Weekly North Carolina Standard

From the Richmond Examiner

MORE LIGHT ON A DARK SUBJECT.

We have received from a subscriber, and very intelligent friend in a free State, an abstract of the oaths and principles of the mysterious order of Know Nothings, as printed below. We have the greatest confidence in the sincerity and veracity of our correspondent. We have no doubt the publication of these revelations will brew a storm of anger and excitement in the "Councils" hereabout; but, stern in our purpose to furnish the public the whole truth on this question, we give the whole schedule to the winds. We are led to believe that it has never before been dragged before the public gaze. Having no acquaintance with the proceedings of any secret order in the heavens above, in the earth beneath, or the waters under the earth, we are not prepared to say that the things below depicted are too monstrous for belief, as they would seem to be to the honest patriot. Yet we have good reason to believe that the picture, ugly and hideous as it appears, is faithful and accurate.

The writer, in his accompanying letter, says of the new party:

"In [the writer's State] they are Whigs and Abolitionists, with a sprinkling of bogus, anti-Nebraska Democrats. It is undoubtedly intended by the movers and originators of this new party, to establish themselves thoroughly in all cities, towns, villages, cross-roads and neighborhoods, preparatory to the elections of '56, and carry their brotherhood then into office.

"The present ritual of the order in this State has come into my hands by accident. They adopt as few written formula in their Councils as possible; but they use a pamphlet containing their short constitution and by-laws, their method of procedure in initiating members, the duty of officers, instructions to the initiated candidates of the 1st, 2d, and 3d degrees; in fact, all their principles and objects. The oaths, it is supposed, are the same throughout the United States, in Virginia as well as this State; and to aid you, I copy all and send them to you enclosed. I was never a member of the order; the whole thing having been disclosed to me by one of their softs.

"There is a Grand Council for each State. Councils subordinate may be instituted in any locality in a State by a Charter from the Grand Council, preceded by a petition for the same from thirteen citizens, who are initiated by a travelling agent. They pay $12, receive a charter and seal, and go to work. They aim at all the power—not at the balance, as you have been led to suppose.

"Know-Nothingism is opposed to the sentiments which, by the aid of your Jefferson, and all your revolutionary men, brought these States out of servitude to independence. The ends of Know-Nothingism are nothing short of sectarian power, which they will carry, if necessary, over the slain bodies of a great, patriotic and true class of American citizens and Democrats. It will never do; and this cannot fail of being immediately apparent on the examination of their oaths and tests. Is it right that Catholics and adopted citizens should be totally proscribed in a republican government, where all our constitutions are most particular in "proscribing proscription." What can come of it but alienation of brotherly love, prostration of fraternal feeling, civil war in all our cities, feuds in our villages, battles on our public works, discord, anarchy, overthrow of republicanism, and arrest of progress? I am myself in favor of the fastest and youngest Democracy and Americanism, have not the least objection to your institutions at the South, and I am glad to see and know, that the South is equally progressive and thrifty with the North. I hope that Kansas and Nebraska may both be populated by your people, and slavery be adopted in their constitutions. If the North should refuse to accept them, maintain your rights at the hazard of dissolution. Though that would be to be regretted and deplored, it is your right, and being so, should be maintained.

I would mention that Know-Nothing Councils—that is the name their associations are known by among themselves; as, for instance, "Ethan Allen Council, No. 34, of the Supreme Order of 76;" (Know-Nothing is for outside barbarians)—make nominations directly, when strong enough to elect officers; and their system ramifies into every business and relation of life, their members swearing to support a brother before all others."

ABSTRACT of the Oaths and Principles of the mysterious Order of Know Nothings.

The candidate is first proposed, by a member of the Order, to the Council, without his knowledge. Three negative votes black-balls him. If elected, he is secretly requested to present himself in the ante-room of the Council, when an officer appears from within and administers to him the following oath:

"I do solemnly swear upon this sacred volume, [or cross,] before Almighty God and these witnesses, that I will not divulge any question proposed to me here, whether I become a member of this order or not; and that I will never under any circumstances whatever, mention the name of any person I may see present during any of the meetings or that I know such an order to be in existence, and that I will a true answer make to every question asked of me so help me God."

