An Authentic Exposition of the K G C Knights of the Golden Circle

AN AUTHENTIC EXPOSITION

OP THE

"K. G. C"

"KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE;"

OR,

A HISTORY OF SECESSION FROM 1834 TO 1861.

ILLUSTRATED.

BY A MEMBER OF THE ORDER.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.:C. 0. PERRINE, PUBLISHER.

1861.

DEDICATION.

TO THE

UNCOMPROMISING FRIENDS OF AMERICAN FREEDOM,

WHETHER LIVING NORTH OR SOUTH ;

TO THOSE

WHO PREFER DEATH TO TUE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNION

AND THE ANNIHILATION OF THE CONSTITUTION,

THIS WORK

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY THE AUTHOR.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, byC. 0. PERMINE,

in the Clerk's Nice of the District Court of the U. S. for the District of Indiana.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.THE Origin of the OrderSouthern Rights ClubsThe African. Slave

Trade and the acquisition of new Slave TerritoryThe first Organiza-tion in 1834, and its successThe Mexican War' and the South'sinterest in itProgress of'the Slave Trade up to 1852Acquisitionof Cuba, Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, Nicaragua Expeditions,etc., to increase Membership.

CHAPTER II.Increase of Anti-Slavery Sentiment at the North, and its effect upon

SouthronsGeneral George 0. Bickley's advent in 1855The first toSystematize the Order of the K. 0. C.Details of the OrganizationIts Objects, Solemn Oaths, and Forms of InitiationIts secret influenceupon the Politics of the CountrySpeech in Castle of a KnightGeneral William Walker and. Fillibustering.

CHAPTER III.The year 1858The Kansas Struggle and the Lecompton Constitution

Increased growth of the K. G. C.Change of RitualSecession advo-cated, and the South united through its workingsThe Order popu-larizedThe Regalia, Symbols, and. Workings of the Degrees and"Inner Temple "Application for a Castle in a Northern city refused.Firing of the Southern Heart in 1859-'50Presidential Contest of

1860Instrumentality of the K. G. C. in dissolving the DemocraticConvcntionOpposition to DouglasSpeech in a New Orleans CastleThe Charleston and Baltimore ConventionsThe insincerity of

Southrons.CHAPTER IV.

The Contest of 1860The Breckinridge Movement, and the insincerityof its opposition to LincolnThe K. G. C. at the North and the SouthMisrepresentations by Northern KnightsSome of their BoastingLettersAid expected from the North in case of SecessionNowEmblem of the OrderPlans to steal Arms and Money from the U. S.matured in Castle in 1859Lincoln and Hamlin Scarecrow at theSouthStories of the Campaign, and their almost general beliefTreatment of Northerners at the South.

CHAPTER V.The close of Lincoln's Campaign" Submissionists "" Firing the

Southern Heart" for SecessionGreat increase of the KnighthoodNew Degrees institutedThe Sworn Brotherhood pledged to a South-ern Government--Death of Abolitionists and other Crimes licensedThe election of Lincoln a plea for "Southern Deliverance "Charles-ton CastleThe "Cockade" excitementJoy over the Election ofLincoln" Co-operationists " confounded by the " Precipitators "Immediate Secession the war-cry of the K. G. C.The Secession ofSouth Carolina, and its effect upon the Gulf StatesThe K. G. C.opposed to CompromisesThe different Modes of Adjustment pro-

. posed in Congress hooted at.

IV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.Correspondence between Southern and Northern KnightsMen and

means profferedThe plan to assassinate Lincoln and seize the Capi-talLincoln's InauguralThe " Coercion" bugbear of the K. G. C.Excitement in the Cotton StatesThe Military Spirit aroused-Floyd's TreasonStatement of the " Stealings "A revival of theUnion feeling prior to the fall of SumterThe " Confederate States' "GovernmentThe attack on Sumter a Southern necessityThe Orderbecoming unpopular, and an increased military spirit necessary torevive itThe Border States and the Knights thereofSpeech of aKentuckianThe Rattlesnake's CharmThe Love for the AmericanFlag.

CHAPTER VII.The Bombardment of Fort SumterIts effect upon the Border States

Agents of the K. G. C. at workTheir cool reception in SouthernIndiana and IllinoisGag law and Mob rulePrentice, Guthrie,Johnson, and Brwwnlow classed as " Hard-Shells "The manner inwhich proselytes are madeThe candidate in the ante-roomThe" Preliminary Degrees, " their Forms, Symbols, and OathsTheOuter Temple "Its initiatory ceremoniesThe outside designs ofthe OrderHow Conventions, Legislatures, and Elections arecontrolled" Knights' Safety Guards " and " Knights Gallant "South-ern Ladies sent North as SpiesPlans to destroy Property at theNorthNorthern Sympathizers.

CHAPTER VIII.The North too confidentThe Southern strength underratedThe

extent of the Brotherhood at the North, and in the Border StatesKentucky's NeutralityThe" State guard " controlled by the K. G. C.The Governor of Kentucky a KnightThe War of 1801Justiceunknown to the Traitor FraternityThe Sword the only Argumentthat will exact JusticeVigilance at the North essentialThe feelingat the South since the War beganNegro insurrectionsBrutalityof the KnightsTheir mode of carrying on the WarWhat they in-tend. to accomplish.

CHAPTER IX.Yancey and ToombsThe Slave Trade and FillibusteringNorthernSympathizers with the latterThe " Abolition'' scarecrowThe Lecompton Swindle the work of the K. G. C.Similarity of that fraudwith Secession operationsThe impetus given the Secession move-

ment by the Republican leaders in 1859The Breckinridge party aSecession Organization.

CHAPTER X.What the K. G. C. intend to do with their Government should they

succeed in their DesignsThe renewal of the Slave TradeThe rea-sons why nothing is said of Slave Trade nowThe establishment ofan AristocracyThe War of 1861Northern depreciation of Southernstrength.

CHAPTER XI.The military character of the K. G. C." George Washington Lafay-

ette Bickley "What the South can doWhat we must do, etc.

EXPOSITIONor TEE

"KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE."

CHAPTER I.

THE ORIGIN OF THE ORDERSOUTHERN RIGHTS' CLUBSTHEAFRICAN SLAVE TRADE AND THE ACQUISITION OF NEW SLAVE TERRI-TORYTHE FIRST ORGANIZATION IN 1834, AND ITS SUCCESSTHEMEXICAN WAR, AND THE SOUTH'S INTEREST IN ITPROGRESS OFTHE SLAVE TRADE UP TO 1852ACQUISITION OF CUBA, REPEAL OFTHE MISSOURI COMPROMISE, NICARAGUA EXPEDITIONS, ETC., USEDTO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP.

THE Order of which I propose writing an exposition was, formany years, like the earth in its primordial condition, "withoutform, and void." It did not receive its present name until aboutthe year 1855. The principles upon which it is based, however,and the actuating motives which pervade its membership, haveexisted nearly thirty years. About the close of the year 1834,there were to be found, in Charleston, New Orleans, and someother Southern cities, a few politicians who earnestly there-establishment of the African slave-trade and the acquisition ofnew slave territory. They believed that the Constitution of theUnited States was a tyrannical document, since it prohibited theslave-trade, and regarded it as, a system of piracy . The AmericanUnion, therefore, had its enemies almost from its very childhood.These men formed themselves into secret juntos, which, withoutany particular form or ritual, wore called S. R. C.'s, (SouthernRights Clubs.) They had certain signs elf recognition, by whichthey made themselves known to each other, and met weekly, semi-weekly, or otherwise, as the cause which they labored to promoteseemed to demand. They might have had, at this early day, somesort of constitution and rules of regulation, but of these little isnow known.

(5)

6 EXPOSITION OF THE

The African slave-trade being contrary to the laws of the UnitedStates, and to the laws of the whole civilized world, it was nothoped to carry it on in an open manner. The first efforts of theS. R. C.'s, therefore, were directed to the fitting out, manning, andequipping of secret slavers, which were to cruise around the Afri-can coast and kidnap negroes whenever a good opportunity wasafforded. Between the years 1834 and 1840 it is presumed thatat least six of these vessels were equipped and sent out. Someof them were successful, and filled the measure of their appoint-ment, while others were captured by English and other fleets, tothe great mortification of the S. R. C.'s, and the discouragementof their enterprise. They did not, however, "give up the ship"in consequence of these discouragements, but continued their slavepiracy with renewed, vigor, whenever it seemed possible to concealtheir maneuverings.

Time rolled on, and every year seemed to add strength and mag-nitude to this abominable piratical clique, until the year 1844,when the prospect of the war with Mexico seemed to give themgreat hope of the acquisition of new slave territory. Their gloricous dreams of the growth and extension of the slave power seemednow in a fair way to be realized. In the mean time they had, intheir secret juntos' done all in their power to elevate and to con-tinue in office, at Washington, snch congressional representativesas were suited to their peculiar views. These were persistent anduntiring in their efforts to inflame the United States Governmentagainst Mexico and Spain, in the hope that a war would be theresult, and thereby an opportunity afforded for the absorption ofSouthern territory. Wherever it seemed possible to make oat acase of insult, it was done; and the most trivial circumstanceswere magnified into insufferable abuses. Hero is given the reasonwhy Southern politicians were so much warmer in their supportof the Mexican war than those of the North, as a general thing,and also the reason why Southern States furnished so many morevolunteers for the war then did the Northern States. They feltthat the successful termination of this war was a matter of thegreatest interest to them, and, consequently, were very forward inits promotion.

