The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-12
X. O.. Q.
AN AUTHENTIC EXPOSITION
OF TIE
origin, Objects, and Secret Work of the
Organization Known az the
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN
CIRCLE.


The loyal people of the United States hav
long been aware of the existence in this countr
and especially in the Southern States of VAR
Gus secret organizations having for their obiec
the Characterization" of some Of our weake
neighbors beyond the Southern limits of our do
main, and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of their leades
and members through the forcibe acquisition o
the territory, and the subverson of the Govern
ments Of the Central American States and Mex
leo. Of this character was the order of tn,
Lone Star, under whose auspices men and mean
were raised for the Lopez raids upon the '- u.
Of Cuba in the year 1850 and sn,rsl America u
s s subsequent r1y ealsshp of the srey
man of ' Jss.i- ,ns William Walker These hos
tile sssIgns upon the territory of our Southern
neighbors having failed, the order fell into dis
repute, and its secrets we're exposed and bur
Iesqued by the "Sons of Malta"
This order of the Lone Star, was branch Of
that now known as the K. G. c., if indeed i,
was not Identical with it. Probably thousands Of
our fellow-citizens, North and South, who were
once familiar with the secret work of the orde,
of the Lone Star, will be able to discern the
old landmarks throughout the exposition con
tanned In these pages. We are assured by an in
telligent gentleman, once a member of this or.
ganization, that in its early history, it had nc
designs hostile to our Government and peon,1,
but that its sole object was the acqpir,..;on Oh
foreign territory by the force Of ~ as, .ne IN
PRODUCTION Of immigrants - sne eoutnetn
States, who should g,,;ros ~ Snu possess the
soil, aud redHa"t them from Tho oou ounui'on OF
saves r the bsyonet. WV
These grand schemes failed for the time and
the surviving members of this band of land nj.
rates soon found work at home.
W the H. G, u. writer in the Nopfipavt. ~
Monthly, for January, 1862, says,
"fhis organization, which was instituted by
John U. Calhoun, William L. Porcher, and 9th.
ers, as far back as 1885, had for its sole object
tue dissolution OF the Union, and the establish.
ment OF Southern Empire--Empire is the
word, not Confederacy or Republic-and it was
solely by means OF its secret, but powerful ma.
chinery, that the Southern States were plunged
into revolution, In defiance of the will of ma
jority OF their voting population. Nearly every
man OF influence at the South, land many pre-
tended Union man at the North, is member
OF this organization, and sworn, under the pen.
atty of assassination, to labor Sin season and out
OF season, by fair means and by foul, at all
times and on all occasions for the accomplish.
ment of its object"
upon what evidence the above statement in
regard to the agency of Messrs Calhoun snd
forcher In the foundation Of this organization
10 made, we know not; but there can be no rea.
sonnble doubt that these men, and their associ
.tes, did resort to secret and powerful means
lor the spread OF their views; and for the in.
ltruction OF the public mind of the South in
those doctrines of dsunion and treason which
they originated Through these means. and
especially By the agency of the K G. c.. "tbe
Southern mind has been educated and tbs
Southern heart fred" persistenty and thor.
'ughly, for long series of years, until the |
ropes of the arch traitors were in part realized
~ the Inauguration of civil war, on the 18th of
April, 1851, by that fatal shot for the South. |
ne nring otthe first gun at Fort Sumter!
cince the commencement of the internal dis |
ensions in the United States, which eliminated |
q the great rebellion of lS6l-2, this treasopa. |
lie organization has acquired Lew strength. and
ecome widely disseminated Throughout. the
'ngth and breadth of our land, embracing
ithln its circle may thousands of disloyal
zen, VINO are secretly conspiring against the
gnts ana liberties of our people. Men of all
rades in society, from the Iordly banker and
erchant, the eloquent statesman and the am.
ltious politician, down 10 the lowest ruffian and
'sassin who infests the purlieus of our cities
. oeheved to be connected with this organi.
'tion; their object being the advancement of [
eif own ENDS, whatever they may be, even at
70 eacrince OF our Government, our rights our
oerties, and even our existence as a great and /
'werfui nation. Indeed, the cardinal object |
TINS conspiracy seems to be the utter destruc. |
'n OF the Great Republic, and the establish.
EMS upon It's ruins Of a military despotism. or e
an ohgarchy, wherein the rich NAV lord il .
er the poor, making the laws which shall il
vern the "mudsills of society,"" and debating a
terms upon which the great mass of the g
oplo OF this broad land shall be permitted to o
st.
There is good reason to believe that the chief n
{ OF the power of the X. G. C. has recently O
N transferred from the Southern States to o.
nada, and that it has powerful allies among T
nobility, bankers and merchants of England Ct
Ving accomplished its great design at the 90
tn, by arousng the people to the fighting III
at, II leaves them in the hands of the miiitarv m
pos, who rule them with rod of iron. Joins I'M
ds With our foreign foes, and seeks. by the &C
est secret means, the overthrow of our lib cit
ec. Our foreign enemies are banded tore. Pr
IN THIS Infamous league, by tens of thou. tn,
le, ara are vigorously at work, night and ser
al Times and all seasons, by fair means An
oy iou, 70 accomplish the fulfillment of is
long cherished hopes, and oft repeated me
icuons OF the doSnfail Of our Republican the
of Government, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT If =
Union, and the utter destruction of This oe
and greatest home OF freedom for the on. a..
led nations of the old world a..
IN Of Americsi Who love your country ed
oil its glorious memories, and all its bright to
'ects of future greatness, whose fathers Of
: shed their blood TO secure to you and to mar
children the blessings of civil and religious akn
y, these are fscts and you shall be con. the
OF them. Your enemies are secretly at toto
IN your very midst and are in conspiracy and
foreign emssaries to deprive you Of the nose
No. which you have ever enjoyed under and
psternsI Government, and for the main. sor
20 Of which you may he compelled vet stro,
70 peril your lives and your fortunes, Are Yell
illing that this hellish conspiracy shall BE- used
~ ~ On una's'urseo un.n the wicked plots