Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-14
3elmumt Chronicle.
Astounding Developments be-
fore the U. y. Grand Jury.
A SECRET SOCIETY OF TRAI-
TORS In INDIANA.


far the District of Lndidna, Moy Term, 1862.
The Grand Jurors Of the United States
of America, within and for the District Of
Indiana, empanneled, sworn and charged in
said District at said May term thereof, hav
ing about completed their labors land being
now ready to adjourn) feel it their impera-
tive duty to announce in respectful man
Ber to this honorable court the general iea-
lures of some startling developments made
during their investigations. These develop
ncnts when considered in connection with
the disturbed condition of the country by
reasons of the causeless and atroclous rebel
lion against tho Constitution and laws OF
the land, are deemed of the grayest impor-
tance and should be made known, that
prompt and efficient measures may be taken
by the civil and military authorizes to meet
and ward off tho effect of the wicked and
troasonable designs, of those connected with
such developments:
a recent act of Congress made it the du-
ty Of the Grand Jury to inquire into any
combinations or conspiracies formed by IN
diyiduals within the jurisdiction OF the
Court TO prevent the execution of any law
of the United States. Having heard that
organizations, with this object in view, exis-
ted in certain localities witnesses were sent
for, and brought before the Grand jury
These witnesses came from many counties,
and Lived in various parts of the State.
After a careful and diligent examination ef
go testimony from witnesses well acqualn-
ted with the facts dcposed, and harin0 a
,,crsoi,el knocledge of the matter said Grand
Jury are constrained to say that a secret
and oath. bound organization exists, mum
bering some fifteen thousand in Indiana, as
estimated by the members Of their order,
commonly known as Knights Of The Golden
Circle, and even in the same localities by
different names. Their lodgcs,or Castles" "
Us thoy denominate them, are located in
various parts of the State, yet they have
common signs, grirs, and words, whereby
the members arc able to distinguish each
other, and passwords to enable the member
to enter the castle in which he was initiated,
or any other which such member may
choose to visit. They have signals by. which
they can communicate with each other in
tho day or the night time, and above all,
thcy have signal or sign which may be re-
cognized at great distance from the person
giving it. This last signal, VIC regret to say
was invented for the use Of such members as
should, by means Of he draf, or other'oise,
be cop,pelied to serce III die ranks of the arDty.
In such case, members Of the order serving
in opposing armies, receiving the sign, arc
reminded Of their obligation not to injuTe The
member giri,ig t. This signal is given in
every instance upon the initiation OF n new
member, and its observance is strictly en-
Joined upon every individual belonging t.
the order. BY the teachings Of the organi
zation. it is the duty Of its members cngag
ed in the present war, although, arraycd OF
opposite sides, upon the signal being given
If they shoot at all, "tO shoot Our epch 9th
l,ara nf tha prIsr sy m N
ed before US adnH the Jnling Jo,ce ofh
obligation, and pretend to justify IL as cor
rect in principle
Said Grand Jury would respectfully sub
nit that tho effect OF such obligation is Il
set aside the oath taken by every soldie
when he enters tho service of the Unite,
States. The obligation imposed by the or
Capization alluded to is inconsistent with tn
duties of n soldier, who in battle, dare no
spare the person Of his enemy. Wo mus
either dsarm or destroy him, and espe
cially so long az the rebel may be seeking :
take the life Of the loyal soldier. To d
otherwise would DO grossly treacherous, an
justly subject the guilty party to a traitor
doom.
From the evidence introduced before SAT-
Grand Jury, it would seem that the orde
called the knights Of the Golden Circl
nuu IuclT OTlglU III rDUiC VI luC
States, and was introduced into this Stat
from Kentucky. Its primary object, whe
it originated, was to organize the friends
the institution OF African Slavery in tn
United States, foi tho purpose of acquirin
more territory in Mexico and the Centri
American States, and also for the acquis
tion Of Cuba, thereby to extend and foste
great slave empire, oven though it sho III
dye those countriesin human blood. Henc
tho various raids made upon those cour
tries, which have called forth, from time /
time, the proclamations ofour former Pres
dents, denouncing such attempts, and threa
ening tho exercise of the power of tho Go,
crnmcnt to put them down. Wicked O
these hcllish schemes were, said Gran
jury would not have troubled this Honoi
able Court with this presentment had tn
Vaccinations of tho Knights of tho Golde
Circle been confined solely to their origini
designs. Finding how useful such an o
intended, said Grand Jury believe that
not only extends at present through ever
part Of the South, and every department
the rebel army. but during the last wintt
and spring was introduced into tho State {
Indiana and other Northern States. Sinc
that time it has made alarming progress
our midst with entirely now features a
tached to it in view of the unnatural confi
now desolating our country. Not only a
tho loyal soldiers IN hte army 10 be treac
ero,.sly betrayed in the bloody hour of ba
tle, by the signals before referred to, b
said Grand jury have abundant evidence
tho membership binding themselves to res
tie payment of The Federal tan and preve
ealistmeats in tho armies Of tho Unit,
States.
II il fi,ct worthy of note, and concl
sively shown, that in localities where this c
ganization extensively prevails there h
been failure to furnish fair proportion
volunteers. Said Grand Jury, after
thorough examination on that point, ha
been unable 10 yfnd any instance ,cheye
member Of said organization had rolunteer
to fight for the Union under the late reaui
ton for volunteers. Said Grand Jury We
informed that IN individual of the Ord
had proposed to make up company To
called "Jayhawkers. composed exclusiy,
of knights Of the Golden Circle" h
said Grand Jury believe that at no tin
was tie proposition seriously entertaine
hut in fact only intended M n covar 10 l.;