The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-13
Mr.. THOMPS0N'S TREASON.
A Traitors Methods of Warning
Against the Government.
Hiring Iucendiaries to Burn New York cry
plans to Liberate PrisOners-Ihe
Proof Under His Own Hand.
National Republican.

an, makes some effort to reply to the state
ments made by Judge Holt in letter to this
paper which is doubtless well remembered.
The statements he makes are chiefly bald as
sertions, unsupported by any pretended evil
dence, and therefore unworthy of notice.
But he takes exception to the evidence of one
Montgomery, who testified at the trial OF the
assassins of President Lincoln, which was
quoted by Judge Holt as tending to show
that Thompson, while at Toronto, Canada,
acting as the commissioner of the CGnfeder-
acy, was privy to and in sympathy with the
plot to assassinate the President, and other
plots to burn Northern cities, and, If posi-
be do even more infamous things. The best
possible evidence on this point, of course, is
Mr.. Thorn pson's own report to Judah F. Ben
jamin, of the Confederate cabinet. The or
iginal copy of that report is now in the
United States Treasury, and the following
certificate will show that true copy is given
below; .
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, !
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Nov. l, 1883
hereby certify that the annexed is a true
COPY of a paper found among the books, records,
papers and documents relative to transactions
of or with the late so-nalled government OF the
Confederate States, now In the possession Oh thIS
In witness whereof l have hereuutO set my
hand and caused the seal of the Treasury De
partment to be affixed, on the day and year first
above written.
lSeal CHAS. j. FOLGER,
Secretary of the Treasury.
The letter is Endorsed: Reed 10 Feb, 49,
J. P. b." and is as follows.
TORONTO, c. w, Dec 8, 1864.
Hon. J. P. Benjamin. Secretary of State;
Sir-Several times have | attempted to send
YOU communications, but l have no assur-
ance that any one of them has been received.
have relaxed no effort to carry out the OBJ
iects the government had in view in sending
me here. had hoped at different times to
have accomplished more, but still do not
think my mission has been altogether fruit
less At all events, we have afforded the
portunty to throw off the Calling
dynasty at Washington and openly to take
ground in favor of State rights and civil
liberty. This fact must satisfy the large
class of discontents at home OF the readiness
and willingness of the administration 10
avail itself of every proffered assistance in
our great struggle for Independence. On my
arrival here l heard that there. was such an
organization as the order of the Sons OF
Liberty" III the Northern States. and my
first effort was to learn its strength, its prin-
cpleS and its objects. and, if posi- bic, to nut
spirits. This was effected without much
difficulty or delay l was received among
them with cordialty, and the greatest conf
dence at once extended to me, The number
of its members was large, but not so great as
Mr. Holt in his official report represented it
to be. Its objects were political; its princi-
pies were that the government was based
upon the consent of the parties to it; that
the States were parties to G and were SOW
ereign; that there was no authority in the
general government TO coerce a seeding
State. The resolutions OF 1896 and 1898
were set forth as presenting the true theory
of the government. Its organization was
essentially military; it had its commanders
of divisions of brigades, of regiments, OF
companies.
ORGANIZING REBELLION.
In the month of June last the universal
feeling among its members, leaders and pr-
Yates, was that it was useless to hold pres-
dental election. Lincoln had the power, and
would certainly re-eiect 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, andiOh0 could be seized and held
This being done. tine States of Kentucky and
Missouri could easily be lifted from their
PROSTATE condition and placed on their feet
While everything was moving on smoothly
to a supposed successful contamination the
first interruption in the calculation was the
postponement of the meeting of the Demo-
cratic convention from the fourth of July to
the twenty-ninth of August; but preparations
still went on, and in one of the States the
goth of July was fixed as the day for move
ment But before the day arrived general
council of the order from different States
was called, and it was thought the move
ment on the Goth of July would be prema-
ture and the 18th of August was fixed upon
for a general uprising. This postponement
was insisted upon on the ground that it was
necessary to have n series of public meetings
to prepare the public mind, and appoint
ments for public peace meetings were made
one at Peoria one at Springfield and one at
Chicago-on the 10th.
The first one was al Peoria, and to make it
a success l agreed that so much money as
was necessary would be furnished by me. 1t
was held and was a decided success; the vast
multitudeS who attended seemed to be
swayed by but one leading itea-peace.
The friends were encouraged and
strengthened and seemed anxious for
the day when they would do some
thing to hasten them to the great goal
of peace. About this time that correspond
ence between our friends and Horace Greeley
made its appearance. Lincoins manifesto
shocked the country The belief in some
way prevailed over the North that the South
would agree TO a reconstruction and the poll
ticians. especially the leading ones, conceived
the idea that on such an issue Lincoln could
be beaten at the ballotbOX. At all events
they argued that the trial OF the ballot-box
should he made, before resort to force al
ways a derner resort. The Sprnt field meet
ing came off, but it was apparent that the
fire exhibited at Peoria had already dimin-
ished-the whole tone OF the speakers was that
the people must rely OF the balot-box for
redress of grievances. The nerves of the
leaders of the order began to relax
About this time large lot of arms were
purchased and sent to indianapolis. which
was discovered, and some OF tue leading men
were charged with the design to arm the
members of the order for reasonable pur-
poses Treachery showed tsef at louisville.