I have heard a few persons complaining, since the commence-ment of the present war, that the "North allowed the South todo the fighting in Mexico." Let the instantaneous reply be,"They had more interest in that war than we." I do not wishto be understood here as saying that the Mexican war was anunjust one, or that the United States Government had no causefor it. 1 merely wish to put it plainly before the people that the

iSouthern States had a peculiar interest in it.The war with Mexico was brought to a close, and Texas, New

Mexico, and. California were added to the United States domain;but Cuba was still out. The consciousness of this deficiency left

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE 7

an aching void in the "Southern heart," and, forthwith,fillibustering expeditions into Cuba were matured and set on foot by themembers of the S. R. C 's, not in the hope that such expeditionswould, in themselves, terminate successfully, but with a view toso embroiling the United States and Spanish Governments, thatanother acquisitive war would be waged by the former against thelatter, and Cuba thereby wrested from its former owners. Thisscheme was not altogether successful, although it certainly didmake advocates to the policy of the acquisition of Cuba through-out the United States.

In the year 1852, the S. R. C's bad become more numerous,and their organization was more highly perfected. Some two orthree slavers wore at this time plying successfully between theAfrican coast and the Southern Gulfplying but their places oflanding were, of course, unknown to any but the S. R. C's. Par-ticnlar attention was now directed to the ingrafting of the policyof the acquisition of Cuba into the Democratic platform. It wasconfidently hoped to make it a national Democratic doctrine. Inthis they were, to a considerable extent, successful; and there isbut little doubt that, had it not been for the agitation of theslavery question between the years 1850'54, the acquisition ofCuba, either by purchase or conquest, would have become theleading political issue of the country. Many Northern Democratswere strongly opposed to the policy, but no Southern ones wore.In the Spring of 1854, it became apparent to the Southern ex-tremists that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise bad causeda great political revolution in the Northern States; that the oldWhig party had become extinct, and that its former adherents,together with many old Democrats, were building up a new party.This was the so-called Know-Nothing party, which, although itprofessed to be purely American, was the legitimate two-fold resultof the entire defeat of the Whig party and the repeal of the Com-promise just alluded to. Shrewd Southern politicians did notfail to see the strong Free-soil element which was gradually

developing in this party. The sweeping victory which the K N.'sachieved in the congressional and state elections of 1854 openedthe eyes of the Southern Democrats to the fact that the old nactional party of which they had presumed they had almost com-plete control, was not so invincible as had been supposed.

8 EXPOSITION OF THE

CHAPTER IXINCREASE OF ANTI-SLAVERY SENTIMENT AT THE NORTH, AND ITS EFFECT UPON SOUTHRONSGENERAL GEORGE C. BICKLEY'S ADVENT IN 1855THE FIRST TO SYSTEMATIZE THE ORDER OF THE K. G. C. DETAILS OF THE ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATIONITS OBJECTS, SOLEMN OATHS, AND FORMS OF INTIATIONSITS SECRET INFLUENCE UPON THE POLITICS OF THE COUNTRYSPEECH IN CASTLE OF A KNIGHTGENERAL WILLIAM WALKER AND FILLIBUSTERING.

IN1855, it was noticed that the anti-slavery sentiment in the North was growing still stronger, and it was, in fact, generally thought by Southrons that the Democratic party was becoming almost extinct there, from the large numbers that liad deserted it in consequence of their Free-soil proclivities. It was about this time that, a certain George C. Bickley, who was a native of Boone county, Indiana, but at the period alluded to, resided in Cincinnati, went South, and, having espoused the cause of the S. R. C.'s, took it in hand to reduce them to a more perfect state of organization. Having framed a constitution, by-laws, and ritual, and having effected thereby all the, to him, necessary changes and modifications in the Order, he christened it with the hichly " chivalrous " name ofKNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. The several divisions of the K. G. C., according to the constitution, were called Castles. As in the case of most other secret orders, there were subordinate castles, and a Grand Castle State Castle, or Legion.* The officers of the subordinate castle consisted of a captain, lietutenant, secretary, treasurer, guard (for the inner door,) sentinel (for the outer door,) a corresponding secretary, and conductor. The officers of the Grand Castle were the same as those of the subordinates, with the addition of the prefix Grand. Their new constitution set forth, in its first article, as one of the principal objects of the or, the acquisition of Cuba, Mexico, and Nicaragua. In another article,, the members are pledged to stand united in the promotion of Souther interest, and opposition to the encroachements of abolitionism; and still, in another, they are pledged, in case of any encroachment on the part of the United States Government, to do all within their power to estab-

*All the State Legions, or Grand State Castles, are represented by delegates in what is termed the Grand United States or American Legion. From this body all the laws governing state and subordinate castles emanate, as also do the military laws, or, as they are generally termed, "Articles of War." These "Articles of War" require regular military drill, especially in the use of the bayonet and sword. Knights greatly pride themselves on their swordsmanship.

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.

9

lish a "free Southern Government." The ritual of this periodrequired of the candidate, in the first place, the most solemn oaththat he would never divulge anything he should see or hear afterhe entered the sacred portals of the castle. Having entered thecastle, he was sworn to use all his efforts and powers in the fur-therance of the objects set forth in the constitution, .viz.: theabsorption of Southern territory' and the promotion of Southerninterests. Nothing is said in either the constitution or ritualdirectly of the slave piracy, for the reason that it was feared that,by some kind of accident, "the papers" might fall into the handsof the "persecuting government.' This portion of their businessbad not been forgotten, however, for, during the years 1855-6,they equipped and sent out three slavers; two of which werehighly successful in their operations; one of them, however, wascaptured by an English fleet.

The year 1855 gave the Knights a new impetus, and added manyto their numbers, in consequence of the very large growth of theanti-slavery sentiment in the North during that year, an especialmanifestation of which was afforded by the Presidential campaign.It was now that the rank pro-slavery tree began to produce thebuds of secession. Every effort was put forth to test the Northand the General Government respecting the policy of absorptionof Southern territory. This policy had

been pretty stronglyhinted at in the Cincinnati Platform, upon which Mr. Buchananwas then running; but hints did not satisfy them. They werebound to have the plain and explicit declaration from the nationalDemocratic party, that " we are in favor of the acquisition ofCuba," or dissolve their connection with it, and, if needs be, withthe government. A few paragraphs from the filed speeches ofcastle C. New Orleans, at this period will give the reader a prettyclear idea of the spirit and intent of the Knights. In perusingthese speeches, passages such as the following occur:

"The South can only hope for the real enjoyment of its rightsin a Southern Confederacy, if the signs of the times mean anything.Even the Democratic party is becoming Abolitionized. We wantmore territory; we must have it; but can we hope to acquire itwhile the Abolitionists stand in oar way, and the indifferent De-mocracy refuse to give us aid ? Who can not see that the Demo-cratic party is becoming abolitionized? Why does not the present'administration (Pierce's) carry out the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in Kansas Territory ? Why does it allow thoseEmigrant Aid. Societies of Massachusetts to send their pauper cut-throats to disturb and endanger our people in the common territoryof the United States?"

Another Specimen:"We must have Cuba and. Mexico. The North is vastly out-

10 EXPOSITION OF THE

growing us in territory and population. If we can't get territoryin the Union, we can out of it. I do not feel like awaiting theslow steps of the Northern Democracy."

In the mean time they were becoming pretty sick of the Kan-sas-Nebraska bill, as is manifest in the following, which I quotefrom memory :

"What advantage have we gained by the Nebraska bill ? Nonewhatever. On the contrary, we have positively lost. While theMissouri Compromise line stood, we had some territory which wecould call our own, and of which we were sure. But how is itsince that line is destroyed? Why, before one Southern man canget ready to migrate with his property, (niggers,) they send awhole legion of Yankee Abolitionists to Kansas to cut his throatand steal his negroes. The whole American Government is reallybecoming a GRAND ABOLITION MACHINE, WHICH , EVEN IN THE HANDSOF DEMOCRATS, IS DESTINED TO CRUSH OUT EVERY VESTIGE OF SOUTH-ERN LIBERTY."

Becoming impatient with the slow movements of the UnitedStates Government respecting the acquisition of territory, theKnights resolved to, try another fillibustering expedition. For theheading of this expedition they had, in their own ranks, one of themost daring and courageous of "chivalrous" adventurers. I alludeto the no less personage than General Walker. This gentlemanwas duly furnished and equipped with ships, men, and money bythe liberal members of the K. G. C., and sent out to "take Nicar-agua." How he took it, everybody knows. But, as in the in-stance of the Cuban filibuster war, the effort was not expected toprove successful, but was merely thrown out as a feeler, to deter-mine the condition of Unolo Sam's pulse. After Mr. Buchanan'saccession to power, Walker's expeditions were renewed with in-creased energy ; and it was sincerely hoped that, by some ingoniousmaneuver, he would induce somebody to " insult" the UnitedStates, so that a good excuse might be afforded for an aggressivewar. In this expectation, however; they were greatly disappointod;for nobody did insult the United States, nor even General Walker,half as much as they were insnlted. The only injustice dono thatindividual was, that he was not hung before he started on his firstexpedition. Up to the time of which I am now writing,

the orderof the K. G: C. was a rather insignificant one in point of numbers.There were, in fact, very few persons, not members of the institu-tion, who even knew of its existence. But among their small numcber were many of the wealthiest capitalists of the South, such asYancey and Toombs ; and they were fully confident that the timewas rapidly coming when they would literally swallow up the wholeof their section of country.

