Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-07-12
lrrom the Oregonian of June 2sth.]
Knights of the Golden Circle in Congress


This subject came up the Senate recently,
on the suggestion of Mr.. Latham, Of Califor.
MIA, who read from the Boston Journal the fol-
lowing article:
Rcsolrcd, That the Secretary of State be
directed to transmit to this body copies of any
correspondence which may have taken place
between Hon. William II. Seward, Secretary
of the State, and Hon. Franklin Pierce, ex-
President of the United States, having refer
ence to supposed conspiracy against the Gov.
ernment, and all other papers relating to the
same.
Before the adoption Of the resolution, Sena-
tor Chandler said:
"a copy OF that letter was furnished by me
to the State Department. think as early as
November last, and it has been in my hands
since the 9TH or Sth day of October. should
desire to read to the Senate the whole of the
letter, of which that is an extract, but it is at
my room, and have not got it with inc at this
time. The organization was most reasonable
and infamous; it was wide spread and it
received the attention of the State Depart
ment, as think it should havo DONE The
kins-was on his way to accept commission
in the Federal army when he was arrested and
sent to Fort Lafayette. About that time the
Knights of the Golden Circle as l was in
formed and believe, came to the resolution
that they would be more patriotic than any
body else; that they would rush into the
Federal army; that they would put men, if
possible, into every regiment Of the Federal
army; and, to my certain knowledge. they
did succeed in getting large number Of the
worst traitors in tho United States into the
Federal army; and there they are now.
This man Hopkins, acknowledged the writ
ing of the letter, hut undertook to call it a
joke Well, sir, it was pretty serious joke
1 have perhaps more information than it is
necessary for ne to divnlge at this time in
reference to the matter"
Senator Howard made remarks to tho same
purpose and suggested that the resolution be
so extended Gas to require the production Of
"any written or printed document in the pos
"scssion of til. executive department Of this
"Govcrnmcnt relating to the organization and
"plrposcs of secret combination known
commonly US the knights of the Golden Cir.
"clc." The prospect is favorable now for
some further developments in reference to this
traito,Uus organization. 1t even appears that
ex- President Pierce. although he now repels
the imputation oi sympathy with the "K. G.
C.'s," has been implicated and been compelled
to clear his skirts by a correspondence with
the State Department. That correspondence
will be- published. But whether ex-President
Pierce is a member of the order or not, there
is no longer a doubt in regard to the discov-
cries and disclosures relative to the conspira-
cv. "Dr. Hopkins" has been detected; he
confesses that he wrote the letter that has
created SO much sensation; and other evid-
ences of the character and extent Of the con-
spracy are in the hands Of the Government.
Some of the conspirators have been arrested
and others who now believe themselves un-
discovered and secure against detection, may
suddenly find themselves in trouble. More il
known Of some of them than they may deem
it possible, as they may Mt length discover.
The publication Of the correspondence called
for in the Senate will undoubtedly create a
discussion which will place before the
public generally all the facts touching the
.Knights of tho Golden Circle" that have
caused so much excitement in the loyal
States.
This conspiracy is an undeniablc fact. 1t
accounts for much that is vicious in the tono
of certain newspapers and politicians in the
free States, and for the singular persistency
with which they agitatc the slavery question,
in order to secure political organization de.
voted to the institution of slavery. and thor
oughly animated by the views and feelings Of
the slavery extremists. If the fact were not
before Ms, it would not be easy to believe that
any class of men in the loyal States could 80
triac with the welfare Of tho country as to
pursue such purpose, especially at the present
time aud those engaged in this malignant
course Of conduct would not have the rcsolu-
tion to pursue il 80 steadily, if they werr not
conscious Of acting in concert with others.
like themselves. who arc scattered all about
the country. Certain newspapers in the free
States ARE either edited by members Of the ne
cret order. or by their friends. Its secret
agents communicate with them, stimulate
their zeal. sharpen their resolution, and iufuse
new vchcmence into their speech.
That wc have mn organized band Of these
Knights in Oregon and Washington Terrific
~, there is no question. They we're seen in
Oregon. at the late clrction, about the polls.
distributing tickets. challenging Union votes.
and wherever they had managed to secure
sca,s as Judges. they invariably threw out ev-
crv Union vote which il Was possible tor them
to dn.
On Saturday. some Golden Knigl,tism eamc
out prominently. ~ We learn. at Vsncoaver.
There some shccp-hcad-d young men. have
got mp the project Of carrying the Clarke
coaniy el. e,ion on the " Unioa Cxess." They
have not learned vest deal a wisdom in the
result of the late election in our State. They
seem disposed to try the same cheat which
was started At Corvallis. But the Knights
and other sccsssiouisss were not daily in