The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-10-27
NRmnrnN. NC. Oct. %. 1856.

:, NEwBERN, Nc, Oct. 90, 1866.
To the Editors of the Standard:
GENTLEMEN.-The enclosed paper was han
ded me by the Postmaster at Raleigh, on Sat
urday, as passsd through your City on my
way to this place. You will perceive that it
has grown little stale with age, but as q
public officer I feel called upon to expose
and denounce it as an attempt to obtain
money under false pretenses, by the process
generally known as "levying black mail."-
1t is as follows:
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1856.
To D. r. GooDLoE, ESQ.,, Raleigh, N c..
SIR The Resident Executive Committee
appointed by the late Convention at Phila-
delphia propose to circulate, at as early a
day as practicable, large number of docu-
ments calculated to enlighten the public
mind on the great questions now at issue.
From your official relations with the Pres
ident, we presume you will cheerfully aid his
friends and supporters in the momentous
contest in which they are now engaged. One
method Of doing this aoiU be by reasonable
contribution Of yourself and friends to aid IN
meeting the expenses necessarily incurred By us
in this matter.
Should you do this, please forward the
amount by draft or postal order to Charles
KNAPP, ESQ, the Chairman of the Finance
the receipt thereof If such acknowledge
ment is not duly received, please inform us.
DO not pay one dollar to any Tracking agent
Of the Comnaittee. We make these requests
to avoid fraud and imposition.
By order of the Resident Executive Com
mittee: G. KNAPP, Chairman.
G. MASON, Corresponding Secretary
Having been instructed by the Solicitor of
the Treasury to aid him in detecting coun-
4o,4 e h.,
the vendors and utterers of the same, it be-
comes my duty i'll the spirit of those instruc-
lions to make public this despicable attempt
to extort money from myself and other Off
Gals, by band of political sharpers. I
happen to know something of the history of
these patriots, &C. KNAPP, Chairman" and
&C. Mason, Corresponding Secretary" and 1
propose to give the information through your
columns, in order that the loyal people of
North Carolina may be warned against the
| folly of entrusting money in such hands. /
may premise that this Charles KNAPP, though
sometimes styled "Elder KNAPP" is not the
pious Baptist minister whose zeal and eccen
| tricity as a preacher of righteousness have
given him a worldwide reputation. On the
contrary, Mr.. q Charles KNAPP, Chairman" is
man whose kingdom is of this world. He
is of the earth, earthly, and is distinguished
for nothing so much as for skill in obtaining
big gun contracts unless it may be for his
monster lobby dinners. I don't deny that
his career during the war was patriotic, but
it is equally true that his patriotism was well
paid for. He became millionaire by his
"devotion to the old flag" and doubtless re-
echoed with enthusiasm the national war
song but with slight variation. Brother
Knap's refrain ran,
owe come. father Abraham, for three hundred
thousand more"
1t was natural that such patriot should
aspire to take charge of the finances.
of Mr. Mason, the g Corresponding Secre-
tary," happen to know that in 1864 he held
the position now occupied by Mr.. KNAPP, in
the same Copperhead association, and that
he was one of the most bitter enemies of the
Union, and of Messrs. Lincoln and johnson
that the country contained. The tracts is
sued and signed by him were of the most |
disloyal stamp, and many were surprised that |
he was not arrested and sent to the Old Cap |
itol as an alder and abettor of the rebellion. |
If his reasonable publications had been put |
forth at Nashville, instead of Washington, |
there is not shadow of doubt that Andrew |
johnson, the military Governor, would have
sent him to prison. These facts am aware,
will endear Mason to the hearts of thousands |
of those who now claim to be the Presidents
best friends; but for myself, I can feel moth
ing but indignation when I see such a man
set himself up as leading champion of an
humble way as Journalist, to place in pow
er. Two years ago it became my frequent
duty to defend Andrew johnson and the
cause he represented against the foul asper-
sions of this Charles Mason, who now has
the effrontery to step between the President
and those who elected him, and to claim to
be- par ercellence, his friend. If he sincerely
repents of his iniquities, and will retract his
calumnies against Messrs. Lincoln and John
son, can find it in my heart to forgive him
but the recantation must be as public as was
the offence; and upon this basis he may be
allowed to take back seat in the great par
ty of Union and freedom-but never seat in
front. He must solace himself with the
philosophy of Milton, that
"They also serve who watt
I can respect the manly Southerner whose
prejudices of education and sectional pride
hurried him into rebellion against the gov
eminent of the Union; but I have no re
spect for the northern Copperhead whose
love for slavery and rebellion proceeds from
fendish hatred of the unfortunate negroes,
and whose attachment to a corrupt party is
stronger than the sense of allegiance to
the Union. / can never submit to the lead
ership of such men, and must always regard
their attempt to assume it as the height of
impudence. This, then, is my answer to the
appeal of KNAPP and Mason for money with
which to debauch the public mind and I
call upon President johnson to rebuke this
experiment of Matchmaking the officehol-
ders of the country as he did a similar at
tempt last year when genuine Union party
organization was the offender.
Imay>say, in conclusion, that there was not
the slightest necessity for the caution against
paying money g to any travelling agent of the
Committee" so far as 1 am concerned, for I
regard this caution as on par with the cry
of " stop thiefr' which rogues are said to re-
sort to in order to divert suspicion from
themselves. I am very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
DANIEL r. GOODLOE.
I'VE entirely concur with Mr. Goodloe in
the above. This attempt to 6zaek-mal fed
eral officers to advance party purposes, ought
to be brought to the notice of the President.
We are sure, if the President knew about it,