The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-10-02
FROM AMANDA TOWNSHIP.

/
For the Jeffsrs 'ni;n.l ~ y
-EpIroR JEFFERsoNIAN: Although
/ have been a member of the Demo-
cratic party ever since l became
voter, have dabbled but little more
in politics than by casting my ballot
for its ascendancy. 1t is true l
was a member of secret organiza-
tion known as knights of the Golden
Circle, or Sons of Liberty, and was
obliged, (lite or death depended) to
do something that would not have
done had not have been a member
of that Order. And while the object
T, of that Order, as given by the Repub-
licap papers of that day. does. not
differ materially from that given
us by A. c., ]. s., and
Others, some things took place be-
hind the curtain, which 1 propose to
give, that will be entirely new to all
outsiders, and perhaps to some men,
bers. There is one thing, however,
/ that remains in the dark to most of
US, and that is, what became OF the
money paid for initiation2 This fee
was twelve dollars apd fifty cents,
and included the price of q silver
star a gold star was worn by South
ern brethren) to he worn under the
left arm, as an emblem of full mem
bership, and if any of us did get into
the army, and were taken prisoners,
we could show our star to our breth-
rem and we would be better treated
than If in the Northern army. We
never got our silver stars, but were
kindly permitted to use a silver star
worn by A. c. as pattern
to cut by, and made ours out of light
tin. We now know that tin stars
were just as good as silver, and q
great deal easier to get.
Some poor men actually borrowed
the money to pay their initiation fee.
l know some men who were duped
into the Order, who, were it not for
the exposure Of their own greenneSs,
&onld make legal investiga-
6on to see what j. s., treasurer
of the Order, did with the money
Hundreds of dollars were paid into
his hands. The Order had two places
of meeting in this township viz: the
loft over w. L. P--'s cabinet shop
in Vanhe and the Lee school house
The latter place getting TOO small,
Brothers Daniel and Aaron A,
kindly opened the doors of the Lee
church for our benefit. Members of |
Lodges twenty miles distant were !
often with us. Democrats, who did |
not join of their own aecofd, were
either coaxed or driven. There
were a few in this township, however
that did not belong, and a few Re
publicsns that did, and a great many
solicited that could not be got into it
Notwithstanding very nice promises
we're made. Alta meeting in the loft
,nc night, Mr.. H. P P quiet citi-
zen Of Vanlue, was taken in. When
about topay over the fee, [ a part of
which was silver he made the fol
owing speech as near nsI can recoi-
ect: "Now men, this is sacred. There
. only one circumstance that causes
ne to do what 1 am doing Last
aight drop letter was thrown into
my yard warning me that my life was
n danger and prssto; away went t
T.
his money, and he got nothing
but tin star to shield his person
rom tho threatened danger, Now
happen to know that that letter :
vas thrown into P--'s yard by one
# the Order on purpose to bring
to time. j. M was our
'py. II vas bis duty to visitsalf pub Il
ic gatLerings, snd talk with. ptshiss
lent Republicans, and learn, if posi-
Die, anything to our disadvantage and
'eport from time TO time. Money
vas furnished to pay his time and
We were lied to believe
hat we might be attacked any night
oy U. S. troops. VIM. A, grocer
n Vanlue, sold to members of the
Order over two kegs of gunpowder
N less than week. Forty-fouri
lollars was collected to buy charm
books for such of the Order as wish.
ID them (and they were Cpot 2 few
md the money was forwarded by ex
press to New York City by A. S.
B--.a as the express books will
show, but we meyer. heard of books
Or money afterward. Any person
laving one of these books committed
@ mepory, or in his pocket, (the easi-
est was bullet proof, and in no dan
ger from his enemies whatever
Some of our brethren started for
Canada. thinking That would be bet
Ter way to; escape the draft than to
stand and fight il out, as they had
sworn to do. All could not 60 to
SO some were mado- to think.
they had to stay and bear the bur-
den. A.telegram was sent by, one Of
our own brethren for the ttfriaway'sar-
rest, and An Abolitionist's name sign,
ed to it. 1t. had the desired effect
the arrestof the boys, and stronger
hatred of Republicans by the. boys.
Some of the boys were sent to Lima
to await the results Of the draft j.
f. F., of Ridge township, Wyan-
dot county, a member Of our Lodge,
lila ,,ndnr nuard at Lima ldraW a |