The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-11-24
THE CHICAGO coNsPIRACY.
Full Development Of the Internal Plot.

NcEy HllubJ, WDOSe ODJcCI IL was 10
overthrow the Government, and at q
given signal to "cry havoc and let slip
the dogs of war" in the city Of Chicago.
Its lodges have held their regular ses-
sions here for months past, its mem
bcrs have been carefully and secretly
drilled, after having been bound by
the most solemn oaths to the most alb
ject indentity with the ORDER large
quantities Of arms have boon imported
here by the agents Of this society,
brought in small quantities so as to
obvlatc suspicion, ammunition has
been manufactured in our midst, the
nighttime being chosen for that pur.
pose; all this had been done, and the
reasonable crew bided their time,
to rise as did their co-traitor5 al the
South-immediately on the c'cction.
After the most careful preparations
here, they thought to make assurance
doubly sure by the importation of a
sufficiently large number of Southern
rebels to enable them to make clean
sweep ofthe city with force irrcsisti-
bic-overwhelming.
All was right. Marmaduke was
here to command; Greenfel was ready
to act as second-their previous mill
tary experience in the actual conflict,
giving them an advantage over the
more theoretical commander. The
latter were to be chiefs of division,
acting under the direction of the ones
above mentioned. Less than another
day and the city would have been
swept by the bosom of destruction
The home conspirators, as is now well
known, held their secret meetings on
that very Sunday night, and made al!
ready for the last grand assembly on
the succeeding Monday-when
each should be ready 10 sally forth at
the concerted signal to the work Of
blood; the train was lighted, and al
ready the "onspirators held their
breath for the rumble Of the explosion
when = = = instantly; quick
as the lightning's flash the connection
was broken, and the carnage thereby
prevented. A few feet only intervcncd
between them and the object of their
lust, but that small interval was mined.
The leaders fell into the pit. and their
demoralized followers skunk back dis
comfted, as did the tcmpter at the
gate of Eden, when touched by the
spear Of Ithuicl.
The arrests made on that cvcntful
night were sufficient to remove any
lingering doubt, if any existed, as to
the fact; but subsequent events were
needed to show the extent and COM
plcteness of the organization here in
Chicago. Those events have shown
that the order is widespread, that 1t
embraces within its bowels hundreds
of our citizens, members, and dozens
of our prominent residents as Office
bearers, that it included not one lodge
but several, and that some thousands
of stands of arms had been brought
here, and were all ready for use
More. The lodges have met more
than ONO in consultation since the
first arrests were made, they have not
yet intermittcd their labors, nor given
up hope of success. Only so far as
they have been obliged to meet even
secretly, to Scdohblc their vigilance,
to change their passwords, and that
they subject to personal inspection
atd close question every one who
enters their rooms-only so far as this
bas change been wrought. They
are bidding their time, and oven swou.
ing in new members-thc latter pro-
cess, however, being conducted with
exceeding caution, and sparingly.
The Government officials are how
ever determined to relax not in their
endeavors till the whole thing is root
cd out. Each new arrest throws ad-
ditional light on the subject, and opens
up the way to more that shall follow.
The labors of Colonel Sweet and sub
ordinates are continued without ces-
saton, and WI be continued till the
whole thing is broken up. The COM
pleto success which has attended their
efforts hitherto may not be told just
now; sutlicet to say that very many
citizens supposed to be of the first
responsibility, arc implicated, and most
astounding developments may be OK
pccted within a few days. A few OF
them have been already arrested;
others will be shortly. The chief Sec
retary of the Chicago lodges was ar
rested on Sunday night, and great
number ofpapcrs captured belonging
to the order. The name of this man,
who has thus achieved an immeasur-
able noteriety, is Patrick Dooley. lie
resided at No 49, Wells srtect. lie is
well known rs an officer OF the Bakers
Union, and a delegate from that or
ganization to the Trades Assembly
Ho has long been known to many
outside of the circle as a virulcnt cop
pcrhcad. lie is now safe in Camp
Douglas.
The authorities have also captured
three boxes of breech- loading cavalry
carbincs, intended for Morgan's men.
1t can not be claimed that they be-
longcd to any infantry organization
in Chicago, and they are perfectly
new. Also two boxes of double-bar-
relied shot-guns, of the same kind as
those found at Walsh's house These
were captured in barn owned or
rented, by Walsh, in the city.
A man named FELTON,, formerly in