Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-08-18

~ 40 Pa- FSSS- -rs-trtf
Q-State what the prominent
members of the Order of American
Knights have universally said In ref
erence to the objects and purposes
OF said Order in your presehcef
A. When 1 first Joined in the
spring of 1868. S. L. Moses, the In.
structor of the Order, informed me
that 1t was Democratic organiza
ton, gotten up for the benefl, of
those engaged in rebellion, and to
unite the Democratic party proper
/ with q yiav= of cooperation with the
rebel armyf
Q-When and where was said or.
ganizationA expected to CO operate
with the so-cslled Confederate
army2
A. In the event of an invasion
by the rebel army into Missouri.
Q-Were you not led to believe
after joining said Order, by conver
sation with members thereof, that its
objects and purposes were directly
opposite those of the Genaral Gov
ernment and in direct hostility 10
said Government
A.-Yes, Sir.
Q-Were not the members of this
Order secretly plotting and conn:v-
ing at the obstruction of the General
Government, and assisting. through
the agents of said Order, with the
view Of establishing the iudepen-
dence OF the so-called Confederate
States. .-a- .g.J .r; -.
Ayes, SIR.
Q.-From the knowledge you have
ofsaid organization, do you not be-
lieve it to be thoroughly disloyal and
inaugurated for the purpose of de-
featlng the objec OF the present
Administration in suppressing the
present rebelliOnf
A.-Yes, sir.
Q-Was it not generally under
stood by members OF said Order that
steps had been taken to inform the
Confederate authofitis that this Or
der was friendly to the interests and
policy of the SO called Confederate
States, and ready and willing at any
time to render any and all assistance /
in Its power in the over throw of the
General Governments
A.-That was belieyeds ta be the
object of those who give direction /
to said Order.
Odd not the members of this
Order secretly exult over t he reyer-
ses of the Fedeeal army and at the
success of the so-called Confedera-
tes2
A.--Yes, sir.
In regard to the probable arrest of
Vallandigham at Chicago, he answers
as follows.
Q.-You have stated that there
was a general expectation that an
attempt would be made to arrest
Faliandigham on his reaching Chica- :,
go on the 4th fully, and to prevent
him from making a speech there
Was the Government to be resisted
in that effort by the members of
the Order there assembled? /,
A.-There was a general under
standing among the members of the
Orders, that in case Vallandigham
should return within the Federal
lines and an effort was made by the
Government to seize or arrest him.
such effort was to be resisted by the
united action of the Order.
Q-Is it the general conviction
and belief of the members of this
Order that the penalty denounced in ,
the oath which they take, will be .
certainly executed on any member .
it2 .s @ 90 . /,
A.-That is the general belief
Q-ls it considered to be the
1uty of each member to execute this
penalty upon the violator of the
path, or is there some particular per-
son of said Order, whose duty it is
% enforce the penalty in such case?
1t is oonoidersd the duty of
each member. .e-e'
Q-The oath denounces ga shame
ful DEATH" is there by that meant
any particular form of death?
A.-None that ever heard off
Q.-It being the general under
standing of each member of the
Order, that it is the duty of each
metncer thereof to enforce the pen
atty, what is the und erstanding as
10 the mode of doing it2 Is it to he ,
done boldly and publicly by force,
% secretly and privately by stealth?
A.-There was no particular mode /,
Or manner understood BY the mem
bers. it was to be done at any time :
and at all hazards.
The obligation of the oaths taken q
are paramount to all others. On this I
point, Smith answers thus: l.
Q. What is the general view en- Y
by members as to the ex- j
tent of the binding obligation of the c
paths they take as members; are such q
oaths regarded as paramount in their /
obligations upon them to those taken i
upon the witness stand before Civil c
Or Military Tribunal? b
"a. The general view among them c
is. that the osths they take as mem
bers are paramount in their obliga- 4
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