A Border State Newspaper On The Vallandigham Address

The Baltimore American makes the following flattering notice of the Democratic Address of the Vallandighammers.  As a matter of course, the resurrectionists will tell us that the Baltimore American is an Abolition paper, as they have already told us the Nashville Union is.  This last paper was never mentioned until its Rebel editors were chased out of Tennessee and their places filled by Andy Johnson with a loyal editor when the Northern Secesh journals told their readers that the Nashville Union had been “Abolitionized.”  This is the dialect of the rebellion and well understood by K. G. C.’s in good regular standing.  By “Abolitionist” is meant all who sustain the War for the Union.  By “the Constitution” is meant slavery, and by “the Constitution as it was” is meant slavery just is it was when the secesh inaugurated the rebellion.  That is the statu quo which is intended to be restored.  But to the Baltimore American’s Address:

“We have taken no notice of the ‘Democratic Address,’ recently put forward by an insignificant faction at Washington, because it was enough for us that it bore on its face its own condemnation.  Doomed to public contempt in the sweeping tide of patriotism that now rolls in triumph over the land, and the little knot of broken down and discredited schemers who have concocted this precious manifesto will scarcely be heard of in the splendid vindication of a noble destiny the nation is effecting for itself, and when the adjustment of our difficulties is final – as it will be, we trust, by the power of a noble Government, instead of any ‘intervention’ or ‘compromise’ the heads of the Government at Washington will receive that meed of public approbation due those who have shown a single hearted purpose to vindicate the integrity of a mighty nationality, the  chief hope of suffering humanity.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 2

The New “Democratic” Party

The Democrat misinterprets our motives in having acquainted our readers with the incipient treason that has given birth to a new party, christened with the once popular name of Democracy.  It is not that we have any fear that that party will ever acquire sufficient proportion to prove any very serious obstacle in way of men whose principles look alone to the welfare and prosperity of our country; but because we would not have the people rush blindly into a political organization labeled Democracy, but covering principles that never entered into the platform of the old Democratic party.  We would not have them, like a flock of sheep, follow the old political bell-weathers who are seeking to build up a party based upon a continuance of slavery.  It is true that the leaders of this newly-constructed party lug in devotion to country and maintenance of the constitution as a portion of their creed, but these are only the spices thrown in to disguise the taste of the nauseous dose that each poor victim is expected to swallow.

Political parties are generally based upon a love of country and the supremacy of the constitution, but in this case, as the movement originated wholly with men of questionable loyalty, and has for its prime object the conciliation of the rebels in arms against our Government, though we may credit the sincerity of the followers, we must doubt the patriotism of the leaders.  Deceived by the name Democracy, there are thousands and tens of thousands of people in the North, and our neighbor is f the number who would embrace it though it were but a cloak to cover as treasonable organization as the Knights of the Golden Circle. – The mass of the rank and file of the old Democratic party were notoriously the blind followers of leaders.  Power, supremacy, was to them of the first importance, principles were secondary.  This fact the leaders knew, but they counted too much upon it, and thousands of good men, who had been governed by principle, unwilling longer to submit to leaders so unscrupulous left the party and united with the Republicans.

Under the name of Democracy, its leaders sought to convert their followers into an organized band of pro-slavery men.  In the effort they so crippled their party that the republicans gained the ascendancy, but too late to prevent the inevitable result of the propagation of such principles as the democrats had maintained.  With the war pro-slaveryism became so unpopular that Democracy, which had sought to sustain it, was fain to hid its head in obscurity; but as peace dawns upon us, we see its ears begin to stick out and the same low-browed cranium make its appearance.  It bears upon its os frontis SLAVERY, and in the word we read its fate so plainly that it requires no Daniel to interpret it.  Let those who would not link their fate with a party that bears the skull and crossbones on its escutcheon, stop and consider.  Be not deluded by the name, it covers as rank poison as ever dwelt in the tip of adder’s tongue – the same for which our country now mourns the loss of so many brave men.  Like a pestilence it has swept over the country, and desolation has marked its track – wives, widowed, children orphaned, States impoverished, a nation, burthened with heavy debt, alike can point their finger at slavery and say, thou didst it!

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 11, 1862, p. 2

K. G. C.

The Marion Register says it is rumored that organization of the K. G. C. or some other treasonable gang, are being formed in Linn county.  The Register very properly warns the young that the hangman’s knot or the penitentiary may be the fate of those who join such associations, one article of whose creed is said to be resistance to the payment of taxes for the war debt.!

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 2

It is a fact . . .

. . . in the highest degree creditable, that at the breaking out of the rebellion, the great majority of the Democratic party in the free States proved loyal and patriotic and rushed to arms, shoulder to shoulder with the Republicans, to save the Union and preserve the Government, resolving to bury all past differences and party platforms, until Rebellion should be put down. The Republican Administration met this creditable display of patriotism with a magnanimity never before exhibited by any party. Mr. Lincoln gave to his defeated adversaries a seat in his Cabinet and a moiety of the appointments. Half the army appointments, at least, including those of the highest grade, have been bestowed upon loyal Democrats. Loyal Democrats have been trusted, consulted and honored. Look at the appointments of Judge Holt, Andy Johnson, Dix, Halleck, McClellan, &c., &c. These loyal Democrats have been as implicitly trusted and as willingly honored and promoted, when deserving it, as Republicans. – And they are to-day giving their support to the Administration, without reserve, as heartily as the Republicans themselves. The resurrection movement is not from them and has not their countenance or support. They have no wish to divide and distract the country upon a new partisan issue. It could do no possible good and might do much evil. The movement is not by or through them, and is not dictated by loyal or patriotic motives. It comes from the riff-raff of the old Democratic party, stimulated by the treasonable secret society known as the “K. G. C.’s” at the bottom of the Rebellion itself. It is championed by men of doubtful loyalty and depraved and despicable character, whose personal labors have been directed to discouraging the war, breaking down the patriotic sentiment of the people and discouraging the payment of taxes. They are now organizing an anti-war party, clothing it in the livery of Democracy, in order to service the Devil of Secession. They are doing the work of Jeff. Davis as openly as they dare.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

Indianapolis, April 20 [1863]

A Union meeting in Brown county, Ind., was broken up on Saturday, by a party of the Knights of the Golden Circle, under the leadership of Lewis Prosser, ex-member of the Legislature.

Prosser and a man named Snyder came armed with rifles and revolvers, and threatened to shoot two sergeants there for arresting soldiers. Sergeant Daniels took Prosser’s gun from him, when the latter drew a pistol and shot Daniels dead. Prosser in turn was shot and severely wounded by Capt. Cummings, who was addressing the meeting. Snyder also fired at the other Sergeant but missed him. He has been arrested and brought here.

A sufficient force has been sent to arrest all the parties concerned.

Another difficulty occurred at Danville Indiana, on Saturday, between a party of the Knights of the Golden Circle and Union men in which five persons were wounded, one mortally.

The General commanding has issued orders, declaring the K.G.C.’s to be public enemies, and to be dealt with as such. He also cautions people against the use of butternut and copperhead badges.

Strout, the deserter, who killed an officer while attempting his arrest, will be tried by court-martial this week.

– Published in the Stark County News, Toulon, Illinois, Thursday, April 23, 1863

Geo. W. Bickley To Stand Trial

We understand that Gen. Geo. W. Bickley, the father of the “Knights” will be tried as a spy. Facts seem to leave no room for a doubt of his guilt. – Louisville Journal

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, August 15, 1863