Which being seriously taken by the candidate, the officer proceeds to propound the following interrogations, before reporting to the Council his fitness for initiation:

"1. What is your name? 2. What is your age? 3. Where is your residence? 4. In your religious belief are you Roman Catholic? 5. Where were you born? 6. Where were your parents born? 7. Where were your grand parents born? 8. Did either of your ancestors take a part in the American Revolution? 9. Are you willing to use all the influence you possess in favor of native born American citizens, for all offices of honor, trust or profit in the gift of the people; and do you promise to vote for them to the exclusion of all aliens and foreigners, and Roman Catholics in particular, for all local, State or Government offices? Who invited you to be present on this occasion?"

If the candidate's answers are satisfactory to these questions, he is taken into the Council by two officers, led up to the President of the Council, who administers the following oath in the 1st Degree:

"I voluntarily and freely do solemnly promise and swear, before Almighty God and these witnesses around me assembled, that I will not, under any circumstances whatever, divulge or make known to any person or persons, either directly or indirectly, or to any human being other than those I shall know to be good and true members of this Order, the name, secrets, mysteries, or objects of the same, or cause or allow the same to be done by others, if within my power to prevent the same. Binding myself under the no less penalty than that of being excommunicated from the Order, and having my name posted and circulated throughout the different Councils of the Order, as a traitor and perjurer to both my God and country, and as being unworthy to be employed, entrusted, countenanced, or supported in any business transaction whatever, and as a person totally unworthy of the confidence of all good men, and one at whom the finger of scorn shall ever be pointed. I furthermore promise that if I should hereafter be expelled from, or voluntarily leave the Order, I will consider this obligation as binding out of it as in it. All of which foregoing I voluntarily and freely subscribe to, so help me God!"

The candidate is then led to an officer called the Judge Advocate, who harangues him after this manner. (There is generally half a dozen or more initiated together.)

"My Brothers: The Order which has now received you as members, may with all propriety be considered a Secret Organization. It is so secret in fact, that if you were placed before a legal tribunal, and there sworn to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, you could not for your lives reveal the name of that band of brothers, among whom your name now stands enrolled; and further than this, when you retire from this meeting, you will return to your families and friends as ignorant as when you came, as far as the name of this Order is concerned.

"In common with ourselves you "Know Nothing," and let it be your stern resolve through life, to "Know Nothing" that will at all conflict with the high and exalted duties you owe to your God, your country and yourselves, so far as regards the preservation of American liberty, which can alone be secured to ourselves and our children by the entire and absolute exclusion of all foreign influence in those matters which appertain to our government policy."

After the delivery of this patriotic address, the candidate is referred to the Instructor who teaches him the signs and grips, and in what manner to obtain entrance into the Council. He is then Master of the 1st Degree, and signs his name to the register. If he behaves well two weeks, and it is conceded that he will do to become a full blooded Know Nothing—abstains from all blabb outside the Council, his friends propose him for the 2nd Degree. After election to that Degree, he and others are brought in and take the following oath:

"[I] do solemnly promise and swear before Almighty God, and these witnesses, that I will not, under any circumstances, divulge or make known the name of this Order, or its objects, to any person or persons in the world, unless to those whom I may know to belong to this Order, in good and regular standing.

"And I furthermore promise and swear that I will neither write, print, paint, cut, carve, engrave, emboss, stamp, stain, or mark any secrets of this Order, on anything moveable or immoveable on the earth or sea, whereby said secrets, or any part thereof, the name of the Order, its operations, the names of its officers, or the name of its members or its place of meeting, may become known to those who have not received the first and second Degrees of this Order in due form; nor will I cause or permit the same to do be done, if within my power to prevent the same.

"And I furthermore promise and swear that I will always conform to the will of the majority of the members of this Order, in the selection of candidates to fill every office of honor, profit or trust, within the gift of the people; provided such candidates shall have been born of American parents, on American soil, and shall have been educated in American institutions, and that I will use all the influence I may possess to elect all such candidates whom I may know to be opposed to all foreign influence, Popery, Jesuitism and Catholicism, without any hesitation on my part whatever. And I furthermore promise and swear that I will strictly conform to and abide by the oath I have now taken, and that I will strict obedience pay to the Constitution, Laws, Rules, Ritual and Edicts of the honorable Grand Council of this Order, of the State of [ ], and to the By Laws of [ ] Council No. [ ], to which I now belong or to those of any other Grand or Subordinate Council from which I may hereafter hail, binding myself under the no less penalties than are attached or belong to those who violate the oath of the first degree of this Order. All the foregoing I voluntarily and freely subscribe to of my own free will and accord, So help me God!"

