Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-03-22
CLEARFIELD, PA, MARCH %, 1865.
1.-THE DEMOCRATIC CASTLE. ("
Was it to Resist the Draft ?

The fact that an organization called the
Democratic Castle" numbering in its sub
divisions over thousand members, existed
throughout Clearfeld county, though for
long time denied, has recently been estab
lished by evidence so conclusive, that even
the C1earfeld Republican is compelled to
acknowledge it. Its alleged, however, that
it was perfectly legitimate and lawful as
sociation, having no other object than to
promote the success Of the Democratic par
ty, by fair and proper means 1t Is said
that Its only obligation was q pledge of
honor 10 vote the Democratic ticket, or not
to vote at all nothing more. If this be
true, certainly there was nothing objecti on
able in the organization, however remarka-
BILE the change of opinion in those who, a
few years ago, could not find language strong
enough to denounce secret political societies.
But is this true? Had this organization no
oath, and no other object? Let us in
quire.
The necessity of a secret society to further
the success of the Democratic party in a
county like this, where it is, aud always has
been, SO largely in the ascendant, may rea-
sonably be doubted. 1t is, moreover, eX-
ceedingly improbable that men who have
heretofore so strongly condemned such or
ganizations, would adopt them In the face
of all their past denunciations merely as a
campaign project, unless there was some
more important Interior design. May it not
be possible, then, that the real purpose of
The Democratic Castle" was to reduce to
practice the advice of Messrs. Bigler and
Wallace at the 18th of August meeting, not
to furnish any more men or money to prose-
cute the war, or, in other words, to resist
the draft and the officers who should be sent
to execute it?
That this was the real object, is, we think,
clearly established by the testimony elected
during the recent investigation before the
Military Commission at Harrisburg. The
witnesses were from different parts of the
county, examined at various times and pla-
ces, unacquainted with each other, in ignor-
ance of what any one else stated and, of
course, testifying more or less reluctantly
Yet they all agreed in declaring that the
members of the organization were sworn,
and that its object was to resist the draft
Some of the evidence has already been pub
lished, and part of it is in our possession to
be published in the future. 1t is conclusive
and irresistible.
When or by whom THE Democratic Gas
tle'' was introduced into Clearfeld county,
T. / l.
whether it existed elsewhere in the same
form that it did here, or whether, like Mi
Eerya from the brain of Jupiter, it sprung
fully matured from the crania of certain
distinguished Democratic leaders in this
town" The first we learn of it is in Knox
township, just after the Bigler- Wallace
meeting in August, and Gainor p Bloom,
Esq, is the witness. His statement is full,
clear and distinct He says he was initia-
ted in Knox township, at Turkey Hill
chool-house-thatA A. L. Hickock was Pres
ident-that Tom Adams the notorious de-
serter, who since killed the soldier and got
killed, was present-that he was swOr1-
that the name of the association was THE
Democratic Castle the ''oath' bound
them to keep secret everything connected
with the order, and to stand by each other
and resist every attempton the part of the
authorities to enforce the draft-that they
were furnished with signs and pass words
that they We're bound to have firearms to
rescue members from the custody of Mar
shals if arrested-that there were marks to
be placed on houses to distinguish the prop
erty of Democrats and Republicans-that
the members did keep on hand the arms
and ammunition-and that the head of the
organization was in Cleartield town. He
stated, moreover, that he was President OF
the ''Castle" in his own township-that
Frank NJ Bride was Secretary-that NJ
Bride was the delegate to the Division
Castle at Clearfeld town-that he, Bloom,
organized Castle" in Brady township OF
which Samuel Miles was President and he
gave the signs and pass words which show
it to be the same organization of which all
the other witnesses speak If this state
ment is true the question is settled But
its credibility is denied by the Clearfeld Re
publican, which AYERS that it was extorted,
and that ''Mr. Bloom most positively de-
nies and disclaims the major part of it. y 1t
becomes important, therefore. to inquire,
= The proceedings III the case of Gainor p
Bloom will appear next week, in which bis
statement viii be published at length.