The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-11-17

ments; and whenever / had reasona-
bly, hoped to render service, either by
public or private enterprise, / have
made my opinions, the result of i'm
partial observations, known.
l have long seen and noted, among
portions of our people, often in large
masses, a growing disregard OF law.
North and South it has shown itself,
perhaps not with equal intensity
This arose from the changed condition
of the country. Grimes became, if not
more common, at least marked with
more atrocity, supported by more pow
erful combinations, and guided by
higher intelligence and the injured
community, impatient oftardy justice,
began to take the law into their own
hands.
Combinations for crime, and comb,
nations for punishment, became more
prevalent. Men learned the power of
masses for evil, as well as for good :,
and the daring and reckless became
the leaders of large combinations,
prompt for mischief. In these rested
much political power, and, therefore,
almost certain impunity, In some in
stances they were gotten up on large
scale for the direct purpose of control
ling elections, and selling, by lawless
means, State and National Govern
ments; as, for example, the Know
Nothing organization, which, after brief
success, was put down by still whole.
some public opinion in others for
plunder and piraeies, as the knights
of the Golden Circle-an Order which
it would seem, is not yet extinct, tho
its direction has been changed. Walk
er's expedition to South America, and
Crittendcn's against Cuba, attracted
the attention Of the General Govern
ment TO their piratical organizations
and after a struggle in which oul
councils were ncarl y overpowered
they were checked, but not at oil bro
ken down or disorganizcd. They
changed their purpose, extended theil
organization, and became the most
effective instruments in the hands oi
the restless spirits who contemplated
revolution. Mr.. Justus Campbell, o.
Alabama, the Judge of the Supreme
Court of the United States, who pre-
sided at the trial of these marauders
and checked these expeditions against
the neighboring nations, told me that
he had means in his power to head
their progress, and that they extended
to nearly every State in the Union
had in Washington City lodge con
tanning many hundred members
which met twice week within few
doors of tho house where | lodged
This was in January, 1861, after dis
union was rife. He also said, ifa vote
could be taken in Alabama, it would
show a large majority in favor of tho
Union, but the organization was sc
powerful and so reckless Of means
that the thing was impossible. there Oh
in any of the Gulf States. This wat
one Of the preparations for revolt. L
furnished force at y moments warn
ing, ready to do the bidding of theil
factions leaders, if that bidding was
for violence and rapine. In the mean
time the army Of the United States
the ships, and forts, and arms ant
munitions of war, were in the hand:
Of rebel secretaries, who applied then
N the best manner possible to effect
uatc their reasonable purposes. ThosC
ships ofwar whose commanders coul(
not be tampered with, were sent to re
mote ports and seas. The army anC
munitions of war in our depots Were
distributed in Southern States, an(
most of our Southern fortresses anC
armorics We're placed in the hands o
those who were ready to deliver then
over to the rebel chiefs, while eacl
! point of intended attack was weakened
or disarmed, / was in Washington
during the months of January ant
February, 1861, and. in the latter par
of January, | became thoroughly i'm
pressed with the apprehension tha
an attack would be made on the city
by this band OF desperadoes, directed
it not headed, by Floyd, the then See
rotary OF War. The public offices, tn,
trcasery, the war, the navy, and tn,
interior, would have been at once sur
rendered to them and held for then
by the secretaries and clerks who oc
cupied them.
Full of this apprehension, l calico
on General Scott. and, in q privat,
audience OF more than an hours du
ration, L told all knew ofthe condition
of the city and the danger whicl
threatened it, and asked him wha
military force he had at his command
to repel an attack if made. He drew
himself up to his full hight and said
Sir, they must first march over my
dead body" That, said l would avai
US little. 1t would be no satisfaction
to your country to know that they los
not only their capital, but with i
their ablest General. What military
force have you to repel an attack, i
made? "Sir," said he, II have thirty
five marines, and that is all, except my
own military family and the city mill
tia" He told me, in the course of thC
conversation, that he was aware of tn,
dangerous condition of the city-tha
he had applied frequently and earnest
ly TO the Secretary of War, but to nc
purpose. | told him l thought the
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