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
whose appearance of dignity and years would impress new comers most
favorably. This man was found in Obadiah Jackson, Jr. Esq., as Grand
Seignior, and so much gratified were they with his peculiar fitness for
this distinguished honor, that they resolved to find a second officer,
or Ancient Brother, and Lewis C. Morrison gave place to a Mr. Hoffman.
Things were now working smoothly, new members were rapidly joining,
and it was evident that the new organization was most favorable for the
growth and unity of the Order. The rapidly increasing number of Temples
in every part of the State, would have been truly alarming to the
friends of the Union. New comers were introduced at every meeting, and
large numbers were initiated at Judge Morris' residence, where favored
individuals were also initiated in the mysteries of the higher degrees;
so that there were hundreds of persons, in good standing with the Order
as bona fide members, who seldom or never visited the lodge room;
this was especially the case with the higher grade of persons--the
politicians, lawyers and others. At a meeting in the autumn, Judge
Morris was present and made a speech in response to the request of
several members, who asked information concerning the immediate purposes
of the Order. He spoke, as was his custom, of the tyranny of the
President; he said the rights of the people had been trampled upon, and
the constitution had been violated by him. He referred to the suspension
of the _habeas corpus_, and said many of our best men were at that
moment "rotting in Lincoln's bastiles;" that it was our duty to wage a
war against them, and open their doors; that when the Democrats got into
power they would impeach and probably hang him, and all who were thus
incarcerated should be set at liberty; that thousands of our best men
were prisoners in Camp Douglas, and if once at liberty would "send
abolitionists to hell in a hand basket;" he said the meanest of those
prisoners was purity itself compared to "Lincoln's hirelings." He added
that the tyranny of "Abraham the First" was fast drawing to a close, and
those who were anxious to fight, would not have to wait long. He also
spoke in favor of retaliation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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