Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-06

CLEARFIELD, PA, JAN. 6, 1864.
A SECRET oATH-BoUND SOCIETY.
The Copperheads at Work.

The Uopperheads at Work.
From an editorial article which appears in
the Harrisburg Telegraph of December 25th,
1863, We learn that the Copperhead leaders
IN Pennsylvania are engaged in getting up
a Secret Oath Bound Political Organiza-
ton in this State, and that the Society has
its parentage in Clear6eld county How
much truth there is in the latter part of the
assertion, We are not prepared 10 say ; but
one thing is certain, thai, Secret Oath bound
associations, do exist in this county. What
the precise purport of the Organization is,we
are not informed; however, little doubt ex-
lists, that they are Of the character alluded to
by our Harrisburg contemporary But, our
object was merely to call the attention ofour
readers to the article Of the Telegraph, which
we print in full below; and, we hope, that
every truly loyal man will ponder well the
advice given. The TeIegraph says
The desperation of the copperheads knows
no bounds, 1t is now fixed fact that the
leaders OF this motley clique are organizing
their followers and binding them together by
the force OF a solemn oath, 10 right the Cor
erRmeRt The object Is, if possible, to gain
as they occupy their present position of open
antagonsm to the national authority; hence
every Democratic leader in the State of
Pennsylyania, who supported Woodward at
the last election, is organizing societies in
their respective localities; bound together as
We have indicated, by an impious oath to
oppose the Government at all hazards. 1t
is alleged that this secret organization had
its origin In the futile brain of a pompous
Cleariield county copperhead, and that it
has been extended to every other county in
the Commonwealth. A few days since the
Tory Organ endorsed these secret oath bound
organizations, commencing them to the pa
tronage of every copperhead in the State.
There is nothing new or strange in the fact
that the enemies OF the Government are
thus combining and pledging each other in
oaths TO work its destruction. We have long
been apprlsed of the fact that organizations
of the Knights Of the Golden Circle pre-
vailed to a large extent in what is called the
Democratic party This order ATTEMPTED To
influence every election held in the Free
States whiting the last two years 1t sue
ceeded in New I ork and Pennsylvania two
years ago, but having been wofully beaten
at the last fall election. the programme has
been changed, and now we are TO have an Or
ganization under different name and with
dpBditiiUIR ulbGfGDb Objects III view. me
lenders Of the old order professed 10 be salts
fed ohea the interests Of sIIreYry toere aa-
RANGED and protected-the .fi5gtensen Of the
ne70 order, boCerer, hare saco1n aerey To be
satisfied uHU they hare Destroyed ere,y ces-
t5ge of free gOuerRRleJH ia the States of the
american Union.
The copperhead leaders beaten, repudia-
ted and disgraced, we must prepare ourselves
for the worst at their hands The action.of
the copperheads in Congress, where, to a
man, they vote in the negative on all uues-
tions involving the interests of the Govern
ment, corroborates the rnmors In reference
to these secret oath-bound societies These
men have ventured their all of political pros
pect in the game of treason, and having lost
they are now determined to place their So
cial and personal safety in the contest. and
either force the Federal Government direct
ly to disruption, or go down themselves to
utter and irretrievable ruin. In their pres
ent attitude, the copperhead leaders can do
nothing more than corrupt and debase the
minds OF the ignorant masses. And even
in this they can be counteracted, if the loval
press and the independent pulpit unite to
combat the influences of this secret cath
bound organization to undermine the Gov
Let the alarm the be sounded
everywhere Let loyal men throttle this
new friend of treason, and its life will be
short and harmless