American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-02
Sons of Liberty, Ballot FOrgers.

| uChIO VI 'hO PSoPiS' thSiS 10 nv N>''0"7
ing how far they will 90 in deeds of infa-
my, in vain hope to gain power. A stri-
king illustration if this is seen in the
freedom with which the Butternuts of
the Northwest went intoethe reasonable
order called the ''Sons of Liberty" be-
coming bound together by disloyal oaths,
for the purpose of opposing the Govern
ment by force of arms if need be, to re-
gain power. For time they seemed to
prosper, and great fears were entertained,
that by the thoroughness of their organi-
zation as also he secrecy of their move
ments, they might accomplish much mis-
chief The fall elections were coming
on, the rebel armies were to invade the
west and to be able to assist them and in
timidate loyal men-as also. as was pro-
ven, for the purpose of overthrowing the
| loyal state authorities. arms must be
had; the procurement of these in New
York, and their shipmentt to leading Demo-
/
Gratis Of Indiana, was discovered in time
to intercept them the arrest of implica-
ted parties followed confessions were
made, testimony produced, and the whole
plot, reasonable as it was, was made pub
lic-public Indignation became aroused,
and these conspirators of the nations life,
were swept from the state with one tor
rent of patriotic Indignation.
A more recent plot and meaner still,
if meaner could be, has recently been
gotten up in New York, by the agents,
and of course, Hthe friends" of Gov.
Seymour, by which they not only antici-
pated the forging of the names and bal
lots of living soldiers, but of dead he
roes The matter is but partially fun
earthed." We are happy to believe how
ever, that this meanest of all crimes has
been discovered in time to ceunteract its
pernicious influences, and to sweep Soy
mour and his dogs from the presence of
an insulted people.
The following confession of one of the
guilty parties, who had been arraigned
before a military commission, will throw
some light on the subject;
FERRY's CONFESSION
q do not recollect the time when the
first papers were forged, but it was in the
presence of O. X Wood of Clinton Coun-
ty; it was done in my office, No S5 Fay
cite ST., Baltimore; | am, and have been
for the past two years, the Agent for the
State Of New ork, appointed by Gov.
Seymour, to look alter the sick and woun-
ded soldiers of New York | first saw
Wood on Wednesday of last week at my
Office; he came and represented himself
as an agent of the-Central Committee Of
his county to look after its local ticket
he talked about the way in which votes
could be taken; 1t was agreed that we
should sign the names of soldiers and Of
hcers and then send then home to have
the local tickets filed in; ! made out
ne papers | signed the name of sold
iers on quite number Of them | can
not tell what names we signed the pa
pers are now in the bundle on the table
did not sign names of officers, but Dom
ahue signed any quantity Of them; there
was large package Of these papers left
with me which | destroyed; that pack
age contained over 200; Donahue signed
Them all the idea of forging these papers
was first suggested by man named Ste
phen Mason he is from the Western part
of the State of New ork; / do not
know from what county he is not in the
service; he il State agent; / connot say
at what time it was first proposed to forge
these papers; it was almost two weeks
ago; do not think there was any body
present but Donahue and myself when
Mason first proposed to forge the papers;
there was a. man named Bundy in my of
flee he is now in New York also man
named ii Newcomb; never saw him
until he came there; he is lawyer in Al
bany : part of the forged papers were
made in my office, and part were brought
there; they were usually brought in
bundle tied up; do not know who bro't
them had no letter from Peter Cagger,
except what were found in my desk
never knew any correspondence on this
subject with Gen. Farrell, the Commissa-
ry of subsistence, except the package which
you have; the package cantained lot of
blank envelopes and powers of attorney,
with a letter from Gen. Farrell, marked
|" confidential" which contained list of
the names of the residents of Columbia Co.;
| did not let any one know 1 destroyed
the forged papers left with me, but told
my associates that | sent them to differ
ent parties in the State to be mailed a
young man came from Washington on
Friday or Saturday last, saying if l had
any spare blanks to send them on to
Washington am not certain that he
did or did not say anything about there
being twenty men over there who. could
attend to these matters do not know
how many forged papers were sent off
but heard them say they sent them from
Washington by the dry goods boxfull
| do not recollect hearing them talk dis
paragingly, bpt they talked quite jubi-
lantly and confidently; sent package