Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-10-27
I.-Irs ORIGIN, HISTORY, NAMES. ETC.

This secret association frs: developed itself IN
the West in the year lcG2, about the period of tn.
| first conscription oftroops, which it aimed to Oh
struct and resist Originally known in certain To-
calities the s.Mutual Protection Society,"" the
Circle of Honor or the "Crclc'' or knights
of the Mighty Host" but more widely as the
"Eniohrs eff the Golden Circle" il was simply an
inspiration of the rebellion being little other than
IN extension among the di>oval and disaifccted al
the North of the association of the latter name
and from which il dervc cd all tn chief features oi
It's organization.
( During the summer and fill Of 1863 the Order
both AT the North and South, underwent some
notifications, well as change of name. In
consequs nee Ola partial exposure which had been
made OF the Il gns and secret forms of tho knights
of the Golden Circle" Sterling Price had institu-
ted as its successor in Missouri a seer political
association. VIII ch he called the "Corps de
/ Belgque," OF Southern League his principal
coadutor being Charles l.. Funt, Of 81. Louis,
then Belgian Consul II; that CITY but whose exqsa-
fur subsequent, revoked by the President on
account OF his disloyal practices. The special OBJ
lject oil the Corps de Bclsique appears to We been
| 10 unite the rebel sympath zers OF Missouri, with
view TO their taking up aims and Joining Price
| upon his proposed grand invasion OF that State,
and TO their recruiting for the army in the interim
! Meanwhile, also, there had been instituted al
! the North. in the autumn Of 1865, by >undry dis
loyal persons. prominent among whom were Val
l,n'ii shanlnnd P. T.. Wright, OF New York. Sc
cret Order. intended 10 be general throughout the
country, and aiming at an cxtenled influence and
power, and 1T more positive results than its pre-
decess)r, and which was termed. and has since
be, widely known x the o. A. X or s.Orier o
American Knights >
The opinion is expressed by Col. Sanderson
Provost Marshal General OF The Depar,mcnt o
Missouri, in bis official report upon the progress
oi the Onlcr, that il WIS founded by Vallanligham
during his banis ishmept, and upon consultation nj
Richmond with Davis ond othe' prominent trait
ors. Ii j.. indeed. the boast of the Order in lnd
ana and elsewhere, that its ritual" came direct
irum Davis himself; and Mary Ann Pittman, foi
merry attached to the command OF the rbei For
rest. and most inielgcr witness, whose teStimO
ny will be hereafter referred to, states positvel
that Davis is member OF The Order.
| Upon the institution oil the principal orgaIiiza-
I ton. il Is represented that tie Corps &c Bel
gique' was modified by Price, and became a
Southern section of the o. A. X, and that the
new name was generally adopted for the Order
both at The North and South.
The secret signs and character of the Oidel
having become known to military authorities
further notifications in the ritual and forms were
introduced, and its name was finally changed to
that of the o. :. L. or ..Ordcr OF the Sons ~ Lib
erfy'' the '.Kniehts OF the Order Of the Sons o
Liberty" These later changes are represented
To have been first instituted. and the new ritua
compiled in the State OF Indiana. in May last but
the new name at once generally adopted thro'
out the West, though in some localities the asso
ciation is still better known the 'Order OF Amer
ican Knights"
/ Meanwhile. also. the Order has received Ger.
tain local designations. In parts OF Illinois it has
been called at times the ''Peac Organizlion.' IN
Kentucky, the .Siar Organization" and in Mis-
souri, the "American Organization these, how
ever. being apparently names used outside Of the
lodges OF The Order. Its members have also been
, famiIiarly designated IA "Butcrruts," by the
country people Of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, AZ
its separate lodges have also frequently received
titles intended for the public ear; that in Chicago
for instance, being termed by its members. the
"Democratic Invincblc Club and that in Lou
isville the Democratic Reading Room" &c.
1t Is added that in the State oil New York. and
other parts ef the North. the secret politcel
ciation known the Mcclellan Minute Guard.''
would seem to be branch OF the o. A. K, having
substantially the same ,bject TO be accomplished
however, by means expressly suited to the locali-
ties in which il Is established. For, as the Chiel
Secretary ofthis association, DR.. r. F.. Stevens,
stated in June last to a reliable witness whose tes-
timony has been furnished. 'sthose who represent
the Mcclellan interest are compelled to preach a
vigorous prosecution ofthe war, in order to secure
the popslay sentiment q, q allure yoters'' -