The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-07-24
The - Knights of the Golden Circles
the IS American Knights.'' and the
"Sons of Liberty,'' are the same In

Sc Sons of Liberty,'' are the same In.
stitutiOn.
Under the above names, an oath-bound
existed in nearly all the North
ern States during the war, and exists to-day
in these States, and in Tennessee, and in
several towns in East Tennessee.
No East Tennessee Union soldier, however
uneducated, but knows the character of this
They learned this during the
war, when their comrades were bushwhack-
ed and murdered in Kentucky, Illinois, Indi-
ana, and other States, by Conservatives. un-
der the different names of SONS OF LIB |
ERTY," AMERICAN KNIGHTS" and |
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.n
The Northern traitors, as members of this |
organization, resisted the draft-shot down |
Union recruiting officers and bushwhacked |
Federal soldiers on leave of absence at their |
homes. They were detected in conspiring
for the release of the rebel prisoners at In
dianapolis, Ind. Columbus, Ohio, and vari-
GUS other places They made raids from
Canada into the Northern States; conspired
to burn Northern cities; to introduce
pestilential diseases into loyal communities;
they were sworn to break up the Govern
ment. and finally conspired to assassinate
Abraham Lincoln. The Ritual aud all the
secrets and horrible oaths of this conserva-
tive organization became known, and
Milligan, Horsey and Bowles, of Indiana,
Ghe same Bowles who played the coward at
Buena Vista in the Mexican war; were tried
at Indianapolis and sentenced to be hung.
On June 28th, 1854, Gen. H. B. Darlington,
commanding in Indiana. made report to
Gov Morton, of that State, in which he
gives the catalogue of principles of this or
ganization as gathered from the oaths and
obligations of this order which fell into his
hands.
From Gen. Carrington's report we copy
the following:
l. NATURE OF THE ORDER.
1st 1t is both cicil and military. In its
first relation, it declares principles of ethics
and politics, for adoption and dissemination,
that are hostile to the Government of the
United States In the latter relation, it as
sumes to organize armies for "actual ser
vice" in support of those principles, treating
the United States Government at their enemy,
and the rebellion ss their friend.
I'd. 1t is secret and oath-bound.
3rd. It is despotic and absolute. The
penalties of disobedience to its officers are
unlimited, including the death penalty it.
self.
II. PRINCIPLES OF THE ORDER.
1st. Absolute, inherent State sovereignty.
I'd. The Union of the States as but volun-
tary and temporary, and revocable at the
will of any idividual State, so far as concerns
that State.
Sd. Denies to the General Government the
power to enforce its laws, if it be the choice
of State to reject them.
4th. Recognizes the existing rebellion as
legitimate, legal, and just.
9th Holds revolution against the pres
ent Government not only right but q
duty.
9th Holds obligations to the order as par
amount to those due single State or the
United States.
7th. Declares Its purpose to stop this
war, treat with rebels, and making treaty
based upon the recognition of grades of civ
ilization and race.
9th. Declares law OF races, one OF Cau-
casian supremacy and one of African servi-
tude
9th. Pledges crusade in favor of all peo-
pie attempting to establish new governments
of their own choice, as against existing rul-
ers or authorities.
10th. Accepts the creed of the rebellion,
its logic, its plans. and its principles, as the
nominal theory of Democracy, and its
own bond of conference and ultimate sue
cess-Bropnlow's Wing.
Let the reader study the above carefully,
and he will see how fully it embodies the
sentiments of the disunion party of North
Carolina. 1t is highly probable that this
treasonable, bloody, oath-bound organiza-
ton is in existence in this State. Itprofess-
es on the surface to be very loyal, even as
the secession conspirators declared in 1860
that they were the best friends of the Union.
It still adheres to State sovereignty, and in
sists on rights forfeited by rebellion, and
not yet restored. It inculcates hatred be-
tween the white and colored races, and is
prepared to concede to the latter no greater
privileges than were enjoyed by the free me-
groes of this State. 1t recognizes the rebel
lion as righteous movement, profoundly re-
grets that it failed, and is ready at mo-
ments warning to renew the conflict of
arms. But, despairing of success by force of
arms, it resorts to every conceivable species
of falsehood, defamation, misrepresentation,
and vituperation, to divide the true friends
of the Union, to SOW discord among the
colored people, and to impair the authority
of the national government; hoping thereby
to achieve in the field of politics what they
staked and lost in the field Of war. Against
the g insidious wiles" Of these traitorous,
oath-bound demagogues We feel it to be our
duty most earnestly to warn our countrymen.
It is the duty of all true Republicans to la
Dor necessarily for the complete and final
overthrow at the ballot box, as in the field,
of this combination Of political leaders who
are seeking to ruin when they cannot rule,
and through whose errors and wrongs our
country has been baptized in blood. ep5
Beware Of these oath-bound traitors! We
think it highly probable that the gangs of
horse thieves, robbers and murderes in this
State, that have been scourging, plundering
and numbering peaceable inhabitants, are
members Of this secret order. They abound
most in secession Counties. and, true to the
principles above stated, their particular ven
geance seems to be directed against the col
ored people. -
AN Or1n1oN FROM GEN. GRANr.-It is
stated in Washington dispatch that Gen.
Grant approves suggestion from Gen. Pope,
that Confederates who oppose the Congress