New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-10-17
Ill. Origin, Esis.sry, Names, &c.

This secret association fret developed itseN In the
West In the year 1862 abou; the period Of the first con
scrpton OF troops which it aimed to obstruct and
sist. Originally known IN certain localities the
mutual Protection Society" the Circle OF Honor"
or the " Circle or Knights Of the Mighty Host bu.
more widely tho knights OF the Golden Circle" Is
simply inspiration Of the Rebellion. being little
other than the extension among the dsoya ana dsaf
fected az the North Of the association OF the ater name
which had existed for years az the South snd from
which it derived all the chief features Of its oTganiza
ton.
During the Sumner and Fall OF 1868 the order both
at the North aud South. underwent some notifications
well rs change OF name. In consequence OF par.
tia exposure which had been made Of the signs and
secret forms Of the Knights OF the Golden Circk,"
Sterling Price had Instituted its successor in Mis-
sour political association. which he called Tie
Corps de Belgque." Southern League, his prin'
ripal ooadiBtor being Charles l. Hunt, OF St Louis.
then Belgian Consul q. that city, but whose sztqeav
was subsequently revoked by the President on account
OF his dslOya practices The special OBJECT OF ne
Corps de Bclgque appears TO have been 70 unite the
Rebel sympathizers uf Missouri with view 10 Their
taking up arms and Joining Price upon hi proposed
grand invasion Of that Stale, ana 10 ttf recruiting VI
his army In the interim.
Meanwhile also, there had been instituted at the
North il the Autumn Of 1868 by sundry dsloyal per
sons prominent among whom were FoilanDghlm and
i. G. Wright, OF New York, secret order intended
% be general throughout the comfy and aiming al
extended influence end power, and at positive re-
suts than he predecessor and which was termed. and
has since been widely known es the o. ii. H. of "Cr'
Dr. Of AalsricaE hnighfs.'
Marshal General Of the Department Of NssouI in his
official report upon the progress OF ths order, that II
founded by Naliandlgham during his bsnisineDt,
and upon consolation az Richmond with Davis Gid
other prominent traitors II is indeed the boast Of the
order In Indiana and elsewhere that its ritual came
direct from Davis himself; and Mary Aua Pittman,
formerly attached 70 the command ofth Rebel Forrest
and most Intelligent witness. whose testimony viii be
hereafter referred TO- states positively that Davis
member Of the order.
Upon the institution Of the principal organization It
q otedt hat he
fed BY Price and became Southern section OF the o.
a. X and thot the new name was generally adopted
Tor the order, both at the North and South.
The secret signs and character Of the order having
become known 10 our military authorities fur,hy modi
noatons IN the ritual and forms introduced and
It's finally changed to that Of the o. 5. L.,
"Order Of th. sons of Li6sry or the Knights Of tie
Order Of toe Sons Of Liberty These later changes
represented TO have been first instituted and the
ritual compiled In State OF Indiana May last bnt
the new name was at once generally adopted through
out the West though in localities the association
M still better known as the "Order OF American 4
knights"
Meanwhile also the order has received certain local
designations In parts Of Illinois II has been called ut
times the peace Organization" in Kentucky the |
"Star Organization" and in Missouri as the Ameri
can Organizations" those however being apparently 4
names used outside of the lodges OF the order. Its
members have also been Familiarity designated as But 4
ternuts BY the country people of InOs Indiana and
Ohio and its separate lodges have also frequently
eeiyed titles intended for the public ear that in Chi
cogo for instance. being termed by it's members the II
democratic Invincibie Club" that in Louisville the
democratic Reading Room" &c.
1t is TO be added that III the State Of New and
other parts Of the North the political association H
known as the McClekGn Minute Guard7 would seem N
70 be branch Of the o. A H. having substantially the
some objects 70 be accomplished however by means
expressly suited 10 the localities In which il cstsb
bshed For, the Chief Secretary Of this Association
Dr K r. Stevens stated In June last to trustworthy
witness whose testimony has been furnished, hosa
who represent the Mcclellan interest compelled 10
pgeaoh vigorous prosecution Of the war IN order 10
fesure the popular sentiment and allure voters"