, 1865-03-10

The Chicago ConsrIraey-TcxtIsno
1oT Ihc DeIense-1nrportant Evidence
Of James Rock.

[special Dispatch to the Chicago Tri1snc.l
c1sc1sNAr1, Thursday, March e.
At the Military Commission, which met thil
morning pursuant to adjournment, the cross ex
animation Of james. S. Rock, late OF the Chicago
TINES, va. continued BY the Judge Advocate, a.
fol!owa:
Ey profession l an 1swyer, but for the las,
two years and half l have not pr.c
ticcd. Drr'1s that time 1 was CONNER
1jo1led the Society of the n1ini In 1851 at the IL.
tiigatjou Of ether James Goodse1l, local editor
Of the Chicago 7s7sts, or Mr. Richter, proof:
reader Of The 71'1ts. Among the employees Of the
Liberty besides myself, we're Good=elI, Richter, 4
.nan named n. BeErT, aad othcra Of the
branch Of the Sons Of Liberty. Wilbur F.
Storey .was not member to my knowledge.
rtmembes in December last writing letter to
Any arms belonging to the order, Iwould inform
In Michigan ard had been an officer IN the army
inFtoD, sometime before e. found out that
wse member Of the 0rder, and reproyed me for
T.. tod him II found anything reasonable in
Schuyler Colia1. under an assumed name. ! was
under the impression thai Nj. Spencer Lad becn
tnlllng to him about inc, and wished to let Mr..
di.ulge It 70 him.. did not tcil of The arms n
Waists ba.n, bceanSc ! knew thoy we're
we1c pul chased ty subscription, to which Mchter,
Dcoley and others subsc:fbcd. This was the fsst
hn'e l knew The Order possessed arms, thoash
Geo worth Of a1ms. OILERS also Stated tat s wo
Owned a large rumoez Of weapons. In ny speeches
to TIE 9!der | wns pretty radical. and may
conaututiopai acts oi lie xdmi n,strltion. I
u5ct to make regular fiery Democratic speeches.
never advocated treason, or spoke against my
eoonei sseet ~ III IL lin hH snspsops ct .f
tEc ul.ri was wheel within wheel for several
fEeu1he: Dco!tir'c spoke of the Order being a.m-
ed, snd ~ 1 know the I!lini hsd no arms,
Or OrCcr. These suspicious were strengthened
l'y seein. SO many men in,hared who never A.
tended our meetings, and by member once ask.
there was ahigher ard secret dsgrec TINT tho Iini
might be only an Order for testing men, and that
Il Wss no. al IishtGp highss Il VIA these sEs-
cau:e-d nc TO move that committee be appointed
to Investigate the objects Of the organization.
ZONE Of lay speeches have beca bitter, but mover
1he terms Is Lncoln'a hirr1incB,'' 'mlnions and
- s3trsns," applied to soldiers In meetings Of the
Orecr, but iney we're rather directed against off,
PRESTON Of the Chicago 7inzEs.
=, 35e 41dGe Advocate here submitted the letter
o1 i1i]Gs Mnek 10 Mr: Spencer, il evidence.
Coicncl Sweet sometime between The sth and l9ih
q November. did not tell him Of TIC arms in
ht ofesnse MEatd hq ea previously seized
honGhtl VS. going to be arrested. / {ouud on
~ c9ek i s1ip 9l papes, saytns: flames s. Heck
y" Nent aas}s s9 D. Aver apd showed lilo the pa
wish TO-, wrote 10 Mi. Spencer Is - isst I c. re-.
so5 s0 Sc! aInS e Il Ill., an t. SAID T1G nc 10 ss se
Arns il tho Him. be cause tried to ret some Int
hr. Storey feared that the 71mes office would be
attacked that br. Clark, Of Uroaua, said there
VIE ar1nE In the building, and lcnt me- three re-
lniao tke tonreciton ,efre ar7ned: After the
arrests Mr. Storey called me into his room and
asked me why the devil l bad mixed myself up
in the affair. He said Col. Sweet had written him
and thought had Letter leave, and he thought
States District Court for the Northern District OF
Illinois, vas rextaworn. lie said: 1hayekI
Judge Morris for thirty years, and Know nm we'll.
q. citizen, 1awyer aud friend I consider him
70 be humane and Hnahe2Zted man. As
speaker he is cxtIayarant and exaggerated. not
choice IN his sclectiou uf words, nor grammatical
IN their use. He gets very excited and vehement
IN speaking. According to the true Interpretation
Of loyalty, believe him to be loyal man.
The wimess detailed at length bis opinion
Of true loyaity, which included Ill except rebels
In asus oT men gnilty Of committing an overt act
the Judge 1ay be loyal Il be desires peace simply
because he conetientlous]y believes that the con-
s!nuarce OF the war will not effect tho restoration
CT the Union. Such IN one m,y be 1oyal i he
urges an anlcable solution Of tie difficulties,
though man who supports peace or cessation OF
war ut the expense Of the severance Of the Union
i guilty Of dis1oyal sentiments. Sdll, words
DO 4, no, make man legally dls!oyei. Before.
overt reasonable acts,