, 1863-01-31
DIR SPRINGFIELD LETTER.

OUR SPRINGFIELD LETTER.
(srccial Correspondence Of the Chicago Ttibuno.l
SPutN0T1ELp, January 20, 1853:
ARMY.
The efforts of the Democratic party to dis
organize the army, are being carried on,
especially in 'the3sontlcrn part Of the State,
to really alarming extent. Three Of fho
newly nlscd regiments are almost entirely de-
moralizcd, yiz: 12sth, Col. Hundlcy, at Cairo;
10oth, Col. Nimn,o, under arrest In Tennessee, |
and the s7th, Col. Whiting, 1T sAawneetown,
is almost decimated by desertion. The Irish
Legion, raised in Chicago and other places, I
lcarn has also been to great extent demoral-
lied in this way, 4 large number Of other
regiments throughout the State are losing men
daily, and learn that leading Generals In the
army have made representations to the Cover
nor upon the subject. In some Of the south |
ern counties, when officers of regiments at
tempt to arrest deserters, the Knights of the |
Golden Circle turn out armed aud resist them. |
This has occurred more than once.
All these things are the result Of the late |
Democratic meetings in this and othcrpaaces.
They are the result of the speeches Of John
son Sheaban and other rebels, encouraged by
the Legislature Of the State, to raise disasiec-
ton in the North for the benefit OF JET. DAVIS
f. Co The sole end and MIN Of all this is to
rare the way fora movement in the North
west. the ultimate Of which is to be the union
| Of the Northwest with the Southern Confed-
| eracy.,.'
/ will, ask such men if they arc going to
| sacrifice not only our State, but Missouri
and Kansas to this slaye confederacy, thevery
cornerstone Of which is cementcd In the blood
of human beings created III the image aud
| likeness Of God?
| And regret to say that some Of those
| represent the strongest Republican eonstltu-
encies in the State, and that it is well known
here they are coquetting with Democrats in
order to obtain the passage Of bills In which
they or their friends nre personally interested.
| Such men should hare the mark OF Cain placed
upon them, and if no one else can be found to
compelled to hold them up TO- the lasting
ecorn and infnmy Of their constituents.
4. G. C's. AT WORE.
SEQ the Indiana papers are engaged in ez-
posing the schemes Of the Knights Of the
Golden Circle, They give the objects Of tho
| Order precisely as l gnye them to you from
this city over year ago, viz: To aid the rebels,
to prevent enlistments, resist the collection
Of war taxes, procure desertions from the
nrnly, and assist in separating the Northwest
eYn States from the Union; 10 these objects
the members arc sworn. The ritual, oath and
operation Of the Order in Indiana have been
revealed. Its existancc Is not denied in that
State, and the Democratic party in the Indiana
| Legislature hare made formal and emphatic
admission Of its existence, and their connec.
tion with It, BY voting down proposition to
!, investigate It.! i -.
It appcars that serious case has grown out
! Of the secret society at indianapolis. John 9.
Brown, Of Shelby comfy, P5iyRRteSo Court IL tn mar IT.
Indiana casslfaXe {as liz secret Society among
TIL; Soldiers in camp, the object being to en-:
B courage dcsertion, and destroy tho army
Brown pleaded guilty to every charge but one
and that was proved beyond al doubt, though
= the important charges were those he confessed
true. The penalty of the otfense Is death, ant
the Journal says II is probable that this Is tht
d sentence Of tile court, but.it is not known yet
J.. The trial lasted some days, and created no lit
= tic sensation among rebel sympathizers:
The guilty Brown was no doubt the tool Q
l. more influ ential traitors to the country. Fl
i blended in extenuation that he was eajolet
- into the conspiracy By two prominent Demo
- cratic politicians Of indianapolis, giving thei
!, names, when he WAS under the influence o
ID liquor, but admitted his guilt and the trco
sonable designs Of the secret order. Tho 50
). ciety operates In two ways, both reaching til
te same end, however First, those who ente
C. it are sworn to give their help to the schem
Of separating the Northwest from the Union
and second, they arc sworn to encourage an
"a. procure desertions from the army wheneye
-. they have the opportunity, Ono process q
u' spreading the order in the army is this:
q. soldier is at home sick list or furlough fo
e, | few days. The members of the order Goa
in him TO join it, and only reveal its full chaEas
- ter after his oath has sealed his mouth m
H. tied lis hands. Then he is told tllat he mus
Ia desert whenever he can, and be is empowerc
he to administer the oath Of membership to an
other soldier. Every appeal and argumet
that can be made to excite him against tt
-. in spreading dissatisfaction, is urged. suc1
'at according to the indianapolis Journal, are Il
i'd startling revelations made public on the tri
ito Of Brown.
~. In this State, similar attempts are bcir
&C. the same ends. Of late the traitors ha'
er, grown boller, and since the meeting Of Il
nm Legislature their agents have been busy in {
49, - parts Of the State, especially the southern.
lp. On the above subject the indianapolis Jo,t
nal thus warns the friends Of the Union:
mol ITO What do I'LL these facts points A seer
The order demoralizlng the army and thinning
thc By descrtions; Democratic courts Interfere
-. protect dcserters, and to resist the only d
'ty- thority that can punish them or prevent tht
he crime; Democratic Legislature refusing
ICE. allow IN investigation Of tho lnischieyous {
he. der; Democratic leaders justifying the reb
s w. lion and falsifying notorious facts to 40
his Democratic papers constantly advocating
secession Of the Northwest from New p
land mud avary oiug1e fact mined opcrati
iew 70 support and advance that secession.
no not these facts, open, glaring and nototlo'
&C. We are not to be forced out Of the Union
,mc the temporary power Of q party which alrea
,cy. makes no secret Of its designs, We must
~ ready to act. Friends Of the Union, you mi
~ act, organize, spread facts and arguments c
ject rywhcfe. Be prompt, yigilant and bold, a
you will defeat these schemes. Be supine
distrustful Of the danger, and yon will go
tho Of the Union just as Tennessee did, and j
,c,' as disastrous1y, too"
Hc SECESSION RESOLUTIONS Il THE HOUSE.
et In tic House, to-day, a debate took pl
lc- on series Of secession resolutions offered
sap Walker Of blacoupin. They propose an
mistlce ard a national peace convention
Louisville, Ky.. 4 sweet place, truly, 70
army, WHO has been all through the battles
al Missouri md Kentucky, informs me that /
re- full Of traitors. The object Of this cony
ent. ton is to first acknowledge the Southern G
49,. federacy, and then to unite the Northw
use- with il. New England is not to be ALLOW
=. in. You may put this down as a fixed Fl
There is no secret made here Of this des
'aer. and 1t will be carried through If possible
had deFperatc men arc engaged il It. Rcvplnt
1ays as M te ~ "sses ~ ~ ny 4h ni lust Us u
to brought up to the point Of open warfare.
ne" HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
FORENOON.
ton The first hour was taken up with the 7
aer enast;n,s " ,co, peens. ;.4a lucy I'll fe1aleo
ates Mr.. Eastman asLe6 fora susncns.on of
lear rules TO allow him to introduce bill; wh
pirate sso,ood to purchase and improve T'
eovs | grave OF Stephen a. Douglas It was refer