Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-03-01
THE oLEARfIELn COUNTY oAspO
Correspondence of the Philarelphis Inuuj,.,
The Military Commission.

AAo MiIIdfy COMMISSION.
HARRIsBgRG, Feb. 25, lS65.-Tbe ,-;.,
OF Samuel Lownsberry, the second on IL !,
list OF Clearfield county prisoners was ne
cluded this morning. The existence Of 'Ol-
cret organization to resist the execut;on {.
the draft was most clearly proven in the caso VI
Ii anything were needed to add to the VS.:
fication of the fact, the case of Patricl On CnE
ley would Immediately settle the mater oIt- p-
his confession an Ex-Governor and S..
Senator, both able men, high in noI;,;aof
circles, are represented as counseiinr -.
prisoner and others in opposition TO the Cou r~s
ernment; and this, too, early in Aupns, Ias.
at meeting held at Clearfeld. and al !. t;.I
when there was no excitement of a pol;t;n.i
campaign to serve as an excuse for sncb r;n
lent utterauceS
Patrick Ourley
Came before the Commission this n,o-,;
after the trial of Lounsberry was concInd"S ,I,S
The charges and specifications against ~
were read. and instead of maxine -iih ~
fense, he pleaded guilty, submittinS . w. G
ten statement to the Court. The foIIow;n.
is an abstract Of the
CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
CHARGE I.-Entering into. confedsr..,.
sh FORMING com oinations TO resist the
ecutioh OF certain provisions of an ac, g..
rolling and calling out the national f,-.o r ~ eh-
Specification. First-That he pat;T
of Ciearheld county. did write eonfcds-s,a
com bine with Jacob Huber Jacob W;fLsI ana
many other disloyal persons in ClearseI5 -na
ty, to resist the draft. and nrara,, - 0oan-
had been drafted from entering the sorr;aNho VINO
slstIng and evadlng. and couuseling o,bers -
sist and evade. the execution of The conses;..
laws. All this about the Sd Of October Iss.P
at other times and places N1'
SnPciGrafJnn
and combining with Huber and WiIbnIrn
other dlsioyal persons. in a society by the nams
OF democratic Castles" the object Of which or
ganizauon was and Is TO resist the draft and pre-
vent persons drafted from entering the service
CHARGE 1.-THE commission of acts Of di.Iov,r-
ty against the Government aud uttering dislovar
sentiments and opinions with the object Of defeat
ing and weakening the power of the Government
in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion.
Specifcaton-That he did by words in sub
stance, threaten and declare that he would resist
by force, all the officers and Others in aid of the
Government concerned in enforcing the laws for
enrolling and drafting persons subject to militia
ry duty, and counseled and advised others to re-
sist by force all officers and others in aid of tho
government, and prevent the arrest of deserter,
from the service and of persons drafted: all this
about the Sd of October, 1854. and at other times
and places.
Statement of the Prisoner
To the Honorable Commission Now,
this 25th February, 1865, [, Patrick Curley.
waive my right to a trial on the charges and
specifications pending against me, and plead
guilty, but beg leave to present the follow
ing statement:
was member of the Democratic party
of Clearfield county. and Governor William
Bigier and Senator William A. Wallace
we're its acknowledged leaders
On the 18th day OF August, 1864. they
held large meeting IN the town of Clear
ield, some three Thousand people being pres
ent, at which these gentlemen made speech
es, the tenor and effect of which was, that
10 more men or money should be furnished
or the prosecution of the war. was pres
snt al that meeting, and, with Others was
aught to believe that it was the purpose and
intent OF our party TO entirely withhold Its
from the Government in carrying
1n the war
[ was inform. ed, by Samuel Lounsberry
md others, that secret society was being
for that purpose, and was induced
o attend meeting at Jacob Huber :.
where | was sworn into the society by John
J. kyler ] was miSled into joining the or
ami pursuing the course ] did, by
he counsel of Governor bigier and Senator
" allace, as given at the meeting | have
nent oned. After [ was arrested and learn
d all the circumstances, l voluntarily stated
o Major Gable, the officer who first had
harge of me, all the circumstances and facts
within my knowledge, giving him the Con
titution and forms of the organization.
l was paroled, and while was at home
devoted my time to assisting the officers of
he Government in the execution Of their
luties. 1t is my purpose and desire to sus-
ain the Government and to discharge my
whole duty as loyal citizen The services |
nave rendered are within the knowledge of
Major Gable and Of several loyal citizens Of
Clearfeld county. 2. CURLEY.