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. 11

CHAPTER III.

THE YEAR 1858THE KANSAS STRUGGLE AND THE LECOMPTON CON-STITUTIONINCREASED GROWTH OF THE K. G. C.CHANGE OFRitualSecession ADVOCATED, AND THE SoutH united

through ITS WORKINGSTHE ORDER POPularized the reGALIA, SYMBOLS,AND WORKINGS OF THE DEGREES AND " INNeR' TEMPLE "APPLICATION FOR A CASTLE IN A NORTHERN city REFUSEDFIRING OF THESOUTHERN HEART IN 1850-'60PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST OF 1860INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE K. G. C. IN DISSOLVING . THE DEMCCRATICCONvENTIONOPPOSITION To DOUGLASSPEECH IN A NEW ORLEANSCASTLETHE CHARLESTON AND BALTIMORE CONVENTIONSTHEINSINCERITY OF SOUTHRONS.

THE year 1858 found the Knights of the Golden Circle morehighly organized, andi gaining . wonderfully in popularity. Thedivision being effected n the Democratic party by the discussionof the celebrated Lecompton Constitution, gave them great hopeof attaining the end- to which they had been directing their efforts,with undiminished zeal, for the past two years, and which theirorganization had been calculated to effect from its very infancy-- the dissolution of the American Union. They had appliedthe most thorough tests to the general government, and had doneall in their power to ascertain whether it were possible to entiretySouthernize the great national Democratic party, and transform Itinto a pro-slavery engine with which they might extend and protectslavery everywhere; to little effect. They had proven Mr. Buchananto be a very indifferent friend to fillibustering movements; and,last of all, they had found that -there were thousands of Democratswho would not agree that the people of a territory should have aconstitution which they were utterly opposed. to, nor admit thatforty Northern men were equal to but one Southern man. Allthese circumstances proved to them that secession. was their onlyhope. The formation of a Southern Government was now talkedof openly everywhere ; every means was used to make secessionists,and unite the Southern people. To this end it was thought theorder of the K C, should be popularized by-various improvements.The castle was divided into an outer and inner temple ; the ontertemple being, in fact, the old castle te which, according to somechanges made in the ritual and constitution, members were admittedon probation, preparatory to entering the inner temple. The timeof probation was not definitely fixed, but was, in all cases, to beof sufficient duration to enable the committee of inquiry to determine


whether the initiate was "sound on the nigger." None but thosewho were known to be out-and-out secessionists could enter the"holy of holies."

About this time it was thought well to do something in the wayof regalia, emblems, etc., in which no effort was spared to be "veryancient." As I never had the good fortune to enter the inner temple,I can only describe the outer. In this department the regaliaconsists of a close helmet for the head, from the top of which peersupward a small silver spear, and to the frontal portion of which isattached a silver crescent ; of a close-fitting garment for the thoraxand upper extremities, very much resembling the ancient coat ofmail, and a long, straight sword suspended to the left side. Thesymbols were a large bronzed crescent, or new moon, set withfifteen stars, a large one of which was generally suspended overthe seat of the Chief Knight, from an arch of evergreens; of a largotemple, under the dome of which shone a beautiful representationof the noon-day sun, and around the corona of which were fixedfifteen stars. ro these were addod the skull and cross-bones.Now for the language of the symbols : The crescent represents thegrowing Southern Confecderacy ; the temple, with its glowing sunand fifteen stars, foreshadows the glorious " sunny South," underthe benign. influence of matured Southern Government,extending its ,borders through. Cuba, Mexico, and Central and SouthAmerica; the skull and. cross-bones signify death to all "Abolition-ists" and opposers of "Southern independence." To the by-lawswere added one strongly prohibiting any member from presentingthe name of any new applicant unless he had the best of reasonsfor believing that such applicant was a good Southern man, andperfectly "sound on the nigger."

The solo end to which the Knights now directed their effortswas the disruption of the American Confederacy' Like Garrisonand his followers, they considered. this an " accursed Union," andthat its longer continuance was only caleulated to degrade andoppress the South. In view of this object, they determined to aban-don tho kidnapping business, inasmuch as it involved consid-erable expense, and required dose attention, and concentrate alltheir energies upon the institution of new castles thronghout allthe Southern States. Forthwith castles began to spring up allthrough the Border States, and, in not a few instances, was it foundthat prominent Northern men were knocking at the door for ad-mission. Whenever they were known to be " good Southern men"they were welcomed and hailed with joy. At one time during theyear of which I now write, (1858), some very prominent citizensof New Albany, Indiana, proposed to have a castle instituted intheir pity,

Southern the Knights thought that as their order was " pe-

culiarly a Southern one," it were better that it should not extendinto, free soil. During this period, castles were built up in Texas,and they showed themselves worthy of their calling, and, if any-

KNIGHTS OR THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. 13

14EXPOSITION OF THE

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.15

thing, rather distanced those of the Gulf States in the promotionof the "good cause."

With the Texan Knights, however, there was one great obstaclein the way of progress, viz.: the large free-laboring German popu-lation. The Germans in Texas had demonstrated to the world thatthey could even excel the " nigger " in the cultivation of the cottonplant This was considered as a very dangerous argument againstthe "peculiar institution."

The great plea in favor of Slavery in the South had ever beenthat "cotton could not be grown without African service," andthat the whole intelligent world should see a practical demonstra-tion of its fallacy was something that the "chivalry" never couldsubmit to.

The Germans had become thoroughly acclimated, and beingvery healthy and prolific, bid fair to seriously undermine, and ul-timately destroy, the slave interests of Texas. Fully conscious ofthese facts, the members of the K. G C. began and carried outsuch a system of abuse and oppression towards this valuable classof citizens, as finally resulted m the exodus of the entire Germanpopulation (25,000) from Texas to Mexico, in the early part of thespring of the present year, (1861.)

All through the year 1859, the Knights were working with un-abated' energy for the increase of their numbers and the "firingof the Southern heart." 1860 found them making great prepara-tions for the presidential campaign of that year.

been strongly indicated by the Democrats of the greatNorthwest, at their recent state elections, that a less conservativeman than Douglas would receive very few of their votes for theU. S. Presidency in the coming contest; and' from the strong op-

position to him by Southern fire-eaters and Northern dough-facesin the national Congress of that year, it was clear that a division,end consequent defeat, of the Democratic ticket could be easilyeffected, and an excuse, by that means, afforded for the consumma-tion of their great leading design.

Perhaps no politician ever had a firmer bold upon the sympa-thies of his adherents than Mr. Douglas. Of this fact the Knightswere fully aware; and, knowing that many of the prominent load-ers of the Northern Democracy wore jealous of the " Little Giant,"it was duly arranged to secure their services both in Congress andin the contemplated April convention, to the end of so dividingthat body that a sufficient number might be drawn off to formanother convention and nominate another candidate.

Months before the meeting of the National Democratic Conven-tion, men of the Yancey stripe had literally sworn, in castle, tosplit that Convention, and thereby utterly defeat its objects, orelse entirely Southernize it. The following, from a speech deliv-ered in the New Orleans Castle, will show the spirit and intent of


the ultraists of that period. The speech was made at a meetingheld, January 11th, 1860:

"The next administration shall be purely Southern, or we willhave no administration at all. We will have a strictly Southern.Rights Congress. If we can't have such a congress at Washington,we will have it somewhere else. Our rights of property should besecured, not only here and in the common territories, but all overthe United States. Why can't we travel where we please withour negroes, and stay as long as we like, without molestation ?The powers at the National Capital, under the influence of theabolition puritans, will never, in my opinion, grant the just privi-leges claimed by Southern gentlemen. The Democratic partyNorth is fast selling itself out to the Abolitionists, and, from prescent appearances, we may expect that before another campaignSteve Douglas and Fred Douglass will be spoken of as the candi-dates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency, to be nominated at afusion convention, composed of Black Republicans and SquatterSovereignty Democrats.

"I am, for one' for an eternal separation from this yellow-skinned, woolly-headed clique. 1 am for an out-and-out Sonthernman in '60. We don't expect Northern men to vote for him.We don't want them to. We only want a man that a Southerngentleman can vote for with clean hands and a clear conscience.I would say, give us Yancey or Jeff Davis. We can vote for suchmen as these conscientiously. We don't expect to elect them; wedon't want to elect them according to the modes prescribed bythe United States Constitution. We only want to show the Northour hand and our strength. Let them elect their Abolition can-didate. Is there one hero who does not hope they will? For mypart' it has been my desire, for over ten years, that the Northwould give us some good excuse for the dissolution of the Union.We, as an Order, have been hoping and working for a long timefor a separation from the North, and the, formation of a govern

ent of our own, where we could, without any hindranco ordrawback, carry out a purely Southern policy. At the comingDemocratic convention we must have this Order well represented;we must have men there who will carry out our wishes; we mustshow tho mulatto Democrats (Douglas men) that we will have aman of our own selection. He must be a Knight, and a good oneat that. Mere is little doubt, from the present bulheadednessof the Douglasites, that this policy will result in the division ofthe convention, and the nomination of two candidates ; but thatis just what we want. It will only assist the election of theAbolition candidate, which, as I have before said, is the uppercmost desire of our hearts, in that it will afford a lawful excusefier dissolving a Union which has, for the past thirty years, beenthe most formidable obstacle to Southern progress."

