Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-07-10
The "Knights Ofithe Golden Circle
the American Knights and the
"SOns OF Liberty" are the Same
Institution.


Under the above nalnes, an oath-bound organic
tion existed in nearly all the Northern States q
ring the war, and exists today IN these States az
IN Tennessee, and In several towns In EsSs Tennis
see
No Esat Tennessee Union soldier, however VI
educated, but knows the character Of this organz'
ton. They learned this during the war, when the
comrades were bushwhacksd and murdered in Ker
lucky, Illinois Indiana and other States, by. Coz
ssrcatfpes, under the different names Of " SONS o.
LIBERTY gAMERICAN KNIGHTS" "a
EtKNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
The Northern traitors, as members Of this organ
ization, resisted che draft-shot down Union re
cruiting officers and bushwhAcked FEDERAL soldier
on leave Of absence at their homes. They we're De
tsctsd in eOnsPiring for the release Of the rsbs
prisoners at Indianapolis, lad, Columbus, Ohio
and various other places. They made raids from
Canada into the Northern States conspired to burr
Northern cities; to introduce pesalential disease
into loyal communitiesi they ware sworn to breal
up the Government, and finally eOnspired to sssas
ainste Abraham Lincoln. The Ritual aud all tn,
secrets and horrible oaths Of this conservative or
ganization became known, and Milligan, dorsey
and Bowles, Of Indiana, Iths same Bowles who
played the coward ct Buena Vista Ia the Mexican
war, wsre tried at Indianapolis and sentenced tc
be hung On June 2sth 1864 Gen. a. B. Caring.
ton, commanding in Indiana, made report to Gov
Morton, of that State, in which he gives the cats
lOgue Of principles of this organisation as gathered
from the oaths and obligations Of this order which
fell into his hands
From Gen, Carrington's report We copy the fol-
lowing .sa-l
I. NATURE OF rHE ORDER.
Ist 1t is both eiriI and military In It's frat re-
lation 1t declares principles Of ethics and politics.
for adoption and dissemination that are hosti To
the Government of the United States. In the lat
ter relation, it assumes to organize armies for
actual service in support OF those principles,
treating the United States Government as their en-
e7y, and the rebellion as their friend
I'd. It is secret and oath-5ouaG. = sr-a
3D. Il is despotic and absolute. The penalties Of
asooeolenee TO It's officers are unlimited including
the death penalty itself
II. PRINCIPLES OF THE ORDER. 5le1 50
LIST. Absolute, inherent State sovereignty.
2d' The Union of the States az but voluntary ard
temporary, and revocable at the will of any indi-
Vidual State, so far as concerns that State
Sd. Denies to the General Government the power
to enforce its lave if it be the choice of State to
reject them.
4th. Recognizes the existing rebellion as leeiti-
mate, legal, and just
9th. Holds revelation against the present Gov
eminent not only right but duty.
9th. Holds obligations to the order as paramount
TO those due single State or the United States
5.h. Declares its purpose to stop this war; treat
Win rebels, and make treaty based upon the re-
cognltlon of grades of civilization and race
9Th. Declares law of races, one of Caucasian su.
premacy and one of African servitude
9th. Pledges crusade in favor of all people at.
tempting to establish new government of theirovyu
cnolee as against existing rulers or authorities
10th. Accepts the creed Of the rebellion ts
logic, its plans and its principles, as the nominal
theory of Democracy, and its own bond of coher-
ence and ultimate success -
One Of the shining lights Of the Conservative
party Is d. W. VOORHEES,, of Indiana an ex-nem.
Der Of Congress In the law Office Of voorhees,, at
Terre Haute Indiana, were found copies of the o.
