The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-11-16

S" 'eoehetS "ere CeTtiucateuj DuL an
positive that several more than those re-
terred to, have been: and that as late as
August, 1859. would not give their
names to you, as you have been 50 un-
kind to those other young men as to ex-
pose them to the public. This was, to
say the least oft, very ungentlemanly.-
1t was no fault of theirs that you gave
them certificates upon unworthy perfor-
mances; and exposing them added moth.
ing to your good name.
You ask your fellow citizens if they
believe that can bring any other char
ges against you. I don't know what
"the fello'o citizens" think about 1t; but I
know that l can bring other charges
against you. and prove them. l can
charge against you and prove the charge
to be true, that less than year ago a
member of the Board was in the habit of
hlling out certificates for young men who
had not passed an examination before
the Board; and the other members were
In the habit of signing those certificates.
Other charges, of a graver nature, l might
also make, and prove; but forbear, as /
have made enough. and clearly proved
every one that l have made.
AS | suppose this to be the last article
that will probably be written upon the
subject, / shall, here, as is customary in
debates, sum up the arguments, on both
sides.
lst, I charged that the examinations,
during the last two years, had generally
been illegal. This charge proved from
toe law, the constitution, and the decisions
of the School Commissioner
End, l charged upon the Board, neg
lect of duty. This l proved, when l
proved the first charge. and also, by
showing that they had granted certificates
to unworthy candidates, and rejected
worthy ones
These are the main charges that made.
The arguments upon the part of the
Board, conducted by yourself, have con-
sisted in denying these charges, and de-
claring me to be dull, stupid, foolish,
wicked, pert, shallow, ignorant, insolent,
dishonest, mendacious, traitorous, unscru-
pulons, disingenious, hypocritical, black
hearted, lying, surreptitious. sneaking, cow
ardly calumniator. Providing you could
apply all those epithets, truthfully, to me,
how much would it help your cause? If
l am the black hearted villain, you would
have me be. does it change your duties in
any respect? Does it justify you in be-
ing less stric: il your examinations?-
Does it tighten your labors any, or quail
fy one man to do the work of three?
You have also, repeatedly, charged up
on me, that personal malice moved me to
attack the Board. If it were personal
malice against Mr.. Moore, 1 might find
more speedy and successful way to gain
revenge. Were it persoLal malice against
you | might have made personal attack
upon you, as a member of the board, and
undertaken. to prove your incompetence
to fill the office, not only on account OF
your professional duties, but also on ac.
count of intellectual incapacity.
But no feeling of personal enmity to-
ward any man, has prompted me to this
discussion and l do not wish to make it a
personal quarrel lin this article hav.
said anything severe of any one, it has
been done, only because my persona
character has been falsely. and malicious
ly assailed.
When I read your last article, was
surprised; not at its bitterness, or its low
tone; looked for that, but that DR.
Smith and VIM. P. Richardson, shoulC
: subscribe their names TO it. l had al
, ways considered them as gentlemen.
5 l addressed the following note to Mr.
Richardson:
Woods6eld, Nov. 5th, 1859.
w. P. RICHARDSON, Esq,
Dear Sir-In the Spirit" of the Ont
inst. l notice all article, signed by you
as member of the Board of School Ex
aminers, in which several slanderous char
ges are made against me; vilifying m
personal character. / will ask you tn
: following questions: Do you know an
of those charges, there made against me
to be true? Do you know that l, whe
:, a member of the BoarG, did at any time
s~AAo ~ 'oh y" SS VI ~ pooitiou 40 CiCtA
grant undue favors to my persons
! friends? Did you ever hear this charg
made by any one except Mr.. Archbold
Do you know any of those charges whic
/ made against the Board to he false9
S Yours with respect
: WM. WHEELER.
, To this Mr.. Richardson replied thus:
Woodsfeld, Nov. S, 1859.
Mr.. WM. WHEELER:
Ssr-Your note of to. day has just bee
T received, and in reply, I am compelled t
= say that I have no personal knowledge {
:, the truth of any of those charges to whic
: you refer. AS to viIifyiDg your persons
!" character, have not done so, and tax
:, this opportunity of saying that hav
9 never heard anything concerning you, tha
!, : would justify me or any other person i
! making an attack upon your private chal
: acter. AS to the report" you speak o
= 1 never heard it from any one, except q
J yon have mentioned