The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-01-13
themselves. A secret organization
styled the Sons Of Liberty, bnl ss:
tablished its lodges al cvsr the State.

Al
themselves. A secret organization
styled the Sons Of Liberty, bnl ss:
tablished its lodges sIl ovsf thaState.
In mony sections i considerable por.
AeN or tLg members OF this institu.
tion were drilled Mt night in military
nianchvers, and measures were Sc
cretly instituted TO procure arms and
ammunition For as large number
as practicable. As they acquired
strength they became more open and
defiant, f'Fbreots we're freely uttered
of forcible resistance, which their
lenders md presses moro coyertly
eounselsd, Secrecy was no longer
observed, and the organization openly
boasted OF its power and strength
The National Guard was absent. and
: the State was regarded rs defcnscless.
While they publicly denounced tho
Governor for calling the guard TO the
common defense OF the conntty, they
secretly rejoicedc at its absence, and
exalted over the opportunity which
they supposed it afforded them to
carry their plans into execution, will
bat comparatively feeble resistance
Our people In nearly every section o
the State became very much alarmed
at these demonstrations; and serious.
'ly apprehendeda domestic insurrec-
ton.
On the 23d Of August / issued 0
proclamation couuselling these par
ties against their course of conduct
and temperately, but firmly, assuring
them OF its consequences, and Of thu
ensite ability of the State and Ma
sional Governments to protect them
selves against any such insurrection
About that time the National Guart
was coming into the State. claim
very little credit for my own counsels
but rs regiment after regiment wa:
discharged from the camps, and went
to their homes with arms in thcil
bands, snd well known loyalty in theil
hearts, the wave of rebellion very
rapidly subsidized; and the conspira
tors who had been the boldest in thGil
demonstration of resistance to the
laws, were among the first to hurry
substitutes into the ranks of the army
ar relieve the State OF their prosoae,
IN order to avoid the service they hac
openly threatened could not be impos
ed. The draft went forward prompt
ly, and in the most pcaeeaolo man
rar Da,aoout;n,, 4, Il ah,an 4. 4 yT,;,,
citizens ceased ut once. Law and
order were again in the ascendant
and no doubt or fear was entertaiHe ed
as TO the perfect ability Of the State
TO maintain them. And vet no force
was used, no considerable body oi
men kept under arms ia military ar
ray; no parade or exhibition Of armed
forces. But there spread all ovei
our territory consciousness that the
State was prepared for any emcr.
gency; that its protectors were ready
at a moments warning, and could
be implicitly relied upon; and that
the first movement towards forcible
resistance of the laws would be
speedily crushed, cntailing its con.
sequences upon those who might in.
nugurate it. 1t was peaceful tri.
umph, achieved by the Inherent power
of a State, in it's ieaet prstentious
manifestation; and It's result and con
sequences Of thousand times NOR,
value than the expenditure the or
ganization and support of the Ma
fional Guard has imposed upon tn,
people. ~
In this connection 1t will be proper
to advise you ofmy action in another
branch OF the militia system an,
State defenses. I found the Stat,
without an artillery arm Of its own
and with but one light battery with
in its borders, belonging to the Gov
ernment, which was liable to move
ment at any time out of the State, as
it was taken during the month ol
August, The General Government
was largely indebted to us in thi,
branch of the armament; hut the w al
Department assured me it was inpos
sible to, respond to our calls. / con
sequentiy determined TO make this
branch Of the State defense n matter
of immediate action. ! accordingl,
contracted for four batteries of 81,
guns each, two OF six, and two o
twelye-pOunders, with carriages, cais
sons, and harness complete. Two Of
thein were furnished with one hun,
dred horses each. The expenditure
for this purpose, from the million ap.
preparation, has been Sl03,9 &c.
A battery organization OF the Ma
tional Guard was called out at Camr
Dennison, in June. for the tern
of sixty days; which wac replaced b,
another In August, for q liko term
An organization was also called ou
oat Cleveland in August. which wa
afferward transferred to Johnson
Island; and this was replaced by an
other in October. While In seryic,
these organizations. except the frs
one, were paid and subsisted by tn,
General Government, As they ar,
not required for Winter service, tn,
last one at Camp Dennison has no
been replaced. The one at j Johnson,
Island has bssn again transferred t,
Camp Cleveland, and will be replace,
at the expiration Of its present term
by special order of the War Depart
nent. The batteries ara In goot