Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-01
Completely of the Democratic Leaders
with the Rebels. e-rrs
Reasonable Correspondence Exposed


beyond all doubt, the hostility of the Demo
cratic leaders to the national cause, and tbeil
desire for the success of the Rebellion.
DANIEL ". VOORHEES,, as our readers are
aware, is not only leading Democrat in In
diana, but one of the most prominent Demo
crate members of Congress. Last year al
the invitation of the Copperheads OF this
State, he addressed Democratic State mas!
meeting in Milwaukee, to the great delight
of the rebel sympathizers and their dupes
there assembled. Like others of his set he
has kept up a pretence of love for the Union,
and even of favoring military measures fol
its defence He has claimed to be intensely
loyal to the Constitution and all that. But
every specific measure 10 put down rebellion
has met with his bitter opposition He has
bowled against the Administration, denounc-
ed arbitrary arrests, eulogized free speech,
assailed our fighting generals, reviled New
England, extolled the genius and prowess OF
Gen. MCCLELLAN in the true Copperhead
style.
BY fortunate accident, the veil has been
stripped from this arrant scoundrel, and the
true associations of the canting hypocrite ex-
posed.
Some time since he removed his law office
in Terre Haute, Indiana, and by. some acct
dent left behind in the vacated apartment a
lot OF very important documents, including
copies of the ritual Of the reasonable 0. A.
X and correspondence with numerous prom
inent Democrats through the country. When
these were found and their character .discoV-
erred, they were handed over to Gen. CAR
RINGToN, the commander of the military dis
trict comprising the State. The fact of the
discovery of the ritual having been made
public, VOORHEES,, with characteristic audaci-
ty pronounced it falsehood, whereupon Gen
CARRINGroN has published a letter affirming
the fact Of the discovery, and in evidence CT
it and to show VOORHEES, completely with the
designs Of the dark lantern organization in
question: accompanied his Letter with extracts
from VOORHEES, correspondence found with
the copies of the ritual.
We subjoin some specimens of this cores
pondence, showing the character of the
friends and associates Of leading Democrat
Member of Congress:
JOS RIsTINE TO DAN. yoORHEEs-THE DEMoC-
RACY OF THE NORTH "PLAYED QUIZ UNLESS
THE SOUTH SUCCEED.
CONVICTION, June 90 1861
DEAR DANIEL-You are soon to assume a
position which is fraught with untold rcspon-
slbiIties | regard the fate of hundreds of
thousands of lives of freemen, and the conse-
quent misery entailed dependent upon the
action of the ensuing called session of Con
gress. | confess | fear its action The more
| look at the movements of this Administra-
ton, the more | become satisfied that this
Government, under the form it has hitherto
existed, is of the things that were. The
movements at Baltimore and st. Louis, on
the part of the military, satisfy me that an
attempt will be made to place the whole
country under military rule that all the
means of the Government will be employed
to arm the minions of the Administration,
and to disarm all opponents; that an abso-
lutte reign of terror will be inaugurated, and
when the means of resistance of the masses
are removed military despotsm will rule
until all State rights under their constitutions
al organizations have been abolished and n
monarchy absolute or limited established
The men receiving position at the hands of
Mr.. Lincoln and the Republican Governors
of the North are not the characters to whom
| would like to trust my dearest rights They
are the men whose lust for power would soon
overlook all else than their own aggrandize-
ment
Tile successful resistance Of tile South I,'eqa1d
as tie only safety for as of the NOrth-should
she be overwhelmed woe betides us who
have dared to oppose the policy of this ad-
ministTatlOn.
Daniel-a Democrat of the North who
dares to oppose the policy of the present
leaders is as much hated as those of the South
and I look upoT1 HiS pdr as mach and more a
'oar upon the Democracy than anything else.
This Government could never be subvert-
ed under Democratic rule, and every appeal
is now being made to the patriotism of our
people to sustain the Constitution, the Union
and the Stars and Stripes, while the Consti
tuition, the laws and the rights of the citizen
are being ruthlessly tranpled under foot. In
the position you are soon to occupy, | would
by no means counsel Withholding the neces-
sary supplies from the army, bit ago,ad like
to see ell Democrats ANTE IA an open and bold
resistance to oil attempts to keep Oec,s a united
people By the force Of Steel If the wisdom of
our fathers, aided by our own experience.
cannot keep US united, it is idle to talk of
maintaining the Union. A St0te forced to
obedience at tie point of the bGy0net regard as
na'tcb and more a SubUerSion of the Government
than secession Itself, hence | see nothing but
dissolution, and humanity, justice, and COM
mon sense to my mind dictates a peaceable
separation.
have no doubt worried you, and shall
close by hoping that some Moses may arise to
extrlcate us from our woes, that your mission
may be pleasant one, that syou may return
TO your constituents and friends as did Noah's
dove to the ark, bearing embems of peace
to distracted country
My respects to Ed. and your family.
God bless you, Daniel
Your friend,
(Slgned) Jos. RIsTINE.
7. S.-Much less excitement here but lit
tie said Men are beginning to talk of costs
and consequences. J. R.
-. BINGHAM, EDITOR OF INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL,
THE LEADING DEMOCRATIC ORGAN IN INDIANA
WRITES To VOORHEES, FOR INFORMATION.
INDIANAPOLIS, July IL, 1861.
ny Dear Foorhees:
should like your private opinion as to the
prospects OF affairs so that | may have some
basis to go upon. Do you think the South
have resources enough to keep ne Union forces
at Day, G'd h"aHp force a recognition of Meir
independence, or will Litcol,'s ay7a,u crush them
out 1ou must have sources of information
which have not to enable YOU to form some
opinion upon these matters.
II the Congressional Globe and 1pDeroir is
published ana bound, l should be obliged to
YOU for set, and any other public documents
of general interest.
/ think there is. a reaction taking place u, In