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.17

The way in which the Knights proposed to divide the con-vention was, to require at the hands of the conservative NorthernDemocracy the most unqualified recognition of the rights ofproperty in slaves, and its especial Congressional protection inall the United States Territories. From the popular expressionsof the Northwestern people at the ballot box, at their recentelections, they knew full well their desire of disruption would besuccessfully attained by this requirement.

In April, 1860, the National Democratic Convention assembledat Charleston, and it seemed to be the universal desire of theconservative man to harmonize that body by making every percsonal concession consistent with what they had honestly believedto ben fair interpretation of the Cincinnati Platform. They pm-posed to lay aside all the differences of the past, say nothingabout recent quarrels, and simply adopt the ad Cincinnati Plat-form, with the more addition that the slavery question in theterritories should be settled by the Supreme Court, presuming,as they did' that the Constitution of the United States, as inter-preted by the highest of all judicial authorities' was a sufficientguarantee to the rights of property everywhere. If there hadbeen any desire on the part of the Knights (as nearly all theBreckinridge men were,) to forget old differences. and reunite theparty, they would have readily agreed to this proposition. But nosuch desire existed among them. Nothing but a fall and explicitacknowledgment that "neither Congress nor a Territorial Legis-lature" could impair. the rights of property in slaves, and that itwas "the duty of the Federal Government, in its departments,to protect the rights of persens and property in the territories,and whereever else its authority extends," would begin to satisfythem. Whenever a Southern man says "property," he means"niggers;" so that what the Knights really desired of the Douglasmen was, that they should admit that no power on earth could, inany way, interfere with "niggers." This admission they knew,as well before as after the Convention, would not be made. Everyman at all acquainted with the history of the past five years, knowsthat Mr. Buchanan was elected upon the principle of non-inter-vention ; and to presume thnt the conservative men of the North-west could indorse Congressional Intervention to the ridiculousand. inconsistent extreme required by the Southern "nigger" wor-shipers in the Charleston Convention, was something that nonebut fools could do.

As my readers are all aware, the result of the unreasonabledemands made upon the conservatives was the division of the Con-vention, or, more properly speaking, the secession of the Knights,and the formation of another convention. Both these conventionsadjourned before arriving at any definite conclusion respectingthe selection of a candidate, to meet again at Baltimore, in themonth of June. On the part of the K. G. C. there was not the

2


least intention of trying to conciliate matters at the subsequentmeeting by the compromise of any of their principles; nor didthey anticipate any concession on the part of the conservatives.They only desired to widen the breach, and all their pretensionsto the contrary were the merest sham.

In the interim between the two meetings the Knights werebusily engaged in castle' devisinG means Whereby they might holdthe organization at Baltimore, and thereby force the Douglas mento secede. By this ruse it wns hoped to preserve for their factionthe name of "THE REGULAR, DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION," and thusmore thoroughly divide the party : and it was duly arranged thatif they could not succeed in this plan, they would cause thespeaker (Mr. Cushing) to " secede," and by that means carry allthe weight they possibly could with them .

June arrived; and,: at the assembling of the convention, theKnights found themselves clenrly beaten, as it regarded their firstplan, by the superior activity of the conservatives. They evencame very near being denied a sent in the assembly. They were,consequently, forced to their last plan as the only alternative.

Respecting the movements of the two Baltimore conventions,the reader is doubtless informed, but it may not be out of the way

here to present the expressions of those two bodies on the slavery question, as found in their respective platforms. here is what the Douglas convention said:

That inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the Demo-cratic party as to the nature and extent of a territorial legislature,and as to the powers and duties of Congress, under the Consti-tution of the United States, ever the institution of slavery withinthe territories, Resolved, That the Democratic party will abide bythe decision of the Supreme Court of the United States over theinstitution of slavery in the territories.

"Resolved, That it is in accordance with the interpretation ofthe Cincinnati, Platform that, during the existence of the territo-rial government, the measure of restriction, whatever it may be,imposed by the Federal Constitution on the power of the terri-torial legislature :over the subject of the domestic relations (asthe same has been or shall hereafter be finally determined by theSupreme Court of the United States) should be respected by allgood citizens, and enforced with promptness and fidelity by everybranch of the General Government."

And here is the Breckinridge platform on slavery:

"The government of a territory, as organized by an act ofCongress, is provisional and temporary, and, during its existence, allcitizens of the United States have an equal right to settle withtheir property ("niggers") in the territory, without their rights


either of person or property being destroyed or injured by Con-gressional or territorial legislation.

"It is the duty of the Federal Government, in all its depart-ments, to protect the rights of persons or property (" niggers ")in the territories) and wherever else its constitutional authorityextends.

"When the settlers in a territory, having an adequate popula-tion, form a state constitution, the right of sovereignty commences,and being consummated by their admission into the Union, theystand on an equality with the people of other states; and a statethus organized ought to be admitted into the Federal Union,whether the constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution ofslavery."

With the exception of the last resolution appended to theDouglas platform, these platforms were both friuned in Charles-ton; and I will remark Just here that, as it respects the Breck-inridge platform, it had been drawn up in the Calhoun castle, atCharleston, more than a month before the first meeting of theconvontion.

In contrasting the above quotations, it requires no very greatdegree of perspicuity to determine which is the more conciliatoryof the two; nor does it require a very high development of theperceptives .to see that the boasted "national" doctrine of non-intervention, of which we all heard so much in 1856, had beenentirely abandoned by the secessionists as a political humbug,and that they had fallen lack on the old idea, always maintainedby thc Republicans, that Congress had a right to interfere withthe institution of slavery in the territories, and that it was itsduty to do it. The only difference between the Republicans andBreckinridge men, on this point, being that the former believedCongress should prohibit the introduction of slavery into the ter-ritories, while the latter taught that Congress should protect itto the full extent of its powers. Does it not seem remarkablystrange that, with these facts before the intelligent world, theKnights should denominate the Republican party a sectional one,and base their excuse for secession upon its recent success inconsequence? In this connection I will quote from the Republican platform, framed at Chicago, May, 1860. The following isthe eighth resolution of that document:

" That the normal condition of all the territory of tho UnitedStates is that of freedom; that as our republican fathers' whenthey abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained thatno person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property, withoutthe process of law, it bccomes our duty by legislation, wheneversuch legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of theConstitution against all attempts to violate it; and we defy the


authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or- of any indi-viduals, to give legal existence to slavery in any territory of theUnited States."

This resolution may be said to embody the fundamental doc-trines of the Republieans respecting the relations subsisting be-tween the General Government and the United States territories,and it will be observed that they are, in spirit, the same as thoseof the Breckinridge Democrats, but very differently applied anddirected.

Now, respecting the Republican idea of the power of Congressto prohibit slavery in the territories, it had the decided advantageof legislative precedent fvom the earliest periods of our nationalhistory to within a few years past, and, therefore, if we are to decidein favor of intervention at all, we must go with the Republicans.

The principle of non-intervention was certainly Democratic; thegreatest objection to it, perhaps, was that it was too Democratic tobe applied to this age and this Government.

One of the principal causcs of the destruction of the GrecianRepublic was, that its Democracy was in advance of the intelligenceof its people; and it may be that, of late years, some of our Americanstatesmen have ambitious desire to attract the attention ofthe world and leave their mark upon the times, which, under ordinarycircumstances, commendable , endeavored to lead this nation,beyond the capacity of its sovereigns.

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

21

CHAPTER IV.

THE CONTEST OF 1860THE BRECKINRIDGE MOVEMENT, AND THEINSINCERITY OF ITS OPPOSITION TO LINCOLNTHE K. G. C. AT THENORTH AND THE SOUTHMISREPRESENTATIONS BY NORTHERNKNIGHTSSOME OF THEIR BOASTING LETTERS AID EXPECTED FROMTHE NORTH IN CASE OF SECESSIONNEW EMBLEM OF THE ORDERPLANS TO STEAL ARMS AND MONEY FROM THE U. S. MATURED INCASTLE IN 1859LINCOLN AND HAMLIN SCARECROW AT THE SOUTHSTORIES OF THE CAMPAIGN, AND THEIR ALMOST GENERAL BELIEFTREATMENT OF NORTHERNERS AT THE SOUTH.

The two Baltimore Conventions having finished their work,adjourned, and went forth organizing state tickets, and presentingthe claims of their respective candidates to the people of the country.Now, be it remembered, there were many warm supporters of Mr.Buchanan's administration, and political enemies of Senator Douglas,who, seeing the disorganized condition of the Democratic party,and the contain prospect of defeat in consequence, were willing tomake almost any personal sacrifice in order to bring about a betterstate of affairs. These proposed to allow Breckinridge to take theSonth and Douglas the North, in the hope that thereby the electionof Lincoln would be prevented, and the choice thrown into Congress.These men were honest in their intentions, whatever we may sayof their political views. They labored earnestly to prevent theorganization of a Breckinridge ticket in any Northern State; butthey were not members of the K. G. C., and, consequently, unac-quainted with the real intent and meaning of the Breckinridgemovement. Their reasoning, their efforts, their appeals, were notheeded, and almost before we were aware of it, there was a Secessionticket (that is the proper name) in nearly every state north of theOhio River, with such men as the Hon, .J. D. B and D. S. D.to stump for it, and such papers as the New York Day Book to talkfor it. There were many men in the North who were not bona-fidemembers of the K G. C., who still advocated the claim of theSecession tickot almost purely out of the hatred and envy theybore Mr. Douglas; others again were duped and lured into it. Acertain Mr. B, of Indiana, a Mr. V, of Ohio, the editorof the Day Book, and a Mr. C, of Massachusetts, were said tobe about the only reliable members the Order claimed among theprominent Northern politicians. Of course there were several of the"small fry" in many places. It was frequently wondered why anyset of men could be so foolish as to advocate the Breckinridge ticketin the North, and often the questions were asked, " Why do you


do it?"-" What will you make by it ?" The reply generally was," We hope to make nothing ; we act from principle." With some,these answers wcre, doubtless, honest' inasmuch as they were igno-rant of the operations and intentions of the Knights in the South' whowere, as I have jnst shown, at the bottom of the whole movement.

