Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-15
A Secret TreasonabIe Organization
Exposed.
1t extends all over the South, and ma
ny places in the West and North.
Signs, Passwords and Grips.
The President of the United States
to be Abducted.
The Draft to be Resisted by force of
Arms, if necessary. ~ =
A Northwestern Confederacy in
Confamnlation


tain lengthy accounts OF the hearing of Philip
Huber. DR.. Augustus F. Illig. Gabriel Hilbert,
and Harrison Oxenei ider. who were arraigned,
on the previous day before o. S. Commission
er Heazlett, on charge of conspiracy. The
prisoners citizens of Berks county, and
were arrested by william Y Lyon, a Govern
ment detective, and now deputy provost mar
shall at Reading, Pa. John P. O'Neill, Esq /,
appeared as counsel for Huber, and Hon J !.
Clancy Jones, member of Congress. for H.
Zig, Hilbert and Oxeneider
Mr.. Lyon was the principal witness examin-
ed. From his testimony it appears tina: there
have been organized, in various parts of Berks
county, seditious and treasouabIe organiza-
tions, lodges, or societies, which meet in
barns, evidently acting in communication with
higher power, protesting to have associa-
tions in all parts of the country, and having
for its avowed object the abduction of the
President of the United States. armed resist
ance to the law. and the overthr.y of the Gov
ernmeut 1t is possible that Mr.. Lyon mag
nifes some circumstances and places too much
Importance on others. but there is a sad and
wre'ched truth running through his story,
which is enough to excite the serious appre.
tensions of every loyal man in the country
He describes Il meeting that took place on the
2lst of March, 1868. in barn of Jacob Eel
Ter, in Marion township, Berks county Mr.
Lyon, having obtained inform ,tion of the
meeting, secreted himself in the barn, under
the straw About one hundred persons were
present Huber was the leading spirit, and
did the talking. He directed the barn to be
searched, to see if there were any spies con
cealed in it, and for this purpose hay fork
was thrust into the straw. Pfckets were then
thrown outside'of the barn to guard against
intrusion and surprise. Huber then denounc
ed the war as unholy and unjust; said that the
society was million strong that it was FIRST
organized in the South; that it had signs.
grips and passwords; after which he adm mis-
tered the obligation to eighty-thr persons
who Joined on this occasion. They declared
themselves in favor of ssthe abduction of A
braham Lincoln, by force, if necessary - la
favor of q North western Confederacy ..in
favor of resisting the draft or the Conscription
Act" Each member paid in, at his iuitia-
ton, one dollar. At this meeting $50 were
collected. Huber was the treasurer and took
the money. He said the money was raised to
fee lawyers if any one OF the members were
arrested also to try the constitutionality of
the conscription act, and If this tcould not do,
they ,couM use force! Two other witnesses cor
roborated, in part, the statement Of Mr.. Lyon.
This is the Substance of the evidence. The
phraze about testing the constitutionality OF
the CONSUMPTION act, and failing before the
courts, is familiar coming from men more
powerful than this Huber or his associates, aud
goes far to show the sympathy that unites the
enemies OF the Country against the Admins
tratiOn. The time has come at last when ev-
cry goud citizen must stand up uncond itionai-
ly for the United States Government, or run
the risk OF being classed with those who meet
secretly in barns and hidden places to coun-
sci anarchy and rebellion. Mr.. Huber may
have made mistake in estimating the num-
Der of his reasonable organization at a nil
lion; but that he is the representative, or in.
strument. of dangerous and perhaps, pow
erful combination of bad men, is not to be
doubted.
After consultation with their consel. the
Uuited States Attorney agreed to hold Til
bert IlIig and Oxeneider in each Others re-
cognizance, in the SUN of So 900, for another
hearing on the 4th of May. Huber was re-
quired to enter bail in the sum of S4 ,OOO
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