Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-18
The Democratic oBspiraeT-ImpoFtant De-
Teopments Respecting Secret Treasona-
bic Organization.

The Democratic Observation-Disclosures De. |
yeopments Respecting Secret TreasOna-
bic Organization. !
The examination OF GREENE B. SMITH, the
Grand Secretary for Missouri of the 30. A. |
K" or, as it is more recently styled, the |
" Sons of Liberty" secret and reasonable !
Democratic organization, spreading through |
the loyal States contains startling confrma- |
, ton Of the previous reports respecting the |
existence of an extensive conspiracy 10 be- |
tray the cause of the Union and insure the !
] success of the rebellion
The testimony, under oath, of Mr.. SMITH is !
| published in the St. Louis Democrat. He |
! states that the Order in question was first
! organized in Missouri by one A. P. c. WRIGHT,
! of New York. When Mr.. SMITH joined it, he
was informed by the instructor, during his
! initiation, that I" it was Democratic organi- |
cation, gotten up for the benefit of those en-
gagged in rebellion and to unite the Demo
cratic party proper, with the view of cooper
alton with the rebel army" The order was
| expected to cooperate with the rebel army
IN the event of an invasion by them Of the
State. The members Of the order were Sc
cretly plotting the destruction of the General
| Government with a view to the establish
ment of the independence Of the rebellious
States Through members of the order con-
slant communication was kept up between
st. Louis and the rebel army.
The organization had fund for purchasing
arms and ammunition. Mr. SMITH himself
had been engaged in making such purchases
in violation of the military regulations. He
bought only revolvers. He had heard the
secret assassination Of United States officers,
soldiers and Government employees discussed
in the council and recommended. Persons
in the employ of the order were engaged in
carrying mails between the Northern and
rebel States. The order gave aid and assis-
lance to spies and emissaries in the employ
ment of the rebellion, and one of its special
objects was to place members on steam
boats, ferryboats, telegraph offices, depart
ment headquarters, Provost Marshals' Offices,
and in fact in every position where they
could render valuable service"
Just before his arrest, Mr.. SMITH states
that proposition was made in the order to
raise money to purchase gun caps for the
Confederate army, and was talked over, but
whether carried out or not he was not ad-
vised.
} He had heard congratuatory speeches
made at the secret meetings over the sue
cesses of the rebels principally by a certain
St. Louis member whose name is suppressed
) in the published account. He also gave a
large number of names of persons connected
with the order, and engaged in secretly pur-
chasing or selling arms, which are also with
held from the public for the present Some
blank forms which had come into the posses
sion of the Z. S. authorities with the cap
ton List of members of the Conservative
Club at -" was identified by Mr.. SMITH
as muster roll of the order
The generally accepted theory of members
of the order is that the officers Of the United
States Government have usurped authority,
and that it is not only an inherent right, but
an imperative duty for all who think as the
members do, to resist those Federal function
aries, and if need to expel them from power
By force.
The supreme council of the order was held
in New York City on the 22d of February
last, when G. L. Valandgham was elected
the Supreme Commander.
The membership, as stated by SMITH, is
large in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
| r. ! IL: IT
of its members are fully aware Of the true
character Of the organization, and would act
with it in an armed effort to aid the rebels
and overthrow the Government we cannot
estimate, there being several degrees in the
Order, and the most important designs being
known only to those in the two highest de-
grees, But this much is manifest the Or
ganiZation is a Democratic machine, and
connected with it are the leading men of
that party Thus we have the startling spec
tace of organization of men, bound by
oath to aid the cause of the rebels, asking to
have the control Of the Government placed
IN their hands. The conspiratoIs will dictate
the nomination at Chicago the members of
| Wills 1ICdooHdDlc OIutI !" III NOIG SOllu LOT IQ6
nominee of that Convention, and if he shall
be successful will control his Administration.
In the event, then, Of the election of Chi
cago nominee to the Presidency, what would
this Government be worth? How long would
it be before the people of the North would
be forced to the alternative of accepting
the rule of JEFF. DAVIS, or of fighting for
liberty On their own soil?
Are the people prepared for the issue which
is thus soon to be forced upon them? Are
they ready for the momentous question which
will in November be decided at the ballot
box?
The revelations just made explain many
things. They show what it is that encour-
ages the rebels, and fortifes them with hope
to still prosecute their effort to break up the
government. They indicate the nature of
the secret tie of sympathy which causes the
Northern Copperhead and Southern rebel to
breathe with equal venom against the admin
istration of Mr.. LINCOLN, and to long for his
defeat at the next election with equal inten-
sity
The NEW ZEALANDERs have been "playing
roots" on Johnny Bull. They are fighting for
| ind aoI -ooI--