, 1862-07-03
The Constitutional Con.
vention.
Knights CT the Golden Circle,
LETTER FROM A MEMBER Of THE
CONVENTION.


Editors Chicago Tribune:
Since the adjournment of the constitutional
convention, I hive been asked BY more than
one person If I believed in the statement made
BY your correspondent at Springfield, Mr. Jos.
z. G. Forrest, that there were number Of
Knights Of the Golden Circle in that body.
Upon my emphaticaly declaring, as member
Of the convention that did, the announce
ment sometimes appeared to surprise the
querist. And having since heard that it was
stated IN public meeting In your city thnt
the charge, as made, was entirely without
foundation. I think it proper that the public
should be made acquainted with all the facts
In the case, 80 far as they have come to nv
knowledge.
But before touching Immediately upon the
statement Of your correspondent-thati it was
rnmored there vas large number Of Knights
OF the Golden Circle in the conventional is
proper to state that great deal had transpired
at Springfield previous to the aboye an
nouncement, to prepare the public mind for
it, and thus pave the way for its being accent
ed with ayiditg By the people Of the State.
Allow me to note few Of these facts cor
tobo1atiye Of the charge.
In the first place, previous to the assemb-
ling of the convcation, the subject Of 1egi5-
]atiDg the governor and State officers out Of
Office, By ordinance, was freely discussed in
Springfield, and pretty generally advocated
by the Democratic street politicians, il not
by the leaders. A systematic attempt was
evidently being made to create public
opinion favorable to such movement, The
Governor WIS denounced; bis acts were mis-
represented; bis efforts to procure supplies
for our soldiers derided, and charges OF fraud
and pecu1ation freely banded about from
mouth to mouth.
Upon the assembling of the convention,
On the contrary the assaults continued with
redoubled force and intensity. Messrs. Went
worth, Ficklin, Edwards Of Sangamon, Allen
Of Williamson, Starne, O. O'MelVeney and others
were particularly prominent in their reck-
less assaults upon the State officers. Ben.
stated that they (the conyention) had full
power to remove the governor and State Off
Gers by ordinance, create provisional govern
ment and continue the session Of the conven~
ton en- 1oernaane'see. The Times OF this city
contained an abominably false attack upon
Governor Yates, which had been previously
prepared at Springfield In fine, no stone
was left unturned to pave the way for carry
ing into effect the acts Of which all these at
tacks were but the prelude. Thanks, how
ever, te the integrity Of the governor and
State officers, all these assaults were parted
and only returned upon the heads Of those
Who made them. The governor and State
officers came out not only scathless but
triumphant, and consequently no possible
pIetext could q. BE- found for appoi ating PRO-
would act in the interest OF the majority that
controlled the Democratic CAUCUS.
But this was not all, Direct attacks were
also made upon the national administration
| Wentworth openly and roundly denounced it,
He predicted its overthrow By the people;
said that Lincoln when elected had large
| majority in the State, but that now be had but
| fifteen CT twenty Republican members and
! supporters Of his administration, all: told, in
| that convention. Said he, "Was there ever be-
ton By the peopls?' aud much more to tie
| same effect. Ia fact he formally proclaimed
| that he had deserted Lincoln and lis sinking
| fortunes, and returned to his first love, the
grand old rarty Of Pierce and Buchanan
Again, James W. Sheahan, ESQ, of the Chicago
| It@, WIS candidate fo7 secretary to the con
vention.- He was defeated in the Democratic
| caucus BY anti-war mems votes; and il was
freely Stated in the streets that he was slaugh-
tered because lie had supported the admins
tration nd the war. Some Of the delegates
| from Cook county SO said on several occasions,
among them those who have since So em phat:
ical1y denied that there was single secession
ist in the convention. have heard one Of the
Cook county delegates say that it IVES impos,
sIble TO elect Union man to an Odlcc ia the
convention.
Members Of the convention had also beer
denounced, at the time of and previous te
their election, as secessionists, by officers il
the army Of the rank Of hrlgadieE general
colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain auG
lieutenant. One leading man Ia the conveu
ton was SO denounced to bis OWN by face oue
Of the most gallant officers in tue army.
