Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-27
Secret Armed Organization to Defeat
= the Govt and Aid the Rebels
Official Report Of Judge Holt, Of ~.
ORIGIN, HISTORY, SIGNS AND PASSWORD
- OF TIE SECRET ORDER.
Names of Persons Concerned in Plot.

Judge Advocate General, upon the mass of
testimony in the possession OF the Govern
ment respecting secret associations and con-
spiricies in some Of the free States, by trail
tors and disloyal persons, contains many
startling revelations. We have already laid
some portion of the testimony. in the DoDD
trial before our readers. These showed the
character and aims of these conspiracles-
Mr.. HoLT's exposition as it is now complete
and detailed, is yet more startling. We have
only room for a synopsis "a.
This secret association first developed IT.
self in the West in the year 1852, about the
time of the first draft, which it aimed to re-
sist. 1t went by various names: Mutual
Protection Society" % Circle of Honor"
knights Of the Mighty Host" and 6 Knights
I. of the Golden Circle" In the summer and
fall Of 1854, it was somewhat modified. STER-
LING PRICE, in consequence of the exposure OF
some of its signs and secret forms, instituted
as its successor in Missouri, secret political
association, which he called the = Corps de
Belgiqne," or Southern League" CHAs. L.
HUNT, then Belgian Consul at st. Louis, was
his principal coadiutor. In the autumn of
the same year, the "Order of the American
Knights" was instituted in many parts OF the
North by disloyal persons, prominent among
whom were G. L.VALLANDIGHAM, OF Ohio, and
P. C. WRIGHT of New York. The order in
Indiana has boosted that its ritual came di-
rect from JEFF DAVIS himself The CORPS
de Belgique subsequently became Southern
branch of the 0. A. K This order finding
that detectives were on its track was remod-
elled into g the Sons of Liberty" in Illinois
it styled itself the "Peaee Organization" in
Kentucky the "Star Organization" in Mis-
souri, the " american Organization. SINH
lar Society in New York, styled itself the
"McClellan Minute Guard"
Mr. HoLr next details its form of organiza-
ton. The first "Supreme Commander" of
the "Sors of Liberty" was P. c. WRIGHT
editor of the New York News; his successor
was c. L. VALLANDIGHAM. The organization
is a military one, having Generals, Colonies,
&C., among its officers, Judge Holt says;
The greater part of the chief and subordin-
ate officers of the order, and it's branches, as
well as the principal members thereof, are
known to the Government, and, where not
already arrested, may regard themselves as
under a constant military surveillance. So
complete has been the exposure OF the secret
league, that, however frequently the conspi-
ratOrs may change its name, forms, passwords
and signals, its true purposes and operations
cannot longer be concealed from the military
authorities sz-
It is to be remarked that the supreme coun-
ell of the order, which annually meets on
February 22d, convened this year at New
York city, and a special meeting was then
appointed to be held at Chicago on July 1st
or just prior to the day then fixed for the
convention of the Democratic party. This
convention having been postponed to August
29th, the special meeting of the supreme
council was also postponed to August 9th,
at the same place, and was duly convened &C
cordingly. 1t will be remembered that lead
ing member of the convention, in the course
of speech made before that body, alluded
approvingly to the session of the Sons of
Liberty at Chicago at the same time, as that
of an organization in harmony with the senti-
ment and projects of the convention.
1t may be observed, in conclusion, that one
not fully acquainted with the true character
and intention of the order might we'll sup
pose that, in designating its officers by high
military titles, and in initiating in organiza-
ton that established in our armies, it was de-
signed merely to render itself more popular
and attractive with the masses, and to invest
its chiefs with a certain sham dignity but
when it is understood that the order COM
prises within itself a large army of we'll
armed men, constantly drilled and exercised
as soldiers, and that this army is held ready
at any time for such forcible resistance to our
military authorities, and such active co-ope-
ration with the public enemy as it may be
called upon to engage in by its commanders,
it will be perceived that the titles Of the lat
ter are not assumed for a mere purpose of dis
play, but that they are the chiefs Of an actual
and formidable force of conspirators against
the life of the government, and that their
military system is, as it has been remarked
by Colonel Sanderson, " the grand lever used
by the rebel government for its army opera
tions,n
In regard to its strength, the actual NAM
6ers of the order have. it is believed, never
been officially reported and cannot, there
fore be accurately ascertained. Various es-
Inmates have been made by leading members,
some of which are no doubt considerably ex-
aggerated. 1t has been asserted by dele
gates to the supreme council of February
last, that the number was there represented
to be from 100000 to 100000; but Vallan-
digham, in his speech last summer at Dayton,
Ohio, placed it at 100000, which is probably
much nearer the true total. The number of
its members in the several states has been
differently estimated in the report and state
ment of its officers. Thus, the force of the
order in Indiana is stated to be from Il, 900
10000; in Illinois, from 100000 to lac, 900;
in Ohio, from 5000 to 100000, in Kentucky,
from 10000 to 10000 in Missouri, from
10000 to 10000; and in Michigan and New
York, about 20, 600 each.
The order, or a counterpart, extends
through the South, including large numbers
of guerrillas. In March last the entire armed
force of the order North, capable of being
modified for effective service, was represent
ed at $40, 900. These figures doubtless were
greatly exaggerated.
Judge Holt then gives summary of its
rituals, signs, passwords, &c. A favorite Sc
cret password is "Nu-oh-lac," or the name
of Calhoun spelled backward.
ITS WRITTEN PRINCIPLES.
The "Declaration of Principles" which is
set forth in the ritual of the order has AL
ready been alluded to. This declaration.
which is specially framed for the instruction
of the great mass of members, commences
with the following specious proposition:
All men are endowed by the Creator with csr