knights op the golden circle.

9

lish a "free Southern Government." The ritual of this period required of the candidate, in the first place, the most solemn oath that he would never divulge anything he should see or hear after he entered the sacred portals of the castle. Having entered the castle, he was sworn to use all his efforts and powers in the furtherance of the objects set forth in the constitution, viz.: the absorption of Southern territory, and the promotion of Southern interests. Nothing is said in either the constitution or ritual directly of the slave piracy, for the reason that it was feared that, by some kind of accident, ''the papers" might fall into the hands of the "persecuting government." This portion of their business had not been forgotten, however, for, during the years 1S55-6, they equipped and sent out three slavers, two of which were highly successful in their operations; one of them, however, was captured by an English fleet.

The year I80G gave the Knights a new impetus, and added many to their numbers, in consequence of the very large growth of the anti-slavery sentiment in the North during that year, an especial manifestation of which was afforded by tho Presidential campaign. It was now that the rank pro-slavery tree bejan to produce the buds of secession Every effort was put fortli to test the North and the General Government respecting the policy of absorption of Southern territory. This policy had been pretty strongly hinted at in the Cincinnati Platform, unon which Mr. Buchanan was then running; but hints did not satisfy them. They were    f bound to have the plain and explicit declaration from the national

Democratic party, that "we are in favor of the acquisition of Cuba," or dissolve their connection with it, and, if needs be, with tho government. A few paragraphs from the filed speeches of castle C, New Orleans, at this period will give the reader a pretty clear idea of the spirit and intent of the Knights. In perusing these speeches, passages such as the following occur:

"Tho South can only hope for the real enjoyment of its rights in a Southern Confederacy, if the signs of tho times mean anything. Even the Democratic party is becoming Abolitionized. We want more territory; we must have it; but can we hope to acquire it while the Abolitionists stand in our way, and the indifferent Democracy refuse to give us aid ? Who can not see that the Democratic party is becoming abolilionized ? Why does not the present administration (Pierce's) carry out the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in Kansas Territory? Why does it allow those Emigrant Aid Societies of Massachusetts to send their pauper cutthroats to disturb and endanger our people in the common territory of the United States ?"

Another specimen:

"We must have Cuba and Mexico.   The North is vastly out-