As has already been seen, the members of the K. G. C. hoped, bythe organization of the Secession ticket in the North, to moreeffectually divide the Democratic party. But there was, with themanother and far greater object to be attained by it, viz.: theascertainment of the precise number of Northern men with decidedSouthern principles. This was desideratum of no little importance,since it was honestly believed and fully expected that, in the pendingrevolution of ISM, every men in the North who had 'voted forBreckinridge might be set down on the lists as a soldier for theSouthern army. All over the North agents were employed to attendthe elections, ascertain the exact number of Breckinridge voters,and forward the same to any regularly organized castle in theSouth. This latter movement was somewhat interrupted in NewYork and some other Eastern states by the Union coalition enteredinto by all the parties opposed to the election of Mr. Lincoln. But,notwithstanding this, a pretty accurate calculation was made ofthe probable sympathetic aid that might be expected from everystate north of the Mason and Dixon's line. About two months before

the presidential election, there was an extensive correspondence going on between Norther and Southern Knights, in which the former were representing the secession strength of their sectionas being very great. In this connection I have thought fit to presentin substance' a few letters which I have had the opportunity ofseeing. If I had been safe in so doing, I would have copiedthem verbatim.

Here is one written from Madison, Indiana:

MADISON, Sept. , 1860Corresponding Sec. Jefferson Castle, No. 23, K. G. C.

Dear Sir -- You may tell the friends of Southern Rights that our districtca turn out at least one thousand men who will fight Northern aggression

to the death. Be of good cheer and work faithfully. Yours for the right, T.

The following is the substance of an epistle written fromEvansville, Indiana:

EVANSVILLE, Sept. ,1800.Corresponding Sec. Jefferson Castle,Dear Sir -- Tell the friends that our county, alone, will be found good

one regiment of brave men, who will shed their last drop of bloodbefore they submit to Abolition rule. Put us down as A, number

one.Very respectfully yours, etc.,S.

Washington, Indiana, is heard from in the following manner:

KNIGHTS OP THB GOLDEN CIRCLE. 23

WASHINGTON, IND., Sept. , 1860.CORRESPONDING SEC. JEFF. CASTLE, K. G. C.

Dear Sir:-Having been generally over the Hoosier State, I think Ican tell pretty accurately how she stands. There are thirty thousand.voters in this State who will never compromise with Black Republican-ism, and I think I may safely say that there are at least ten thousandwho will shoulder their muskets in defense of the rights of their Southernbrethren.

Your ob't servant, M.

The letter below is from the little-town of Carlisle, Indiana:

CARLISLE, Sept. , 1860CORRESPONDING Sac. JEFFERSON CASTLE; K.. G. C.

Dear Sir-- I have taken the pains to count noses in this district,especially in this county, and I can set you down, at the least calcula-tion, two thousand fighting men, who will, at a moment's warning, incase of need, march to the standard of Southern Rights, and it is highlyprobable that the whole of Indiana south of the National Road willsecede and unite its fortune with the South when Lincoln is elected.

Ever yours, etc., W.

The foregoing letters I saw and read among the filed papersof Jefferson Castle, Kcntucky,. and these were from Indiana alone.From what I could gather from prominent members of the Order,I think I may safely estimate the promised sympathetic aid of theseveral Northwestern States as follows: Indiana, at least 10'000;Ohio, about 5,000; Illinois, 5,000; Pennsylvania, at least 15,000;New York, about 50,000; Iowa, 5,000; Michigan, 5,000. Total,05,000. Beside the assistance expected from the above mentionedStates, they looked for a good deal from others, both in the wayof men and money, At no time previous to the bombardment ofFort Sumter was it presumed that the number of men to becounted on from the -North would fall below 100,000' and withthese, and the assistance of Northern capitalists, Northern engi-neers, manufacturers, etc., together with the heavy drnfts to bemade on the C. S. Treasury and the U. S. Arsenals, it was confi-dently apprehended as nothing more than a breakfast spell to"clean out the Abolitionists," capture the Capital at Washington,and kick Undo Sam into nonenity.

About this time anew emblem was added to the Order. It wasa simple triangular white card, somewhat resembling the Knights'spear, in the three corners of which were written the figures 7, 3,and 5. In the center of this card was printed the capital letterR, and immediately below this was written the number 61. Letthe reader presume this card to be placed before him with thelong, acute angle upward, as the upper part of a spear in situ;let him imagine the figure 7 in the left hand corner' the figure 3 inthe upper corner, and the figure 5 in the right hand eorner. Nowhe should place the capital letter R in the center of the card, and


61 immediately under it, and read as follows, beginning with thecapital R., and running round the several angles of the card, fromleft to right: R.Revolution. 7-3-5=15, of fifteen states in '61,(18610 or Revolution of fifteen states in sixty-one. These cardswere thrown about the streets and corners of many of the Northernborder cities nearly two months before the election of Mr. Lincoln.

I have already intimated that secret arrangements had been madeto secure a considerable portion of Uncle Sam's money at thisperiod. This is true. Floyd and Cobb had taken all the neces-sary preliminary steps for the aceomplishment of this object nearlytwo years previous to the time of which I am now writing. Plansfor securing -the arms of U. S. Arsenals, and possessing all theSouthern fortresses, had been thoroughly matured about one ycarprevious, historical evidence of which is presented in succeedingpages of this work. In addition to the foregoing, by far thelarger portion of the regular army had been distributed amongVarious outposts in Texas and Utah, where it was quite out ofreach, The ,Navy had been, with the exception of an insignificanthome squadron, sent to the most distant foreign points by thatpoor, pitiful, nigger truckling yankee, Isaac Toucey, in order thatit might not be readily. recalled. Further, it was arranged to sendnearly every navy officer of known loyalty abroad, while a largeMajority of those to be selected for the home squadron wereKnights of thc goenine stamp.. To Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,Kentucky, Tennessee, A.rhnneas, and Missouri, where it wasknown that the K. G. C. Were vastly in tho minority, no armswere to b.e distributed, or at least as few as possible, whereas inthe Cotton States, where the Order was pretty strong, and where itsmembers generally managed, by hook or crook, to be at the headof all public affairs, largo numbers Ivero sent. In order to morethoroughly prepare the people of the Gulf States for the antiuipated. revolution, it was resolved upon to use every means to makethem believe that if Mr. Lincoln was elected, the almost immediateabolition of slavery in all the Slave States would follow; and thathe (Lincoln) was, in point of civilization, but a few removes froma Fejee islandcr. Thc newspapers under the control of the Knightswere constantly employed in giving the most distorted and unjustdelineations of the characters of the Republican nominees. North-ern editors who wrote disparagingly .or abusively of Lincoln andthe Republican party were largely quoted from, and in smallcountry sheets which rarely ever reachcd a Northern or bordertown, such quotations were miserably garbled, and presented tothe people vastly more unjust than they were originally. lnmany of the Gulf States the common people were fully of theopinion that Mr. Hamlin. was a mulatto, from the newspaper de-scriptions they had read of him. . Mr. Lincoln was generally believed to be a totally illiterate :numskull, as barbarous towardthe Southern slaveholders as a Hottentot, and as dear a lover of


"niggers" as a German is of lager beer. It was even currentlyreported, at onetime, that his wife as a quadroon.

Meantime, such a course was to be pursued toward Northernmen caught in tho South' of the slightest Republican tendency;as would stir up the indignation of the Northern people. Menwere to be tarred and feathered, ridden on tails' ducked in muddywater and even hang, or shot, where any sufficient excuse couldbe had. In short' every species of taunt and insult wore to beused in order to arouse and irritate the North, so that Mr. Lin-coln's election might be all the more certain. The effects of ruffian-ism in Kansas had proven to them that the more they abused theNorth, the more intense would be its opposition to that institutionwhich really dues seem to engender, either directly or indirectly,more grossness and brutality than almost any other known to thecivilized world. Just here. I might relate a few incidents whichoccurred a short time before the Presidential election, which fully

illustrate the truth of what I have just been stating. In Nashville,Tenn., about the middle of September, 1860, there were found,wrapped around some books, a few copies of the N. Y. Tribune,

in the trunk of a gentleman from Boston, who had been teachingmusic in Nashville nearly two years. The mere finding of thesepapers in his possession was construed by Knights into "

distributing incendiary documents." His conviction having been fullyestablished by this mere fact, he was conveyed to a duck puddleand thoroughly soaked in its muddy contents; he was then gentlytarred and feathered, ridden on a rail all around town, followed bya gang of the " chivalry," and finally driven out of town by thelocomotive "property" which it was thought his two year oldTribunes wore likely to injure. Another instance. An "Egypt-ian " from Illinois, who had been on a visit to some of his friendsin Tennessee, in September, 1860, and who had been born andraised in that state, was going home per railroad through Ken-tucky. The train was pretty well filled with Knights on their wayto Louisville, to assist in organizing a new castle in that place.Perceiving, from his appearance tha he was a Northerner, theyproceeded to cross-examine the "Egyptian" respecting his politics.Seeing, from the complexion of things that the surrounding atmosphere was highly "chivalrous," and not being as successful a

hypocrite as the "Subscriber," he endeavored to pursue the non-committal course. But that would not do; they only persisted.the more urgently with their quizzings. Finally, he told them,very frankly, that if he must come out, he expected to vote for"Old Abe," if he lived till the coming election. This acknowledg-ment was the signal for hisses, groanings, jeerings, etc., andfinally one of the crowd attempted to pull his nose, when he pulledoff his coat, drew himself up a la Heenan, and swore most lustilythat if they undertook anything of that kind, he would "thrash thewhole dd car load." Fortunately, the conductor, and one or two


other genuine Kentucky gentlemen, induced the K. G. C.'s to de-sist their more than heathenish conduct. But still they- could notgive the job up entirely; and when the train stopped at the nextstation, they induced the women and children from the adjoiningcars to come in and look at what they called the "Lincolnanimal." 1 did not learn whether they charged an admission feeat the door' but understood that many of the "young 'uns" con-sidered it a very rare exhibition.

