Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-31


be the exposure OF reasonable mutual Pro-
lection" association, which it charged existed in
Indiana, the object of which was sympathy with
the Southern rebellion and the overthrow of the
Federal Government. 1t stated in terms most
positive and unequiyocal that such an order or
association existed, and that the names of its
members were known. We challenged il at the
time it made these wonderful revelations to ex-
pose the "wel known" members Of this treason
able League but it failed to respond. We claimed
that such an exposure was duty it owed to the
public, but it could not appreciate such an
obligation. Ii could not do so for the reason that
its pretended exposure was miserable humbug
which would not for moment bear the light of
investigation. limits issue of yesterday the Jour
nal revives its charge that "secret reasonable
league exists in Indiana and that it has ''indis
putabe evidence of the existence of treason as
cowardly as it is malignant all through the loyal
States" If the Republican organ has any evil
dence to substantiate these charges Of disloyalty
of treason, it should make il known. 1t is crimi-
nal in the highest degree if it fails to do so. What
would be thought of the man who knew that his
4 II
design existed and failed to give the information
that would prevent such disaster and expose
the guilty parties? Would he be less guilty,
morally. than the incendiaryf Such is the posi-
ton which the Journal occupies. 1t Processes to
know that treason most fragrant exists in
our midst, but when called upon to name
the guilty parties to expose the crime. is as dumb
as ass. We quote from the Journal of yes
terday, so that it may be seen We do it no injus
tee:
Those who thought our exposure of the trea-
s0nable Mutual Protection" was humbug, or
frightened fancy Of some over sensitive patriot,
will see now that the evidence is getting strong
and thick and terrible. The Dames of some OF
the League" are well known, and they may find
soon that treason, secret or open, is an unsafe
game to play at
For months the editor of the Journal has ad-
vised his readers and the public that be has been
in possession of information that reasonable
League" has been in existence, in operation,
throughout Indiana and the loyal States, and
that the names of some of its members
are well known, yet that information it with
holds from the public. He can. with the utmost
indifference, see the fuse lighted and burning
which is to fire the magazine that, in its explo-
sion, will destroy life and property, and yet re-
fuse to give the alarm which would prevent the
catastrophy or modify the damage. Can there
be imagined more cold-hearted scoundrel than
one who would occupy such position? And the
man who pretends to have such information, in
fact advertises to the world that he has, is not
whit better than he who knows that the design
exists to fire his neighbours dwelling, yet fails to
give the alarm or information which would pre-
vent its destruction or even injury. Ii the Jour
nal had any evidence whatever that reasonable
''Mutual Protection" league existed in Indiana it
would have given it to the world, but it had none.
The charge was Islander, manufactured out of
whole cloth, made to advance partisan schemes,
and for such motive the Journal became the
slanderer knowingly and wilfully.
Yesterday the Journal reproduces a letter,
copied from the Detroit Tribune, exposing ''trea-
son in Michigan" and which it pronounces a
"genuine document" On Thursday Senator
LATHAM, in the Senate, offered resolution which
had for its object the production of this letter from
the files of the State Department and which it is
said was accidentally intercepted. This ''docu-
ment" duplicates ex- President PIERoE mem
Der of the "league," and states that at its date,
October 9Th, 1861, the "cause is making good
progress" in Indiana Upon such evidence she
Journal reiterates its charge that reasonable
"Mutual Protection" league exists in Indiana
treason as cowardly as it is malignant all
LAX. L. - fhao
dence that it terms "strong and thick and ter
rible" If, as it states "the names of some of the
League are well known" why does not the
editor of that print, as be has often been chal-
lenged to do, give them to the public so that the
treason may be punished? As a loyal citizen If
he is such, it is his duty to make this exposure
We call upon him, as we have repeatedly done, to
give the names of some of the reasonable
"League" which are known to him. Al
though the matter is not worth the space,
for no sensible man in the community can
believe otherwise than the Journals Mutual
Protection League is humbug, and that the
North Branch" Michigan, letter is similar
fraud; but as the Journal has reproduced that
document as evidence TO sustain its charge
that reasonable associations were and are in ex-
istence in Indiana and call through the loyal
States" we copy the following article from the
Detroit Free Press, which most convincIngy
proves it to be fabrication-a fraud-and that il
was gotten up, like the pretended exposure of the
NJ. P.'s by the Journal, for the most infamous
purposes:
The NORTH BRANCH LETrER-Irs GENUINE.
SEss-Although we have in our former articles
given sufficient evidence to satisfy every candid
person that the North Branch letter is not genu
inc. will here add further evidence, which will
leave those who hoped TO use it for base purposes
not single plank to stand upon
When the senior editor of the Free Press
handed the letter to Mr.. Howard, he suggested "a
him that there were some points in it by which
its commences could be tested; for instance the
letter commences by saying:
"DEAR AND HoSoRED SRI write TO inform
you that the C-s. the signatures of the s.
of s., &c, attached, with number of Skel
eton Pts, win be found at the house of R.
l., W, g. W., Windsor Canada West,) BY
the 9th inst"
Now, it was easy to ascertain whether there wa:
any living in the small town of Windsor
whose name would answer TO the initials R.
l.. A person was sent over to Windsor
and. after persevering inquiries, reported thai
there was no one residing there whose name an
swered to those initials
Again. the letter says:
Ply of the L G. D-t League Club
Detroit,) sent line TO DIR. F., (by H., th,
Mormon Elder.) who, as you perhaps know, il
just across the line from Port H Port Hu
ROM"
OF course il was enough to ascertain whethe
there was Mormon Elder living just across thu
line from Port Huron, and If So whether his ma M