The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-11-12

.fsa.oa A sAe lteraA =.

meub WnIcn roOeto anu UyWP0eua&0ss HsSI
created in the loyal State says:
During more than { year past it has been
generally known to our military authori.
ties that . secret reasonable ovgantsation \,
.fiIi ted with the Southern rebellion, and
chief military 10 its character. has been 5
rapidly extending itself throughout the :.
West. A variety Of agencies, which will !
be specified herein, have been employed, 4
and successfully. to ascertain its nature =
and extent, a. we'll as its aims and its re- n
suits; and, IS this investigation has led 70 n
the arrest, in several s ates, of number
of its prominent members as dangerous
enemies to their country, It mas oeen
deemed proper to set forth IN fuii the
acts aud purpose of this orgsnasauon'
and thus to make known 10 the communi'
ty at large it's intensely IRRESPONSIBLE and
revolutionary spirit. L,
This secret association first developed
itself in the West in the year 1868,
about the period OF the 4 at CONSUMPTION
of troops, which j. aimed to obstruct
and resist. Originally known in certain
localities as the Mutual Protection Soci
ety." the "Circlen or knights of the
Mighty Host" but more widely as the
"knigh,s Of the Golden Circle" it was
simply an inspiration Of the rebellion,
being little other than an extension among
tho disloyal and dissffected at the North
of the association of the latter name. " hich
had existed for some years at the South,
aud from which it derived all the ch'ei
features of its organization. During the
summer and fall of 1868 tho Order, both
at the North aud South, underwent some
notifications, as we'll rs d change OF name.
In consequence oi partial exposure
which hsd been made of the signs and
secret forms of the knights of the Gold
en- Circle" Sterling Price had Instituted
as its successor in Missouri secret po-
litical association, which be called "Corps
de Begique" or Southern League" bis
principle coadj atm oeing Chailes l.. Hunt,
Of St. Louis. Belgian Consul at that city
but whose e.regaatar was subsequently
revoked by the Presi lent on account oil
his disloyal practices. TIE special objec,
Of the Corps de Belgique appears 70 have
been to unite the rebel sympathzsrs oil
Missouri. with a ew to their taking up
arms and joining Price upon his proposed
grand INVASION Of that State, and to their
recruiting for his army in the interim
Meanwhile. also, there had been insti
tuted at the North, in the auumn o
1868 By sundrg disloyal persons, promi
nent among whom were ValIandighan
and p. G. Wright. Of New York, seer
order, intended 10 be general throughout
the country, and aimiog at an extended
nj 81
results than its predecessor, and which
was termed, aud has since been widely
known as the 0 A. K, or "Order o.
Amsrfcan Knights
The opinion is expressed by Coone
Sanderson, Provost NJ :rshal General O
the Department Of Missouri in BIZ
official report upon the progress of tn,
order, that it was founded BY Vallan
digham during his Punishment, and upof
consultation at Richmond with Dsvi
aud other prominent traitors. II is
indeed, the boast Of the order in Indian,
aad elsewhere, that its ritual came d
rect from Davis himself and Mary AM
Pitmsn, formeil, attached to the commant
OF the rebel Forrest, and most inteIk
gent witness, whose testimony will b.
hereafter referred to. states positively tina
Davis is member of the order
Upon the Institution of the principa
organization. it is represented that tn
CORPS de Bslgigue" was modified b
Price and becsm Southern section O
tue o. A. X, and that the new uame wa
generally adopted for the order, both a
the North and South
Tha sapraf anil aharao,o- r a.
order having become known to our militsr
autho rites, further notifications in tn
rltu al and forms we're introduced, and it
name was finally changed to that of tn
y. 5 L.. or "Order of the Sons of Liber
ty.' These latter changes are represent
ed to have beer 6rst Instituted, and th
new ritual complied in the State of Indi
ana 10 May last, hut the new name wa
at once generally adopted throughout til
West, though in some localities the asso
citation is still better known as the .sOrde
OF American Knights
Meanwhile. also, the order has receivet
certain local designations. II ,arts O
Illinois 1t has been called at times tn
"Peace Organization, in Kentucky th,
"Stsr Organization, and 10 Missouri a
the american Organization, these how
ever. being apparently names used out
side the order. Its members have ais
been familarly designated os "Batter
nuts b2 the country people of Illinois
lodiana and Ohio, ind its separate lodge
have also frequently received titles in
tended for the public ear; that il Caio
70 LOT instance being termed By its nam
oers the Democratic Inyincible Club
that 10 Louisville the Democratic Read
ing ROOM" DC
1t i to be added that in The State =
New York, and other parts Of the No,th
the secret political association know, =,
the Mcclellan Minute Guard vonl,
seem to be a branch of the q
having substantially the same objects :,
be accomplished. however by means eY
rressly suited TO the localities in wh;c,
1t Is established. For as the Chief Sc
rotary OF this association, Dr.. X. f. Ste
vens stated in June last to q reliable wi,
ness, whose testimony has been fur
hlshed, those who represent the MeC 81