The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-06-14
The SPLENDID
GRAFTON
OF MISS LILLE KNOLLENBERG
AT HIGH SCHOOL,
JUNE 10, 1904.
"kNlGHTS OF THE GOLD
EN- CIRCLE.'
Was the Theme History of the Sc
cret Organization During
~ Civil War.

The following is the Grafton deliv-
cred by Miss Lille Knolenberg at
High School commencement Friday,
June 10, 1904:
The Knights of the Golden Circle
was a secret organization existing
during the Civil War. Its real orr
gin Is thought to have extended back
as far as the Revolution Of 1776. but
1t did not become fully organized I'M
til about 1875. At this time Charles
Buckley of Boone county. Indiana,
but then living in the South. tried to
bring to more perfect state of unity,
clubs in various slave states, known
as ''Southern Rights CIubs.' But,
when the constitution, bylaws and
ritual We're formed, this new order
became the KNIGHTS Of the Golden
Circle and Mr. Buckley was made
COmmander-in-Chief. In 1888 it was
still more thoroughly organized:
smaller divisions were made and new
members were admitted only when it
was sure they could be fully trusted.
Most of the members were Democrats
and the order, as a whole, took an
active part in the Presidential cam
paign of 1860. Thus while BEGINNING
in the South, its existence wass well
known in the North before the out
break Of the war. where it was es-
tablished by the officials Of the order.
When the war broke out, Nallandig-
ham, the Supreme Commander Of the
northern section. being banished from
this country, fled to Canada and
there established his headquarters at
Windsor, where he was kept in close
and constant touch with the order.
Often the real name had to be
changed so as to secure more rigid
secrecy: so later on it assumed the
title of the "Order Of American
Knights.' and still later, "The Sons
of LIBERTY In New York the
name Of "McClellan Minute Men, -
and i'll the state of Missouri "Corps
de Belgique' were used.
The order had about eleven direct
purposes. l. Aiding soldiers to de-
sert. 2. Discouraging enlistment anC
rosistin" the draft. 3. The circula-
tion Of disloyal and reasonable pub
hcatlonS by special agents. Among
these works were to be found "Pol
lard s Southern History Of the War;
"Ot1icial Reports of the Confederate
Governments, and "The Life Of
StonowaIl Jackson.' 4. Communi
eating with and giving intelligence /,
the Rebels. ;. Aiding the enemy b,
recruiting for them or assisting then
to recruit within our lines. 6. Fur
ni~hin9 the Rebels with arms. am
mnnition and other supplies. :. Co
opcratin" with the enemy in raid
and invasions. 8. Destruction o
Government property. 9. Destruc
ton Of private property and persesu
ton of loyal men. 10. Assassination
and murder. II. Establishment of
Northwestern confederacv. Thi
they intended to do by getting up
rebellion in that locality, professin
that the chosen officers of our govern
ment had usurped the authority an
thus they might claim it not only a
an inherent right. but as a solem
and imperative duty to resist thes
officials, and, if need be, expel ther
by force. Such resistance was elaine
not as a revolution, but solely as a
assertion of right.
The ritual Of this secret order wa
very long and almost meaningless
and, as occasion required, was ofte
modified to suit the peculiar cond