Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-11-05

and other nerthern border States. to join him in
his pretended neutrality. Gov. Morton rejected
his overtures, and from this time he was practical
ly the Governor Of two States. The Union men
of Kentucky, who we're nominally in the ascend
ancy, depended largely upon him for arms and
military stores Gen. Boyle, in command of the
| Kentucky frontier. relied wholly upon him. lie
| supplied Admiral Foote, then Captain COM
manding the Western Flotilla, with - 900 pounds
of powder, without which the fleet could not have
taken Fort Henry. Thus be became known as
Governor OF Kentucky aud Indiana" In the
streets of Frankfort during the qua,i-Provsional
| government, which made the rebel johnson, Pro-
visonal Governor while Msgofiin was the de fac
to Executive of the State, controversy arose be-
| tweeu the Kentucky soldiers as TO who was the
| real Governor. One claimed Johnson, the other
| Ma agotin. The dispute grew warmer and warm
er, and was about to result in blows, when
| brawny Indiana soldier exclaimed, "hold on, gem
| tlemeu, YOU are both mistaken. Gov. Morton Is
| Governor of Kentucky, as his blue coats armed
win Enfield niles. will soon show you" The
| good humored way IN which il was SAID set every
| BODY laughing. and the kentuckIans shook hands
ami proposed three cheers for "Goy. Morton OF
| Kentucky! =!
MORTON AND STANTON.
From the beginning of the war Gov. Morton
had great influence with the National Administra
ton. lhis was due TO his recognized position a
leader OF the republican party, and also the
markabe energy, judgment and ssgaclty which
be displayed. lie was the tTuest friend and coun-
sellor, of Lincoln and Stanton. Ills frequent
visits to Washington brought him into close per-
sonal contact aud constant correspondence with
these great men, and they never failed to seek hls
advice on every question OF importance. MIR.
Stanton was always his man in an emergency.
Once when a democratic Legislature had cut off
the supplies, and he had raised S2jO.000 on his
own responsibility, Gov. Morton visited Washing
,on and called on Secretary Chase. "Don't take
such responsibilities upon yourself, said the See
Ietary. "Iour State may not sustain you III 1864
and you'll bring bankruptcy upon yourself and
your friends. Don't do it, Morton, NJ plore you.
Let the State 20. Do your duty and let the rest
take care of ITSELF Mr.. Chase was in earnest,
and the Governor left him. "Wnere did You 20
then. Governor !" asked friend who heard him
| tell the story several years ago. 10 Stanton,
was the quick reply. "Stauton heard
what the President lad said, what Chase
had adv ised, and then raising himself up to his
full height, remarked with great empha-l', and
without predatory words But by God, Governor
YOU shall have the money, and I'll read them the
Law for II, and he walked rapidly TO his bookcase.
lie knew his business-he knew how 10 carry on
war--how to night rebels and deal with THEN sym
pathizers. In a short time he came back and read
from the laws passed by the extra session IN Con-
men in ates in rebellion threatened rebellion.
THIS law, said he, was intended to hit the case
OF Missouri, but 1t Will tit your case as WELL for
regard your state threatened with rebellion. lie
thei eupon appointed me his dsbursng officer, as
the law required, and gave me warrant on the
Treasury Tor c25O0OO
The INDIANA REBELLION.
The Governor had to suppress rebellion in his
own state. The aim of the "Knights of the Col
den Circle" was to plunge the state into revolu-
tioD and precpitate civil war in its borders. In
some counties L nion men had been driven from
their homes, their houses and barns had been
burned, dIaft-ofhcers had been killes squads OF
soldiers sent to arrest deserters had been fired
upon and companies of rebel sympathizers drilled
in open day, with the avowed purpose of resisting
the Government authorities. Gov. Morton was
the special object OF their hatred. His life was
repeatedly threatened.
Once he was fired at as he was leaving the
State House at night, the bullet grazing his head.
These outrages became so frequent, and the talk
OF organized resistance to the draft so alarming,
that in June, 1868, the Governor issued a procla-
mation recltng the act OF Congress TO define and
punish reasonable conspiracies. and ordering the
agitators to submit to the laws. Finally, in 1864,
a full exposure was made of the secret Organlza
ton known as the "Knights OF the Golden Circle,
or "Sons of Liberty" Toe membership in the
state at that time was aboat so 900. It's officers
had S200,000 in their hands for the purpose Of
buying arms The leaders were in close aud con-
staut communication with the Rebels. An out
break had been planned to take place in August,
1864. The arsenal at Indianapolis was to be
seized. railroad and telegraph lines to be cut, and
the Rebel prisoners confined there to be liberated
Gov Morton was to be captured, and. if necessary
put out of the way. The combined forces of re-
| leased prisoners and "Sons of Liberty" were to
join the Rebel forces, who were to advance to
meet them in Kentucky. With such information
in his possession. Gov. Morton was prepared to
deal this treasonabe organization a crushing blow.
He caused the arrest of the Grand Commander of
the Order in his State, the Deputy-grand Com
mander, and four District Commanders-all prom
inent democrats. A military commission
organized, and they were put upon their trial
for conspiracy and treason. Pending the trial the
Grand Commander made his escape from the
United States court building and fled to Canada.
One of them turned States evidence, and dis
closed all tbs secrets of the Order. The court
finally found all four of them guilty charged,
and sentenced three of them to death and one to
Imprisonment The death sentence was approved
and the day fixed for their execution, when, up
on the earnest representations Of Gov. Morton
and other prominent loyal men, the President
committed their sentences to confinement in the
Ohio pententiary.