The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-07-23
THE ARMED DEMOCRATIC ORGAN.
uTATNnN

7 lf we may believe, says the Cincinnati Golea,.
the threat made by Vallandigham IN his speech at
the Convention Of traitors st Columbus, thatin case
Il attempted to put down the Democratic party
in Ohio the only ground Of which expectation
seemed to be that more troops were called for to
put down the rebellion ait would be seen who
were armed" and other threats Of n similar char
acierthcrc given out, we may. conclude that the
political organization which held Convention at
Columbus is an armed and disciplined organization
having its ramiicatons Throughout, the State, ana
preparing, or prepared, to carry out by force Of
arms its own ideas and afiinities in this civil war
Symptoms of such a secret organization, in afin-
ity and direct communication with the leaders Of
the rebellion have created general conviction that
the conspiracy commonly called Knights Of the
Golden Circle had an extensive organization in the
Free States. This has been very ostentatously
denied by many who were supposed to be implicat-
ed. with an affecatiun of injured innocence, and
they claimed to have proved the non. existence Of ii
by challenging the conviction of any of its mem
bers in Court Of justice. II is well known by
those who have observed the operations of secret
organizations for dangerous purposes that the var
ious and ever-changing names (the inside name be-
ing always different from that which they speak Of
in pubc) the frequent changes of the ritual, the
various degrees - each unknown to the one below
it, the knowledge of its specific designs aud mode
of operations being limited to few ringleaders in
the highest decree, and all members at their first
initiation sworn to deny even the existence of such
an order, all combine to make 1t difficult to prove
positively its existence AM purposes. And the
challenge to prove any guilty in a court of law
law to make an oflensc of belonging to a secret
ciety, is hardly artrul dodge, but may be regard
ed as a brazen confession and defiance.
What was suspected and quite extensively believ-
ed by the loyal in the Border and some of the Free
States, was that an extensive organization existed
in aiiihation with the leading rebels, and CARRYING
out their purpose, covering up its designs by spe-
cious pretcnses even protesting quasi loyalty to
the Government, both TO shield its reacherous pur
poses and dupe the mass of its followers into at
taching themselves to it under the pretensc that it
was only party reorganization for legitimate pur
poses, with thorough organization that would en-
able the leaders To precpitate the into violence
and with arms ready to strike blow whenever the
situation of the war is such that it may 10 done
with prospect of making the rebellion triumphant
over the Government
Whatever this secret organization might be call
ed was not essential. The name and ritual of such
an order is subject to constant change. The main
features were that ii was organization to resist
the Government in the war, and aid the enemy by
treachery first, and by armed violence, If at ary
time that could be successfully precipitatel After
all the ostcntatious dcnials we have here in the
boldness created by the assembling of these ele-
mentS in convention, stimulated by the convivial
exchanges -, abundant on such occasions, declar
anr that there is organization in this State, pro-
vided with arms, and that the Government will find
it out if it attempts to do certain things to the DEM
ocratic party.
| What can any organization be secretly armed
for at this time except for purposes hostile to the
Government What more charged agains {
the Knights of the Golden Circle, than has here
been admitted of the Democratic organization Ac-
cordiug to its threats it is arm d conspiracy,
openly meuacing the Government and the loyal
people. 1t would be well for the people to look to
this secretly armed organization, which has no
sympathes except for the enemy, and which so
naturally regards itself in hostility to the Gov
ernment in its war. Sufficient warning has been
given by the sentinc and threats of this Con-
vention and other signicntions of the same con-
spiracy, are abundant in the community.