New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-10-17

traion and officers Of the Government In every possible
manner by instrumentation and falseho0d.
Members also instructed that their ontb or mem
bersip 10 he held paramount TO an oath OF ncgnnce
any other oat-whch may impose Obligations neon
sistet with those which assumed upon entering the
order. Thus II member. when IN unngcr. OF 10Y tne
purpose Of facilitating some tratorons design has taken
the oath Of allegiance to the Uhted STATES ne " ei ~
liberty 10 violate IL the first oocnson his
TO the order berg deemed superior to any eonsidera
ton OF duty or loyalty prompted by such oath.
II Il ~ be- added that where members nie nreApneu
with the penalties of perjury, Ia OF their answering
falsely 10 questions propOunGed % them In regard 10 INC
order before cOsrt grand jury. they arc insrHcl1
Ia refuse such questions. alleging rs gvunu
COR their refusal that their answers may er'"Hae tns
selves The tostaouy shows tina. t!is coufe has habit
nay been puFsucd by members, especially IN ihaiahh
when placed in snch a situation. ,
Beside tie ohtls and other forms ana ce9einolics
which have been alluded to- the ritual contains Wnh are
termed Declarations Of Principles" These declaie
tons. which most important as eA,bts tLe 49,
and character OF the order inspired 81 the pTeIps
Of tho Rebellion. win b. fully presented under the noi
branch Of the snbjert
The sfsHs sgnals pa'.roxis &c. Of the order are ,9
forth ai length in the testimony but need only be Drey
alluded TO- II IN most significant fnot. 40 showing ine
intimate relations between the northern and southern
sections Of The secret conspiracy thnt meuper ,toA
Northern State il embed t6pass without risk through
toe South by the Of The sigLs Of recognition Nheh
have beon established throughout the order. and oy
means Of which members nom distant Poihts' tnoug.
meeting as strangers NJ once made known 10 eaeh
other rs "broihers" Mary Ann Ptmon expressly states
in her testimony that whenever important dispatches are
required to be sent by Rebel generals peyona '.ei
members Of the order always selected TO coh'e!
them. Certain passwords are also ureu IN coiho" ~
both sections aud OF these appear To be more ia
m.l.ai than the word Much lac or the name Ca'
houn spelt backward and which Is employed upon en-
teFnc temple Of the first degree Of TUG o. a. h-eeI'
tailly fitting password to such dcns oftreason.
Besides the signs OF recognition. there are signs OF
warning and danger for at light as well 40 by day
u.s. Tor INSTANCE signs 10 members of the approach
Of United States officials seeking tn make arrests The
order has also established what called battle
.xr of ia n
in the army may communicate with the enemy IN tho
field and thus escape pcrscnal harm In case Of attack or
capture The recent Of these signals represented
TO have been adopted by the Orler Is lyepoAed cop,
per star worn nndor the coat which is to be disclosed
upon meeting an enemy who win thus recognize IN the
wearer n syInpa'hzcr and M ally. similar star o.
German silver hung in frame is said to be nunerousy
Displayed b. members or their families IN private hor"'
In Indiana. FIR the purpose u nsuriug protection %
their property In case OF raid other attack and II
is stated that ID many dwellings in that State portrait
OF John Morgan Is exhibited fol. similar purpose.
Other signs are used By members and especially the
officers Of tue order IN their o9resE0adeHcs Their let
icrs when Of an official character. are goneraly con,
yeycd los special messengers. but when transmitted
through The mail usually in cipher. when wrtcn
in the ordinary manner character ~ The foot o' the
letter consisting Of circle with line drawn across
the centre signifies to the member who receives II at
tie statcmcrts written 70 be understood IN
dIrect! the opposite 10 that which would crdhs
lily be conveyed.
II II TO be added that the meeting. Of the order e.pe
cnlly in the country are generally held Ut night and in
secluded places and that the approach 20 them ~ care
fully guarded by limo Of sentinels who arc passed only
by OF special oountersign, which Is termed the
picket"