Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-08-15
AstOundlng Developments before thC
the United States Grand Jury.
A SECRET SOCIETY OF rRArroRs rs rSDrASA.

shNhEI eOOlEf1 OF TRAITORS ~ INDIANA.
In tic District Court ofMe U,,stod Stafcs for the
District Of Indiana, May Term, 1862.
The Grand Jurors of the United States of
America, within and for the District of Indiana,
empanneled, sworn and charged in said Distric;
at said May term thereof, having about compet-
ed their labors land being now ready 10 adjourn)
feel il their imperative duty to announce in a
respectful manner to this honorable court the
general features Of some startling developments
made during their Investigations. These de-
velopmcnts when considered in connection with
the disturbed condition of the country by reason
of the causeless and atrocious rebellion against
the Constitution and laws of the land, are Deem
ed of the gravest importance and should be
made known, that prompt and efficient measures
may be taken by the civil and military author
tiles to meet and ward off the effect of the wick
ed and reasonable designs of those connected
with such developments
A recent act of Congress made it the duty of
the Grand Jury to inquire into any combna-
tions or conspiracies formed by individuals
within the jurisdiction of the Court to prevent
the execution of any law of the United States.-
Having heard that organizations, with this OBJ
ject in view, existed in certain localities witness
ses were sent for, and brought before the Grand
Jury. These witnesses came from many coun-
ties, and lived in various parts of the State
After careful and diligent examination of the
testimony from witnesses well acquainted with
the facts deposed, and hsving a personal k7,otnl-
edge Of The matters, said Grand Jury are constran-
cd to say that secret and oath bound organiza-
tion exists, numbering some fifteen thousand in
Indiana as estimated by the members of their
order, commonly known as Knights of'he Golden
Ctrc'e and even in the same localities by differ
ent names. Their lodges, or Castles" as they
denoninate them, are located in various parts
of the State, yet they have common signs. grips.
a words, whereby the members are 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 the
day or night time, and above ALL they have a
signal or sign which may be recognized at great
distance from the person giving it. This last
signal We regret TO say, was invented for The use
Of s',ch members MoaId, By meGns of The draft,
or otherwise, be compelIcdto serpe ia tie ranks q
The army. In such case, members of the order
serving in opposite armies receiving the sign,
are reminded of their obligation not to injUre the
member giyingh This signal is given in every
instance upon the initiation of new member,
and its observance is strictly enjoned upon every
individual belonging to the order. By the
teachings of the organization, it is the duty of
its members engaged in the present war, although
arrayed on opposite sides upon the signal being
given, if they shoot at ALL ito shoot ovey each
other" Many members the order examined
and pretend to Justify IL as correct in principle
Said Grand Jury would respectfully submit
that the effect of such obligation is to set aside
the oath taken by every soldier when he enters
the service of the United States. The obliga-
tion imposed by the organization alluded to is
inconsistent with the duties ofa soldier, who in
battle, dare not spare the person of his enemy
We must either dlsarm destroy him, and es-
pecially so long ms the rebel may he seeking to
take the life of the loyal soldier. To do other
wise would be grossly treacherous and Justly
subject the guilty party to a traitors doom.
From the evidence introduced before said
Grand Jury, it would seem that the order called
! the Knights of the Golden Circle had their ori-
gin in some of the Southern States, and was in
trOduced into this State from Kentucky. It's
! primary object, when it originated, was to or
ganize the friends of the institution of African
Slavery in the United States, for the purpose of
acquiring more territory in Mexico and the
Central American States, and also for the ac-
QUESTION of Cuba, thereby to extend and foster n
great slave empire, even though it should dye
those countries in human blood. Hence the var
ious raids made upon those countries which have
called firth, from time to time the proclamations
of our former Presidents, denouncing such at
tempts, and threatening the exercise of the pow
er of the Government TO put them down.
Wicked as these hellish schems were, said Grand
Jury would not have troubled this Honorable
Court WITH this presentment had the machina-
tions of the Knights of the Golden Circle been
confined solely to their original designs Find
ing how useful such organization was for the
purposes originally intended, said Grand Jury
believe that it not only extends at present thro'
every part of the South aud every department
of the rebel army: but during the last winter and
spring was introduced into the State of Indiana
| and other Northern States. Since that time it
has made alarming progress in our midst with
ientirely new features attached to it in view of
the unnatural conflict now desolating our coun-
TRY. Not only the loyal soldiers to be tTodch-
eroaSky betrayed in the bloody hour of battle by
the signals above referred to- but said Grand
Jury have abundant evidence of the member
ship binding Themselves to resis, the payment Of
tic Federal tar and prevoa eltistments in the arm
les of the United States
1t is fact worthy of note and conclusiyely
shown, that in localities where this organization
extensively prevails there has been a failure t.
furnish fair proportion of volunteers. Sale
Il Grand Jury, after a thorough examination OF
that point, have been una63e 10 ti1,d any instance
rhere a member Of said organization had voIun-
teered to fight for the Union under the late req
uisition for volunteers Said Grand Jury were
! informed that an individual Of the Order haG
proposed TO make up q company to be called
"Jayhawkers, composed exclusively of knights
of the Golden Circle" But said Grand Jury
believe that at no time was the proposition SER
iously entertained, but in fact only intended as
cover to hide their reasonable purposes wheT
RI they found they were to he discovered.
The meetings of the Order referred TO arc
holden in by places, sometimes in the woods
and at other times in deserted houses. Itt
members frequently attend phh arms in hei,
RI hands, and in almost every instance armed son.
tinels arc posted TO keep off intruders. Youth:
not moro than sixteen years of age are in many
cases introduced and initiated into its mysteries
The credulous and unwary are often allured in.
to the fold of the Order, upon the pretext that il
was instituted for no other purpose than the
better organization oftheir party. ltsr char
acter and teachings are sedulously concealed uD'
til the oath of secrecy has been in due form ad
mnistered Having taken the first degree, the
initiate is familiarized with the obligations anC
opinions of his associates, aud is gradually pre-
pared for the second degree. When he is further
taught and found apt to learn, and ready t.
adopt its principles and teachings, he is oblgat
ed in the highest degree and is turned out up
on the country a thorough traitor with thu
, wicked purposes already specified. Said GranC
Jury are happy to know that in many cases in
dividuals after their first introduction into tn,
Order, seeing its evil tendencies have abaRdonet
' u, although unwilling, on account of their oh
legations of secresy, and for fear of personal vio
lence are reluctant, to fully expose its treaeher
GUS principles.
Since said Grand Jury began said investiga
ton il has been discovered that the order ex
9 lists among the prisoners of war now in CAM
} Morton, who refuse to testify upon the grount
that it may implioate the members of their or
der in Indiana, and thereby injure the cause o
III. ~