, 1863-04-15

To the Editors Of Chicago Tribune:
My attention is attracted this morning by
the astounding revelations from the Philadel-
phia Pres Of the 10TH, and published In tho
TRIBUNE, concerning secret society Proved
to exist in that State, by the testimony of
competent witnesses before the court.
lam able to eubstautiate that testimony BY
publishing the Constitution, Ritual, of the
Order, oaths, sc, which wcrc presented to
me by Democrat whom I lately met In a
Southern State, and with whom had been
previously on somewhat intimate terms, He
said he had been q member Of the Order. Int
had left it in disgust. Tt wished me to pre-
sent the documents to Gov. Yatez, and TO
warn him Of the f1ct that the Ordernumbered
thousands Of members in this State, Indiana,
and 1owa- He made this assurance to me in
The most solemn manner, and I have not the
least doubt, as he believed, With perfect
Iruthfu1ness.
l had been so abused by parties calling
themselves Republicans and Union men, for
my previous statements regarding the pres
. cnce Of Knights Of the Golden Circle in the
late Constitutional Convention, and for nv
charge That the Copperheads intended to
plunge this State into revolution during the
session Of the Legislature, that felt reluc-
lance in giving these papers to the public.
But The Jaet that they coincide in eusry particular
srith he testin'oayef Lyon, the Government rsi.-
ness in 1"7aa< lnhia, induces me, regarding
them as do matters Of great public interest.
to lay them before the people.
In T
Washington, a few days since. aleading Demo.
crlt, formerly member Of Congress from
this State, assured me that he knew Of two or
three OF these srcrct societies in the county
in which he resided. He also informed ma,
that when in Springfield, during the late scs-
slon g. of the Legislature, 4 leading Democratic
and down the street, in the outskirts Of tile
city, earnestly lahorcd with him to join the
Democracy in the attempt, then and there to
be made, to overthrow the State Government.
cause Governor Yates to abt!icate, &c.
Leading candidates for the United States
Senate also informed nc, during the pen
dcney Of tae contest for that Office in Spring.
field, that revolution was already iuauguratcd
In the State, and that it had gone beyond their
power to control it. And this tney so in
formed me, 60 help me God!
Goy.' Yates was fully aware Of this state of
thmge, and am happy to say was prepared
distance to the nefarious plan. He feared,
however, that he might be compelled to
eTacuatc Springfield for time, aud was pre-
Iared to do 60, and to remove the arms, &C.,
from there.
Mayor Sherman of this city wa. also aware
that portion Of tue Democracy intended rev
olutlon. And will do llim tue Justice to saw
that he counsclcd moderate measures. &c
appeared to be greatly alarmed at the aspect
OF affairs, and 50 expressed himself to me.
Nevertheless hc still continue. to sick to the
party, notwithstanding its treason.
viii also add tha. NEARLY every Democrat
in The Legislature went armed. 1t a meeting
ofthir:y Or forty on one occasion in tie Sec.
Rotary Of State's office, erery man present,
with the exception of Gov. Yates, was armed
with pistol, and some had both pistol and
knife. Col. Eastman can corroborate this
statement.
But to the Constitution Of the "Brother-
hood Of the Grcat West" as handed me In q
printed form by the gentleman above alluded
TO. Here it is:
ne omit these, as they, or similar, have
heretofore been published BY us.-EDs. TRrB.
UsE.]
The gentleman after handing me the paper
said: But there are unwrltten obligations.
which give you as follows:
lst. Are ron in favor Of the ABDICATION
Ct Abraham Lincoln, by forcib1e means If ne
CES6 6aIJ.
":d: Arc you in f,vor Of a Northwestern
Confcderacy?
..3d. VIII !ou resist the conscrlptione
~ wrote the above three obligations with
pencil on the back Of the other papers. as yon
will sec upon examination of the same,''
The Government witness, who acknow1-
edges i'll his testimony that lie is an illiterate
man, says he wrote the word -*abdication''
when he took down the obligation as be heard
It repeated By the President But that the
President eaid abduction" No doubt either
the Pretident used thewrong word or the wit-
ness misunderstood it.; probably the latter Is
the truth. But this only adds strength and
rosltiTencss to the mans testimony,
That have not manufactured the unwr;t
ten obligations, l can prove by stating that
published them in letter to tic -Tissourl
Democrat, written shortly after the papers
were handed to HE, over the signature Of
"+1nnius.'i
Will any man in his Ecnses uow deny that
the Copperhead Democracy is ruled br 3
Fecret society, actuated by the most infamous
and diAbolical designs against the Unions
sneh society or societies arc said to exist in
this city. OF this hare no positive knowl.
cdga But hundreds Of letters from all parts
OF the State, daily forwarded to Gov. Yates.
testify to the existence Of such In nearly
every county south of Springfield. and il,
many north Of that city.
To defeat the hellieh designs Of these p1ot.
ters of treason in the interest of slavery. let
Union men everywhere establish their leagues.
Your obft servant,
lbs 4 q