The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-02-15
Tht Great Conspiracy.
THE SONS OF LIBERTY.


Chapter from the secret History Of the
Rebellion-NOTthern Democrats Seek
ing the Overthrow of the Government
Character of the Party that now Seeks
to Control the eGOvernment-Testlm
of an officer OF the Order.
TIE following, which we take from the
Washington special correspondence of the
Cincinnati Gazette, under date Of January
25, will prove valuable for future history,
as it properly belongs TO the history of the
Rebellion. 1t is obtained from official
sources, and shows the character and ex.
tent of the great conspiracy at the North,
by the same party that is now abusing Con-
gress, that clamors so vehemently for the
unconditional restoration of the South, that
supports and applauds the Traitor in the
White House--that party whose sym
pathies, during the war, were enlisted with
the rebels at the South, who for four years
attempted the destruction Of the Govern
ment by the force of arms. Let the peo-
pie bear this in mind, and they will not be
likely to give the reins of Government into
the hands of those who were not it's friends
in that perilous hour OF trial:
The following evidence is selected from
great mass now in possession OF the Gov
ernment, relating to tho great Northern COZ .
spiracy of the American Knights and kin.
dred orders during the war. portion of
this appeared in q mutilated form at the
me. The complete document will, how
ever, be read with interest now. OF the
object, aims and the whole organization OF
these orders the Government became fully
advised, through the extraordinary and EN-,
il emily successful efforts Of the late Colonel
anderson, Provost Marshal General OF the
Department of Missouri.
There is a vast amount OF evidence cor
roborating that given below, but this pos
sesses additional interest from the fact that
| it is the voluntary, sworn evidence, of an
officer of the Order whose position was pc
cuIiarly favorable to o full knowledge Of
the whole operations of these secret organ
izations. Upon his frst examination, act
ing in accordance with his oath to the Or
der, he professed to have no knowledge OF
it. This and abundant other evidence
shows that the following were among the
chief objects of these 0rdersi tpt
q. l. Reviving the old Democratic party
as means of restoring the Union as il
was. D.. ..4.
2. Aiding the Confederate cause in al
possible ways.
8. Uniting for armed resistance to the
Federal Governmet.
a. That general rising had been agree,
upon.
5. That the assassination of Union OH
cials was to be used as q means OF success
There is also running through the otiicia
papers captured vague reference to some
i blow which the Order would strike, indie
pendent of the proposed rising, and whicl
all engaged in the investigation were in
stantly convinced referred to the assassina
ton Of Mr.. Lincoln, the moment they beart
of the act,
1t is possible that the evidence presented
will explain why the Government did no
arrest Mr. Vallandigham upon his return
to the United States.
The evidence was taken at Gen. Rose
Grams headquarters, August 2, 1864.
THE EVIDENCE.
Green B. Smith, being duly sworn, do
poses and says:
That he was born and raised in st. Loui
county, Missouri, and is by occupation
clerk, and has been clerking Tor Messri
Grimsley & Co. since 1850.
@. When were you arrestedP
A. The 28th day Of May, 1864.
O. Have you been examined under oatl
since your arrest and incarceration
A. have.
Q. Were the anIwers given by you un
der that examination in reference to Sc
cret political organization correctH
A. No sir; they were NOT.
O. What Induced you TO withhold tn
facts undar that examination
A. A solemn oath and the Influence o
other parties implicated with me.
Q. What is the nature Of that oath, ant
what the influence of other parties
A. took an oath not to reveal facts cor
nocted with q certain secret organlZatio
under penalty of death, and the iRhuenc
of members of said Organization has thu
, far prevented me from revealing the truth
, O. Slate in what manner that iRtiuenc
has been exerted.
A. Religiously and morally. have bee
instructed that the oath spoken OF Wa
binding and paramount to every other con
sideraton.
Q. Who has led you to this beliefl
A. My superior officers in the organiza
ton OF which am about to speak.
Q. What is said organization called
A. "Order Of American Knights re
Gently changed to Sons of Liberty"
2, When were you Initiated into til
mysteries Of said organization
A. Sometime in the spring Of 1862
@. What is the number OF the council l.
which you have and do belong
A. Il never had number, but was calle
"The George Washington Temple"
O. How frequently have you aiteude
said Temple since you we're initiatedi
A. On. an avetagei about three times
month.
Q. Were these meetings held in tho da
time or the nightl