Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-18
THE OPENING.

This defendant has been arrested and
put on examination for conspiracy. A con-
spiracy has been defined to be aeonspiring
TO bring about some unlawful cot or 10 do
a lawful act by unlawful means. The in
tention Of the act under which the defend
ant is being examined, is, l apprehend, to
prevent the commission, while yet in its
ineipient stage which were not reached by
previous acts Of Congress
We claim in this case that this is really
what has been known for years as the
Knights Of the Golden Circle That what
is called the first obligation is for the pur-
pose Of drawing in men who could not be
approached if thereal object of the organi-
cation was made known. IN Marion coun-
ty, in this State, there is an order of this
kind. The obligations entered into are
said only 10 bind the members to protect
constitutional democrats, yet they take
every precaution to prevent community
from knowing Of their proceedings by the
most barbarous Osths. Mr.. Paine read the
obiigations.) Now theadea OF Mr.. Chris
tian or Mr.. Osborn, intelligent men, going
into such an organization-whichs SO far as
we have heen able to track goes back to
Sam Medary at Columbus, who issued the
original paper to Marion county now
Mr. Christian tries to make OFT that this is
local affair to prevent the mobbing Of g
printing office, hut before he got through
be was compelled to acknowledge that he
knew that it existed Throughout the State.
Nov if any two of these men had got to-
gether, and without any particular form Of
words, had agreed to wade in blood up
TO the knees as soon as JEFF. Davis ap-
preached Washington, this then would have
been conspiracy which WoUld most GER
tsinly come under the Act. By taking and
administering the obligation which Courts
administered 10 Fletcher, they both became
eonspirators against the Government. If
you can fssten the administering of the
second obligation upon any person, then
you have il in black and white that they
have been engaged in conspiring against
the Government.
From the letter Of Withers il is distinct
ly proven that as early as the lst Of June
there was an organization Of The Knights
Of the Golden Circle in this State, and that
there we're at least two places il the State
where arms could be concealed. Now, Sir,
it is vastly important for Mr.. Courts to
show that he has no connection with such
an Order as this letter refers 20. When
we find that there exists an order in an.
other county, an organization which takes
oath TO wade through blood, SC, when Davis
approaches Washington, then compare these
oaths with the purport of Wither's letter,
We come pretty near identifying the two
orders as one and the same.
Now DR.. Christian says that he supposed
that this Association was solely for the pur.
pose of projecting Holders printing office,
but he acknowledges that he did think it
strange that he should be called on to take
osths Of such ferocious nature, to per-
form duties which he was, as a good oiti-
zen, bound to perform at any rate. Here
is this DR.. Adams who did not suppose
that there was anything in taking the OBJ
legation, but it was simply to protect con-
stitutional Democrats from mnbs, he, at the
moment the thing was exposed fed from
home for dear life, SIS he acknowledges. So
it is with other witnesses brought by the
defenee