The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-04

was in earnest, and the Governor left him.
Says Governor Morton: i then went to Stan
ton Stanton was always my man in any emery
ency. He heard me through; heard what the
President had said. what Chase advised. Then
raising himself up TO full height. remarked with
good emphasis and with predatory words: But,
Governor, You shall have the money. and will
read them ahe law for it. and he walked rapidly
to his book case. He knew his business-he knew
how to carry on q war In a short time he came
back and read from the laws passed by an extra
session of Congress IN 1861 an act 20 arm and
equip mnute-men in States in rebellion or
threatened with rebellion. This law, said he,
was intended to hit .he case of Missouri. but is
will fit your case WELL for regard your State
as threatened with rebellion He then appoint
ed me his dishursing officer as the law required,
and gave me warrant on the treasury for $780,
000S
The work of the Knights of the Golden Circle
thus toId
The fact that assertions the part of Indi-
ana soldiers were becoming more numerous the
fact that the Legislature of 1868 had refused TO
make appropriations. and had attempted 10 take
ont of the hands Of Governor Morton the control
OF the State troops; the fact that rebel nag mad
been raised not more than three hundred rect
from the State house, and the fact that Govern
or Morton had himself been shot at were skin
symptoms that there was impure blood In tho
body of the State. Governor Morton, like skill
full physician, watched the symptoms closely AMI
lanced the feverish Tester just as 1t was
about to come to hsad. And this
is how he did it. Detectives were appointed to
watch any person whose movements were sns-
became
ions OF the suspected persons Some one has
said, IF You would not be known to do thing,
don't do it" Sins are big blabs. The sins OF
these suspected persons were no exception to
this rule. Sin blind, they invited the detectives
to join certain secren organic atoms known
Sons of Liberty. American Knights, or Knights
of the Golden Circle-tripie in name, but in
reality one and the same. The detectives were
thus admitted into the innernost secrets of the
order, and disclosed the following facts: The
most common password of the order was the
Lett n
The organization were frequently written in
characters like these. Translation of letter:
HEADQUARTERS, TENTH DISTRICT
GRAND MARSHAL s OFFICE.
Department Marshal-We have forty rifles and one
hundred pistols for your township. 1t is necessary
that they are placed in the hands of brothers
mediately. Inform your company that the arms will
be ready on Wedn esday night. Yours,
A A. d. c.. Wv.
But when written in ordinary language there
was generally circle at the bottom with line
drawn across it to show that the statements as
written were to be understood in a sense direct
~ opposite to that which would ordinarily be
conveyed" The order of the Sons of Liberty
extended over Ohio. Kentucky. Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania,
Delaware and Maryland In Indiana the order
$4,000 strong and had 5000, 900 in money. In
the fall of 1868 the organization was armed and
began drilling. In Indiana In March, 1864, they
had g. 600 muske is and many thousand revolv
ers Packages of arms had been sent into the
State marked pickaxse, hardware, household
goods, and Sunday school books. The purpose of
this organ In Indiana was TO seize the ar
senal in this city, release and arm the rebel
prisoners at Camp Morton and mprison Governor
Morton. They were then tn unite with the con-
Tolerate forces in Kentucky. Aug. 10 or l6 was
fixed as the day of uprising. To protect persons
aud property, star of German silver was hang
ing in the houses of those who sympathIzed with
the organization. All things ready for
striking the final blow. The final blow
struck. But it not struck by those who
planned it. It was dealt by Governor Morton
and it fell with Morton force. The leaders were
One eScaped O
were tried. OF those tried. one told on the
Others. Upon -- the sentence of imprison-
ment was passed and upon three. the death sen
tence. The day for the execution was fixed, but
the execution never took place. Through the
instrumentality of Governor Morton the death
sentence was changed to that of Imprisonment.
For Governor Morton wrote to Andrew johnson
these words: ''Mr President, L protest against
these executions" Accordingly the sentence
was changed by the President and the
were imprisoned at Columbus, o.
The lecturer then related the story of the
close of the war. the rejoicings of the people
suddenly turned into mourning by the assassira-
ton of President Lincoln, the homecoming of
the brave boys in blue, the stroke OF Governor
Morton by paralysis. his visit to Europe, and his
election to the United States Senate. Before he
went TO Europe, however, the Governor issued
proclamation. in which he paid the following
beautiful tribute to the Union soldier:
1T 1.-THE war has established. to be confessed
by all the world, the exalted character of the
American soldier. his natchless valor. his self
sacrificing patriotism, his capacity TO endure
fatigue and hardships, and his humanity, which,
in the midst of carnage. has wreathed his vic
torious achievements with brighter glory.
To the army and navy. under the favor
of Providence, we owe the preserva-
ton of our country, and the facs that
we have to-day place, and the proudest place,
among nations. Let it not be said of US. it
was said in olden time, that Republics
grateful Let us honor the dead, cherish the
living and r1ra in m sal hn
deeds and virtues of all inspiration for
countless generations to come"
Briefly the story of his last illness and death
was told:
There had been hone of his recovery. But
his strength grew less, hope faded away. At
the close of the LIST day of November, he said 10
his physician: II dying; am worn out"
And the eternal silence closed his lips. Truly
it has been said: 1.-The death of no man, with
the exception of that of President Lincoln, ever
created SO much grief in Indiana as that of Sena-
tor Morton" His grave was made in Crown
Hill Cemetery. by the side of the Union soldiers
of whom in his last public speech in Indiana he
utter these words: ITO these men we never can
be sufficiently grateful; we never can repay
them; money cannot do it; the only thing Jnat
can approach to it is the love and gratitue of
free and intelligent people"
Miss Domains estimate of Governor Mortons
character and characteristics closed the lecture:
His mind was such as could seize an event
in any stage of it's progress and trace IL TO it's
cause and foretel its outcome. Thus he had
statesmans insight.
When he found that he mistaken in his
views 1t mattered not how long he had held
them. he acted according to his latest conviction
and thus showed that he had rather be right
than be consistent. This is the strongest evil
dence of sincerity.
In reply to a Senator from Wisconsin, who
accused him of Inconsistency in regard to the
change that had come over him with reference
to granting at once to the colored the
right to vote, Senator Morton said: 81 confess
land do it without shame) that l have been
educated by the great events of the The
American people have been educated rapidly;
and the man who says he has learned nothing,
that he stands now where he did six years ago,
is like an ancient mile post by the side of de.
serted highway"
He was the embodiment of the doctrine
that mo man two masters He
was the servant of patriotism. For this he has
been called By his enemies the apostle of hate"
But those who have thus assaled him have yet
O ahnYv hnNv liz Ia MI fora 20 n