Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-12

ends his fragrant assertion with this most pregnant
"Qucre-Was the 'Arator' out before the prories
were obtained?" This may best be answered by
another: Query-Was the 'Cultiyator out before
the " endorsement" was obtained? The fact is no.
torious thai the endorsement" was procured and
published in the first number Of the Cultivator,
and never so much as thought of proxies until my
attention was called to this vic and insidous effort
to blast the prospects of the ''Arator."
Mr. Cooke denies the truth of my staten emit in
regard to the limitations under which he was per-
mittcd to conduct the printing department in the
Asylum. | re-affrm it, Notwithstanding his denla
and prove it by one of the very extracts which he
publishes The idea which cndeavored to convey
was that it distinctly understood Chough there
might be no written resrictons) the amount of prn-
ting was to be limited. Therefore, although the
Board of Directors in their report to the Legisla-
ture may say with propriety, No restrictions were
placed upon the Principal as to the amount of work
he should do, if the public choose to employ him
yet in reference to the fact that it was understood
clearly and unequivocaly that his operations 1eTe
to be limited, the Board add with emphasis" but
he has been permitted, aci tile consent or ap-
1oro6ation of the Board, to BID FOR PUBLIC
PRINTING, SOLICIT WORK FROM lNDIVID-
UALS, OR IN ANY WAY INTERFERE WITH
STATE" am indebted to Mr.. Cooke for this quo
tation from the report of the Board. 1t fully ex-
presses and establishes the sum and substance of all
said or intended to convey" relative to the
strictons which took special care say explicitly,
were such that his work "not to interfere aolth
the regular printing establishments Of the State,
conducted upon prirate means and responsibility"
If any further evidence necessary to prove
this it might be added that the very nature of the
case implied the restriction When Mr.. Cooke took
the printing department at his risk, which the
Committee of the Legislature properly commend as
"a judcious arrangement" since the mechanical de-
partments were to be "maintained without cost to
the State the whole Office, press and types, not
worth five hundred dollars, and was conducted in
room in the basement of the main building. This
was then deemed sufficient, and was amply sufficient
for all legitimate purposes. Mr.. Cooke, of course,
as he took it at his risk, have all money
that might be received over and above expenses;
but the idea that he was to take the Office and,
object, make 1T profitable If tie could is rdcu
ous since it would have been to subvert the bcnev
client design of the establishment and convert in
stitution intended for public benefit into insru
ment to subserve private interests But how stands
the now? The printing Office has been enlarg-
ed, as heretofore stated until it has become the lar
gest publishing establishment in the State-a house
has been erected for its use-a large two story brick
building-at the cost Of the StGte; and the tremen
dous amount of printing enumerated in my former
communication executed in it, much of it with in
jury and injustice to the other presses in the State
Indeed, much other printing has been done there,
which it would be too tedious to enumerate.'-
What amount of printing has Mr.. Cooke done for
the State Agricultural Society alone? l understand
he has been paid upwards of eight hundred dollars
for his charges against that association? He is not
"permitted to bid for public work" Oh, no-yet he
prints the Laws of the State, job which cost the
State 81 443 II, according to the Comptroler's
bidder, Mr.. Cooke did not bid, but he executed the
acOrk! He is not permitted to solicit work from
individuals )" yet he gets into his hands, by some
means, and prints thousands Of dollars worth, the
work of individuals which legitimately belongs to
the ordinary patronage of the other presses in the
State. " And all this is done in splendid brick
Office built at the expense of the State rent free,
by the Principal of the Institution for the Education
of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind and cannot
be done, repeat, without culpable neglect of the
paramount duties of the Office for which he is paid
adequate and ample salary.
Now in all calmness and candor we ask if this
is right? Is it not high time the proper authorities
should correct these abuses? VIII not the people
of North Carolina, who taxed to support the
Asylum, demand that it shall be confined to its legit-
innate objects, and not be converted into instru-
ment of building up the private fortune of the Prin-
cipa who from the extent of his operations already
appears to have grown rich and over reaching?
This article has already been extended beyond the
limits had prescribed to it; much may hereafter
be added, and much has already been said that
should gladly have avoided; but the gross attack of
Mr. Cooke has compelled me- in selfdefence to pre-
sent this plain and unVarnished exposition to the
public, whose decision shall cheerfuly abide.
THOS. j. LEMAY.
Raleigh, May 7, 1855.
The following is the document published by Mr..
Cooke &c endorsement
From the first number of the Cultivator.
ENDORSEMENT.
WHEREAS, The North Carolina State Agricultural
Society, at a meeting held in Raleigh, the Goth
of January, 1856, passed the following Resolution:
Resolred, THAT the Executive Committee be au-
thorzed to adopt the Organ of the Society, any
agricultural periodical published in this State, which
they may think proper and that they be requested
to take such steps towards securing subscribers
in their judgment they may proper.
And, whereas, William d. Cooke of Raleigh, late
publisher of the g Farmers Journal" proposes to
publish Agricultural Journal, devoted to the ag
ricultural improvement of the State to be known by
the name of "THE H-CARoLINA CULTIvAToR," !
therefore, we, the undersigned, members of the Ex
ecutive Committee appointed by the State Agricu-
ural Society," do hereby take pleasures in recommend
and farmers of North Carolina Judging from Mr.. |
Cookies past experience in conducting an Agricu-
tural paper, and his well known energy and perse-
verance, feel assured that the CAROLINA Guilt
will prove to be worthy the support and pat
ronage of the Agricultural community.
And we do hereby appeal to the Farmers of the |
State and all others who feel interest in the Ag-
rcultural Improvement of North Carolina to sustain
the CAROLINA CULTIvAToR, and use their influence |
in procuring subscribers for the same.
WILSON w. WHITAKER,
w. H. JONES,
JAMES f. JORDAN,
JNO. c. PARTRIDGE.
To tile Editors Of the Standard:
MEssRs EDIToRs-Allow me to call your attention
to Editorial article in the Post of the 9th instant
which bears the image of Mr.. W. D. Cooke in all