Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-08-14
H.. 1862.

at no tS tne was stf tfo 15rs proposition seriously
entertained. but III fact only intended as a
cover to ihides their reasonable purposes
'Nlenstl'cy found they were about tosbe dis
coyefcd1s z laaI .aoiic.Fno sitasoou-.'l ~
The meetings Of the Order referred to-
are holden in BY places, sometimes in the
woods, and at other times in deserted hou-
ses.s Its members frequently attend ,cifh
epas IN their taads.s and in, .almosteevery
instance qrmed ssntipels are posted to keep
off intruders.. otiths not more that six
teen years ofage arc in many cases intro
diced and initiated into its mysteries. -
The .creduloss. and unwsrys ara often. .allur-'
ed into the. fold Of ths Order, upon the
pretext that it was instituted for no other
purpose than the better organization OF
their party. lis real character ard teach
ings are sedulously concealed until the oath
Of secresy has been in due form admins
tered. Having taken the first degree. the
initiate is familarizcd with the obligations
and opinions Of his associates, and is grad
ually prepared for the second degree.
When rho is .forthef taught and found apt
10 learn. and ready. to- adopt its:principles
and teachings, he is isobligated in the high
est degree, and is turned out upon the
country thorough traitor, with the wick
Fedpurposes already specified. Said Grand
jury are happy to know that in many
cases individuals. after their first ,introduc-
ton into the Order, seeing its evil tendcn-
cies, hare abandoned II. although unwilling,
on account of their obligations of secrcsy,
and for fear of personal violence are re-
luctant. to fully expose its treacherous
principles. :. -. i, =
Since said Grand Jury began said inves-
tigation. it has bccn'discoverej that the or
der stsudnaong tie prisoners of pa,s non
in Camp Morton. cto refuse 10 testify upon
he grouQdM Mat II may implicafe fhf members
Of tier order an Iadianq, and thereby inlure
tie cause Of he Soatkera Confederacy.
For the purpose of evading any legal H.
ability, in case iof. judicial investigation, j,
aprears that their signs are to be used to en-
able hem 10 get paemJers oftle, order on The
jury, in case Of criminal charges preferred
against them, andby changes of venue. and
appeals from sijn,lge who does not belong
to the order, to create Judicial delays, un-
til they can find Judge OF, Juror belonging
to this srdsrs and thus escape all Llegsl La
bility. SsnsErs -
Said Grand Jury have no doubt tha,
! the order of the tsIlnighfs of the Golden
Circle" exists in many localities in Indi-
ana where their vigilance has not been a.
bic TO penetrate. They have laborcd under
many difficuIties in their researches. and
nave ffrsrrn eoiacnce ia hosf Of cases. from
unwiiiiag wtfnessss, = Judicials oaths have
but little binding force where individuals
once consent to abandon the nllegianc,
they owe their country. The general facts
however, so far as they ha ve come to the
knowledge Of the said Grand Jury, hay,
been submitted to this honorable Court
They feelit their duty to DO So Tho safef,
Of the country in this hour. Of peril anC
civil strife demands il at their hands,
The power Of such an organization to dc
harm. acting as one man, with one pur
pose in view, with their influence, may be
appreciated by the honorable Court. Il
lis the place where treason is concocted-
the nest where traitors are hatched.
I The Grand Jury, therefore, respectfully
ask this Court that this their presentmen
may be spread upon the records. &.
William P. Fislback, Foreman, Charlie
II. Test, George Moon, VIM. a. Mont
gomery. James Blake, T. d. McCarty
Dan'l Sigler. Leonidas Sexton, Ben. G
Stout, James Hill. Daniel Sagre, III. d
Scott Robt. Parrett, Fred. s. Brown.