Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/130

 organization known as the “Knights of the Golden Circle” was beginning to invade the Northern States. Its members were bound to secrecy by solemn oaths, and under the protection of midnight gatherings in places unknown to the public, felt a measure of security in their plots against the Government. When more than a million patriotic men had gone from their homes to swell the ranks of the Union armies, the disloyal element at home, through its votes and unceasing assaults upon the Administration, became a serious menace to the country. The persistent assaults of the character set forth in Henry Clay Dean’s speeches and writings were having their effect upon thousands of people who believed them to be founded in truth. This was apparent from the result of the elections in the autumn of 1862, and the falling off of voluntary enlistments in the following months. When Congress found it necessary to provide for reinforcing our armies by draft, the most violent denunciations of the Government were poured forth by the disloyal leaders. Secret organizations in many places conspired to resist the draft. Absorbed in the mighty work that devolved upon them, President Lincoln, his Cabinet, and the loyal members of Congress, for a time gave little heed to these malicious enemies of the Government. But the patriotic people of the North, whose sons, brothers, or husbands, filled the ranks of the Union armies, were incensed beyond measure by slanders of as noble men as ever periled their lives for a sacred cause. The time came when the public safety required the strong arm of the Government to reach out and repress these treasonable practices. A few of the most prominent and influential of the “Copperheads” were arrested by officers of the Government and imprisoned for a short time; some were tried on charges preferred, while others were released without trial, after a period of imprisonment.

The most notable arrest of a citizen of Iowa, was that of Ex-Senator George W. Jones, who was the American