Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-19
For the Standard.
Editors N. G. Standard:

For the Standard.
Editors N. G. Standard:
GENTLEMEN My attention has been called to an
article which appeared in the Raleigh Register of
January LIST, headed " Prescription" in which the
Editor of that paper comments with considerable
acrmony upon the action of the Legislature of Fir
ginia in regard to the Charter of an Orphan Asylum
in this place. His article is so palpably intended to
make political capital in your State, and SO utterly
false in regard to the facts of the that am in
duced to give you correct history OF that transac.
ton, and then leave it to candid public to judge
vino have acted honorably in this matter, and vino
have attempted 10 make charitable institution Gre
aed by the voluntary contributions OF people living
in every section of country, and OF all reli-
gions and politics, political machine. The
Register says that the delegate from Ports
mouth ''namcd men Of all part'cs-seccting those
Citizens who had been active i'll aileviating the suf-
fcringS of the sick and dying during the late cpl
dcmic" 1t is true that Of the thrty-three names
presented to the Legislature Tor Trustees eight were
Democrats and the remainder Know Nothngs from
a town in which the two parties arc about equally
divided but so far from his selecting those who
were most active in minsterlng to the sick, MAJOR
ity of those proposed by him fed from our plague
stricken town at the commencement OF the cpl
dcmic
A majority of the members Of the Town Council,
and they are all X. Ms, elected to attend to the
public affairs gnoby deserted their posts at the time
their services were most needed, and instead of re-
signing their offices with two exceptions) so that
others could oe elected in their places, held on to
them and thus left without municipal govern
ment for three months; and yet the Register states
that the men proposed were the most active in allie
waiting the suferiEgs of the sick and dying
The facts of the are simply these: Knowing
that an application would be made to the Legisa-
ture for the Charter of an Orphan Asylum, AID as
our municipal affairs under the control OF Know
Nothings and both of the delegates from this coun-
ty belonged that party, and supposing that they
would in this case do as they have always done
when they had an opportunity, attempt to get con-
troll of every thing both political and philanhropc,
gentleman representing ncighboring county IN
the Legislature was requested to have many De-
added to the list of Trustees there were
K. Ms proposed, to prevent the possibility OF
this institution being used for party purposes.
This in effect attempted and accomplished; but
the gentleman who entrusted with this business,
seeing that it would give the Democrats the prepon-
derance, and knowing that the Democracy OF Ports
mouth did not desire it, withdrew his motion and
had the bill re.committed to the Committee, when
the change could be made without giving either par
ty majority of the Trustees. But, Messrs. Editors,
why this hue and cry simply because the Know
Nothings have been prevented from raising up IN
our town, in the name and under the garb of char
liable institution the means by which their political
ends could be better attained. The Editor of the
Register doubtless thinks it all right to have twen-
ty-tivc Know Nothings and eight Democrats Irus-
tees of charitable institutions but horrible to re-
duce the number fiom thrty-three to thirty-two,
and make an equal distribution between the two
parties.
Now, Messrs. Editors, which party has acted hon
estly and honorably in this matter-thc Know
Nothngs who attempted to make this political IN
sti,ution or the Democrats, who have checked them
in their unhalowed ends, and will place it in the
hands Of those who will make it what it should be
"a purely philanthropc institution?
PORTSMOUTH,.
Portsmouth, Va, Jan. 7th, 1885,