And still another case: Judge ----, of Greencastle, Ind. ,wasvisiting some relatives in the western part of Kentucky, in thelatter part of September,

1860, and being on a train one daywhich contained a goodly number bf the "chivalry," was ques-tioned by them very closely as to his politics. He told them hewas a Lincoln man, when several of them began to curse him, andthreaten to put him off the train. The Judge, however, showedthem his mettle, gave them to understand that he, too, was a Ken-tuckian by nativity, and that before they insulted him they hadto do some hard fighting. They concluded to let him alone.

Many instances more of a similar and even worse charactercould be adduced to the point, but those are sufficient to give thereader some idea of the tactics towards Northern men inthe fall of 1860. During the whole of Lincoln's campaign, thenewspapers were full of accounts of almost insufferable abusesreceived by Northern men,

every one of which was justlyattribu-table to the Knights. It is but justice to the South, however, tostate that there were, at this time, many Southern gentlemen, evenof the strong pro-slavery stamp, who utter

ly discountenanced theseoutrages.


CHAPTER V.

THE CLOSE OF LINCOLNS CAMPAIGN---"SUBMISSIONISTS"'' FIRING THE SOUTHERN HEART" FOR SECESSION--GREAT INCREASE OF THE KNIGHTHOODNEW DEGREES INSTITUTEDTHE SWORN BROTHERHOOD PLEDGED TO A SOUTHERN GOVERNMENTDEATH OF ABOLITIONISTS AND OTHER CRIMES LICENSEDTHE ELECTION OF LINCOLN A PLEA POE " SOUTHERN DELIVERANCE"CHARLESTON CASTLETHE: "'COCKADE" EXCITEMENTJOY OVER THE :ELECTION OF LINCOLN" CO-OPERATIONISTS" CONFOUNDED BY THE 'PRECIPITATORS" --IMMEDIATE SECESSION THE WAR-CRY or THE K. G. C. ---THE SE- CESSION Or SOUTH CAROLINA, AND ITS EFFECT UPON THE GULP STATESTHE K. G. O. OPPOSED TO COMPROMISES---THE DIFFERENT MODES OF ADJUSTMENT PROPOSED IN CONGRESS HOOTED AT.

TOWARD the close of Mr. Lincoln's campaign it became apparent that his election was pretty certain. Nearly all the great and Northwestern States had elected the Republican state ticket, and it now seemed that the grand object for Which the Knights had labored so earnestly was about to be attained. In view of this contingency, they adopted a regular system of brow-beating, almost unequaled in the history of the world. They coined the appellation " Submissionist," and applied it, with great bitterness, to every man who indicated that he would await the committal Of some overt act before he wits willing his state should go out of the Union. Every editor and orator under their control, or within their hellish precincts, indulged in the most abusive epithets toward loyal citizens. Every appeal was made to Southern pride and Southern honor. Full well they knew the effects of this system of "coercing" the Southorn people into the inextricable vortex of secession. Almost any really high-toned gentleman of the South

Further, it was now considered a good time to extend the Order of the K. G. C. Every man among them, therefore, who had education enough to read the ritual, was delegated to go forth and organize castles wherever he could find the material with which to construct one. In drumming for the Order' the agents took care to say nothing about the original objects for which it was framed, viz.: the re-establishment of the African slave-trade and the acquisition of slave territory. It was always represented.


to outsiders as a strictly " anti-submission" Order, only designedto aid in the securing of "Southern rights ;" and of course almostevery Southern man is for Southern rights. Castles were organ-ized wherever a sufficient number could be got together for thepurpose, irrespective of regalia, emblems, or any of the regularparaphernalia of the Order. Court-rooms, store-rooms, and evensmokehouses and stables were used. New degrees were insti-tuted, which were called "preliminary" degrees. In these thecandidate saw but little of the "inner beauties" of the castle.In the first, he was only sworn to, resist the encroachments of"abolitionism" with all his powers ; in the second, he was swornto stand by the South, and especially his own state, and followher destinies, wherever they tended ; in the third, which was thelast of the "preliminary' degrees, he was obligated to favor aSouthern Confederacy, and to pledge himself and all that he had,in its support, when it should he formed. candidate was nowprepared to enter the Outer Temple of the *sae, whore he wasreceived according to the new ritual, (one wed and adopted inOctober, 1860,) which required the most solemn pledges that theinitiate would never retrace a single one of his recent steps, andthat he would, to the utmost of his powers, aid in promoting the

formation of a Southern government. Further, this ritualdemands that a man shall consider no act toward the enemies of"Southern rights" as too gross or unjust for him to commit. Inother words, he is required to swear that he will do anything topunish "Abolitionists" and bring them W terms, the injury oftheir women and &Won. excepted. This last feature, viz.: theexception, is, really the only redeeming o of the whole affair.This ritual also gives the initiate license to kill any man whomhe has reason to believe is a real Abolitionist, in any way hesees proper, and the Order is pledgod to protect him to the end.

Time moved, ands at last the joyful news of Mr. Lincoln'selection was trumpeted throughout the South. I say joyful, because,to the Knights, it was the gladdest intelligence that could havebeen borne them. All the principal castles now put on theirholiday garments, and men were heard in the streets to thankGod that the hour for " Southern deliverance had come ." (Theyshould have thanked the devil because he is their master.) Cal-houn Castle, located at Charleston, considered itself as second tono place but Heavcn, and hardly to that; and well might shehave felt preud, because she was the mother of Southern harlots,and to her continuous and industrious workings, for many longyears, were to be attributed the mighty growth of the secessionsnake, whieh, when she first found it, was indeed a very youngone: sooner had the news of the election of Lincoln been

received, than every Knight in Charleston mounted a cockade onhis hat, and ran through the streets, shouting, "Glory! we arefree!; we are indepenent! The d--d old Union is gone to hell!"


Public meetings were called, and the greatest demonstrationswere made. Everything was to be done in hot haste. All thespeeches that were delivered. at this period by the Knights par-todit of the hot, precipitous character of the conspirators. Not-withstanding their efforts to increase their numbers previous tothe election, they were still in the minority, even in the GulfStates, and it was considered as fatal in the extreme to allow thecommon people of the country the least opportunity for thoughtor reflection. Many of these latter seemed to think that thematter of Secession should be left with the border Slave States,it being clear to them that, inasmuch. as these states were moreinterested than theirs, they should be allowed:a controlling voice.Persons of this order of thinking termed thenmelvee " Co-opera-tionistiS," and favored the calling of a cenveution of all the SlaveStates. Hon. A, H. Stephens, of Georgia, was their leader;. andhad it not been for his great popularity, the co-operative theorywould have dwindled much sooner than it did. It is' however,wonderful how tho " Co-operationists," with a clear majority inevery state but South Carolina., shoul4 have suffered themselves tobe driven into the whirlpool of secession by the brow-beating forceef the appellations "Submissionist," "Abolitionist.

It has been the policy of the Knights to allow anythingto be settled by the majority in a fair way. The cause which theyadvocated was not ono which would admit of reflective delibereetien, and hence, to allow the people time to reason in the promises,and determine the ultimate effeete of secession upon the SlaveStates, or to ascertain the administrative policy of the newlyelected President, would have proved fatal to their designs.was a fact which none could deny, that the Democracy had a clearmajority in both houses of Congressa majority which could haveheld the administration in check, however much it might have beendisposed to diverge from the path of constitutional rectitudeamajority which might have literally tied the President hand andfoot, and have rendered him as incapable of encroaching upon"Southern rights" as an oyster is of making an aerial voyageacross the Atlantic, or a Knight of getting to heavena majorityeven of Breckinridge Democrats, who would. rather have theirright arms torn from their sockets than deny that the extensionof Slavery and the protection of the " ni er" is the genius of ourCo.ristitution and the sole end of Christianitymen whose mottowas "nigger first ! country second 1" I say, all this was wellknown to the intelligent men of the nation, and yet the Southern

plc wore constantly told that nothing but secession could savehem from a subjugation too horrible even to contemplate. Allthe newspapers under the control of the K. G. C., were constantlyteeming with editorials and contributions deeply deploring thehumiliating fact that there were "yet a few" men in the South,"so unpatriotic to their states, and so untrue to themselves," as to

30 EXPOSITION' OF THE

oppose a declaration of "Southern independence." Secessionorators, upon the stnmp; branded every man of the slightest Uniontendency as a "cowardly truckler" and a " traitor to the South."Everything must be done immediately ; was worse than folly toawait an overt act; Lincoln's election was, of itself, an overtno time was to be lost.

