Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-17
TREAsONABLE ORGANIZATIONS


NEW YORK, Oct. Is.
Judge Advocate General Holts report
upon the testimony gathered bv him con-
cerning the reasonable secret orusn,zs-
tons formed in the loyal States rs sdiuncts
to the rebellion, is published in the Post
to-day. According to this report the trea-
soRahie order embraces societies bearing
various titles, such as the Mutual Protec-
ton Society, Circle of Honor Knights Of
the Mighty Host, Knights Of the Golden
Circle, Corps de Belgique, Southern league,
Order OF American Knights, Order of the
Sons of Liberty, Peace Organization, Star
Organization, American Organization.
Democratic Invincible Club, Democratic
Reading Room, and Mcclellan Minute
Men. The latter title is the one borne bv.
a secret political organization in the State
OF New York and other parts of the North.
Of It Judge Holt says, it would seem to be
branch of the Order of American
Knights, having substantially the same
objects to be accomplished by means ex-
pressly suited to the localities in which
1t Is established; for as the chief Sec
retary of this association DR.. Z. E..
Stevens, stated, in June last, TO a
reliable witness whose testimony had been
furnished, that those who represent the
Mcclellan interests are compelled to preach
vigorous prosecution of the war in order
to secure them the popular sentiment.
The Mcclellan minute guard, as appears
IN a circular issued by the chief Secretary
at New York, is organized upaan & mill.
tary basis similar to that of the order prop.
er. 1t Is composed Of companies, one for
each election district, ten Of whom consti-
tutes brigade with a Brigadier General
at its head.
The whole is placed nnder a commander
iR-ChieE The first supreme commander
OF the order was F. G. Wright, editor of
the New rOrk Neios, who was last NAV,
sent to Fort Lafayette Vallandighafn
was his successor.
Robert Hollaway of Illinois, acted in
Vallandingham's stead during the absence
OF the latter from the country.
Col, SandersOn, in his report on the pro-
gression OF the Order, expresses the opinion
that the Order was founded by Vallandig-
ham during his banishment and upon con.
snltatiOn with JEFF Davis and other promin-
ent traitors at Richmond.
The Order in Indiana boasts that al,
ritual came direct from Davis, and one o.
the witnesses state positively that DaYil
is a member.
The members belonging to the Order
have been variously estimated at from
100000 to 100000, but Vallandigham in
his Dayton speech, puts it at 500, 900, whIcl
Is probably nearest the total. These or,
scattered through Indiana, Illinois Ohio
Kentucky, Missouri and New York.
In March last, the entire armed force o.
the Order, capable Of being mobilized fol
service, WAS represented 10 be 100000
The testimony shows that arms have
been furnished the members. nthe Hon
d. W. Voorhees, Office were found letter
to Ex-senator Wall, of New Jersey, in re
gard to the purchase of 10000 Garibald
rifles, to be fOrWarded to the West.
Arms we're to be furnished the Order By
way Of Canada, and to be paid fer by as
sessment upon the lodges.
Much testimony was taken upon tt,
point and the report Is full of evidenced O
extensive operations in this particular.
The ritual contains broad declarations o
State rights, and against the authority 0
the Federal Government to coerce b,
arms, a sovereign State, and argues ths
the executive officers of the Governmen
may be expelled by force of arms wher
they refuse to administer the Government
in accordance with the letter of the &C
cepted Constitution. The oaths declarl
that member will defend with arms tn,
principles of the order whenever directed
by competent authority of the order. I
was admitted by one of the order in Mis-
souri, that on joining, he understood tn
object to be aid and assistance to theECOn
federate Government. He adds, the oFde
is hostile, in every respect to the. Genera
Government 1t was exclusively made u
of disloyal persons, desirous of securing
J the independence of the Confederate
, States, with the view of restoring tn
Union as it was. The other purposes Q
the order are shown to be aiding soldiers t
! desert destruction of Government pror
ertyi destruction of private property, anc
prosecuting Union men assassination an
murder, and the establishment Of a North
ern COnfederaey,