The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-28
FIF tn EBIHU N !
GREAT CONSPIRACY.
.a-.#a-.s....... ,.l4,---s.. a
ORDER OF AMERICAN K IaETS
9. l.. Vallandlghani yt,
Supreme Conlnlm-
der of the Order
A PHILADELPHIA -AN'YER
IMPLICATED.
Mcclellan Minute plou OF New
York a Part of h. Band.

81. LOUIS, July 2s.-The lssoc'1. Publishes
a long account of the conspiracy 'os Sue erection
Of Northwestern Confeder referred to a few
days since. The organization ergas.- in this
conspiracy Is known as the "Order Of American
knights and their object Is 10 embarrass the
Government in the conduct Of the war, and to
overthrow the Government, If necessary for the
supremacy of the order
Its professions and purposes are different in
different States. II procaims a war policy in
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other
Eastern States while in the West IL is for peace.
The order is of Southern origin, being erected
on the ruins Of the Knights Of the Golden Circle.
OF the Southern organization General Sterling
Price is Supreme Commander. c. l.. Vallardig-
ham, while in Richmond, WAS made Supreme
Commander Of the Northern section of the order.
A conspiracy was entered into between him
and the Rebel authorities, to divide the East
from the West, and TO give aid to the Southern
Rebellion.
Vallandigham's time in Canada, il is said, was
principally spent in furhcring this scheme. He
had conference with some Of the leading spirits
in the North soon after his arrival in Canada, and
arranged for the establishment of an order
throughout the loyal States. The names of all
who visited him at the Clifton House are known
to the Government. Among them the names Of
VIM. b. Reed, of Philadelphia, Pendleton Pugh,
ofOhio Keybben, of st. Louis; Sterry and Mer-
rick, of Chicago, are published.
The results Of this conference are also known
to the Government. About the lst of January
Yallandigham issued an address to the members
of the Golden Circle in the loyal States, in which
he called upon them to renew their VOWS, aud
said the time was fast approaching which would
test their sincerity; that the prosecution of the
war is in violation of the rights of the States and
President Lincoln is an usurper.
meeting OF the grand commanders of the
different States was held at New York on the
22d of February, for the purpose of organizing
an outbreak ON the 10th of March-the day fixed
for the draft; but no definite plan was resolved
upon.
The name, of these ctspirators are also
known. The same commanders had general
consultation with the supreme comman-
der at Windsor, Canada, early in April.
Amongst those in attendance were McMasters
of New York; Charles l.. Hunt, st. Louis; and
Lafayette IDevlin, Indiana. The programme
adopted at these meetings was that VallandiS.
ham should represent his district of Ohio, in the
Democratic National Convention, and there pro-
claim the doctrine of the order, viz Pronounce
the existing Administration of the Government
power usurped, which the people had a right
to expel by force if necessary; in fact TO inaugu-
rate a rebellion in the North, and in which he
was to be supported by the Order Each Grand
Commander was 10 have an armed body Guard
at the Convention for the defense Of Yallandig-
ham.
This II was thought would precipitate the
people of the free States into armed conflict and
would be the signal for the members of the order
to unite against the lawful authorities kill or
capture the civil and military authorities, seize
the arsenals, arms, public property of all kinds
and proclaim the Government overthrown.
There is the most convincing evidence of the
truthfuness of this statement. The reason of the
sudden return of Vallandigham to Ohio was the
fear Of being defeated as a delegate to Chicago,
and it was only by his presence that his election
was secured.
The numerical strength of this order is said to
be considerably over half million one hundred
and fifty thousand Of the whole are organized in
New York, and are called Mcclellan Minute
Men, numbering over two hundred thousand.
The Grand Commander Of Missouri is Charles
L. Hunt, nephew OF James II. Lucas, and for
many years the Belgian Consul, and the Deputy
Grand Commander, Charles E. Dunn, city OIL
Ger Of st. Louis.
A long list OF the names of the members OF the
order in the different States, together with full
information concerning the whole scheme are in
the hands of the authorities al Washington, and
win probably be given to the public in a short