Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard., 1853-01-26
For the Standard
TO THE PUBLIC

In the Raleigh Register of the 22d ultimo, 6nd
letter from Maurice O. Waddell, purF ortiDg 10 be
reply to of mine published in the Standard in
September last, wh ich was itself but answer to
previous letter from THE same source. This pFOduc
tion more than his two others which preceded
it, shows the author to be weak, malicious, blus
tering black guard, and have the reply to make
to him that distinguished Englisnman made when
thus abused" am glad - said he, '' that it comes
from such quarter -
But thong Mr.. WaddeIrs character and that of
his letter do entitle him any notice from Me,
owe it to the public well to myself to verify, 10
the fullest extent, every statement o: fact contained
in my letter of September last; and while depore
the character of the corespondence, the public will
bear in mind that it has been forced upon me by
unprcvoked personal attack followed up by the
most inscriptions means 10 prejudice me in public
opinion; and is revived long after the political
excitement and the political motives in which it ori
glnated ough to have passed away.
The most important allegation made by Mr.. Wad-
dell and the only consider worthy of notice ls
that g had charged him with not paging his public
tGr. " This charge, rather defence of mine, was
made before the people of Chatham in July last and
in my letter published in September last. in answer
70 published by him on the 18th of August, ref
is made to ii in the following paragraph:
q understood and believe that Mr.. Waddeli had
been busy hunting other personal matters of at
tack with which TO prejudice me in public opinion
Passing by others which too trivial and contempt
ible TO be mentioned here, l was charged with not
having listed property which by law ought to have
listed 10 the udice of the public Treasury Alter
having defended myself by reference to the law,
desired to look into the record ax lisD to see how
it stood with MIR. WaGde himself, but the record
furnished ecidence that he hid paid any Tar ,Ohat
crer-not q 1Vhite poll La,Cyer's tar-thus
furnishing another illustration of the truth had ut
Tered two days before, that those who most ready
10 lmpeach the conduct of others, commonly most
vulnerable themselves. This ncorruptible patriot,
so ready TO charge others with being in the market
for office, found have been the first in the
market himself; this champion of the public Golfers
Vbpro 11J
tribute the smallest 3icum himself 10 The tuants If the
public Treasury. | understood he very indig-
nant that should bring his personal matters before
the public; but he ought to have remembered that
those who live in glass houses ought not to throw
stones.''
This then is the allegation: That according to
the tax list of 1851 which payable in 1852 II did
not appear that Maurice Q. Waddell contributed the
smallest modecum TO the wants of the public Irea-
sury-not white poll or a lawyers tax. He
pronounces the allegation an "n'mtHted lie. "
have, therefore, procured the certificate of the CLERK
Of the County Court we'll as that of the Sheriff
of the County, TO which call public attention.
STATE OF NoRT4 CAROLINA
Chatham, COanfy, {
|, William P. Taylor, Clerk of the Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions, in and for the County aforesaid
do certify that the Of Maurice Q. WaddeI does
not appear upon the lists returned this office for
the year 1850 and 1851. which are payable in 1851
and 1852. Witness, w. P. Taylor Clerk of our
said Court, at office, this list day December, 1852.
w. P. TAYLOR, C. C. C.
Robert E. Rves, Sheriff of the County of Chat
ham, do certify that NJ. Q. WaddeII has paid no tax
into my office, on his own account, since have
been Sheriff: does his name apper on any tax
list placed in my hands for collection.
ROB'T. E. RIVES, Shf.
Such is the testimony of two sworn officers, and
leave it the public say whether it does not fully
justify me in having said g that the record furnished
evidence that he (WaddelD paid any taxes what
ever-not white poll or a lawyers tax-and
that this champion of the public Golfers when others
concerned is now found not to contribute the small
est modecum 10 the wants of the public Treasusy." ="
In addition to these proofs from the record, here
to append certificate from the tax collector in this
district for the last year, from which it appears that
Mr. Waddell not only knew that his did not
appear upon tie list, but that he positively refused
10 pay his aes becauGe lint officer v0uH consent 10
eraud lie public Treasury by taking less than he Latc
demanded :! And yet NJ. O. WaddeII has the shame
less efrontery before the public and nsinuate
at least that he had such receipt and had lost it,!
In justice 10 S. L. Riddle also append his letter
in which he states that he never gave Mr.. Waddell
such tax receipt as that published in the Raleigh
Register!! Mr. Waddell, therefore, has either OBJ
taned se receipt which does not express the truth
he has made fus" publication. He can take eth
horn of the dilemma, and either will equally be-
his character In this, however. l am no 9th
erwise concerned than to do Justice a very worthy
man whose character has been exposed by this false
publication, TO the suspicion of having received un.
listed of which he had made no return to the
sheriff.
L UuSt nave mus SHOWN, not only from the pub
lie records, but from other unquestionabe testimony,
the truth of what asserted in July last wit that
Maurice =. Waddell contributed nothing to the pub
lie Treasury and that he knew he did not And how
does he attempt 10 show that this recorded fact
is an :" unmiHgofed ie"2 BY the publication of old
tax receipts 1850, if the charge had been that
he had never paid any taxes. made such charge.
II spoke only of the present, and had nothing 10 do
or TO say OF the past of which | knew nothing. |
glad indeed 20 learn that in former times he had
been more honest and honorable though it furnished
another sad instance of mans natural 2roclivtv to
degeneracy. Mr. Waddel knew that had made no
such charge appears by the explanatory statement
Of d. Hall hereto appended. But if [ had made
such charge, should not, as | think the public
would not, consider it dsproved by the publication
of hnutilatcd tao receipts, in of which is the
sum received mentioned and one of which at least is
shown to be either false or fraudulent!
In concluding this unpleasant controversial hone
forever-l carnot but remark npon the time and cir
cumstances under which it has been revived. This
charge, rather this defense of mine was made in
July last in the midst nf heated political campaign
before the people of Chatham and in presence of their
public records and public officers. Mr.. WaddeIl |
understood was indignant, privately showed his old
tax rece pts, and promised his friends to denolish me
with them upon the first OCCASION The campaign,
however, passed, and the threatened demolition did
not come.
{" Thus conscience does make towards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution,
Is sickli'd DER with the pale cast of thought.
The Presidential contest came and passed. durinr
the county, for it until the first of November
That ho yEaS ailoht uici l;et,,, r