The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-10-31
REPORT OF j. THOMPSON TO J.P. BEN.
JAMIN, CONFEDERATE sECRE-
TARY OF STATE.

est Dy every IOydl clglZen
THE REPORT.
TORONTO, G. W., Dec. 8, 1864.
Hon. j. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary Of State
SIR: Several times l have attempted to-
send you communications, but have no as
surance that any Que Of them has been re-
ceived. 1 have relaxed no effort to carry
out the objects the Government had il
view in sending me here. l had hoped OF
different times 10 have accomplished more,
but still do not think my mission has been
altogether fruitless. At all events we have
afforded the Northwestern States the am
plest opportunity to throw off the CALLING
dynasty at Washington, and openly to take
ground ia favor of State Rights and Civil
Liberty. This fact must satisfy the large
class of dscontents ct home of the readiness
and willingness of the Administration to
avail itself of every proffered assistance in
our great struggle for independence.
Gu my arrival here heard that there was
such an organization as the order of the
''SOns of Liberty in the Northern States
and my first effort was to learn its strength,
its principles, and its objects, and If possible
to put myself in communication with its
leading spirits. This was effected without
much difficulty or delay. I was received
among them with cordiality, and the great
est confidence at once extended 20 me. The
number of its members was large, but not so
NJ Nl% ~,
resented it to be. It's objects were political
its principles were that The Government 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 seced-
ing State. The resolutions OF 1898 and 1899
were set forth as presenting the true theory
of the Government. It's organization was es,
sentialy military; it had its comman ders OF
divisions, of brigades, ofregments, of COM
panies.
In the month of June last the universal
feeling among it's members, leaders, and pri-
Yates was that it was useless to hold prssi-
Dental elections 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 a
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,
i
While everything Was moving on smoothly
TO supposed successful consummation, the
first interruption in the calculation was the
postpOnement Of the meeting of the Demo
the Goth of August, but preparations still
went on, and in one OF the States the Goth o
July was fixed as the day for a movement.
: But before the day arrived general coun-
Gil of the order from different States vas
called, and it was thought the movement on
the goth ofJuly would be premature and the
10th of August was fixed upon for a general
uprising. This poAtponement was insisted
upon the ground that It was necessary to
have series of public meetings to prepare
the public mind, and appointments for tpUb-
lie peace meetings were madeleine a Peoria,
one at Springfield, and one at Chicago on the
10th The first meeting was at Peoria, and
to make IL a success l agreed that so Inuch
money as was necessary would be furnished
by me. 1t was held and was decided sue
cess. The vast multtudes who assembled
seemed TO be swayed but by one leading idea
TT
strengthened and seemed anxious for the
day when they would do something to hasten
them to the great goal of peace. About this
time that correspondence between our
friends and Horace Greeley made its appear
ance. Lincoln's manifesto shocked the
country. The belief in some way prevailed
over the North that the South would agree
to Reconstruction, and the politicians, as
pecially the leading ones, conceived %the
idea that on such an issue Lincoln could be
beaten at the ballot Gox. At all events they
argued that the trial of the ballot box
should be made before the resort to force
always dermter resort. The Springfield
meeting came off, but it was apparent that
the fire exhibited at Peoria had already al
mnished-the whole tone of the speakers
was that the people must rely on the ball ot
box for redress ofgrievances The nerves OF
the leaders of he order began to relax.
About this time large lot of arms were
purchased and sent to Indianapolis. which
was discovered, ard some of the leading mon
were charged with the design to arm tina
members of the order for reasonable Dur
poses. Tre~chery showed itself in Louis
vile. Judge Bullitt and DR.. Kalfuo were ar
rested and sent to Memphis.
The day on which the great movement