“Then I am more than willing to go,” answered Calhoun, “and trust that the confidence you repose in me will not prove to have been misplaced.”
“I have no fears on that score,” answered Morgan; “I know that you will succeed, if any one can.”
The General then fully explained what was required of him. Calhoun listened in silence.
“I think I fully understand what you want of [pg 197]me, General, but how am I to approach these Knights of the Golden Circle? How am I to find out who are Knights?”
“That has already been provided for,” answered Morgan. “We are now ready to initiate you into a camp of the Golden Circle.”
“Does the order exist down South, too?” asked Calhoun, in surprise.
“Certainly, to some extent,” was the answer. “If not, how could we know the secrets of the order? You are willing, I suppose, to take the oaths required?”
“If there is not anything in them to hinder me from being a true son of the South,” replied Calhoun.
“I assure you there is not, for I have taken them,” said Morgan; “but you must bear in mind this is a Northern order, its chief purpose to overthrow the Lincoln government; its chief cornerstone is States’ Rights. The Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, who was lately sent into our lines for disloyalty, but who has now found a refuge in Canada, is the Supreme Commander of the order. No truer friend of the South exists than Vallandigham. He believes in the doctrine of secession. The North is sick and tired of the war, and wants to put a stop to it and let the South go in peace. This is the purpose of the order.”
“All right,” said Calhoun; “I am ready to join any order that has that for its purpose.”