Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-02
For the Standard.
To the Public--Slnce More.

u To the Public-Once More.
After the appearance of the first number of the
/" Carolina Cultivator and before the publication
of the Arator, the Editor of the latter, Rev.
Thos. j. Lemay, appeared in the Standard in
Gard over his own proper signature, in which a
gross insinuaton was made against my character
and course in relation to the " Cultivator. The
nature OF that nsinuaton can be easily perceived at
. glance.
The only notice taken of this unprovoked assault,
was brief explanation, without a word of censure
against Mr.. Lenay. After the last meeting of the
Executive Committee, it now appears, as partly
confessed by himself that individual crept into the
" Standard" office and furnished the Editor with
statement, purporting to give the action of that
ally. In my reply published in the post and the
STANDARD" tore the mask from the face of the
author, and exposed the insidious and mischievous
character of the article. This done in language
mild and charitable as the would allow. The
effect of this exposure has been long TRADE of
abuse, almost unparalleled in the annals of defa-
nation which I shall not condescend to resent by
similar indulgence 1 have been denounced as an
smpstdent, cupning hypocriticat and lying Yankee;
and not content with maligning my present charac-
ter he has traced my whole course since first ap
peared in this State, with pen dipped in venom
and assigned me the disgracefu advent of '.peas-
nytess" stranger from another State. The vindctive
writer of this abusive article, probably supposed that
this fact of my former poverty, would excite add-
tional prejudice against me among the soeGtthy OF
this community. 1 trust, however, that there are
ey by grindtng, hide-6ouRd 2'eauriousness, who
are disposed to measure mans responsibility by
the extent of his patrimony; nor do imagine that
the circumstance of having been born in a
Northern State, will deeply prejudice the more lib
eral portion of the public against who has spent
about thirtytwo out of forty fouryears of his life in
the South.
There are but one or two points in the publication
of Mr.. Lemay to which it is necessary for me to al
lude First as to the allegation that have charged
him with literally saying what he did not say. My
language was qualified thus, Gas tile aoords Of Mr.
Leapay qoOuld seem TO conuey" 1t was the false inn
preston which his editorial paragraph in the Stan
ard was calculated to make, which pronounced a
misrepresentation of facts. If misinterpreted his
words the public can judge between us; but one
thing think is obvious, that there was design in
those words which they do not fully convey literally
The paragraph meant this and nothing less, in my
opinion; that at the said meeting of the Executive
Committee, the fact appeared before the body, that
majority were in favor of making the "Arator"
the organ of the Society that minority OF those
present-but individual, objected to converting
the committee into joint stock company, and re-
ceiving prories; and that the said majority, were
unwilling account of the noUety of this objection,
to press vote, which they were fully able to do.
Let the reader examine the language, and if this
is not its obvious import.
Again, in regard to the endorsement" He charges
with calling that endorsement which have
'since been compelled to take back and acknowledge
was no endorsement" If had done SO, 1T would
d
ing of term. But 1T IS untrue, every word of it.
1 have only explained what l meant by the word;
that used it in the common, popular sense of
recommendation an emphatic recommendation, if he
pIeases of the publication in question. He has
tirely overlooked the word oDtcaGL interpolated by
himself, upon which the misunderstanding depend
ed and leveled his arrow at the wrong point. The
public will bear me witness that as discov
cred that some distant friends had Inexperienced
the document, promptly explained its character.
Mr. Lemay could have learned candor from my
ample, if no where else, instead of accusing me of
an intention to deceive, after the explanation
made.
There are facts in this controversy which Mr. Le-
may has labored in vain to overwhelm with confu-
sion of language. He cannot deny that l formerly
published the organ of the State Agricultural Soce
ty that when that was about to be abandoned by
Dr. Tompkins, was encouraged and expected by
a number of members of the Executive Committee
to publish paper of my own as the successor of
the journal" in that capacity-the ground of the
only peculiar claim to patronage which have
serted; that after this generay!known, he, Mr..
Thos. j. Lemay laid his plans to suPptant me, and
after the Cultivator was in type, knowing the
fact, proceeded to execute them. 1 can prooe that
the "Cutivator' was partly set up before he had
made arrangements to publish the "Arator," and
that Mr.. Lemay knew this fact Quere.-Was the
"Arator'' out before the proxies were obtained?
Whether the uncommon display of depravity,
which this er-cLeruymar has made in the "Stand-
ard" will tend to elevate him in the estimation of
the community remains to be seen. Some allow
ance should probably be made, from the fact that
his pathway from the pulpit to retirement, has led
through several years Of Indifferent service to po
ltical party and that the habit of defamation has
become a second nature with him, in spite of the
protecting influence of his original vocation. had
reason to know when opened the sluices of this
long confined reservoir of impurty, that the matter
that would issue would be any thing but fragrant,
but was scarcely prepared for the east quantity Of
its contents.
have only to add, in conclusion, that the state
ment of Mr.. Lemay that took charge of the print
ing office "with the distinct understanding that it
was only to be used to learn the boys to print and
such amount Of printing only would cover the
er untrue have repeatedly offered to carry on the
shops of the Institution at its expense and both the
Board and the Legislature have continued to refuse
it. requiring instead that should conduct them at
nv own risk, and make them profitable if l could.
The State is not at dollars expense connected
with them, except to provide building for them.
The following is an extract from report of Com
mittee of the Legislature this sub ject: Your
Committee therefore, believe that the best interest
of the Institution requires the connection OF me-
chanical establishments with it; and especaaty so
aohe 6u the existing juscious arrangement, they are
maintained aoitout cost to the Lstltutao' Again,
report of the Board of Directors to the Legislature
says: emo restrictions placed upon the Pri1'-
public choose to employ him, but he has never been
permitted, with the consent appreciation of the
Board, to bid for public printing, solicit work from
individuals, or in any way interfere with the work
of other presses in the State"
WIN. D. COOKE.
Raleigh, April 9th, 1855