Resolutions were also introduced into tht
convention at various times, evidently destined
to screen the traitors to the country from
I 3tE iC NH t1I1
corpus resolutions, which he tried to fore,
upon the convention by cracking the party
lash over members backs. The proposition
TO make treasury notes legal tender VA!
legalize secession. Then came the refusal tt
entertain Anthony's resolutions Of aonsratpla
tion on the Fort Henry victory; their refer
cnce to g committee VINO rooted all tn
spirit cut of them, and finally, when the,
were on liz passage, and while the roll WAS be
ing called, the withdrawal Of some dozen o
fifteen members from the heart Of Egypt, from
TIE hall, sooner than record their votes, o.
this occasion one Of the leading Democrats o.
the committee Of < G. c. Investigation dc
, some grounds for suspicion of the loyalty Of
portion Of the members Of the Convention.
But it wire impossible to enumerate all til
acts Of treason, and notice all the treasonabl
harangues Of the convention. But they ar
fresh in the memory Of the people Of til
Officers from the army, from the souther
, part Of the State were also continually char5
ing publicly in Springfield that there were
number Of secessionlsts in the conyentio
from the southern part Of the State. a We
Known Colonel of Illinois volunteers said b
could name dozen that he knew were men
bcrs OF the Z. G. G. He made this stateme1
, | to several members Of the convention, and s
: impressed were soule Of the Douglas D a1nc
: Gratis with it, and SO convinced were the
1 | f1& N.Y10nrQffn tuaC r1n1o
l control OF these mcn that they went home an
: opposed the constitution to the bitter end.
SO stood matters when the statement {
l JouF correspondent appeared, And nov l.
Me examine into the grounds for this stat,
= = ment, as they are set forth in the eyidenc
: taken By the committee, and sworn to undt
! oath.
Your correspondent, learn, certified q 70
Z lows:
+ &c casually met United States detcctiy
l officer At bis hotel. Unsolicited on his par
I the dctect1vc, whom be had previously kno T
hy reputation at least, informed hun that the1
we're a nu1ubcr Of Z. G. C.'s in the CONVEX
3 ton, almost, if not quite, majority. Yo1
c csnesl onde ut asked 1or the names. The Of
q Ger said he had not the list with iiR; that
e vas ut the o1lice-meaning United States Ma
C slals Office. q day or two afterwards, yo1
!, correspondent showed the detective list
: the members Of the convention, and in TIL
4 list The detective marked come twenty {
l
u were members Of tie E. G. G. He T
!, requested your correspondent to take this Ii
It | t. The United States Marshal's Office, and
that et1lce the list WIS corrected By anotht
e officer. Your correspondent Was asked vi
s 2Aye 1t 10 him, but he refused to say. II
y officer then remarked: I suppose you g
IL it from one of our men around to#n?' !
II this your correspondent assented. Au of1lc
q then showed your correspondent letters fro1
IS various detective officers. He had q large pi
&C ol them. One Of the letters was read to hll
and it charged that certain member was a
6. e. in good Standing. Others were charg,
By detectives, who had penetrated the lodgt
With bsi,sg members, &c. 1t vas also stat
t. to ycur correspondent tnat the Uni.ed Stat
o. Marshal beld i certain document, like t.
t, Of another member On the street it was al
:, freely rumored that the Marsha! had warrau
It. for the arrest Of some ten or twelve membt
At of the convention.
IN a Democratic member OF the convention
ID oath before the committee, stated that tls
d. Has no doubt OF the existence OF Z. G. c. {
of eietes IN the southern part Of the State ;,t1
Te he lad attended many OF their meetings for t
,h purpose Of opposing them; that the ineetin
as were held publicly, in the open air, so far
r, ! tie speaking was concerned, but at the Gle
II enclosed space, q pen, where the Initiation 4
il conducted.
ct \ gentleman Of Chicago stated at Spsingdt
a and In Chicago to several persons, that one
ii the leading Democrats In the convention ii
en- bin that s majority Of the delegates vera
bv ceEefoniEts. Another leading Democrat t.
r. / hin that he knew orbut twelve.
u 4 leading Democrat stated publicly that
ur had been refused admission to the democra