The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-06-10
rae scores Royal League.

:. - ~ 4I
the dongs Of the secret loyal league which
met here at that time
CLEVELAND, O., Wednesday, May 20, 49,.
This city is just now the scene of gath
erng which promises TO develop into somc-
thing of more than usual political significance.
In the first place, the people have been stirred
mp to-day by one of the largest q ion meet
ings ever assembled here. With Montgome-
ry Blair, jim Lane, Hon. ~. A. Bingham and
other celebrated speakers to address them,
they have for hours together rename ingreat
crowds in the public square, and received with
unbounied applause the stirring Union senti-
ments uttered But the assembly of most
interest to the nation is the more quiet. one.
whiellfor two days hassbeen in active session
at the Angler House, and in one OF the pub
lie halls. 1t is the Convention OF Represen-
tatives of Loyal Leagues in the different
Northern States. st5a3 5oit7FF4 3st935
Their sessions are strictly secret, and the
presence of reporters is especially discouraged
and guarded against The object of the Con-
vention is TO consolidate out Of the material
furnished by the Loyal Leagues more secret
league, whose purpose shall be to secure to
the Government prompt and efficient support
in all its efforts for the preservation of the
| Union; in enforcing the conscription act, and
/ in general measures to counteract the baleful
! influence of the Copperheads. The move
ment finds some strong opponents even
among those who sit in the Convention. The
necessity for giving a more secret character to
/ the Organization is much questioned by not
| few, and fears are expressed that that feature
may prove dangerous one. 1t is urge, on
| the other hand, that there is q real necessity
| for such an organization that as rebellion is
/ the fruit of such secret leagues of conspira-
! tors as the Knights of the Golden Circle, who
are still iiisidiously at work at the North in
organizing and perfecting the opposition 10
] the Government, there is urgent need of sim
/ liar union among the loyal people to protec.
| the Government from insidious attack. The
case of Maryland is pointed to, that ; tate
| having been saved to the Union in large part
j by the efforts of secret league composed of
many thousands of loyal men. All these
questions are being animatedly discussed in
| the Convention, and it is very evident that
the great majority of the delegates are strong
ly convinced of the propriety of perfecting
4 more thorough organization than has been yet
4 given to the Loyal, Leagpes.8s solsz4,ts5
,7 Among thedistinguished persons present in
the city, who would have had more. or less to
do with the meeting, are Hon. Montgomery
1 Blair, Hon. James Lane, Hon, Mr.. Went
worth, of Massachusetts,, David Paul Brown,
of Philadelphia, and others. These Halter
have not, however, participated actively in
the proceedings, but they have been naturally
consulted with reference to the objects propos-
i ed toa be accomplished. = It would not be
i proper for me to giYe9a anything more than
this brief alluson to the intentions of this
| Convention But this l can say, there are
earnest men at work in it, who whether their
i views be correct or erroneous, are fixed in
their adherence to certain ideas as to the or
ganiZation of the sentiment of the country,
aud, sincere in their convictions, will use eve
ny effort to carry them into effect.
fos CLEVELAND, o. Thursday, May 81, ,63.
arThe Convention of LOYAL Leagues is still
in session in this city, and still sit with closed
doors, from which very little intelligence be-
sides that which i have already sent you
oozes- out The decision has, however, been
ultimately reached that there is a necessity
t for the formation Of close society, for the un-
conditional supportrof the Government and
the naturalization OF the efforts of the Knights
of the Golden Circle. The opposition TO a
secret organization has been pretty effectually
Z overcome, and to-day the Convention is oc
4 cupied with perfecting plans for carrying the
ideas of the majority into effect The strict
i est secrecy is enjnined, and members are wise
= as owls and mum as sphinxes. Gen. Jim
Il Lane, Hon. Owen Low Joy, Hon. Mr.. Bing-
81 ham, and other gentlemen equally well known
II are now cipatihg in the discussions of the
N body, and are strong y in favor of the imme-
date formation of a close League. Senator
Harris, of New York, who is still in town,
keeps entirely aloof from the gathering, his
conduct exciting considerable remark among
IA the delegates. Its knowp that he is oppos-
ed to the secret character which it is desired
to give the League, and regards it as fraught
. with danger to the Republic His opinions
are shared by many influential Union men,
+ who re,doing all in their power to prevent
10 the. execution of the, proposed, plan. They
contend that good cause does not need any
such clandestine support; that secrecy is more
q likely to dol injury than prove an aid. ta
at Henry Ward HSeecEerss FarexveI Ser.
H ls-f sfd t.17v ,=risF m0n.--z.zaff fz7a f,5z1o5
IA l., Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has been grant
ed four months leave of ahsenee. by his soci
Il ETY., who pay his expenses to- Europe during
. that time. Sunday the oath ult, he preached
n his farewell sermon for that time, the closing
: paragraph of which we qnote ~ sr. Bre
= ,, e do not believe that that which / have
endeavored to practice among you on the sub
ject of human rights, 1 shall forget when
: am abroad. I shall not even ask you 50 pra,
: A that Imay be faithful to them, forsI know
4 shall be-. If you pray that God will spar
my life, you include all that is needful, for il
: bone and nerve and muscle and blood, in bod1
!, and in soul, for time and for eternity,1 an
Ii welded to the one thing-of preaching Chris
in such a way that men shall be made free
Il men in Christ jesuit. This l ask your love
3 your confidence, your remembrance, you
prayers, that may be kept from harm; an
is5 this that when / return again TO you, yo
t. may be lorfe-halfaas glad to see my face an
hear my voice, as shall to look upon3 tn
e fairest thing that. my eye ever beheldIin thi
: word-the upturned faces of this loving al
e glorious congregation. If 1 have aided yo
/ in any respect you have made me, aud'1 g
S bearing the name ofthis Church as precou
d. memento, an honor and a glory. is Ye are m
Y Joy and my crown, of rejoicing as long as
i live May God take care of you and your
r and if death falls while I am absent upo
e. any, let it be that death that @il3ehable us
tsai behold on, in Heaven rejoicing But ma
4 we return together to more prayer, to mof
n zeal, to more labor of love- and TO greater an
more abounding truths. And you, brethren
c that greeted my first coming, and that wer
S earliest by my side, SO many sef you remain
o j already becoming patriarchs, i look back upo
e. your young friendship. and fidelity to rigt
with unmingled thanksgiving, 10 you ths
: came in under my ministry, havealnost bee
IA breared by7it--to you give m heartfelt love
~ to you give my. blessing, land to, all of yo
e my best wishes, and that / may express it
e a single word, may Christ be formed in 20
a the hope Of glory. Amen and afnen.''
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