The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-23
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY
HAT0HED BY AGENTS OF THE
CONFEDERACY
To Release the Southern PrisOners
Who We're Suffering the Tor
lures In Northern Prisons.

made in this coultTy is about to b.
made, after exbaus tive effort, in Lou
isville. Since the death OF the Hon
Jacob Thompson renewed interest ha
been felt as to the disposition to b
made Of his papers relating to the at
tempt Of the CoDfs derate Governmen
TO release Southern prisoners confined
in the North, to arm aud organic
them, and by the CO. operation of thos,
thoroughly dissatisfied with Mr. Lin
coins administration through th,
States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
create diversion which would relieve
the pressure upon the army at III,
front. These papers, and many other
relating to the movement, are in tht
hands OF ex Chief Justice Hines, o
Kentucky, who was in charge OF al
active operations Mi John B. Gas
tleman, OF this city, was the principa
aid to Judge Hines, and these two
gentlemen have for some time beer
considering the advisability of giving
to the public full information # wh al
is now generally know n as the North
western conspiracy"
The papers will be supplemented
by valuable public documents, and
the announcement Is made that the
Southern Biroltdc will begin the publ.
cation OF all these documents in the
December issue OF that magazine.
The importance Of the movement has
never yet been fully understood, MOI
have the papers OF the North compre.
hended the relations that existed be.
tween the commissioners and the va
rious Copperhesd organizations of the
Northwest, the principal one OF which
was the "Sons of Liberty" The origin
of his movems mt is traced to the raid
OF Morgan through Ohio, Though
this brilliant cavalry leader was finally
captured and imprisoned, with the
Chief officers, the raid itself developed d
the fact that there YVES throughout
the Northwest great dissatisfaction
with the government at Wsshir gton,
and this led the Confederate leaders
to take advantage of the disturbed
situation, and, if possible, fecure the
co operation of these dssa itfied
classes. The purpose was still
further strengthened by the SUCCESS
ful efforts made by Gen. Morgan,
Judge Hines and others to escape
from the Ohio penitentiary. After
this event Capt. Hines was ordered to
Richmond. There he conferred with
President Davis as to The best means
OF availing themselves of the situation
in the North, and it was finally de-
cided to make an organized attempt
to relea!e the prisoners confined
throughout the Noithwest. The Fed
eral Government had already rel ched
the determination to refuse the ex-
change of prisoners, and movement
for their release wss absolutely ne css-
sary in order to recruit the exhausted d
armies OF the South. The officers
purpose YVES there fore to secure the
release Of imprisoned soldiers, and the
appointed with this
end in view were the Hon. Jacob
and the Hon. O. @. Clay,
with headquarters in Canada. TIE
operations were in charge OF Judge
Thomas H. Hines, with John b.
Castleman as the chief adviser. These
gentlemen, in pursuing their plans
Of operations, decided tDat the effect
If the movement could be greatly
by bringing into active SCR
vice the Sons of Liberty and all the
classes in the North, snd
this was determined upon. They
succeeded in largely identifying these
with their own organiza-
lion, and they ssy that documents will
be presented clearly defining this rsls-
ions sustained by prominent peacs
men, anti-Lincolniies and others
throughout Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
% this gigantic con3pirdcy. These
locumens will not relate TO mere
leal say, bat will be the official papers
Das7ing between the lie ,derl of both
ections Of this interior amy. In
addition TO the value these papers will
nave as a contribution to the secret
military history OF the war, they will
hrow new light on the political
ituation in the North. Amorg much
urious information these documents
will furnish is the fact that
vel Mr.. Stanton YVES at
ne time so respondent as to
he success OF the war that he ex-
,ressed serious apprehension as 10 the
'ersonal safety OF the President and
lis official associates, arising from his
of the bitter and wide
pread dissatisfaction throughout the |
Jorth. The extent of the opposition
o the government at Washington
roused among all clasfes, among act
We politicians and quiet citizens, has
ever been so we'll shown as in these |
apsls, and they may have peculiar
nd personal interest for number Of
'rominent politicians. Some Of the i!
engaged in the enterprise |
rere arrested, tried and executed;
theirs were arrested, but escaped for |
rant of evidence. Twice WIS The day |
ct for general uprising and twice |
Ias it postponed. The utmost secrecy
,as necessary aud it was wonderfully |
reserved. Even at Washington very |
sw papers exist bearing on the epi- |
ode Of the war, and the authorities |
lere, though they were able finally to
lwart it, never understood its extent
r the magnitude of the forces arrayed
/ it.
"The story of the Northwest con.
piracy" said Gen. Basil Duke, one of
le most dashiDg leaders OF the Con-
iderate army, "will be the greatest
istoricsl and political sensation since
le close OF the war. It is needless to
" that there are thousands of men
/ Ohio, Indiana and Illinois who will
3 deeply affected politically by the
,velations, and some OF the suggestions
lsde in political contests equal the
cts shown"
There is no political purpose in
olved in the publication. "Of
Iurse not. The wonderful interest
lat has developed in the secret and
fcisl history OF the war has simply
reed out everything connected with
Ie struggle, and the Northwest con.
'iracy comes with the rest as being
sxt to the declaration OF war itself.
be most important and thrilling epi-
de Of national history during he
lst twenty.six Yeas. The story in
Ives the scheme to capture the only
n nhoate IN tha lakaz otfaoL, ~ ....l- |