The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-09-25
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

plottors, By the Marshal of the United
States, was in consequence of information
obtained from reports Of number OF cit
liens, confirmed by afiidavts Of which the
substance is to the following purport,-as
we gather from the report published at
considerable length in the Register.
The asfIints. who arc loyal Democrats,
state that they were initiated into Lodges
of the Golden Circle in that county, un.
der the prctence that they we're secret or
CARNATIONS Tor the promotion Of the sue
cess Of the Democratic party. After
learning their true character, the atlantis
were alarmed and shocked, and feeling
that patriotism and duty demanded OF
them the exposure of this reasonable con-
spiracy against the country.
Alta meeting of the Lodge at hcComb's
School House, . resolution was adopted
pledging the members 10 resist the collec-
ton OF the Federal war tax and the draft
Joseph X. Evans, of Winterset, was
present at. said meeting of the lodge and
made speech in favor of the resolution,
in which be said that similar resolution
had passed IN nearly oil the lodges in the
county, and that they generally passed
unanimously. :"
/ have frequently. been informed by
members of the order, that members from
Missouri sometime attended that il has
been upderstoed among the members that
they should supply themselves with pow,
der and ammunition ; that VIM Evans came
sometimes to Des Moines for ammuni-
| tion for the members; said he could get
it. but it was not everybody who could ;
that majority Of the members have arms
and more o. less ammunition. And /
further depose and say that Joseph K.
Evans said in his speech at Combs School
House, to which have alluded above,
that he believed the war would continue
until the whole Mississippi Valley would
belong to tho South, and that if tho war
should turn out that way, the members OF
the order would be benefited BY their con-
nection with it, and that he would be very
we'll satisfied with the arrangement.
And further depose and say that Jo-
sepb X. Evans, in his speech at Comb s
School House. to which | have alluded
above, said that there were eight hundred
members Of Il order in Madison county,
that there are lodges all over the North.
ern States - that some member asked
where the order started, and he answered
that it started somewhere in the South.
= Aud further depose and
say, that | am aud always have been a
Democrat; that l was induced to join
said order for tho purpose of advancing
the Democratic cause, and without any
knowledge rs to its reasonable tenden-
cies; that / do not approve Of its treason
able practices and purposes, and for that
reason make these disclosures, believing
that my obligations to my country are
stronger than those to an organization Of
traitors And / further say that have
been informed and believe that many
Others have been invcigled into it, be-
\ D
unpatriotic.
| The disclosures made in this affidavit
are substantially stated in two other afi-
darits, one of which was made by a Dem
ocrat, and of neither OF which this afhsn.
had any knowledge. In addition to thi
evidence the Marshal has many letters
and communications from reliable men,
many of them Democrats, stating facts
which confirm the afidavits. In many
particulars the evidence is corroborated
by the confession ef q Missouri knight,
now in the hands of the authorities-a
knight who has served in Prices Army
and is well acquainted in Madison Coun.
ty. Upon this evidence the Marsha
) acted, and the proper authorities have
approved his action. And yet people
who have given and are giving literally o.
their substance for the support Of thu
Government--who have sent their dsares
loved ones to the ranks of the Union Ar
my--arc asked with an audacity tia
would be startling in ordinary times, Il
denounce the Marshal for abridging tn,
. freedom of the couspirators--to shed tear
of pity for the imprisoned traitors.
i Notwithstanding such testimony Of Wild,
J spread plots Of traitors in our State an,
throughout the land, we hear little iron
! the Democratic press but denuncialion
OF Government officers for m attempt t
check this treason and arrest and punisl
! the conspirators.
ARRIVAL OF FARRAGur's FLEET OF
MOBILE.-A letter received in this cit
E. n 4 u G