Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-08-26
The Knights Of The Golden Circle--A Secret Society
Of Traitors IN Indiana

At indianapolis the grand jurors Of the
United States district court have just b cen
looking a little into an organization that de-
serves the attention Of al, loyal men, to the
end of its utter extingalshment. From the
yoluminous finding efthis grand jury as to
this secret society Of traitors in Indiana, we
compile the leading points:
Having heard that organizations with
this object in view existed in certain loeali-
ties, witnesses were sent for, and brought
before the grand jury. These witnesses
came from any counties, and lived in va
rious parts Of the State. After a careful
and diigent examination of the testimony
from witnesses wen acquainted with the
facts deposed, ana having personal knowl
edge Of the matters, said grand jury are
constrained to say that a secret and oath
bound organization exists, numbering
$4,000 in Indiana, as estimated by the
members of heir order, commonly known
as Knights of the Golden Circle, and even
in the same localities by different names
Their lodges, or Castles" as they dem
onstrate them, are located in various parts
Of the State, yet they have common signs,
grips, and words whereby the members
are able to distinguish each other, and
pass words to enable the members TO enter
the castle in which he was initiated, or any
otherwhch such member may choose to
visit. They have sigus which they can COM
municate with each other in the day or IN
the night time, and above Ell they have a
signal Or sign which may be recognized at
a great distance from the person giving 1t.
This last signal, we regret to say, WIS IN
vented fof such members as should, by
means Of the ORATOR otherwise, be com
PEELED 70 serve in the ranks Of the army.
In such case members Of the order serving
in opposing armies receiving the sign are
reminded Of their obligation not to iujure
tie member giving it, This signal is CIV
en- III every instance upon the initiation Of
a new member, anu lis observance Is strict
ly enjoined upon every Individual belong
ing 10 the order. By the teachings Of the
organization it is the duty ofits members
engaged in the present waF, although ar
rayed on opposite sides, upon the signal
being given, if they shoot at all, ito shoot
over each other" Many members Of the
order examined before US admit the bind
ing force Of the obligation, and pretend to
Justify it as correct N principle
From the evidence introduced before
said grand jury it would seem that the or
der called knights IF the Golden Circle
had their origin in some Of the Southern
States, and was introduced into this state
from Kentucky. lis primary object, when
il originated, was to organize the friends oil
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 the acquisition
Of Cuba, thereby to extend and foster
great slave empire. even though It should
dye those countries in human b ood.
Finding how useful such an organlza-
,ion was for The purposes originally intend
ed, said grand jury believe that II not only
extends 1T present through every part o.
the Sorth, and every part Of the rebel
army. but during the last winter and
spring was introduced into the State O In
diana and other Northern States. Since
that time it has made alarming progress 10
our midst with entirely new features at
tached to it in view OF the unnatural con-
act now desolating our country. Not
only are the LOYAL soldiers in the army to
be treacherousiy betrayed in the bloody
bour of battle, by the signals before refer
red to, but said grand jury have album
dant evidence Of the mem ershlp binding
themselves to resist the payment OF the
federal tax and prevent enlistments IN the
armies Of the United States.
The meetings Of the order referred to
are holden in By places, sometimes IN the
woods, aud at other times ia deserted
houses. is members fFeqleh'ty attefd
with arms in their hands, aud IN almost
every instance armed sentinels are posted
to keep off intruders.
Youths not more than sixteen years
of aoe ara in many cases introduced and
inflated into its mysteries.
Since said grand jury began said inyes-
tioation. it has been discovered that the
oro.r exists among the prisoners Of war
now in Camp Morton, who refuse to testl-
f.. upon the ground that it may implicate
the members Of their order 10 Indiana, and
thereby injure the cause Of the souiasrn
confederacy.
For the purpose envading any legal lab
ility, in case Of judicial investigation i ap-
pears that their signs are TO be used 70 eia-
blethetn to get members OF their order Oh
the Jury, in case Of criminal charges being
preferred against them, and y change. Of
Venue, and appears from a jiijge who does
not belong to the order. 70 create Judicial
DELAYS, until they can find judge or juror
belonging 10 this order, and thul escape all
legal liability
Said grand jury have no Quit that tie
order of the ..Knightsof The Golden Cir
cIe.n exists ii many localities in Indiana
where their vigilance has not been able to.
penetrate.
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aT Happiness is in Us and not in the