The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-08-15

Ere n the Indiana Journal
The REASONABLE AssOciasiOn a In In.
diana,
/ For the comfort of the Sentinel. which
entered its appearance as attorney for the
secret society of traitors presented by the
United States Grand Jury, with an alacrity
That has, no doubt. earned it thanks. ii
nothing more substantial. from its clients,
and which suggested a stronger sympathy
with them than is usual in the ordinary re
is'ion of lawyer and client, We copy from
the Louisville Democrat the following notice
OF the 2resentment OF the Jury:
''It is not worth while to deny that there
is secret organization in Indiana which is
reasonable in its purposes. We know
personally. some of the Grand Jury who
lately indicted number for treason, and
who make general report, and we don't
believe they ars men to SEQ witches, when
there are no witches there. We don't see
what interest loyal me. hare in deaying the
ex'stsnce of such an organization, further
than TO keep secesh news from the rebels.
II is the duty OF any party to aid in finding
out such an organisation, and Qunishing z the
members Of It, Great zeal tHfenying
paHiating such charges is rather suspicious.
We presume the members are a trif1ing tsc-
ton. not at all dangerous, after it is expos
ed. II is especially the duty of the Demo
cratic party 10 shun the touch of secret
oath bound association. even if it's purpo-
ses were less innocent than this appears to
be.
We have been informed by some. who
profess 10 know, that thousands joined these
knights of the Golden Circle. several years
ago. being assured that it WAS designed to
colonize. peacefully. some parts Of Mexico,
and with the assent of the authorities of
that country. Becoming suspicious OF i'll
designs on the part OF the leaders, the mass
of the members have Withdrawn from the
organization in this latitude.
1t may be that what is found in Indiana
is bat the debris Of an old organization. and
that few are trying 10 use it for reasonable
purposes. Be this IS it may. it is the duty
OF all good citizens to expose and punish
the guilty in this matter. Surely no good
citizen should be disposed to hndera full
investigation. or make any excuses or ap-
ologies for the guilty"
The Democrats opinion Of the strength
of the order is no doubt correct. At least
it is much more reasonable to suppose that
the reasonable element is confined to the
active, daring leaders. than to suppose it
spread all through the numerous member
snip. This was our opinion. and We so sta
ted it. at the time the Grand Jury's present
ment appeared. Exposure, and the hostili-
ty of the whole community, except the few
who, like the Sentiael, denoance those who
have exposed the order. will put speedy
end to the evil. 1t is powerful yet. and
it will stay SO il the leading organs of a
sail it, deuouncing those who have done
mn oh fn hya k do hut hat
speedily fade and leave the viilaiuou. lead
ers the mere husk Of An association with
which they can neither arm 10y men nor
protect themselves from deserved punish.
ment. if the people will unite in detecting
or putting under ban every man concerned
in il. We commend TO the Sentinel the re-
mark of the Dem ocrdt, that "zesl IN DENY
ing or palliating he existence of the order
is suspicious" 1t IS suspicious, and sus-
picions excited by such conduct are not
likely TO go wide OF the mark. There are
more reasons, too, than its zeal in assailinp
he Grand Jury. aud its earnee. ness in de.
claring the Grand Jury "humbugged," for
believing that its prompt appearance as at
torney for the order was not by any means
= disinterested effort for constitutional liber.
tv." We may allude to them some Of these
days.
The Louisville Journal copies the pre-
sentiment Of the Jury. with a summary of
our comments on il, and adds:
''We have on many previous occasions
given our reasons for believing in the exis-
ence of this order. and have developed its
objects; but il is useless now for papers like
the Cincinnati Enquirer aud the Indianapo-
lis Sentinel to attempt to sneer down the ac
ion of a Federal Grand Jury. which has
brought bills of indictment against the con-
spirators for crimes which. If undetected
and UNPUBLISHED, will sap the foundation of
our Government and reduce this Republic
to ruins. Newspapers which claim to be
loyal must assist the loyal Teople in arrest
ing the further progress of these dark and
dangerous plots. Whoever attempts to
shield them. becomes the dccompLice of their
treason. and will assuredly be brought to
punishment. as there is loyalty enough re.
in the country to enforce the laws.
We hope that the action of the Indiana ju.
ry will be followed up by juries in other ju-
dicial districts. No vigilance must be left
to find out and put down a Sc
cret association which is as full Of the rsnkest
treason the most vindictive rebel regiment
in the Southern Confederacy."
These papers have fels the operations of
the "K G. c. too sensibly, in the distrac-
ted condition OF their State, aud the deser.
ton and treason OF thousands of their best
young men, TO look with Indifference on any
proof Of its existence here. They know
what it is, and how fsarfuIly real its exist.
snce is, and they have no patience with the
stupidity or treason that defends the order
or denies its existence.
eS In Philadelphia the long string Of
men ard boys at the Mint is novel sight.
The rnsh Is far nannies Hhich fha Msnf