The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-10-29

with the South, the grand aim and end of
with this steadily In prospect that they are
constantly seeking 70 produce discomfort,
DISCRIMINATION and civil disorder at the
North. With this view, they gloat over
every reserve OF the armies of the Union,
and desire that the rebellion shall be pro-
tracted until the resources Of the Govern
ment shall be exhausted, its strength par
alyzed, itscurrency hopelessly deprecated,
and confidence everywhere destroyed
Then, from the anarchy which, under
their scheme is to ensue, the new cOnfed-
eracy is to arise, which is either to unite
itself with that Of the South, or to form
Herewith close and permanent alliance.
Futile and extravagant "a this scheme may
appear, it is yet the settled purpose, Of
many leading spirits Of the secret conspi-
racy, and is their favorite subject OF
thought and discussion. Not only is this
. ,heme deliberated upon in the lodges of the
order, but it is openly proclaimed. Menu
bers of the Indiana legislature, even, have
publicly announced it, and avowed that
they will take their own State out Of the
Union and recognize the independence OF
the South. A citizen captured by guer
rilla band in Kentucky last summer, re-
cords the fact that the establishment Of a
new confederacy asthe deliberate purpose
OF the Western people, was boastfully as
serted by these outlaws, who also assured
their prisoner that in the event of such es-
adjustment there would be a greater re-
belliOn than ever!"
federacy is already organized, that it has
provisional government" officers, de-
partments, bureaus, &C., in secret opera
ton. NO comment is necessary to be made
upon this treason, not now Contemplated
for the first time in our history. Suggest
ed by the present rebellion, it is the logical
consequence of the ardent and utter SYM
patty Herewith which IL the life and in
spiration Of the secret order.
vIII.-rHE WITNESSES AND THEIR rEsrI-
MONY.
The facts detailed in the present report
have been derived from q great variety of
dissimilar sources, but all the witnesses,
however different their situation, concur so
pointedly in their testimony, that the evil
dence which has been furnished of the facts
must be regarded as Of the most reliable
character.
The principal witnesses may be CLASH
fed IS follows:
I. Shrewd, intelligent men, employed as
detectives, and with a peculiar talent for
their calling, who have gradually gained
the confidence of leading members Of the
order, and in some cases have been admit
ted to its temples and been initiated into
one or more Of the degrees. The most re-
markabie of these is Stidger, formerly
private soldier in our army, who, by the
useof an un common address, though at
great personal risk, succeeded in establish
ing such intimate relations with BOwles,
Bullitt, Dodd and other leaders of the Or
der in Indiana and Kentucky, as to be ap-
pointed Grand Secretary for the latter
State, q position the most favorable for OBJ
tanning information o. the plans Of these
and warning the Government of
their intentions. 1t Is to the rare fidelity
of this man, who has also been the princi-
pal witness upon the trial Of Dodd, that
the Government has been chiefly indebted
for the exposure of the designs Of the con-
spirators in the two States named.
2. Rebel officers and soldiers voluntarily
or invoiuntarily making disclosures to our
authorities. The most. valuable
witnesses Of this class are prisoners Of ware,
who actuated by laudable motives, have OF
their own accord furnished large amount
Of information in regard to the Order, es-
pecially as it exists in the South, and of the
relation of its members with those Of the
Northern section: Among these, also, are
soldiers at our prison camps, who, without
it, have made known to our off,
Gals, by the use of the signs, de-, of the
Order, that they were members
8. Scouts employed to travel through the
interior Of the border States, and also with.
in or in the ueighborhood Of the enemy's
lines. Tie fact that some o. those were
left entirely ignorant Of the existence Of
the order, upon being so employed, at.
taches an impressed value to their discov-
cries in regard to its operations.
4. Citizens to whom, wtiie in coutine.
ment, disclosures were made relative 70 the
existence, extent aud character of the or
der by fellow prisoners who where leading
men, bers, and who, in some instances, up
n becoming intimate with the witness, in
itiated him into one Of the degrees.
S. Members of the order. who upon a
full acquaintance with its principles, have
been appalled, by its Infamous designs, and
have voluntarily abandoned il, freely
making known their experience to our mill
itary authorities. In this class may be
placed tue female witness, Mary Ann Pit
man, who, though in arrest At the period Of
her disclosures, was yet induced TO make
them for the reason that, as she says, '.at
the last meeting which attended they
passed an order which considered as ut
lerlY atrocious and barbarous; SO I told
them would have nothing more to do with
them" This woman was attached to the
command Of the rebel Forrest, as an OH
GER, under the name Of +" Lieutenant Raw
ley;" but, because her sex afforded her
was often employed in the execution OF i'm
portant commissions within our territory,
and as a member OF the order, was made
acquainted with other men,
bers both Of tie Northern and Southern
sections. Her testimony is thus peculiarly
aud being a person OF unusual
and force of character, her
statements are succinct,. pointed and en-
phatic. They are also especially useful as
fully corroborating those Of other witnesses
regarded as most trustworthy.
6. Officers Of the order Of high rank, who
have been prompted to present confessions,
more or less detailed, in regard to the or
der and their connection with it. The
principles of these are Hunt, Dunn, and
smith, Grand Commander, Deputy Grand
Com mander, aud Grand Secretary, of the
order in Missouri, to whose statements
frequent reference has been made. These
though in some degree guard
ed and disingenuous, have furnished to
the g0verDmeEt much valuable informa-
ton in regard to the secret operations Of