This candidate is also led off to the Judge Advocate, and afterwards to the Instructor: but their speeches and lectures are not inserted here for want of space.

OBLIGATION THIRD DEGREE,

kneeling before God, my maker, my left hand upraised towards heaven, my right hand grasping the flag of my native land, of my own free will and accord, do solemnly and sincerely promise, declare and swear that I will never communicate any of the secrets of this degree to any person or persons in the world, except within the body of a legally organized Council of this Order, or to a known brother of this degree, and not unto him, nor unto them, until I am well assured that they are just and upright brethren who are legally entitled to receive the same. I also promise and swear that I will due obedience pay to the Constitution, Laws and Edicts of the honorable Grand Council of the State of [ ], and to the laws which govern Council No. [ ], so far as they may come to my knowledge.

"I also promise and swear that whenever I may vote at any election, that vote shall in all cases be given for native born American citizens only, and that I will ever seek the political advancement of those men who are good and true members of this Order.

I also promise and swear that this and all other obligations which I have previously taken in this Order, shall be kept through life sacred and inviolate. I also promise and swear that whenever I may hear the sign or see the signal of distress given by any brother of this Order, I will hasten at once to his immediate relief at the peril of my own life.

I also promise and swear that I will ever contribute my means in such sums as I can spare without personal inconvenience, to the advancement of our views and to the extension of American principles through the medium of the Grand Council of the State of [ ].

I also promise and swear that I will never permit a spurious or clandestine member of this Order, to participate in any of the benefits, or the advantages thereof, and that I will never encourage, countenance, uphold, recognize or support a spurious or clandestine council of this Order.

To all these and those I do most sincerely promise, declare and swear, binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my grave trampled on by foreigners, and to have my memory cursed by my children and by my children's children, as a traitor to their welfare, to my country and to my God. So help me God and witness my obligation."

The Judge Advocate then addresses the newly initiated brethren in this degree as follows:

"My Brothers: The different obligations you have taken in this Order, through its different degrees, must have convinced you that all who claim to be American citizens have certain important duties to perform toward themselves and to society at large, which duties can, in no instance, be set aside or annulled without a palpable violation of the dearest rights and privileges which, each and every member of our organization would wish to enjoy.

The peculiar formation of our Order is such, and its designs so accord with the wishes of its members, that by a system of concerted action on the part of our brotherhood, we can bring about a series of practical results in our governmental policy that would in any other light be deemed wholly impracticable. Simply and alone it is in vain to contend against the hydra-headed monsters of Jesuitism and Catholicism, but united in one common cause, determined to secure the liberties of our native land at all hazards, or perish in the attempt, we cannot fail of success. Our cause is a righteous one, the motives which actuate us are of no ordinary character, and we trust that no brother among us will ever be found absent from his post in the hour of danger."

The candidate is then again taken to the Instructor, who gives him the signs, pass-words and grips of this degree. He pays a dime to the Secretary at the initiation of each degree, and 50 cents on first entering the Ante-Room for examination. After the 3d degree has been thus administered, the Secretary gives him a travelling card like this:

Richmond, Va., August 1, 1854.

JOHN SMITH is a member in good standing of

Molly Stark Council, No. 40, of the State of Virginia.

JOHN STILES, Sec'y

[some decorative line]

This card is carried in the pocket-book, and admits a member into any Council in the State.

Such is Know Nothingism. It out-Jesuits Jesuitism. It makes its Council greater than the State. It makes of its President more than Catholicism makes of its Pope. It enslaves the conscience, the heart the mind, the tongue, the pen, the purse: it enslaves the soul. The freeman will not bow his neck to the yoke. Alas for him if he does.

Such is the picture. It is too true for a jest. The Know Nothings must keep their temper. We mean to keep ours. We are not done with the subject.