, 1864-08-08

array the loyal State Of Illinois in rebellion
ag:inst the General Government, no one,
who has clcse1y natched the element Of dis
10y atty everywhere apparent and more par
tlcularl, prominent in the central aud south
ern counties Of the State. has Jailed to dis
cover. How extensive is this conspiracy and
how far 1t has extended into communities
accounted loyal, may be inferred from the
recent cxposltion of the aims and principles
Of the new order of the American Knights,
lately given in the columns Of the TRIBUNE
an expedition which bears upon Its face
upmistakeable evidences Of truthfulneas,
and II hich is further corroborated By the tes-
tImopy of Charles L. Hunt, Supreme Grand
Commander of the order In the neishboring
Suite Of Missouri, just published This off,
cial, it will be remembered, upon his exsmi-
nation before the Provost Marshal of the
Department, under oath denied the existence
OF the order and the fact that he was mem
her thereof. Since then, he has made clean
breast Of 1t, and corToborates most fully the
worst that has been eaid of it.
4 somewhat extended visit to the counties
Of Coles, jasper, Edgar Clark, Ef1tngham,
Moultrie, Christian and Montgomery, and
reliable information gained, from sources
aloye suspicion, hos mol only satisfied me
that tie reported strength Of the order in
Illinois was not exaggerated, but that In
many of the counties above enumerated,
whole communities are ripe for rebellion.
They make NO secret Of their opposition to,
not the Administration, but the Government,
Bnd avoW Themselves ready to overtuEn 1t at
all hazards. They often contrast the despot-
ism uuder which they allese the whole couu-
tr5 is hboring with the excited freedom that
distinguishes the so-called Southern Confcd-
eracy, and ardently long for the time when
nF& nIof&n 1,C+
shall be extended over every State in the
Northwest. I belic7e they are openly plot
ting and laboriDg to bring about this desired
cEd. At all events, they do not hesitute to
avow that this is their purpose.
In all the counties have named there are
trul Of prominent resident ntsecesstonists they
cun them democratic regiment"
were 1alsed for the avoWed purpose Of re-
siating draft in Illinois. By a very singular
coincidence, these organizations were most
extensive and most active at the time John
sna. It Is well understood that 1t was his
Intention, In the frat instance, to visit the
States Of Indiana and Illinois. an intention
changed by the persistent attacks made upon
him coon after he entered Indiana. Had hts
first p1sus been carried out as he expected,
there Is little doubt that every one Of these
s9Democratic regiments" would have joined
him and aided him in over-runusng the State.
Most Important results to cur citiz7ns and
State hung upon the simple change OF base Of
thr guerilla chieftaip.
hundred veterans it Charleston there appears
little evidence that these organic ltions are
ective. The organization remane, but they
do not meet for pura6e and drill US hereto
fore. The Copperheads there are compelled
to content themselves with such opposition
to tue government as can be shown in words
alone. Should the soldiers be removed,
should any great disaster occur to our enc
mites in the field, OF should draft be ordered
in Coles County, firmly believe they wonId
former riots, and the fact that many Of the
prominent Copperhcad citizens and officials
have been compelled to flee before the VEN
geance OF outraged law, has raised d ranking
sore difficult to be healed. They would re-
|olce at IN opportunity that would give them
the ghost of an excuse for proving their ha-
tired Of the government and Its constituted
authorities.
The snnic state of a1afrs distinguished
Edgar County. 4 company Of Veterans are
stationed at Paris also, and It Is their pre-
the contingency above alluded to: In Clark
aud EH1pgham there are no soldiers, and
treason flourisheth in consequence. In the
former County, the Marshall IHsHoisla",
pesti1ent little Copperhead sheet, rs outspo-
ken In lts reasonable utterances as me Kien-
eAF.
port Its Editor Is the person lately placed
IN nomination for the piace OF District At
torncz b5 the Copperheads of the 3th Ju-
dicial Circuit.
In Jasper County, in the Blue Grass Re.
gion, / am credibly informed that baud Of
nearly two hundred citizens are encamped,
well mounted and well armed, and prep ared
to organize armed resistaoce to the aurhori-
ties whenever their leaders shall give the
word. 49,.
nents Of the Government are well organized,
eScellently well armed. and prepared for any
emergency. In recent issue of the organ
Of JEFF, Davis in this city, 1notice that the ed.
Itors of that sheet deny the trathfntness of
The revelations made BY me in letter from
]age Ny account was strictly true and eau
be substantiated By any number Of credible
Witnesses.
In Christian county the. organiz ,tion Is
perfect. It was portion Of the Copper
heads from the y Vicinity Ct Taylossyil!e. the
disgraceful kidnapping Of the six negroes
from Paua, recently.
Faye,te, Bond, and Montgomery counties
are the thea'er Of tbs exploits Of the band Of
gutrtllas under the present command OF
Clingman, q Confederate Colonel, who has
as border ruttian, in. Missouri Both Col
Clingmar and his men are sworn into the
Confederate service. Your readers are al
ready familiar with the depredations com
mitted By this band, aud the success OF the
efforts made to dislodge them. They hive
altogether filled, and Clingman now occn-
pies bis old camping ground in the vicinity
Of Van Burensburg,: With numbers Largely
incIeased From the fac*s stated above,
your readers can learn tn. grounds Of ny
b le1 tina. IN outbreak Ia inevitable.
| The citizens on both sides aru preparing
| for this event with great enthustasm. Large
| quantities Of powder aud hCckshos a-t being