Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-28

"A.
THOMAS BRAGG.
PULASKI CowPER, Pr Secretary.
The State Agricultural Society.
The people of the State of all conditions and call
ings interested in the State Agricultural Society.
Its main objects to improve the soil, to advance
the mechanic arts and the fine arts, and all kinds OF
handwo,k, and to foster and promote the industrial
interests of the people generally. This Society en-
JOYS the States bounty to the amount of one thous-
and five hundred dollars per annum 1t has the
good will and the best wishes Of the whole people
of the State and all the people are thus interest
ed in it, and they all contribute to uphold it, every
branch Of industry ought to be represented if at all
practicable, in its list Of prominent officers. Espe-
cially ought the mechanics to be represented. Their
labor and skill are OF the first Importance to the
planter and farmer. Agriculture, though ur4ues-
tionably the leading interest of people, would at
once be arrested but for mechanical labor and skill
But these propositions are sef.evident, and it is
therefore unnecessary to resort to argument to
tain them.
There sixteen prominent officers of the State
Society," and of the whole number there is not one
mechanic!
any intention on the part of the Society," of those
who control it. to ignore the mechanics or to treat
them with disrespect; but the fact is as We have
stated it. and call the attention of the members
of the Society to it. 1t is proper to add however,
in this connection, that opportunity was afforded
at one of the late meetings of the Society to elect
worthy mechanic to one of these offices; but he
defeated by the Secretary Of the Executive Com
mittee, on whom it thus proposed to confer too
Secretaryships with salary of $400 for the two
The facts are as follows: On Wednesday night the
Society proceeded to elect Secretary, all the old
officers, with his exception, having been unani-
mously reelected. 1.-The President"-we quote
from the report of the proceedings in the Register
"expained that Mr.. Cooke was really the Secretary
of the Executive Committee, but now acting as
the Secretary of the Society also. The Executive
Committee chose their own Secretary. The salary
of the Secretary of the Society is $780, and of the
Executive Committee $500. Mr.. W. D. Cooke was
nominated for the Office of Secretary, and Mr.. John
Speln,an was nominated in opposition. The MEM
bers ballotted and upon counting the votes it was
ascertained that Mr.. Cooke had 40, and Mr.. Spell
man 80 votes" Both the Secretaryships were thus
conferred upon Mr.. Cooke; yet We do not believe
that this would have been done, if all the members
of the Society present had understood that to elect
Mr. Cooke was to give him a monopoly Of both the
Offices. 1t was found, however, that much dissats
faction had been occasoned by this graspng dispo-
siton OR the part of Mr.. Cooke and some of the
members, We have reason to believe, advised him TO
resign the Secretaryship of the Society. AT late
hour on Thursday night he did So Offering a rea-
son "that the business Of the Secretaryship of the
Executive Committee coiicted with that Of the So
ciety during Fair week" Who, then, was elected in
his place? Mr.. John Speman, the printer the
mechanic? By no manner of means,-his name
was not even mentioned though the previous
night he had received thirty votes for the Office!
Mr.. Spelman is one of the best printers in the
United States. He is man of intelligence and good
character and would have served the Society faith
fully and well. We cannot believe it possible that
because he is mechanic he was defeated on Wed.
nesday, and totally overlooked Thursday night,
and gentleman who is neither farmer nor me-
chanic elected to the place.
No man can say with truth that we are not friend
ly to the Society, or that are disposed to play
the demagogue on this any other subject We
were among the first to advocate the formation of
the State Society and Of County Societies, and we
have contributed to the full extent OF our humble
abilities and influence to foster and build them up.
We seek to do justice to all interests not caring much
what motives may be attributed to US SO long as we
know we are rig ht
INTERESTING PAINTINGs.-There were several paint
ngs and drawings exhibited at the late Fair by Mrs.
Maring, of this City, executed by her husband,
now deceased, Mr.. j. Marling; and among them one
Of much interest. This is an oil painting, repre-
sentation of the coronation of Queen of May, by
the pupils of the Raleigh Female Academy in 1922.
The prominent figures are Miss Nye, the teacher
the Queen, Miss Du Bose, Ct Georgia the Rev. DIR.
McPheeters, Gen. Beverly Daniel, and Mr.. Alexan-
der Lucas There is shoscer of children and pref
ty girls on the canvass intermingled with flowers
and trees with their foliage The dresses are all in
the oldsye presenting striking contrast with those
of the present day.
Among the drawings were several representing
the old State House as it originally stood, and the
same edifce in ruins, the sketches having been
made from various points. Also, sketches of the
capture and examination of Maj. Andre taken upon
the spo. by Mr.. Marng, who was a native of New
Jersey, and resided for time near the place where
Maj Andre was captured.
DVIDEND--The directors of the Wilmington and
Weldon Railroad Company have declared dividend
Of 81 per cent for the last months as will be seen
oy advertisement in this paper. e