as the McClellan Minute Men, has stated its strength in that State to be over 200,000.