The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-18
WAsH1NeroN. D. G., Aug. 9Th, 1856.


GENT1EMEN My attention has been call
ed to the leading article in your journal of
fine 14th ultimo, in which you criticise my
conduct very freely, and indulge in remarks
well calculated, if not intended, TO render
nv position in the State, as citizen and
public officer uncomfortable, if not untena-
bic. I am unwilling to believe that you
mean to menace me with the popular lntlig-
nation or vengeance, and yet what else am
l to infer from the following sentence? You
say, If Mr.. Goodloe contemplates resuming
his former residence in this State, he may
assure himself, in his selfassumed capacity
as another representative man. OF pro-
found and distinguished consideration at the
hands of our people," Whatever your pur-
pose may have been, cannot but feel that
this language, proceeding from journal OF
wide circulation, and representing the Gov
ernor of the State, will arouse the popular
passions against me; and ask, in the name
of common Justice, to be allowed space in
which to remove, as far as I may, the impress
ion YOU have created that am an enemy OF
the State and people.
You ask, "how dare Mr.. Goodloe set him.
self up as an exponent of ecen radical sentl-
ment in North Carolina-a State from which
he expatriated himself fifteen years ago, and
in which he has not resided since9' This
challenge is very easily answered. In the
first place, have not set myself up as the
representative of any body. l have only
signed circular addressed to the people of
the South, in which they are called upon to
represent themselves. l put my name down
as of North Carolina because that is now my
home. 1 made it so last September, when l
accepted the office of Marshal; and 1 at the
same time renounced, in purpose and in fact,
my citizenship in this District of Columbia.
1t was my right to elect to be a citizen again
of my native State, and have so elected
NV daring, therefore, has not been so great as
you imagined.
You say that for many years prior to the
war ''w was identified with the anti-slavery
agitators of New England" and that was
therein more responsible for the rebellion
about which he discourses so flppantiy In his
address, than any man that ace know IN the
State" Now, it so happens that there is no
man in OF out of the State, who knows bet
ter than one of the Editors of the Sentinel,
that l was sternly and uncompromisingly
opposed to the measure which, on all hands,
is now admitted to have been the chief cause
of the war. l allude, of course, to the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise. That ia
tai measure was the Pandora's box which
contained in it the Kansas controversy, the
Lecompton fraud the John Brown raid, and
the demon of civil war. Thejunior editor of
the Sentinel knows that it was my abhor-
renee of that scheme OF President making
which compelled me to abandon the Wing
party, as well as a lucrative engagement with
the Raleigh Register, and to unite in the for
nation OF the Republican party. With my
profound convictions of the wickedness OF
extending the evils of slavery into the new
territories l could not have done otherwise
without dishonor. 1 cherished, and still
cherish a warm regard for my Southern
friends, but they left me no alternative. For
'swhere should 1 go" except into the ranks
of those, who were endeavoring to defeat the
scheme?
In this connection 1 wish 10 say that did
not derive my anti-slavery sentiments and
opinions from Northern abolitionists. So
far as those opinions were not spontaneous in
my own mind they We're imbibed from read
ing the debate which took place in the Vir-
ginia Legislature in 1882, upon the question
of abolishing slavery. 1t was characterized
by great eloquence and power, and made an
impression upon my youthful mind which
time has not effaced 1 embraced the gener-
Gus idea of emancipation, with my whole
heart, as it was expounded by Mcdowell,
Faulkner, Thos. J. Randolph, Boiling, Chand-
Ter, Moore IF Rockbridge Marshall, Broad
max. aud Others. Subsequently l read the
writings of Mr.. Jefferson, which are instinct
with the spirit of liberty; SO that, before 1
was of age, and before l had heard that there
was Northern abolitionist i'll existence my
mind was thoroughly imbued with the SEN
timent. l may remark, also, that l heard no
one at that day attempt to defend the alb
stract idea of slavery. 1t was the boast of
the emancipation orators in Virginia, that
no man had risen in the Legislature to de-
fend slavery. There were elaborate apollo
gies and excuses, but attempt at iustii-
cation. l have compiled this entire debate,
and hope one day to see it published. 1t
will do more honor to Virginia than anything
in her annals, since the revolutionary period.
l have always protested against and OPP
posed the extension of slavery; and a
journalist have often had occasion to exam
inc and criticise the arguments of its friends,
intended to show that the institution is COM
patible with equity and Christianity; but
have never set myself up as a censor of indi-
viduals, nor have l maintained that all who
held slaves were as Uni ust as conceive the
system to be. Ihave followed the examples of
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and a host
of other noble Virginians, with Hugh Will
hanson, James Iredell and William CASTOR
of North Carolina, in declaring my opinion
that slavery was the greatest II oral and po-
litical evil that afflicted our country. Like
them, too, have always addressed myself
to the white people; and never by written
or spoken word have L encouraged the ne
groes to revolt, or to disobedience. Since
slavery was abolished, I believe that I have
labored as earnestly, and written much,
with view to the cultivation OF kindly
spirit between the whites and blacks, as any
man in the country. 1 have repeatedly en-
deavored, through the press, to convince the
people of the South, that they will commit
a fatal error if they fail to enter heartily into
the work of educating and elevating the
groes. If they neglect or refuse to take the
great work in hand, it will he managed by
Northern people, and the effect can hardly
fail to be more or less of alienation between
the races.
You say but perhaps the worst feature
in Mr. Goodloe's connection with this revo-
lutionary movement, consists in the fact that
he is recent Executive appointee to the of
flee of Marshal of North Carolina, and that
one of his first acts has been to raise his arm
against the President, and array himself in
the ranks of his bitter and vindictive en-
emies."
This brief text will afford matter for COM
mentary under several heads. In the first
place, the call for Convention of Southern
Unionists in Philadelphia in September, is
declared to be "a revolutionary movement"