Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-08-01

Plans for the Revolt and Re-
lease of Rebel Prisoners,
whose Assistance
was Expected.
Treason Of the Democratic
Leaders, and other In
teresting and lmpor-
tant Facts which
People ought
to Know.
The following is an exact copy of the
original paper now in the hands OF the
Government, and it will be read with
intense interest by every loyal citizen
| THE REPORT.
TORONTO, C. w., Dec. 8. '64.
Hon. J. p. Benjamin, Secretary OF
| State:
SIR: Several times have I attempted
to send you communications, but have
no assurance that any one Of them has
been received. have relaxed no effort
to carry out the objects the Govern
ment had in view in sending me here
l had hoped at different times to accom-
plish more, but still ! do not think my
mission here has been altogether fruit
less. At all events we have afforded
the Northwestern States the amplest
opportunity to throw off the CALLING dy-
nasty at Washington and openly to take
ground in favor ofState Rights and Civ
il Liberty. This fact must satisfy the
large class of discOntents at home OF
the readiness and willingness Of the
Administration to avail itself of every
profrered assistance in our great struggle
for independence.
| On nv arrival here | heard that there
was such all organization as the order
of "Sons of Liberty" in the Northern
States, and my first effort was to learn
its strength, its principles, and its OBJ
Ijects, and if possible to put myself in
communication with its leading spirits,
This was effected without much delay
l was received among them with cordi-
ality, and the greatest confidence
extended to me. The number of its
members was large, but not so great as
Mr.. Holt, in his official report, repre-
sented it to be. Its objects were pOlit
ical its principles were that the Gov
ernment was based on the consent Of
the parties to it; that the States were
the parties, and were sovereign; that
there was no authority in the General
Government to coerce a seceeding State.
The resolutions of 1898 and 1893 were
set forth as presenting the true theory
of the Government. Its organization
was essentially military it had its COM
manders of divisions, of brigades, Of
regiments and of companies.
In June last the universal feeling
among its members, leaders and private:
was that it was useless to hold Presi-
dental election; Lincoln had the pow
er, and would certainly re-elect him
self, and there was no hope but in force
The belief was entertained and freely
expressed that by bold, vigorous ant
concerted movement the three grea
Northwestern States of Illinois, Indi
ana 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 OF
their feet, and this in sixty days woult
end the war. While everything wa
moving OH smoothly to a supposed sue
cessful consumation, the first Interrupt
ton in the calculation was the post
ponement of the meeting Of the Demo
cratic convention from the 4th of July
to the 29th of August, but preparations
: still went on, and in one of the State
the Goth of July was fixed as the day
for q movement.
But before the day arrived genera
council of the order from differen
States was called, and it was though
the movement on the Goth of July woul(
be premature, and the Goth of Angus
was fixed upon for general uprising
This postponement was insisted upoI
for general uprising. This postpone
ment was insisted upon the ground tina
it was necessary to have a series o
meetings to prepare thepublic mind ,ant
appointments for public peace meeting
were made-one at Peoria, one a
Springfield, and one at Chicago on tn,
10th. The first one was at Peoria, an(
to make it success | agreed that 81
much money as was necessary would b,
furnished by me. 1t was held and wa
decided success. The vast multitude
who attended seemed to be swayed bu
by one leading idea-Peace. The friend
were encouraged and strengthened, ,an(
seemed anxious for the day when they
, would do something to hasten them t,
the goal of peace. About this time tina
correspondence between our friends ant
Horace Greeley made its appearance
Lincolh's manifesto Shocked the coun
try. The belief in some way prevailed
over the North that the South wOult
agree to a reconstruction, and the poll
ticians, especially the leading ones
conceived the idea that on such an is
sue Lincoln c0ultbbe beaten at the bal
lot box. At all events they argued tina
the trial of the ballot box should b,
made before resort to force-always ;
dernier resort. The Springfield meeting
came of, but it was apparent that th'
fire exhibited at Peoria had already di
minished-the whole tone of the speak
ers was that the people must rely OF
the ballot box for redress of grievances
The nerves of the leaders of the ordel
began to relax. About this time a larg,
lot of arms were purchased and sent t,
Indianapolis, which was discovered, ,ant
some of the leading men were charged
with design to arm the members o
the order for reasonable purposes
Treachery showed itself at Louisville
Judge Built and DIR. Knifus were ar
rested and sent to Memphis.
: The day Oh which the great move
!, ment was to be made became known tt
Mr., Mcdonald, candidate for Governor
for Indiana, and believing that it woult
mar his prospects for election unles!
prevented, he threatened to expose all
the parties engaged unless the project
was abandoned. Thus the day passed
by and nothing was done. The Chica-
go Convention came; the crowd was i'm
mense; the feeling was unanimous fol
peace, a general impression prevailed
that reconstruction could be had, and
that it was necessary to SO far pander tC
the military feeling as to take Gen. Nc
Clellan to secure a certain success. This
nomination, followed as it was by di-
vers disclosures and arrests of persons,
prominent members, totally demoraliz-
ed the "Sons of Liberty" The feeling
with the masses is rs strong as ever
they are true, brave, and believe will
ing and ready but they have no leaders.
The vigilance of the Administrations its
great detective force, the large bounties
paid for treachery, and the respectable
men who have yielded to the tempta-
ton, added to the large military force
stationed in these States, make organi-
zation and preparation almost an i'm
possibility. A large sum of money has
been expended in fostering and furth-
ering these operations, and it now seems
to have been to little profit. But, in re-
viewing the past, do not see how it
could be avoided, nor has it been spent
altogether in vain. The apprehension
of the enemy have caused him to bring
back and keep from the field in front