The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-08-02

1Ae IoloN1uS Is an exact copy OF
the original paper now in the hands
Of the government, and will be read
with intense interest by-cYery loyal
citizen = & ~ : = -s4--&A S-kA-A
THE EEroRT.
i ToRoNTo, c. W. Dec. 8, 1864.
Hon. j. p. BENJAMIN, Secretary
Of State: SfS',-SeVeral times have
i attempted to send YOU communi-
cations, but have no assurance that
any one OF them has been received.
I have relaxed no effort to carry out
the object the Government had in
view in stnding nae here. IIhad
hoped at different times to have &C.
complishe.. more, but still / do not
think my lission has been alto.
gether trui less. At all events we.
have affoi led the Northwestern
States the amplest opportunity to
throw Off the CALLING dynasty at
Washingto /, and openly to take
ground fol-. State Rights and civil
Liberty. This fact must satisfy
the large class of discontentsl at
home of the readiness and willing
ness of the Administration to avail
itself of every proffered assistance,
in our great struggle for independ-
ence.
On my arrival here l heard that
there was such an organization as
the order of the ''Sons of Liberty"
in the Northern States, and my first
work was to learn its strength, its
principles, and its objects, and if
possible to put myself in communi-
cation with its leading spirits. This
was affected without much difficulty
or delay. 1 was received among
them with cordiaIity, and the great
est confidence at once extended to
me. The number of its members
was large, but not SO great as MIR.
Holt, in his official report repre-
scented it to be. Its objects were
political; its principles were that
the Government was based on the
consent of the parties to 1t; that the
States were the parties, and were
sovereign; that there was no au-
thority in the general Government
to coerce a seeding State. The
resolutions of l79S and 1899 were
set forth as presenting the true the
DRY of the Government. Its organ
ization is essentially military; it
had its commanders of divisions, of
brigadcs, of regiments, of COM
panies.
In the month of June last the
universal feeling among its MEM
bers, leaders and privates was that it
was useless to hold q Presidential
election !; Lincoln had the power
and would certainly re-elect himself
and there was no hope but in force.
The belief was entertained and
freely expressed that by bold,
vigorous and concerted movement
the three great Northwestern States
of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio could
be seized and held. This being
done, the States of Kentucky and
Missouri could easily be lifted from
their PROSTATE condition and placed
on their feet, and this in. sixty days
would end the war. While every
thing was moving on smoothly TO a
supposed successful contamination,
the first interruption in the calcula-
ton was the ,postpenement of the
meeting of the Democratic conYen-
ton from the Fourth of July to the
Goth of August, but preparations
still went on, and in one of the
States the Goth of July was fixed on
for movement. it
But before the day arrived, geil-
eral council of the order from the
different States was called, and it
was thought the movement on the
Doth of July would be premature
and the 10th of August was fixed
upon for a general uprising. This
postponement was insisted upon on
the ground that it was necessary to
have series of public meetings to
prepare the public mind, and ap2
pointments for public peace mecL-
ings were made-one at Peoria, one
at Springfield and one at Chicago,
on the 10th. The first one was at
Peoria, and to make it a success /
agreed that so much money as was
necessary would be furnished by
me- 1t was held and was decided
success. The vast multitudes who
attended seemed to. be swayed by
one leading idea-Peace. The
friends were encouraged and
strengthened and seemed anxious
for the day when they should do
something to hasten them to the
great goal of peace. About this
time that correspondence between
our friends and Horace Greeley
made its appearance. Lincoln's
manifesto shocked the country.
The belief some way prevailed over
the North that the South, would
agree to a reconstruction, and the
politicians, especially the leading
ones, conceived the idea that upon
such an issue Lincoln could be beat
en- at the ballot-box. At all events
they argued that trial of the bal
lot-box should be made before q re-
sort to force-always a de1nier re-
sort. The Springfield meeting
came of, but it was apparent that
the fire exhibited at Peoria had al
ready diminished-the whole tone
of the speakers was that the people
must rely on the ballot-boX for re-
dress of grievances The nerves of
the leaders of the order began to
relax. About this time a large lot
eff arms were purchased and sent to
Indianapolis, which was discovered,
and some of the leading men were
charged with the design to arm the
members of the order for treason
able purposes. Treachery showed
itself at Louisville. Judge BulIitt
and DIR. Kalfus were arrested and
sent to Memphis. -
The day on which the great
movement was to be made became
known to Mr.. Mcdonald, candidate
for Governor of Indiana, and be-
leiving that it would mar his pros
poets for election unless prevented
he threatened to expose all the par
ties engaged unless the project was
abandoned. Thus the day passed |
by and nothing was done. The |
Chicago convention came; the |
crowd was immense; the feeling |
was unanimous for peace; general |
prevailed that recon- |
could be had, and that it |
was necessary to SO far pander to |
the military feeling as TO take Gen.
eral Mcclellan to secure n certain |
success. This nomination, followed
as it was by divers disclosures and |
arrests of persons, prominent MEM
bers, totally demoralized the tSons
Of Liberty" The feeling with the
masses is as strong as ever; they are
true, brave, and / believe willing
and ready, but they have no leaders.
The vigilance of the Administra-
lion, Its large detective force, the
arge bountfes paid for treachery,
md the respectable men who have
yielded to the temptation, added to
he large military force stationed in
.hese States, make organization and
almost an impossibility.
a large sum of money has been ex-
pended in fostering. and furtheringi
.hese operations, and it now seems
% have been to little profit. But,
n reviewing the past, 1 do not see
low it could have been avoided,
lor has it been spent altogether in
rain. The apprehensions of the
,nemy have caused him to bring
lack and keep from the field in
ront at least 10000 to watch and