Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-08-12
The conspiracy for the Formation VI a
Nopnwcsterss Gonfe daIasy.
ST. LOUIS. July %

!
! The Democrat publishes long account
Of the conspiracy sorthe erection of the
Northwestern Confeslcracy referred to q
few days since. Tie organization engaged
in this conspiracy is known as the Order Of
| American knights, aid the objects are to
embarrass the Government in the cBlduct
Of the war, and overthrow the Government,
Fit necessary, for the supremacy Of the Or
der. It's profession and purposes are differ
ent in States. 1t proclains a war policy in
New York. Pennsylvania, New Jvrsey aud
other Eastern States, whilo in the West it
is for peace The order is a Southern or
ganig alton, being created on the ruins of
tile knights of the Golden Circle, aud Gen
Sterling prieeis Supreme Commander.
Valianliugham, while in Richmond. was
made Supreme Commander of The Northern
section OF the Order aud a conspiracy was
entered into between him and the rebel au
thorities to divide the East and West, and
then aid the Southern rebellion. VaIlan-
dig hams time in Canada was principally
spent in furthering this scheme. lie had a
conference with some If the leading spirits
in the North soon after his arrival in Can
ada, and arranged for the establishment If
the Order throughout the loyal States.
The names of all who visited him at the
Clifton House are known to the Govern
ment, among them William 3 Rood, Of
Phi9a lal.Aia Pendleton and pugh, Of Obic;
kribben Of St Louis; Story and Morriek
of Chicago, are published. The results Of
this. conference ere also Known to the Coy
eminent.
About the FIRST of January, Vallaulig
ham issued al address 10 the loyal States,
in which he calls upon the members to re
new their VOWS He says the time is fast
approaching which will test their sincerity
That the prosecution OF the wax is viola
ton OF the rights of the States, and that
President Lincoln is usurper.
A meeting Of the Grand Commanders If
the different States was held in New York
on The ed Of February, for the purpose Of
organizing an outbreak on the 10th OF
March, the day fixed for tie draft, but no.
d finite plan was resolved en- The names
Of these conspirators are also known The
same commanders had conversation with
the Supreme Commander at Windsor, Can
ada early in April, for q general consulta-
ton, Among those III attendance wer-
MeMasters, New I ork $ Cash L Hunt, ST
Louis, Lafayette DoYilin, Indiana.
The programme adopted at these meet
ings was, that Yallandigham should repre~
sent his district IN Ohio in the D5mocfatic
National Convention, and there proclaim
the doctrine Of their Order, viz: 20 pro
.nounce the existing administration of the
Government power usurpod, which the
people had right to expel by force, if nee
essary 10 fact, inaugurate.. rebellion in
the North, in witch he was to besuppo rted
by the order Of each Grand Commander,
and was to have an armed body guard at
the Convention, for the defence of Vallan-
digham. That, it was thought, would pre-
cipitate the people Of the free States into
armed conflict, and welld be the signal for
the members of the order to unite against
the lawful authori;i2s, kill or capture the
civil and military authorities, seize arsenals,
arms and public property of all kind, and
proclaim the Government overthrown.
There is most eensinclng evidence Of the
truthlulne$s of this statement. The reason
/ of Vallandigham's sudden return to Ohio
was the fear Of being defeated as a delegate
! to Chicago, and it was only by his presence
his election was secured The numerical
strength Of this Order is said to be consid
erably over half nil ioa. 0ne Hundred
aad fifty thousand are armed and organized
The Order in New York is called 'McCle,,
lan's Minute Men," The Grand Command
, erin Missouliis Charles L. Uunt, fephew
of ) II. Lucas, and many years Belgian
Consul; Deputy Grand Commander, Cbas
u. Damn, city officer Of St. Louis. A long
list Of The names Of members of the Order
in different States, together with full infdr-
nation concerning the whole scheme is il
I the hands Of the authorities at Washington
and will pFobab'y be given to the public in
a short time.
TFron the New York News