Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-10-29
THE WEST ERN CONSPIRACY
BY HORACE GREELEY,

NO just view OF our great struggle and
Its elements can overlook the powerful
agency of secret political societies designed
oy their founders to control or to subvert
the Government of our Union These so
cletles have undergone many transforms
tloDs and borne various names. suggested
by their more especial objects respectively
but they have had one essential purpose
namely, the complete suljugatiou Of our
National existance and power to the diffu,-
ion and perpetualion of Human Slavery.
The Order of the Loan Star powerfully
aided 10 1852. the election of Pierce and
King, while professedly grasping at the &C
QUESTION OF Cuba /; the same purpose WAS
proclaimed in 1856. through the subjuga-
ilon OF Kansas engrossed the energies of
ils more active apostles, then operating as
Sous OF the South; while ia, 1860, under
be appelation of knights of the Golden
Circle, the secret Order powerfully contri.
buted 10 the distribution of the Demo
cratic party, the concentration of its re-
mainug Electoral vote on Breckinridge,
and the inauguration Of secession. 1t was
the breaking up team that prepared The
ground Tor the bounleous harvest OF trea-
son carnage, and devastation which has
since been realized. 1t has since pursued
its end and shnnned observation under the
titles of Circle of Honor, Southern League,
Corps de Be)gique. and more generally as
.. A X, or Order of American Knights,
which latter cognomen. though once quite
genera, has fually given place TO that o.
u. s L. or O der of Sons of Liberty.
This Prot can Order, having, at au early
period OF our struggle, challenged the al
tentlon OF the Government by the variety
pertinacity aud maligoiiy of it's hostile op
eratlous, was necessarily subjected TO obser
vatioD and scrutiny through The agenc,
OF provost marsbals. detectives, until i
true character and aims were thoroughly
asceftalned and established mainly undel
the direction of Brig Gen. Caring on,
commanding the district of Indiana, and
| Col Sapderson, provost marshal OF the dis
lrict of Missouri A detective. B =
Sudger, formerly a private solder of The
Union, aud Mary Ann Pilman, formerly d
rebel epy and agent, known as Lieut.. Row
ley, were primarily employed to bring thu
clues to this graud conspiracy within tn,
grasp OF our Military chiefs, since which
The evidence of letters, rituals, confession
aud documents of every kind, have estab
llSned be leading facts beyond the reacl
OF do uots or cavil.s Itis not yet moptl
since ID Ii Dodd, the Grand Commando
for lndlans, who was tried before mill
ilary commission for conspiracy and trea
son, with such resulting developments lhai
his partners iu crime were impelled TO sio
his escape from custody. The facts elicted
on this and kindred Investigations have
been embodied by Judge Advocate, g eneral
Jacob Holt in an official repor; to the
Secretary of War, which is one OF the
most startling and momeDtous documents
ever issued from the American press. From
this we learn that Mr.. p G. Wright whe
formerly offciated as Editor of Congress
man Woods Daily Nc,os in this city, wvs O
master spirit of the trailorous Order, un
ill arrested, some six months since aud sen,
to Fort Lsfay since which time anothe
change of name has been effected. and The
Mcclellan Minute Guard, whereof Mr.. r
l. SeveUs is the ostensible chief has re-
placed 10 this section the o. "A. K A
secret peace council was held in this city
on the 22d of February last, whereat oul
Mayor, G. Godfrey Gunther, is said tt
have presided The West, how ever, is ths
stronghold and focus of the Sons of Liberty
who recognize c. l. Valandigham as theil
Grand Commander in the Loyal, Will,
lSlerling Price holds like position in the reb
elStates, under the guidance Of Supreme
Council The order is essentially military
IL