Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-10-31
TRAITORS In OHIO.

: We ask The attention of all loyal mel
: to the following startling summary o
: facts from tie Cleveland Plain Dealer
Organized treason exists in the Stat,
| in the shape Of knights Of the Col
r den Circle, :" To an extent. and Of ma
, terial so incredibly great. as to jnstl'
, the credulity of the quiet and homes
; loyal citizens 10 the truth Of any public
. expose. II is a secret organization. it;
! workings ingenious, its votaries led on
by easy degrees from first approach
. through promises, pledges and obliga.
tons 10 the most terrific and Heaven
daring oaths that ever shook the nerves
OF Demons. The late arrests slartle
the slumbering nerves Of the incredu-
lous. and the Hippant doubt gives way
to an interrogative failh. Sill the
published oaIhs are doubted. still the
extent Of the organization. and the
mighty names on the roll which so long
and so fully commanded the confidence
Of the people at the polls; the object
and the preparation are lhoughtto ex-
ist more in imagination than reality
Government officers were slow to be-
lirve. and had the people the evidence
nOu before the Government they would
:tartle with alarm. The object Of the
organization in its present phase is to
upset the Federal authority by precon-
certed rising at given signal from the
Southern rebels. looking 10 plumber for
their reward. Large quantities OF arms
are secreted in different parts Of the
State awaiting the hour for home mas
sacre 10 commence. In one instance,
$4,000 stand Of arms entering this
State from The Lakes: were secreted
within three miles OF the Lake shore
for hong time. when fearing a revela-
lion of their whereabouts by traitor
in the Circle, they were suddenly re-
moved, and the track lost. An ennis
sary, now OF the rebel army. threaded
this State with peddler's wagon. os-
tensibly to sell dry goods, but really to
establish knights Circles" An i'm
pOrtant letter written by him 10 anoth-
er "Knight," was taken from the Post
Office BY an obscure mechanic whose
name was the same and at once given to
the Government on account of its trea-
sonabIe contents. The letter failing to
reach the friend addressed. the timer
ant treason peddler became alarmed
and rushed of to the South and is now
in active duty as General under Da-
! Wis. That letter has list Of great
znsspes, ,nsembers efthe order, ex-judges,
Lex:M. C's, Sheriffs.. &c, which il is not
policy vet TO pubftsi,.. Persons have
gone into it by insinuating degrees till
at length their eyes have been fully
open to the prospective bloody culmin-
alton. and through very fear have fed
for their lives. Others less advanced
have reported to the Government their
folly. regrets, alarms, and promised to
advance farther for the good Of society
and for the purpose Of such complete
exposure as should work its effectual
overthrow, but in every instance, have
come to point where their hearts have
failed them, and they have utterly re-
fused to reveal or advance, and have
left the State in hot haste. Their most
important ceremonies are not allowed
to be in writing, and therefore it is DIFF
fcult TO reach documents Of importance,
and such letters and papers as they
keep, are buried or secreted, as are
their arms. Had Louisville fallen and
Cincinnati been attacked, Ohio would
have seen a blood red day. from which
heaven defend her. Had st. Louis fall
len. Illinois and Indiana would have
opened the fruits Of the knights Of
the Golden Circle" Had the rebel
army crossed the Potomac into Mary
land, soon after Bull Run. go, 900 stand
OF arms. well laid down in oil. would
have suddenly emerged from Baltimore
Bay. There is scarcely county in
Ohio but has its lodge Of "Knights of
the Golden Circle" laboring in the
cause OF the rebels South. We have
but pointed at the exposures scarcely
in the future, nor need we PORT at the
political wing now nursing it, and from
which il wins its recruits, but see for
yourselves who are nearest allied or in
sympathy with armed rebellion, and
"watch."
Can it be possible with such evidence
before their eyes, that the loyal people
of Ohio will longer doubt the existence
Of a secret oath-bound association in
this State, more dangerous to public
liberty than the armed thieves, pirates
and sssassins who openly proclaim their
determination to overthrow our glorious
Government. The Union menaced by
such secret scoundrelism, it becomes
the duty of every loyal man in the
State to be on the lookout for these
stealthy assassins Of public liberty
Remember they organized the South
ern rebellion which has stricken down
the liberties of the Southern people,
and that upon the political demoralisa-
ton Of the Northern people depends
their entire success. Is it then any
wonder that they should strive to ex-
tend their devilish order into the free
States. and as political deprayitv is not