The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-18
The - knights of the Golden Circle. >,
the American Knights, and the
"SOns of Liberty,'' are the same In.

organization 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
organization. They learned this during the
war, when their comrades were bushwhack.
ed and murdered in Kentucky, Illinois, Indi
ana, and other States, by Conservatives, I'm.
der the different names OF" SONS OF LIB
ERTY," AMERICAN KNIGHTS" and
"KN1GHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
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 theil
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 and all the
secrets and horrible oaths of this conserva-
! tive organization became known, and
Milligan, Horsey and Bowles, of Indiana,
(the 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, 1864, Gen. 81. B. Darlington,
commanding in Indiana, made q 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.
list. 1t is both ciuI 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 IS their friend.
I'd. 1t is secret and oath-bound
3rd. 1t 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.
3D. 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.
5th Holds revolution against the pres
ent Government not only a right but
duty.
9th Holds obligations to the order as par
amount to those due single State or the
United States.
18th. 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 eau
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,
it's logic, its plans, and its principles, as the
nominal theory of Democracy, and its
own bond of conference and ultimate sue
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
reasonable, bloody, oath-bound organiza-
ton is in existence in this State. 1t profess
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 vet restored. 1t inculcates hatred be-
tween the white and colored races, and is
to concede to the latter no greater
privileges than were enjoyed by the free ne
groes of this State. 1t recognizes the rebel
ion as righteous movement profoundly re-
grets that it failed, and is ready at mo-
nent's warning to renew the conflict Of
arms But, despairing of success by force of
arms, it resorts to every conceivable species |
If falsehood, defamation, misrepresentation,
md vituperation, to divide the true friends |
If the Union, to SOW discord among the |
,olored people, and to impair the authority
If the national government; hoping thereby |
~ dCultfe III tue uelet VI poIitCS WHdG tHcy |
taked and lost in the field of war. Against |
he "insidious wiles" of these traitorous,
demagogues we feel it to be our
luty most earnestly to warn our countrymen. |
t is the duty of all true Republicans to Ia
Dor necessarily for the complete and final
overthrow at the ballot-box, as in the field, |
# this combination of political leaders who !
re seeking to ruin when they cannot rule, |
md through whose errors and wrongs our |
country has been baptized in blood.
Beware of these oath-bound traitors! We
hink it highly probable that the gangs of
lorse- thieves, robbers and murderers in this |
state, that have been scourging, plundering |
nd 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
,eance seems to be directed against the col
red people.
Lord Chatham said, in the British House |
IF Commons, in ITO:
"Power, aoithout right, is the most odious