Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-08-11
Full and Authentic Account Of the
Conspiracy to Establish Great
Northwestern Confederaey.

Full ana Autnentlc Account OF III
Conspiracy to Establish a Grea
Northwestern Confederaey.
The facts, as gathered, warrant th'
belief that the following outlines mal
be relied on as fair exposition of
conspiracy, which for its numbers
Itreasonable purposes, effective organ
lization and machinery, is certainly
well calculated to startle the loya
people of this country, and which
cannot fail to excite the most seriou:
,apprehensions in the minds of all.
THE ORDER
The order is q secret, one. Tits
called by different names in different
localities or States, and is known
among thus: o. A. T. Its real object
is to embarrass and thwart the ad-
ministration of the general Govern
ment in the coLduct of the war and
overthrow the Government, if that
be necessary to secure the supremacy
of the order Its professions, as
well as its purposes, are different in
different States; thus, while it profess
ses and proclaims war policy in
New York, Pennsylvania, and other
States, in Ohio and other Western
States it is for peace: so, while in
the eastern section of the Union it is
clamorous for the restoration of the
CONSTITUTION as tits and the Union as
it was" in the western its undisgui-
sed object and avowed policy is the
establishment of a North western
Confederacy.
rro- ITS OATH AND OBJECT.
The aim and fundamental principle,
if principle 1t may be called, upon
which he organization is founded,
and which is incorporated in the oath
or obligation of every degree taken
by any member thereof, is that the
chosen officers of our Government
have usurped authority, and they
claim it not only as their right and du-
ty to resist those officers, and il needs
be to expel them by force-in plain
unvarnished English that Abraham
Lincoln is usurper, and that it is not
only their right, but their duty to
drive him out of the White House.
1t is claimed by them, and so explain
ed in the oath or obligation itself
which they take, that such resistance
to the existing functionaries of the
Government is not revolution, but
only the assertion ofright. To make
this point more clear, the following
extract from the oath is given:
I'm accordance with the prin
nfnn WHICH is founded tho
theory, Government can eA~
only delegated powers; hence
those who shall have been chosen to
administer the Government shall
assume to exercise powers not dele
gated, they should be regarded and
treated as usurpers.
The meaning of this, to leave no
doubt, is explained in the same obli-
CATION still further by these words:
s.The reference to inherent power,
as also to existing necessity, on the
functionary for the sanction of any
arbitrary exercise of power by him,
We will not accept in palliation or
excuse"
BORN OUT OF THE SOUTHERN CoNFED-
ERAcY.
The Origin of the order is traced
to- the Southern Confederacy. and ii
has been erected upon the ruins of
''the Knights of the Golden Circle, y
whicn at one time was extensive
among officers of the rebel army,
and their synpathizing secession
friends in the loyal States. That or
der having been thoroughly exposed,
its rituals, songs, &c, made known
to the pubfic-it btcaEe necessary
to organize something in its stead.
/ The result of the effort. it would
seem, was the order of American
Knights, of which Major General
Sterling Price, Of the rebel army, be.
come the chief, known by the title o.
Supreme Commander. While dis
tinguished denagogue and agitator
from Ohio, sojourned at the city o
Richmond, in exile, he it would seem
was duly enlfghten, d in the myster
les, objects and purposes of the sub
lime rebel order, and admitted t.
all its rights and privileges as
member.
vALLANDIGHAM.
The next step was gigantic con
, spiracy between himself and the re
j bel authorities, to inaugurate anothe
3 rebellion m the loyal States to sep
, arate the West from the East, an
! thus give aid and comfort to th
3 Southern rebellion. To do this b
was mrde Supreme Commander c
the Northern section of the orde
embracing the loyal States, and wa
< assisted to make his escape throug
: the blockading feet to Canad,
e whittier he fed to establish his heat
. quarters and to commence the q
: ganization of the Northern sectio
I Of the order of traitors.
= WHAT HE DID IN CANADA.