The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-31
DemoeratIe ReyoIntIon.


We stated few days since that the
Sons of Liberty, an infamous and trea-
sonable organization, constructed es-
pecially for the purpose of embarrass-
| ing the Government and aiding the
rebels, was a Democratic institution,
made up of Democrats entirely, aud
embracing a majority of the party.
| We propose to day to look into this
affair little more closely. Horace
Heffren, the Deputy Grand Com
mander of the Order, and Democrat
of the highest standing. swore that
nearly every Democrat of his county
| Washington belonged TO it, and that
nobody bit O Democrat could be ad-
mitted. Upon being asked if anybody
else could become a member, he an
sWered: Not if it was known that be
was not a Democrat" (See page 125
Treason trials.) Other members, un-
der oath, established the strength of
the order in Indiana at 80, 900 to 49,
600 men. If the latter was correct
there was hardly Democrat voter In
the State who was not member.
If the former was nearer right, then q
vast majority of the Democrats were
members. la any event, and under
asy estimate, il is established by oaths
of members that the order contained
the bulk of the Democratic strength of
the State. Il was a Democratic or
ganization. worked in connection with,
or rather in control of. the party, and
its existence and objects were uniform.
ly denied or palliated By Democratic
organs. The Sentinel, of this city,
whose editor was prominent and val
ued member, constantly gave the lie
to every assertion of the existence of
the order, and when the editor was
put on oath, gaze the lie to himself
Now let us see what this Democratic
organization --s after. Horace Hef-
fren and Joseph j. Bingham shall
tell the story. The first says that $780,
600 was paid to the chiefs of the order
In this State by the rebel agents in
Canada. It was to purchase arms for
the rank aud file Of the order to enable
them to resist the authorities and form
q large force to assist the rebels,
(Treason trials, page 126 That this
was the object OF armiDg is proved by
Wesley Tranter, (page 40 who says
They sWore Us into j Ell. Davis's SER
vice, and we were to support him
North or South, at all hazards"
William Clayton swears (psge 46):
The obligation bound as to 0ssist the
South." To the question, Was it
against the government and army of
the United States that yon were to
wage WARP" he answered. We t0ere to
to0ge toar upon them. Of course" This
explaines the $780, 900 for the purchase
of arms. What was to be done after
the arms were obtained? Heffren tells
us(page 127) that the prisoners in Camp
Morton was to be released, the ar
senal was to be captured, Governor
Morton were TO be killed, (page 1861,
the State government TO be overturned,
the militia composed of armed Sons
of Liberty called out by the new Gov
ernor, DIR. James 8. Athon, and a
big old" Democratic time got up gen.
orally. This is the oath of a Demo-
erat, and one who knew Just what he
was swearing to. But if his revelation
needed confirmation, Mr.. Bingham
supplied it. He swore to the insur-
rection scheme, the release of the reb-
ell prisoners, and the arming of them |
with arms to be captured from the ar
senal. He also swore that he had in |
formation that there were rebel officers |
an the city to take charge of the re-
leased and armed prisoners. But he |
did not let a government officer knOto |
anything of this important visit. He |
never whispered it where it would |
have been likely to improve the |
safety of his friends. The magma.
nimity of this action excites our pro-
foundest admiration, a little, just a
little, qualified by the weakness that
afterwards put this editor on the wit |
ness stand to hang his associates, Mill |
ligau, BoRles and Horsey.
Here are the oaths of Democrats to /
the Democratic composition of the
order; to its purpose to overturn the
state government; to its use of $200. 900 |
of rebel money; to its scheme to re-
lease and arm the rebel prisoners; and |
to its bloody resolution to murder
Governor Morton. 1t contained at
least three forths of all the Democratic
voters of Indiana, though many of |
them knew nothing of these infamous |
projects. Nobody but a Democrat |
was allowed to belong to it. And its |
obligation bound the members to as
sist the South. and to wage war upon |
the Government and army of the |
United States" This design was well
known to Mr.. Bingham. What rea =
son does he give for remaining In the
order when he learned its character2
The same, probably, that impelled his
inquiry to Voorhees, about the pros
poet of the rebels holding out against
the Government. Was it? These be
interesting matters.-IRd. Journal.