The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-10-20
Judge Advocate Holt's Report on Secret
Societies.


Societies.
New YORK, October 15.-Judge
Advocate General Hollis report upon
the testimony gathered by him, con-
corning the reasonable secret societies
formed in loyal States, as aljrncts to
the rebellion, is published in the oven
ing Post to-day. According to this re-
port, this reasonable order embraces
societies bearing various titles :. such
as Mutual Protection Societies, Circle
Of Honor, Circle Of Knights of the
Military Host, Knights of the Golden
Circle, Corps de Belguique, Southern
League, Order of the American
Knights, Order of the sons of Liber-
ty, Peace Organizations, Star Organ
ization, Amirican Organization, De-
mocratic Invinciblo Club, Democratic
Reading room, and Mcclellan Minute
Men. The latter is the one borne by
Il secret political association in the State
of N. York, & other parts of the North.
OF this Judge Holt says: 1t would
seem to be branch of the o. A. K,
having substantially tho same objects
to be accomplished, however, by means
expressly suited to the localities in
which it is established, for as theChief
Secretary of this Association, DR.. B.
F. Stevens, stated in June last to re-
liable witness, whose testimony has
been furnished, that those who repro
sent the Mcclellan interest are COM
PEELED to preach vigorous prosecution
Of the war, in order to secure the pop
ular sentiment and allure voters. The
McClellen Minute Guard, as appears
from circular, issued by the Chief
Secretcry at New York, is organ
lied upon a military basis similar
to fhe order proper. 1t is composed
of companies one for each election
district, ten of whom constitute brig
ade, with n Brigadier General at its
head. The whole is placed under u
Commander-in-chief The first Su-
prcme Commander was p. G.. Wright,
editor of the New York News, who
was sent to Fort Lafayette. Val
landigham was his successor. Robert
Holloway, of Illinois, was Lieutenant
General and acted in Vallandigham's
stead during the lattcrs absence from
the country.
Colonel Sanderson, in his report on
the progress to the Order. Expresses
the opinion that the Order was found
cd by Vallandigham during his ban
ishment, and upon consultation at
Richmond with Davis and other prom
incnt traitors. The Order in Indiana
boasts that the ritual came direct from
Davis, and one of the witnesses states
positively that Davis is member
The number belonging to the Order
has been variously estimated at from
800, 900 to l,0OO,O00, but Vallandig-
ham in his Dayton speech, put it at
100000, which is probably nearest the
total. These are scattered through
Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Mis-
souri, and New York.
In march last, the entire armed forco
Of this Order capable Of being Mobi-
lozed for effective service, was repre-
sented to be 3I0, 1000 men, The testi-
mony shows that arms have been fur
nished the members. In the Hon. d.
W. Vorhccs' office were found letters
to Ex-senator Wall, of New Jersey, in
regard to the purchase Of 10000 Gar
ibaldi rifles, to be forwarded to the
West.
Arms were TO bo furnished the Or
der by way of Canada, and paid for by
assessment upon the lodges. Much
testimony was taken upon the point,
and the report is full of evidence of
extensive operations in this partlcu-
lar.
The ritual contains broad declara-
tions of State rights and against the
authority of the Federal Government
to coerce by arms sovereign State
and argues that the Executive officers
OF the Government may be expelled
by force OF arms when they refuse to
administer in accordance with the let
ter of the accepted constitution.
The oaths declare that o member
will defend with arms tho principles
of the order whenever directed by
competent authority of the order. 1t
was admitted by one of the order in
Missouri, that on joining, he under
stood the object to be aid and assist
ance to the Confederate Government.
He adds, the order is hostile in every
respect to tho General Government,
and friendly to the SO called Confeder-
ate Government.
1t was exclusively made up OF dis
loyal persons, desirous of securing the
independence of the Confederate
States, with the view of restoring the
Union as it was. The other purposes
of the order are shown to be aiding
soldiers to desert, destruction Of Gov
; ernment property, destruction of pri'
vate property, and prosecuting Union
} men, assassination and msrder, and
{ the establishment of Northern Con.