The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-07
- thhrs asAsssssinasen "a rest.

ieEt, as f0rmally proposed by those who
h&d PREPARED that meeting, was to engage
a number of the leading democrats in
several of the States to meet together
and organize kind of central managing
committee. that would put forth sound,
substantial, old-fashioned States right
democratic notions, and thus to supply
to honest young men, and men in humble
life throughout the country, opportunity
to hear their political sentiments ex-
messed, and find others agreeing with
them. and that would, at the sand time,
take away the danger of their gttting
into societies that would lead them into
mischief, riot and bloodshed. That was
the intent of the association.
Mr.. MCMAsTERs said he was also a
member of the "Order of American
Knights" and gave complete history of
the origin and objects of the Association.
1t had been represented to him that it
numbered 10000 or 90, 900 men in Illinois
alone and very large numbers in other
States; but upon investigation, he found
its pretended membership hun bug"
Helsaid:
wentinto several counties in Illinois,
where this order was so very potent that
they could take the whole government in
| to their own hands, and / found the or
der a myth found that respectable
gentlemen had run into it, and ran out
again Immediately. Some Others who
had not taken the trouble to 60 out, said
that it was game of some lawyers who
had not much money in their pockets, to
supply themselves with littlei and
some gentlemen, who said they won Id
pay anything to get up the old democrat
ic party, had joined, and paid their fees,
and never attended again
He said that it was merely kind Of
debating society or political caucus and
that the published rituals were Of no
authority and of 10 obligation what
ever. . ..f
There never was any such project en-
tertained by the order, as releasing the
rebel prisoners, giving aid or comfort to
the rebellion, OF aid to the Southern
armies, in any way or shape whatever;
nor did lever hear of any attempted in
surrection in the North, nor of any at
tempt to establish an independent gov
eminent, or Northwestern Coufed4acy
on their own hook. l know of no funds
being furnished by the rebel agents in
Canada, through Col Barrett or any one
else, for the purchase of arms for the re-
lease of rebel prisoners, nor do l believe.
any such project was ever entertained.
/ know it was so reported i'll the tcle-
grams of the Associated Press, but have
the best reason to suppose such reports
were wholly false
qu In reply to question whether he had
ever heard that Colonel BARRETT had
been furnished by the rebels with two
hundred thousand dollars to he eXpcnd-
ed for the benefit of the order, Mr.. Me-
MASTERS said that a statement tn that
effect had been made to him, but it was
also stated that Colonel BARRETT and
his family, like DoDD and his family ,re'"
footing JAKE fnoMpsoN ont Of his money"
The whole affair seems to have heen 4
complete. farce and tile absurlity Of its
character is only surpassed ny the su-
preme foolisbness of the investigation to
which it has given rise. A number of
men were "sold" by becoming members
of the pretended organization, hut the
public who believed that terrible con-
spiracy was on foot and the military
commission which has been gravely cX-
amining into the matter have been more
badly sold" than they. "Tothis complex
ion has it come at last"