Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-08-11
The Sons of Liberty.

The papers of Indiana publish the report
OF Gen Darlington to Gov. Morton, expos
ing the Order which first became notorious
under the name Of X. G. G. knights of
the Golden Circle, then assumed that Of
o. A. X. (Order OF American Knights
and has atterly been working under the
name Of the 8. ofL (Sons OF liberty. The
report of Gen. Darlington contains brief
and systematic summary of what the official
documents Of the Order show to be its Ma.
ture, its Principles, Extent, Officers, Ope-
rations, and Purposes. These doctiments
are published, together with Report, and
every truth seeking reader, to whatever par
ty he may belong, can at once satisfy HIM
self whether Gen. Carrington has rightly
understood the language of the documents
or not. i' "A .il7 tfFHaf
The most prominent doctrine of the Or.
der that the United States have no SOW
ereignty, that every State has right to se-
ccde from the Union, that If the Govern
ment of the United States claims any pow
er inconsistent with the EXTREMIST theory of
State Rights it is usurper, and true pat.
riots have not only the right but the duty
to labor for its overthrow. f..l
The Order, OF course, claims the right to
oppose the draft and the payment of taxes
for the continuation Of the war. Italso ap
pears that it has it own army, which the
Commander n-Chief may call iuto active
service. The present Commander-in Chief
is said to be G. l.. Vallandigham. ~
| That there are Copperheads sufficiently
venomous in their hatred to the Govern.
ment of the United States to advocate all
that is set forth as the principles of the Or.
der, including an amest direct appeal to
arms whenever fit opportunity shall offer,
does not admit Of any doubt The most
virulent Copperhead papers of the West do
not deny the authenticity of the published
documents; or the contrary, they plead that
every American has the right to join an
Order having the principles of the "Sons
OF Liberty" ''Al the affair amounts to
from the proofs presented s." says the In
dianapolis Sentinel, that certain persons
have banded together to maintain certain
political doctrines subordinate to the Con
stitutien."
According to the report Of the Grand
Secretary of the Order, there were, in Feb
ruary. 1864, in Indiana about $4,000 mem
bers, and the organization was at work il
the States Of New York New Jersey Penn
sylvana. New Hampshire, Connecticut
Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Delaware
Maryland, and Missouri
lfall the documents that have been pub
lished are correct, it is certain that mum
ber Of States have in their midst associa
tions of men who are solemnly hound to rise
on q fit opportunity, for the dissolution o
the Union and tor forminga u new Confeder
acy of soveign States. With regard to thei
avowed intention to commit TREASON tn
Government has great responsibility rest
ing upon it. Its action ought to be prompt
undauntcd, and decisive
The Sons of Liberty, if there is any 10y
atty left in the Democratic party, mus
soon prove wedge for the dissolution G
position TO the ppiocine @ ' of Secession ioTU wi
have to prove whether they can go hand i
hand with avowed Secessionists or not.