The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-10-18
The Indiana Conspiracy.

Our readers are aware that.a treas.
enable organization has been discov-
cred in Indiana, that arms and am
munition belonging to the Order have
been seized, and that Dodd, one of the
chief conspirators, has been arrested
and put upon trial. Below we give q
part OF the testimony of William Clay.
ton, of Warren County, Indiana, from
which our readers can Judge Of the
character of the organization. 1t is
worthy of notice, as showing the sym
pathy between the Chicago Conven-
tion and the Sons of Liberty, that the
seizure Of arms held by the Order for
the purposes indicated in the oath,
lead to the introduction in the Chica-
90 platform of resolution charging
the Administration with interfering
with the right Of the people 10 bear
arms for their defence.
He was member of the "order of
American knights" which was chang
ed to "the sons Of liberty" He said
they had been drilling for year and
drilled frequently (; about two-tlirds of
the order were armed, some with ri
fies and others with revolvers and shot
guns there were over forty thousand
OF the order in Illinois, and about the
same number in Missouri; in case the
rebels came into Illinois the brethren
OF the order were 10 shake hands and
be friends with them il was under
stood in the order that the signal for
the uprising should be giveu
by the supreme commander C..
l.. Vallandigham next 10 him in COM
mand was Robert Holloway, of Miss
ouri 4; there were lieutenauts and cap
tains or colonels in the order, and a
major general for each congressional
district the penalty for divulging the
secrets OF this order was death. The
present invasion Of Missouri was made
known TO the order in this locality by
one of QuantrelPs men, who said Price
would be in Missouri by October first,
and stay there until after the election,
and as much longer as lie could i the
order in Illinois made no effort to as
sist if lie came in; the late exposure
had stopped their operations their
temples met, but had quit drilling the
American knights were organized by
7. {. Wright, Of Mississippi or Louis
lana, who came 10 Springfield to mass
democratic convention, June IL, 1868,
and organized lodges and instituted
general council, which appointed two
officers for each county, TO organize
county temples; Wright is editor of
the New York NeiCs now he sent
circular to our late lodge dated Jann-
AIRY is, 1864, in which he spoke Of
the AeicS as the O. s. LIS especial or
gan, and asking their aid in circulating
il.
The secret oath Of The Sons Of Lib
erty concludes thus: II do further
promise that will, at all times, If need
be, take up arms in the cause Of the
in my country first of all
against any monarch, prince, power or
government, which may be found in
arms against people or peoples who
are endeayoring TO establish or have
inaugurated government for them
selves, Of their free choice, in accord. |
anee with, and founded upon the eter-
nal principles Of truth, which have
first sworn on the Vestibule, and now
IN this presence do swear TO maintaiD
Inviolate, and defend with my life
and this / DO promise without reser- 4
Vaiion or evasion Of mind, without re- /
gard 10 the name, station, condition or
designation If tie invading or coerc-
ng power, whether ]! shall arise from
aiihin Or come from without al this
10 solemnly promise and swear sa.
,relly 10 observe, perform, and keep,
; IT'D fuli knowiedge and understand
ne. aud With my foil assent that the
penalty which will follow a y,odafjoa