A. &. Ritual and letters consulting about the K.
G. Cs The following is copy of the oath taken
from one Of those copies: - ez
81 do further solemnly promise and swear that
WILL at all times and in places yield and observe
prompt and implicit obedience, without remon-
STRANGE or question, to any and every mandate COM
nand, order, or request Of my immediate Most Ex-
cellent Grand Commander, in all things TOUCHING
Or relating to the purposes Of the 0. A K, Order
merican knighh,' II in my power to do So I do
further soiemnly promise and swear, that whsnso-
sver the principles which our Order ineulcates shall
be assaiied in my own State or county will defend
hose principles with my sword and my life, in
y whatsoever capacity may be assigned to me bv tho
superior competent authority of our Order"
Dan VOORHEES, wrote to Gen. Darlington, attempt
ng to explain out Of his oensecion with this trea
Onabls order. The reply Of the General, published
below, is whitening exposition of VOORHEES, char.
.ster and associations and it shows the sort Of COM
'asy ahtch EaaersoH Ethsridge has been keeping: :
INDIANAFoLIs, Ind, August ie, Is64s /
bon. D. y. Voorhees,, Member o. S. Congress, Tsrrs
HaEte, Ind: s t tr-sie1 q +
have received from you a copy OF your letter to +
Col. R. ". Thompson, Provost Marshal and bis re. I
ply. The following lsconic note accompanies them
''GeH. Cargirgtoa; As you published this false. I
lood IN the newspapers, shsll expect you to cor
act II, as Col. Thompson has done
-11-I .- d. W. YoRHxEs
The assumption in the above is groundIess. Your I
lame Ia not mentioned by mo in my reports neither
lave published anything about you whatever
You insist upon my answering your note to Col. I
Thompson. The points you make, are: .-g
lst g That the ONCE In which it s said these pa
1ers were found, had not been occupied by you or
~ any one connected vita you, or been in snv wsv
lndeT your control since last Hovetnber 30 rcfI
"a. Xeu desire TO ascertain whether the circum- /
tances connected with the discovery OF these papers
tbat ofnce led to the supposition that you placed
hem there, or was even aware Of their existence?i
You desire this, that the people may know the
ruth and not that yo;i attach any particdlarim-
,ortsnce 10 the documents" fe-- -..---.r -s.
The papers referred 10 IL copies OF the Ritual
# the 0. a K, unreasonable Order, aiming to over
brow the Government Of the United States of
whose Congress you are member. ze 81 Ers 4
The gentleman who found "these papers told
ue they were found in your Office. ~ n
The following are some of the circumstances "
hat led me to suppose they we're correct in the sup
,ostion; ~ zf,-5 -
Your Law library and oflce furniture were in the
thce where "these papars were found. Z
You had declined denomination for Congress :
nd the office not for rent late as April, 1864 s
The Ritual had been Issued in the AuIpnn of Z
se5. Your Congressional documents were in the S
flee where these papers were found. 50 II
Your speeches, up to March, OF your entire Con- &
ressiOnal career, with the John Brown speech,
Iere in The Office where these papers were found
Tho correspondence of Senator Wall, OF New Jer-
ey, Ender his frank indOrsing proposition fur
isb you with 10000 stand Of Gsfibadi rifles just
imported, for which ne could youch,p we're in the !
lice where these papers wore fonnd. --T..tt a
The correspondence Of c. L. Vaiandigham, from :
Windsor @. W. assuring you our people will /.
ght,' and that he is ready and fixing point /
E the Lima road at which TO meet yOu,| was / =
a the Office where these papers were found.
The correspondence Of Joseph Ristine, Auditor =
State, declaring that be would like to see all .
unite in bold and open resistance to all
ttempts 70 keep Ours united people, BY force Of ,
{ steel, and that this was war against the De- 9
aocracy, and only hope vas the Guccessful re- .
stance Of the South vas in The ohics where ID
these papers we're found ~
The correspondence Of Z. Q. Hibben, Who sssares
ou that 'the Democracy are fast stiHening up when
bis is 70 be openly declared az being wsged for
be purpose Of freeing the negro," which win lC
rouse another section Of the country 10 arms, and
sciaring 'thst Lincoln bayone.s are shoaidsred -
" cold blooded murder Hss in the Office where
these papers were found - - r IL
The correspondence Of ]. Hsrdssty, Who wants q