National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-29

turts in the State Department. He has
pursued our ministers and consuls abroad
| with zeal seldom equsled, and never sur
passed. And what this Jealous patriot
/ don't know about those fellows is not worth
knowing. He must have museum OF
diplomatic and consular curiosities-the
cocked-hats our ministers wore on grand
occasions; the cocktails they would have
drank if they could; the diamond their
wives and daughters wanted, but didn't
have the spondulicks to pay for, and which
have accordingly been shipped to 'tBill"
on the steamer Leviathan, and adorn hls
cabinet as fossil remains of Republican ex-
travagance; the swords and spurs and gold
lace and big plumes, and the "fuss and
feathers" generally Of the diplomatic estab-
ishment-sll, all have been cared for by
"Bill" Springer, who Is going to vindicate
the honor Of the Republic in this branch of
the service. In fine, the Hon. "Bia''
Springer is going to make his mark in
American politics by knocking ourdiplo-
matte and consular service into su1ithereens.
This reminds US that Mr.. "Bill S" has
made his mark before. And in the ia
terest of historical truth we now proceed
to show when and how. 1t will be seen
that his patriotism, like the atmosphere, of
the House, needs ventilation, and we ven
tilste accordingly. There was in the
Northwest, during the war. an organiza-
ton called the Sons of Liberty" so named
because they were the friends of slavery
and of the Shareholders rebellion. The
"Sons of Liberty" rendered all the aid and
comfort they could to the enemies Of the
Union. At one time they undertook to get
up quite general rebellion in the Ststesof
the Northwest, especially Illinois and In
diana. 1t was their purpose to iberate the
rebel prisoners ct Camp Douglas, Chicago.
and at other camps. arm them and set them
on the unarmed people. Al the details of
this most wicked, reasonable and cruel plot
are set forth in 1.-THE Rebellion Record"
volume II, pages Ais to AT, inclusive, in a
report by Colonel 3. J. Sweet. Many Of
the Sons of Liberty" were arrested, i'm.
portant papers seized and considerable
quantities of arms captured. By the vigi-
lance and efficiency of Colonel Sweet ter
rible scores of slaughter and violence were
prevented, and the abomirable character of
the Sons of Liberty" and their diabolical
intentions made known to the Government
and the public.
Says Col. Sweet in his official report of
November 90, 1854: IAN examination of
"many of the persons so arrested shows,
beyond all doubt, tlat the Sons Of Lib
"erty' is reasonable, widely extended
land powerful organization, touching into
"almost if not all the counties of this
estate, (Illinois); that it is an organiza-
"tion Of two branches one civil the other
military, the members of the civil being
ION probation for the military branch; that
important secrets in relation to military
"plans and the location of the depots for
EARNS were carefully guarded from per-
"sons of civil membership, though even
"they well knew that the organization
chad such depots, and was animated with
Ga spirit of intense hostility to the Gov
"ernment that many Of its leaders must
"hsve known of the intended attack on
"this camp and city, (ehicago.) and that
"some of them have actually been IN con-
"sultstion, face to face, with men whom
"they knew to be rebel officers, conspiring
"to produce a revolution in the North
"west,"
Such was this IRRESPONSIBLE organization,
which was twice foiled, by the vigorous
measures of the military, in its attempts to
produce general revolution and bloody
scenes of terror in Illinois, and which for
many months plotted aud schemed and
labored to place the Northwest in the
power of the rebellion.
And it was in this organization that Mr..
Springer, of Illinois. first made his mark.
| Appended to Col. Sweets official report,
from which we have quoted and made a
part thereof, is list Of names "of prom
"inent members of the Sons of Liberty
"in the several counties of the State of
"IIlinois. you will carefully scan this
list of names of prominent members of this
reasonable organization (page AIT, vol.
II, Rebellion Record, } you will find "W.
NJ. Springer. Sangamon." Aud it is the
same man, the identical ''Bill' Springer,
who is now one fthe leaders of the House,
whose chief occupation is to gather dirt
and fling it over meu who were prom
inently guilty Of UNFOLDING the cause Of
the Union against traitors South or North.
| 1t is well for men Of this kind that Gen.
Sweet has gone TO his reward in the better
land. So long as he lived. with his thor.
ough personal and documentary knowledge
of the Sons" they had to stay in their
holes. After his death they came out into
the open slr, and some Of them, in one of
heavens heaviest afflictlons, now make
their mark in the Congress Of the United
States! or this hateful element in affairs
we can well quote Man wants but little
| here below, nor wants that little long"
The sooner it shall be sent back to its
hiding place the better. But for the GER
tainty that its power is brief one might
despair of the Republic.