Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-29


Another Reported Conspiracy
The Establishment of N NOrth-
western COnfederacy the AyOwed
Observation-Disclosures Reported
as the Leader I'm the North.
ST. LOUIS, July 2S.-The Democrat pub
fishes long account of conspiracy for
the erection ofa Northwestern Confederacv.
referred to few days since. The organi,
zation engaged in this conspiracy is known
as the Order Of American Knights, and its
sole object is to embarrass and thwart the
Government in the conduct of the war,
and overthrow the Government if necessa-
ry for the supremacy of the order. Its
professions and purpose are different in
different States. 1t proclaims war policy
In New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and other Eastern States, while in the West
it is for peace. The order is of Southern
origin, being erected on the ruins of the
knights of the Golden Circ.e, and Gen.
Sterling Price is Supreme Commander.
Vallandigham, while in Richmond, was
made supreme commander of the northern
section Of the order, and the conspiracy en-
tered into between him and the rebel au-
thorities to divide the east and west, thus
aiding the southern rebellion. Vallandig-
i"ni o'hiO III Cauaua was pIllclpally SpenC
In furthering this scheme. He had q con-
ference with some leading spirits in the
north soon after his arrival i'm Canada, and
arranged for the establishment of that order
throughout the loyal States. The names of
all who visited him at the Clifton House are
known to the Government. Among them,
the names of VIM. b. Reed, of Philadelphia,
Pendleton and Pugh, of Ohio, Kribbin, of
st. Louisiana Story and Merrick, of Chicago,
are published. The results of this confer
ence are also known to the Government.
About the first of January Valandigham
issued an address to the lodges in the loyal
States, in which he calls upon the members
to renew their vows, says the time is APP
preaching which will test their sincerity,
that the prosecution of the war is a viola
tion of the rights of the States, and that
President Lincoln is usurper.
A meeting of the Grand Commanders of
the different States was held in New York
on the 22d of February for the purpose of
organizing an outbreak on the 10th of
March, the day fixed for draft, but no def
mite movement was resolved upon. The
names of these cOnspirators are also known.
Some of these Commanders had convo-
cation with the Supreme Commander at
Windsor, Q. W., early in April, for general
consideration. Among those present were
McMasters, of New York, Charles L. Hunt,
OF st. Louis, and Lafayette Develin, of In
diana. The programme adopted at this
meeting was that Vallandigham should rep
resent his District in Ohio in the Democrat
ic National Convention, and there proclaim
the doctrines of the order, viz: .
Pronounce the existing Administration of
the Government power usurped, which
the people had right to expel by force if
necessary; In fact, inaugurating a rebellion
in the North, in which he was to be sup
ported by the order. Each Grand Com
mander was to have an armed body guard
at the Convention for the defense of Vallan-
digham. This, it was thought, would pre-
cipitate the people of the free States into an
armed conflict, and would be the signal for
the members of the order to unite against
the lawful authorities, kill or capture the
civil and military officers, seize the arse
mails, arms and public property of all kinds,
and proclaim the Government overthrown.
There is the most convincing evidence of
the truthfulness of this statement. The
reason Of Vallandigham's sudden return to
Ohio was the fear of being defeated as a
delegate to Chicago, and it was only by his
presence that his selection was secured.
The numerical strength of this order is
said to be considerably over half million,
one hundred and fifty thousand of whom
are armed and organized. The order in
New York is called the Mcclellan minute
men, numbering over 100000. The grand
commander in Missouri is Chas. L. Hunt,
nephew of Jas. l.. Lucas, many years the
Belgium Consul here. The deputy grand
commander is Chas. L. Dunn, city officer
of st. Louis. A long list of the names of
members of the order in different States,
together with full information concerning
the whole scheme, is in the hands of the
authorities at Washington, and will proba-
bly, be given to the public at the proper
time.