A weak cause always demands precipitancy. Of this theKnights were fully aware, and, therefore, took tho advantage ofthe chagrined condition of the Southern people to " rush matters,"Complete arrangements for the whole secession movement had beenmade long before the Presidential election, and, therefore, nothingremained but to carry it forward. No respect was to be shownthe Government or the U. S. laws after Lincoln's ascension to theexecutive chair. Ample provisions were made for stealing on alarge scale ; United States senators and congressmen were toproceed to Washington and receive their regular pay for black-guarding the North, defaming the Government, and talking treason,and then, so soon as their states had seceded, whip off home likea thieving, hound leaves a meat-house with a ham in his mouthand his tail between his legs. All the plans for robbing the national treasury, securing U. S. arms, etc., were also being put intoexecution, and the people know the result. They do n't, however,know all of them---that secession, with all its hellish concomitants

was the legitimate result of the workings of a long and well or-ganised band of ROBBERS, more damnable any who ever stoodon the footstool, and means bleaker than any who have precededthem to hcll. Nor de they all love, that some of the leadingspirits of this clique had been a4 the very head. of the Americangovernment for four years and more: There are, even yet, peoplewho do not like to acknowledge that such men as Cob and Floydhad been plotting the destruction. of the American government,and, the robbing of its treasury for nearly the whole time they

were in its employ.Finally, by the incessant hurrying and driving of the Knights,South Carolina was precipitated out of the Union, and her " independence" declared. This they considered "knocking the key-stone out," which would be followed by the tumbling of tho wholearch, as indicated by the motto inscribed upon some of the Charleston banners: "SOUTH CAROLINA LEADS, OTHERS WILL FOLLOW" Noadvantage was to be lost, and the old adage : "Give the devil aninch and he will take a foot," proved itself true in this instance.No sooner had tho news of South Carolina's secession reached theprincipal cities in the Gulf States, than exciting bulletins werethrown broadcast' cannons fired' public mass meetings called, ex-citing speeches made, resolutions drawn up, read, and " adopted" bythe crowd, and every other means of "firing the Southern heart"applied with great force. At all these meetings and demon-strations, special arrangements had been previously made by the

KNIGHTS OE THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. 31

K. G. C. for the. adoption of the resolutions they intended pre-senting. Thus, it was generally arranged that a certain numberof the "chivalry" should, after taking a sufficient quantity of theinspiring beverage, go into the assembly where the meeting wasto be held, "burry for South Carolina" and "the South," and curseLincoln, the Union, and every limn that would submit to "Aboli-tion rule." Of course, respectable gentlemen knew not how tosuccessfully withstand this kind of brutal persuasion. I do notknow whether this could be called " coercion'' or not; but .1 cancertainly see very little difference between whisky and mob suts-sion, and what some people call coercion. Perhaps the questionmight be settled by Webster, were it not that, in these latter days,that intbrier lexicographer had been superceded by such learneddignitaries as Vallandingham and Gen. Joe Lane. Now, about thistime' it was ascertained that the people in the _North were gettingexceedingly anxious about the thnon, The telegraph was re-peatedly announcing the calling and holding of " big mass meet-ings," the passago of " conciliatory resolutions," etc. Thelie werelaughed to scorn, derided, eceffed. Otto artistic Knight, win) wasa native of Boston, Mass., oven went so far as to produce a couple.of pictures expressive of the extreme plasticity of the Philatiel-Phians. The first of these pictores preeented a view of the citizensof the City of Brotherly Love, immediately after the election oflineoln, paying homage to "Old Abe," and a big A' nigger" whostood by his side as Mr. liamlin. The second eresentect the samecitizens after the seccssion of South Carolina, driving the " nigger,"with clubs and hounds, back to that state, and kicking " HonestOld Abe" off a rickety old bench, which bore the Inscription" CHICAGO PLATFORM " unto another called " COMPROMISE." These

pictures were reproduced in great nambers, and sent, per mail, toevery castle in the country. They were also sent to certain privateindividuals in sonic of the Northern Border state towns. J. wasinformed that no less than fifty were mailed to northern Knights.The offers of compromise, and the repeal of Personal Liberty Billsby the North were considered not only humiliating to those whooffered them, but insulting to those to whom they were offered.By some they were presumed to be hypocritical artifices, intendcdto hold the South in tho Union while she should be lashed byslavery restriction, The truth is, the K. G. C. would accept nocompromise, and none could have been framed to suit them. Secession they had been working zealously to achieve for severalyears, and secession they were bound to have. They had ex-pended time and moncy; they had sacrificed the last vestige ofhonor, and gone, heart and soul, into the most diabolical plots andconspiracies for secession, and no compromise short of the adop-tion, by the North, of the proposed Confederate constitution, wouldhave satisfied them.

In the mean time, there was immense excitement in Congress, as

32 EXPOSITION 0F THE

everybody knows. All sorts of modes of adjustment were beingproposed there; almost every man seemed to have his own way of"saving the Union." Knights heeded none, cared for none. Butamong all others, the vigorous plan proposed by such men asWade, of Ohio' and Andy Johnson, of Tennessee, produced themost decided effect. The only practical mode of affecting Seces-sionists is to make them either angry or afraid. The speeches ofJohnson did bothangry, becauso he was decidedly hostile totheir plans, whereas being a Southron, they thought he should betheir friend--afraid, because, in consequence of his great popu-larity in Tennessee, they had good reason, Lei believe he mightprove a serious drawback to them in that state. If every Senatorand Congressman who had taken the solemn oath to obey anddefend the United States Constitution had been as faithful to hispledge as Johnson Las, the Confederates would never have gainedthe time on the government they did. But with a weak-spined,indecisive, disconcerted, treacherous Congress, a majority ofgenuine Knights in the Cabinet, a literal, MUD MAN in the

Presidential chair, they had ample time and facilities to drag sixmore states out of the Union,occupy forts, steal arms, fortifythemselves, and laugh defiance in the very face of the government.

Among all of the compromises proposed, that known as theCrittenden Compromise seemed to attract most attention. It will beremembered that Jeff Davis proposed that if theRepublicans would presentthis compromise "in good faith," the South wouldbe satisfied. Never did a greater lie escape from under the forge-hammer of the father of lies than was this. In the first place, he(Davis) is one of the oldest Knights in the South, and had beenthe chief devil in all the black work described in the prccedingpages, especially that of the three last years, to wit: 1858-'59-'60,and had sworn in castle to take the South out of the Union, if itwere in his power to do so. In the second place, he had writtenall the principal castles to work steadily and earnestly; that the

Knights in Congress and in the Cabinet were acting their partsnobly, (the parts they had to perform were blackguarding andstealing,) and that everything betokened the speedy achievementof Southern independence. In the third and last place, he knewthat such a thing as the offering of the Crittenden Compromise"in good faith," by the Republicans, was an utterimpossibility. Then, asks the reader, what was Davis's object in making the pro-position ? It was, that the eyes of the country might be blindedto the real character and objects of the Secessionists, and therebyan opportunity afforded for the more successful carrying out oftheir nefarious plans, in the first place; and, in the second place,that the people of the North might be led to believe that thoSouthern States would be satisfied with what was, by many, thoughtto be a fair compromise. The latter consideration was one of no

small value, since it was it was presumed that the oilers of "fair adjust-


ment" by the South would go very far to strengthen and increasetheir friends, and disarm their toes in the North. During theearly compromise discussions in Congress, many of the hotterSecessionists in the Gulf States were declaring they would haveno compromise; but Jeff wrote them to be still and allow "thingsto work as long as they would work," as by that means "muchvaluable time was to be gained." The injunction was obeyed.Finally a "Peace Conference" was called by the commandingvoice of Virginia, and much "valuable time" was gained by itspointless, useless deliberations. It was about as well knownbefore, as after, the meeting of the Peace Conference, that theNorth would never accept thal,roposed." ultimatum' of Virginia;because, in truth, the so-called ultimatum was nothing more norless than the Breckinridge platform stewed down; and the menwho drew it up, being mostly Knights, so, far from wishing tosettle the disturbances of the country by it, only aimed to carryout the deep laid plans of Davis, in allaying Northern suspicion,dividing Northern sentiment, and winning Northern sympathy,while their brothers in Washington were stealing, and those asthe seceding states were robbing and preparing for defense.

