The Great North-Western Conspiracy in All Its Startling DetailsAyer, I. Winslow
History
The Great North-Western Conspiracy in All Its Startling Details
Ayer, I. Winslow
Knights of the Golden Circle; Northwestern Conspiracy, 1864
In regard to the writer, it need only be said, that when it was
announced to Hon. I.N. Arnold, M.C., Governor Yates, and Brig.-Gen.
Paine, that there was a formidable conspiracy against the General
Government, embracing many thousand persons in its league, and that its
purpose was the subversion of our Government in aid of the rebellion,
that their plots were rapidly maturing, and the most alarming
consequences might be apprehended, if timely precautions were not
observed, all of these gentlemen gave to the matter their earnest and
careful attention. It was not the purpose of the writer to proceed with
further investigations, except by advice and direction, as it was a
work for which he felt wholly unqualified, from his tastes, disposition,
professional, and social position, but the arguments of Gen. Paine,
which, at this time and place, it is unnecessary to state, but which it
is believed neither party will soon forget, decided the matter, and
the task was undertaken, and with what success it was attended, let the
history of the proceedings in Cincinnati determine. For more than six
months, the work was prosecuted with unceasing vigilance, regardless
of all other considerations, and although, when he was called to the
witness stand, he could not shield himself from the malignant abuse of
counsel, by stating _that he had been acting under a commission received
from his Government_, yet he then felt morally certain, and that
confidence _yet remains unshaken_, that when his true relations to the
Government and country, are finally known, his motives, his acts, and
his services, will be duly appreciated. He has not been mistaken.
The contemptible falsehood of the party who stated that the writer's
services had been compensated, or that a claim for compensation had been
made, is hereby hurled back into his teeth. Not a dollar, not a dime,
has been received, not even for _actual expenses incurred_, and _no
claim_ whatever has been made--no consideration whatever has been
proffered. The service was the result of a deep conviction of duty, a
feeling that no citizen should withhold personal sacrifice, even of life
and reputation, if the interest of his country demands it. We knew the
condition upon which we stepped aside from the agreeable and peaceful
avocations of life, and entered upon the task so distasteful, so
repulsive, and for a time so thankless. We had reason to know that
the shafts of fiendish calumny would assail, that friendship would be
broken, _that envy and jealousy would ply their innuendoes_, that the
Copperhead elements of a fraternity, claiming one of the offenders in
its ranks, would assail with bitterness and awaken poignant grief, but
no regret, that we should have the hatred of Copperheads, as long as
that genus (thank Heaven, short-lived), existed in our land, and be
regarded with distrust by those negative persons, who would be for the
Union, had they any independence of character; we knew all this would
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account