The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-10-25
~ 60 -

ihe present eauaiei, there exist q Z
fbs soaih erstord I kn0uua Is Il
"kaigh's II The Golden Circle. she.
otleu pss = secure lbc udependeao
q the souii era stalcs. Having j,
origin ia tlc souih. ard devoted Ii
the spread Of Southern ideas and rs.
attainment 81 ihc ohi,c as Of Souther
ambition, Il was gradually extende.
10 The North, aud . i embraced win
IN is iolis many IF hose Nenhen
men viii Southern principles VII,
thought more d ihc section 10 uh.el
lay the strength IT their party than O.
the country 10 which they owcl III,
enjoyment Of tteir dearest II shts and
privileges. IN The course 81 time tht
great rebellion against tie United
States Government, Tor which Il bad
been The end and aim Of this secret
Organization % prepare the way burst
upon he country with a fearful VIC.
lenee which has not yet spent H.
strength. In the excitement and con.
fusion Of open and active civil war.
the secret organization which had ne
oomplished its mission in inaugural
ing Il, was scarcely thought Of. The
Southern members Of the order went
from the secret treason o. the lodges
10 the overt treason Of the battle. field
and the Northern branch Of the or.
g%anization was lost sight Of in the baze
oi enthusiasm withswhich an apparent.
~ unanimous North rallied 10 the
cause OF The Union. Cut off by the
line Of active bosiilides from the South
from which it had derived ~ inspira.
ton, The Northern branch was not
considered Of sufficient strength 10 be-
come an important element il the
struggle. lis existence vas only in.
dicaled By ~ occasional local outbreak
against the United States authorities.
but although it made no general ef.
tort in behalf Of the brethren who had
taken up arms in defence Of the com.
mon principles and ior the furtherance
OF the common end, it was neitherin-
active nor uniailhful to their cause
Under various names and IN many
Mays, 1t increased tie number Of lis
members, and perfected is organiza.
ion AZ an independent organiza.
ion it took ihe name of "Order Of
Knights and when there
aas reason TO believe that the Gov
had possession Of some Of It's
ecrets, It changed its signs and pass.
and became known 10 lis mem 4,
iefs as the "Order q the Sons ofLib-
riy,' Under this name it was ran. |
lly taking shape as an army Of in j
direction, drilled, armed and equip G
I'd for active service. Within a few ]
its secret documents have been r
TO light, its arms discovered. c
nd some o: its leading members ar. a
and tried and we thus have a
~ knowledge Of It's strength, organ. /,
'alion, and objects. Mr.. Holt, the Il
Judge Advocate General Of the Unit {
! States, has submitted 10 the Secre. {,
Of War a fall report Of the facts a
established by the evidence taken. il
exhibits a degree Of corruption snd @
caehery in the Democratic party Of m
e West which its worst enemies al
ould hesitate TO believe Of il except al
ION Tie most explicit testimony. o.
This order first developed itself as in
conspiracy against the Government y
ls62,aboui the tine Of our arst con. b
resistance to which was at ce
81 rs more especial object. Ii win Dc
remembered tbal in 1862 and the Be
st months Of 1868 many enrolling IL
IN Indiana and Illinois were &c
q while engaged ID The performance o.
their duties. These murders we're 81
nmiued b. members Of the order d.
persuanoe Il the doctrines Of Tie IL
Ter and a. tee instance Of lhcir SUI Ga
riors. Within lhe past FEW week 10,
7eFal PFoto-ts Ok the Western u.
ties, men wAo haye btea d.schMg
from service ii the Heli aad re- o.,
nd home @ih honorable sou d. e.,
been assassiaa,rd n cod blo5d tbs
whose eanneci ous uuh u.i. ia
81 are easi uased. Nhenesera am
u tbs Vrdcr Is drafted. he Is cl.
lfuoied 70 desert to he enemy ii 40,
sible, and, ID ibis cannot be effect q $
10 ace hiss srrus 10 bal.le a.ainst 60
fellow soldiers rather than the ens- apt
and whenever a membtr tolan. eag