34

EXPOSITION OF THE

CHAPTER VI.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND NORTHERNKNIGHTSMEN AND MEANS PROFFEREDTHE PLAN TO ASSASSINATE LINCOLN

AND SEIZE THE CAPITALLINCOLN'S INAUGURALTHE "COERCION" BUGBEAR OF THE K. G. C.EXCITEMENT IN THE COTTON STATES

THE MILITARY SPIRIT AROUSEDFLOYD'S TREASONSTATEMENT OFTHE "STEA LINGS" A REVIVAL OF THE UNION FEELING PRIOR TO

THE FALL OF SUMTERTHE "CONFEDERATE STATES" GOVERNMENTTHE ATTACK ON SUMTER A SOUTHERN NECESSITYTHE ORDER BECOMING UNPOPULAR, AND AN INCREASED MILITARYSPIRIT NECESSARY TO REVIVE ITTHE BORDER STATES AND

THE KNIGHTS THEREOFSPEECH OF A KENTUCKIANTHE RATTLESNAKE'S CHARMTHE LOVE FOR THE AMERICAN FLAG

DURING the winter of 1860-'61, an extensive correspondencewas going on between Southern and Northern Knights, in which

the latter were representing the attachment to "Black Republicanism" as growing "small by degrees and beautifully less."Some of these correspondents even went so far as to undertaketo prove that, in case of a revolt of the South, Mr. Lincoln, whohad not yet been inaugurated, could not raise half as many

men to fight for "the Union, the Constitution, and theenforcement of the laws," as could be sent South to assist in maintain

ing "Southern rights." I did not have an opportunity to read orcopy any of the numerous letters written by the Northern"chivalry," but was informed, by leading spirits of the Order, thatthey had every assurance that they would obtain all the help inthe North they desired, both in the way of men and means. Acertain gentleman in Evansville, Ind., had promised a couple ofregiments, armed and equipped. A certain very prominent poli-tician in Ohio had made a similar demonstration of his devotionto the South. Another, of the latter stripe, in New York, hadpromised a brigade of five thousand men, furnished for the war. The above individuals were to procure their arms, etc., from theUnitcd States in the same manner as those of their Southern

brethren had taken them in their section.The inauguration of Lincoln being near at hand, some of the

K. G. C. bethought themselves that it would be a very fine ideato assaminato him, and capture Washington, inasmuch as such athrilling movement would strike terror to the hearts of the " Abo--litionists," afford an opportunity to rob the National Treasury, and thus secure the entire field in advance. I. amashamed to own that there were not a few sneaking devils north of Mason

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE 35

and Dixon's line who counseled this diabolical policy, andpromised assistance in its prosecution. Now, had it not beenfor the encouragement given them from Northern quarters, theSouthern Castles would never have matured the plan for the Capi-tal's seizure as far as they did.

The plan alluded to, of which the people of the country gener-ally had several hints, was as follows: About one thousand men'armed with bowie knives and pistols, were to meet secretly atBaltimore, where they were to secure the services of the PlugUglies. Thence they were to proceed to Washington, on the dayprevious to the inauguration, and stop at the hotels as privatecitizens, aftor which their leader was

to reconnoiter and select themost effective mode of operations on the succeeding day .Thisschemo was not encouraged by Jeff Davis, as he was not yet quitecrazy onough to think that a few dozen of the "chivalry" couldterrify the whole world by one demonstration. Wigan., however,thought it a "capital." idea, in more senses than one, and urgedits vigorous prosecution. Fortunately, the plot was discovered' tosome extcnt, in time to give Gen, Scott an opportunity to presentsome very forcible, and, with the K. G. C., decisive- argumentsagainst it. I know the Governor of Maryland tried to make itappear that no contemplated plan for the assassination of thePresident elect existed; but he really knew about as little of thematter as Mr. Lincoln himself, and had he known it, would doubt-less have done all in his power to conceal the matter, when hesaw the preparations being made to prevent it, in order to pre-serve the fair fame of Baltimore. Finally, the day for the

inauguaration (March 4, 1861) arrived, and the presence of Scott's U. S.troops, and the grim appearance of his flying artillery, made theoccasion as peaceful as it was imposing. The anxiously lookedfor inaugural address was delivered, and sent forth on the wingsof the telegraph to all parts of tho country. In the South it wasreceived as a "coercive" document, while in the North, the ma-jority regarded it as a conservative exposition of policy. Eventhe majority of Northern Democrats with whom I had nn oppor-tunity of conversing, thought the President could have said nolcss than be did, and abide by the Constitution. The mere inti-mation contained in the inaugural speech that the laws would hoenforced' was all the Knights desired. This was " coercion"enough for them, and, in their estimation, no epithet was too con-temptible to apply to those who indorsed it, whether living Northor Sonth. Here was another chance to sweep loyal Southern menfrom their position of honor into the secession hell.

After Kr. Lincoln's inauguration, oue of the first questions forhim to settle was, " What shall we do with the Confederates and theforts?" A question more difficult of solution never came before anadministration. Mr. Floyd, Buchanan's Secretary of War, had


devoted about one out of the four years of the preceding adminis-tration to the removal of arms in large quantities from the Northernand Border Slave States to the six Cotton States, while Toucey, thethen Secretary of the Navy, had sent the large majority of ouravailable ships-of-war to distant foreign stationsso far off, in fact,that they have not, even at the date I am now writing, returned;Charleston rebels had garriscned Fort Moultrie, and erected themost powerful and effective batteries all around Sumter, supportedby a force of seven thousand men; in all the seven seceded statesmen by thousands were being mustered into the "Confederate"service, drilled and equipped for war; and, more deplorable thanall else, there were scores of men in the loyal states who declaredthey could not support Mr. Lincoln in a "coercive" policy. Inshort, the new Administration was literally tied hand and foot,and the most that it could do was to await the course of events,and take opportuuity II the forelock.

Lest some persons should doubt the truth of the allegationshave made against Floyd, I have thought it well to present theproofs. The following is from thc Richmond Examiner, a

Southern paper, especially leveled to the cause of secession :

The facts that we are about to state are official and indisputable.Under a single order of the late Secretary of War, the Hon. Mr.

Floyd, made during last year, (1860,) there were one hundredand fifteen thousand irmproved muskets and rifles transferred fromthe Springfield armory and Watervliet arsenal to different arsenalsin the South. The precise destination that was reached by allthese arms, we have official authority for stating to have been asfollows :

Percussion Altered PercussionMuskets. Muskets Rifles.

Charleston (S. C.) Arsonsal 9,280 5,720 2,000North Carolina Arsenal

15,408 9,520 2,000

Augusta Ms.) 12,380

7,020

2,000Mount Vernon, Alabama .... 9,280 5,720 2,000Baton Rouge, Louisiana

18,520 11,420 2,000

"The total number of improved arms thus supplied to five depositories in the South, by a single order of the late Secretary ofWar was I14,80, What numbers- are supplied by other and

minor orders, and what number of improved arms had, before thegreat Order, Peon deposited in the South, can not now be ascer-tained."

Besides this, Memphis paper gives tho following list of "seizures" of Federal arms by the, Confederates, other than those inFloyd's list:


Baton Rouge 70,000Alabama Arsenal

28,000Elizabeth, North Carolina 30,000Fayetteville, North Carolina................................ 35,000Charleston 23,000Norfolk 7,000

Total

193,000

Thus it appears that nearly three hundred thousand of the bestarms of the Federal Government were put within the reach of itssworn enemies long before the election of Abraham Lincoln tothe Presidency ; and yet there were men among us, pretending tobe loyal, who, up to the very day of Sumter's bombardment,clared the "South only wanted her rights;" that she could be easily"compromised back into the Union ; " and that it Would be a fractricidal crime to "coerce" her. According to the advanced viewsof this progressive age, it is very wrong to "coerce " a regularlyorganized band of burglars and robbers to justice. I presumethat if the devil was to lead his impish legions to the very portalsof Paradise, and threaten to bombard the New Jerusalem, itwould be very "coercive" in JEHOVAH to send Michael and hisarmy to repulse him.

Time progressed, anti it began to appear that Lincoln's coursewas to be a peaceful one. This had the effect to induce the

Union men of the Southfor there were yet many thereto believe that,perhaps, a brighter day was ahead. In fact, the Union feelingwas becoming so strong, from the lapse of excitement, that' towardthe close cf March, Union flags were raised in Mobile and Natchez.The Knights were not blind to this reaction. A little time andreflection, they knew, would ruin their enterprise. Meantime,many who had. been "coerced" into castle were withdrawing, andit became clearly obvions that, without some new excitement, thecause of the devil would suffer a most inglorious defeat in Ala-bama, at least. The truth is, the people in nearly all the CottonStates were growing tired. of so much extra taxation and slavishdrudgery for the mere sake of sustaining the name of the "South-ern Confederacy." As a means of keeping up "the interest," theMontgomery Congress appointed and sent commissioners to Wash-ington to treat with the President, a good deal after the mannerthat his Satanic Majesty treated with Jesus Christ on the mount.If these commissioners were not officially received, it was to betaken for grauted that Lincoln intended " coercion; " and yet nohuman being, with any knowledge of the Federal Constitution,could explain how the President could negotiate with the "Con-federate Commissioners" without violating his oath. The Confed-erate Congress, which had met at Montgomery, framed a Constictution, elected a President, (Davis,) a Vice President, (Stephens,)


and formed a provisional, or, more properly speaking, bogus gov-ernment, could not confer the constitutional authority upon Lin-

coln to receive their bastard commissioners; Mr. Lincoln himselfcould not do it without having a new constitution forged for theoccasionwhich a good many Northerners seemed anxious heshould do; so what, in the name of common sense, could be doneto prevent that thing, so much dreaded by Northerners, and soterribly hated by Southrons, called "coercion?"

In the mean time, something was to be done with Forts Sumterand Pickens. If they were not evacuated, that was to be

oonsidered "coercion;" if they were to be reinforced, thatwas awful"coercion;" finally, if their starving garrisons were to be furn-ished something to eat, that was " treacherous

coercion?' In short,everything looking toward the retention of the Federal property

was construed into "coercion." The "Confederate Commission-ers" proposed to purchase the United States property within theirboundary, in order to "save bloodshed." The leaders in the bogu

An Authentic Exposition of the K G C Knights of the Golden Circle

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