AFFAIRS IN THE WEST.;
Knights of the Golden Circle
Arrests by the Government
War Matters The Government Behind
Published: September 5, 1862
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
CHICAGO, Monday, Sept. 1, 1862.
The principal excitement in this State during the past week -- aside from matters connected with the war -- has been the revelations in relation to the designs and extent of the Order of the Knights of the Golden Circle. These revelations come semi-officially, but from the character of those employed as detectives -- most of them in signing their affidavits making them X's -- we may infer that there is considerable margin for doubt. Imposition in such cases -- especially if there were any suspicions as to the objects of these "strange brethren" -- is so easy, and some of the revelations are so absurd, that we may readily withhold our credulity for further developments. There is no doubt, however, but what there are numerous lodges of the Order in this State and in Indiana. There is as little doubt but what there are many Southerners, particularly in Egypt, who are traitors, and will go as far as they dare. But the extent to which volunteering has been carried in that section, forbids the idea that disloyalty should exist in such formidable proportions as the statements put forth would indicate. The arrests which have been made will check demonstrations hostile to the Government, if any such were seriously contemplated.
It is a sad fact that there are those even in the north part of the State -- two arrests have recently been made at Galena -- who are so bigoted and prejudiced in their Democracy, that they verify believe they are doing God's service in opposing the Republican Administration in all things. These would revolt at the idea of being traitors to their country; but they deem anything legitimate that they can do to thwart the "Abolitionists," even to throwing obstacles in the way of crushing the rebellion.
Reflecting men do not anticipate that any trouble will grow out of all this. There will be no open hostile demonstrations against the measures of the Government. The only danger is, that so much larger proportion of Republicans than Democrats have volunteered for the war, the elections, in many places, may be carried adversely to the Administration. There are few districts, however, in all the West, in which a large majority does not heartily go in for crushing out the rebellion. It would be a great misfortune to, the country to have the VALLANDIGHAMS and VOORHIES multiplied in the next Congress. So far, in this State, the old members have been renominated by acclamation. In new districts, however, Mr. ARNOLD, for instance, instead of representing Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lee, Whitesides, Rock Island, DeKalb, has only Cook for his constituency. This shows the rapid growth of Illinois since the census of 1850.
War matters are progressing satisfactorily, so far as our State is concerned. But the Government is behind in furnishing arms and equipments, so that with fifty thousand men enrolled but few regiments have gone forward, and these went without arms. There are about six thousand in camp near this city. Ex-Gov. CAMPBELL, of Tennessee, has been here for several days past on a mission to the prisoners in Camp Douglas. Three hundred and eighty-five Tennesseeans have taken the oath and are to go home. Most of them have already left. Last week two hundred and fifty additional prisoners arrived from Fort Leavenworth. They were a motly set of "poor, while trash," Indians, half-breeds and negroes -- caught in arms somewhere out on the plains. They look like the offscourings of the earth.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Knights_of_the_Golden_Circle
http://knights-of-the-golden-circle.blogspot.com
