Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-09

| the membership LhHuillS thctioNA'N9 " 5000
the payaeaf Of the federal tar GHd pfereHt
| e,Jjsj,Je0ts in the armies of the United States
1t is a fact worthy of note, and concluslyely
shown. that IN localities where this organiza-
ton extensively prevails there has been
failure to furnish fair proportion of volun-
teers. Said grand jury, after a thorough eX-
animation on that point, have been unable to
| find any instance where member of said or
! ganzation had volunteered to fight for the
| Union under the late requisition for volun-
| teers. Said grand jury were informed that
an individual of the order had proposed to
make up company, to be called ''Jayhaw-
kers," composed exclusively of ''Knights of
the Golden Circle" But said grand jury be-
lieve that at no time was the proposition Sc
riously entertained, but in fact only intended
as a cover to hide their reasonable purposes,
when they found they were about to be dis
covered.
The meetings of the order referred to are
holden in by places, sometimes in the woods,
and at other times in deserted houses. Its
members frequently attend lciH arms an their
hands, and in almost every instance armed
sentiHels are posted to keep off intruders.
Youths not more than sixteen years of age are
in many cases introduced and initiated into its
mysteries. The credulous and unwary are
often allured into the fold of the order, upon
no other purpose than the better organization
of their party. Its real character and teach
| ings are sedulOusly concealed until the oath
of secresy has been in due form administered.
| Having taken the first degree, the initiate is
| famiharzed with the obligations and opinions
of his associates, and is gradually prepared
for the second degree. When he is further
taught, and found apt to learn and ready to
adopt its principles and teachings, he is obli-
gated in he,highest degree and is turned out
upon the country a thorough traitor, with the
wicked purposes already specified. Said grand
jury are happy to know that in many cases in
dividuals after their first introduction into the
order, seeing its evil tendencies, hare ADAM
doned 1t, although unwilling, IN account of
their obligations of secresy, and for fear of
personal violence, are reluctant to fully eX-
pose its treacherous principles
Since said grand jury began said investiga-
tion it has been discovered that the order er-
lists among the prisoners Of lcGT nor IN camp
Norton, loh0 refuse to testify, upon the ground
| that al mdlrimpticate the members of their
order IN Indiana, and thereby iRju5e the
southern confederacy. For the purpose of
evading any legal liability, in case of Judicial
| investigation, it appears that their signs are
to be used to enable them to gel members of
| their order on the ju2'y, in case of criminal
N4 SIS bSlhS pINlNlISu dlliSI lIlcili, anu ny
| changes of venue, and appeals from Judge
who does not belong to the order, to create
judicial delays, until they can find judge or
Juror belonging to this order, and thus es-
cape all legal liability.
SAID grand jury have no doubt that the
order of the ''knights Of the Golden Circle"
exists IN many localities in Indiana where
their vigilance has not been able to penetrate
They have labored under many difficulties in
their researches, and have dram egideHce IN
most Of the cases from uHwtling witnesses.
Judicial oaths have but little binding force
where individuals once consent to abandon
the allegiance they owe to their country.
The general facts, however, so far as they
have come to the knowledge of the said grand
jury, have been submitted to this honorable
court They feel it their duty to do so. The
safety OF the country in this hour Of peril and
civil strife demands it at their hands. The
power of such an organization to do harm,
acting as one man, with one purpose in view,
with their influence, may be appreciated by
the honorable court. 1t is the place where
treason is concocted-the nest where traitors
are Matched.
The grand jury, therefore, respectfully ask
this court that this their prescntment may be
spread upon the records.
WILLIAM p. FIsHBAcK, Foreman
CHARLES II. TEST, BEN &. STOUT,
GEORGE Moon, JAMES HILL
WIN. A. MONTGOMERY, DANIEL SAGRE,
JAMES BLAKE, Ii. ID. SCOTT,
T. b. MCCARTY. RoBT. JARRETT,
DANIEL SIGLER, FRED. 5. BROWN.
LEONIDAs SEXTON,
TREAsoNABLE ORGANIZATION IN INDIANA.
From the indianapolis journal, Aug. 4-Editorial.
We need not ask the attention of the reader
to the astounding revelation made by the U.
S., Grand Jury for this District, which APP
pears i'll another column, for it will compel
attention. Nothing so seriously affecting
the safely of the government has been devel-
oped since the outbreak of the rebellion
Nothing so alarming has occurred since the
first defeat of our army before Washington
A secret association in Indiana of II, 900 men
sworn to resist Federal taxation and military
enlistments, prepared by signs to recognize
and assist each other, and to recognize and
protect members of similar organizations
even in the Rebel army, meeting with arms
in their hands and under the protection of
armed sentinels, so connected with the rebel
prisoners in this State that the latter refuses
to testify before the jury against them,
and armed with precautions against le-
| gal proceedings or convictions, is a fact
| to startle the nation. SO gigantic a con-
spiracy is second only to the rebellion of
! which it is an offshoOt. But startling as it
is, the fact of its discovery is a protection
against the peril The people will take care
| OF such an association when once known to
| exist Secret political societies cannot live i'll
! this country in time of peace, much less in
| time of war, when secrecy necessarily be-
comes treason. We have long known, and
tried to warn the public, of the existence of
| this band of traitors, and their deluded associ-
ateS, but the fact seemed too mOnstrous for
belief, and though some local excitement was
| ,t,lI .l,t, l,.