Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-11-04

JOSEPH ]. BINGHAM, the editor of the Indian
apOlis Stale Sentinel Chairman ofthe Democrat
ic State Central COMMITTEES. Third Degree menu
Der and a Commander Of the Sons of Liberty,
testified before the Military Commission at In
dianoplis ON the 26th of October, that he Joined
the American Knights in October or November,
1863, at Military Hall, then leased to the Demo-
cratic Club Of Indianapolis, and was initiated
there. Wequote:
degritt and others were present In August or
September i was introduced to 2. G. Wright
by Dodd. Wright gave his story and claimed
to have found in the papers belonging to Gen.
Gaines, of New Orleans, the record of secret
society which existed during the Revolutionary
War, Of which Gen. Lee was President and
| Madison, jefferson aud Washington were mem
bers. Wright designed to establish similar
order, aud had come To this State for that pur-
pose He said it existed in Missouri, Illinois, and
| the central America States and was to extend
| all over the world. He wanted Bingham to help
him found it here but he declined because he
| was opposed to secret societies He asked 9th
er leaders to Join. Most of them declined. 1t
was Understood that Dodd was to be member
Dodd was an active, leading Know-N NOthing.-I
DOdd urged Bingham to join, and said it was
political and educational. A State University
to inculate sound political doctrine, and news
paper were to be started. Dodd said he wanted
| to advise with the witness about many things
He could not unless he Joined the order; that he
could not even tell the names of the members of
the order, for the obligation bound him to sec
recy. He offered to pat Bingham through in
| formally. Bingham saw the seeds of discOrd
for the party if he did not join and unite the
different elements againstthe Administration
Dodd informed Bingham that he was delegate
| to the State Council of November 1863. He
attended and took the Grand Council Degree
Dodd presided. Harrison was Secretary
The witnes then gave a history of his connec-
tion with the Order and some of its general op-
erations, down to the attempted inauguration of
the great Copperhed conspiracy to getup arevO-
luton, assassinate Governor MohroM and liber-
ate heprisoners at Camps Chase, Morton, Doug
las. Rock Island and Johnson's Island Mr.
BINGHAM testified that he knew of the meeting
of the sons of Liberty in june but was not pres
ent, and knew nothing of its proceedings We
now quote the concluding portion of his exam
ination
On the I'd or Sd day of August, Dodd called
on him to issue, as Chairman of the Democratic
Central Committee, a call for mass meeting on
the 10th day of August. He asked his word of
honor that he would not reveal anything he
might say. Bingham furnished it. Dodd said
revolution had been determined on at the
Council of the 18th, held at Chicago, which
consisted of four members from Indiana, four
from Missouri, four from illinois, and four from
Kentucky. Dodd, and Bowles, and Bullitt
were present. Dodd said they arranged there
to release the rebel prisoners at Johnson's ISL
and, Camp Chase, Ohio, Camp Morton, Indiana,
and Camp Douglas, Illinois, and the released
prisoners at Camp Douglas were to release those
at Rock Island. At the same time they were to
rise at Louisville and seze the Government stores
and property. Bingham was astonished DOdd
wanted him TO call a mass meeting under the
pretense of opposing the draft, and instructing
the Chicago delegates. Bingham refused Dodd
wanted him to call Congressional Convention
to nominate Congressman as cover TO his
revolution. Bingham refused. Dodd went to
Mcdonald to have him influence Bingham TO
call the Convention Bingham thought he
ought to reverse the plot and tried Mcdonald
with the watchword What success" to know
whether the secret had been intrusted to him.
He found it had not and impaired it to McDon-
aid on August 4th. They could not agree what
to do, and agree to meet again.
Next day, while going home, he met McDon-
aid Kerr. of New Albany, and said "What sue
cess" He answered, "Do you know anything?
The people are all alarmed in our part of the
State, in Washington, Harrison and Floyd COun-
ties, with the idea that revolution is in pro-
gress. They are selling their crops because
they think greenbacks safer" Kerr went on
and revealed Dodd's scheme. Both then went
to McDonald's. Kerr told him this plot Bing-
ham did not then tell Mcdonald of his with
drawal from the Order, but was understood to
still belong Kerr's information involved DR..
Athon. Morton was to be put out of the way,
and Athon to be Governor. They went to Ath-
On's house. called him up, and he denied anY
knowledge of the plot. They met at McDon-
AIDS office next morning, and invited prominent
Democrats TO meet them. Mcdonald, Judge
A. L. Roach, VIM. Hutcheson, Aquilla Jones'
Sam1 II. Buskorn, JOS Ristine, Dr. Yeagle
Col. Callwell and others were there. Kerr told
his story. They said the revolution must be
stopped. = 4
Dodd and John O. Walker were called in-l
They did not then acknowledge anything about
it. At first Kerr told Bingham that if they
would not abandon it, it was his interest to in
form the authorities and have them arrested.
Dodd and Walker then spoke very earnestly
about public affairs saying the Government
could not be restored under the old state of
things, and nothing would save it but fOrcible |
revolution. An appeal to the ballOt-box was |
futile; the people would resist the draft, and |
they ought to direct the revolution, rather than
let it direct them. Dodd and Walker promised |
to stop it, and it was understood they sent such
orders to the various counties. Bingham didn't |
inform the authorities because he thought they |
knew il, and because it was agreed that notice |
ofthe uprising should be given by publishing
it at barbecue near Louisville. The revolu- |
tion was TO take place the day. after the barbe-
cue. Kerr said Bullitt and other prominent
members of the order were arrested because of
that notice; and that many left the State for
Canada. Bingham thought this so important
that he called the Democratic Central Commit
ttee together August 18th, to consult on its ef-
feet on the party. Another reason why he did
not inform the authorities was because he didn't
wish to injure his party in the coming election
There was no danger Of that if the revolution
was made public Dodd was here for two weeks
and Walker for ten days. He told them he
would be arrested and they left. Dodd claimed
that the scheme was true until Kerr charged it
upon him. At the two days meeting of the
Central Committee August 18th, this revolu-
tion plot was discussed. They said the plot
must be dropped. Walker was called 10 this
meeting and assured the COMMITTEES that it was
stopped, August 11th. Walker told Bingham
he must be at the Bates House to meet the reb-
el officers from Louisville, who were to consult
him while en- route to Chicago to release the reb-
ell prisoners there, and notify them that the rev.
olutiOn was postponed. In August about the
time the arms were found in Dodd's building
a messenger brought him a communication from
Dodd and Walker, then in Chicago protesting
to be addressed tothe committee of thirteen ask
ing its publication in the Sentinel. He exam
ined it, and refused TO publish it. They pro-
posed to publish it at Dodd's Office but Bing-
ham having an interest, said they should not
publish it, and sent it back TO Walker, who said
he wrote the address, and signed Dodd's name
as chairman of the committee of thirteen. DOdd
was Grand Commander. The members were
sworn to obey him implicitly in this revolution. |
Dodd expected assistance from members of the
Order who came up to the mass meeting of Au- !
gust 10Th. Bingham said no inducements or
threats had drawn out this testimony. 1t was
voluntary.
MORE TRAIN THUNDER.
George Francis Train is making grand run
through the Old keystone. AT Scranton he |
reused the peopleto high pitch Of enthusiasm. |
He concluded az follows and brouUht down the |