The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-11-23
For the "Spirst."
Board Of County School Examiners.
WILLIAM WHEELER'S CHARGES
TO THE PUBLIC.

III IHE PUBLlC.
Mr.. ED1ToR- Mr.. Wheeler Is out in
your last number with what the Indians
call "big talk, or perhaps, more properly,
q big scold." If the man chooses to
make such exhibitions of himself his
friends, rather than his enemies, have
cause of regret.
A little candor, little fair dealing
would have prevented this whole difficulty.
Mr.. Wheeler excuses his neglect to take
the necessary official oath, on the ground
of his being younger than the rest of US.
This is true, but when man young or
old appeals to the Public on account of
an official neglect, of which he is himself
guilty, in common with those whom he
assails and all others, his language ought
to be mild and moderate i!
If in his attack of the 25th of Septem-
ber, be had stated that the majority of the
Board were compelled, in common decen-
cy, to attend FUNERAL, that no actual
injury accrued to the'P ublic service, that
the apparent neglect was only apparent
he would have made nothing of the mat
ter. 1t was not the first occurrence of
the kind. In the winter of 1855, while
Mr.. Wheeler was a member of the Board,
Mr. Archbold left the session of Court at
St. Clairsville in ample time, as ne sup.
posed, to attend the session of the Board
of Examiners here, but was detained at
Powhattan Point in attempting to get the
deposition of Benedict Burgandall to be
used in the case of Bennett Coen against
Robert Hyde then pending in this Court
The weather was excessively cold. Mr..
Archbold arrived at home in the afternoon
of the examination Gay, and learned to his
dismay that no one member of the Board
had been present. But Mr.. Joseph Clark,
then of Woodsfeld, now of Summerfeld,
performed the executive functions of the
Board, at the earnest solicitation of the
class, as he now states. Mr.. Clark per-
formed his assumed functions very cerdit-
ably; no actual injury accrued to the pub
lie service from the absence of Mr. Wheeler
and his colleagues. But when a man at
tacks and assails his neighbors, for mat.
ter Of which he is equally guilty himself,
he ought to be temperate and guarded in
his language I II
As to Mr.. Isaac Dougherty we may
have overlooked his written exercise, by
inadvertauce or mistake; it was probably
not so bad as Mr.. Wheeler represents it.
At all events Mr.. Dougherty came to us
endorsed with Mr.. Wheeler's appreciation.
On the first day of November 1855, Mr..
Isaac Dougherty got O certificate for
eight months, William Wheeler being pres
ent and officiating at the Board. When,
in 1857, Mr.. Dougherty presented himself
he may have passed muster little too
easily, clothed as he was with Mr.. Wheel
er's appreciation.
Moreove. Mr.. Isaac Dougherty has
made considerable improvement since
November 1856, when he was certified by
Mr.. Wheeler. The New Testament con-
tains passage which might be practical
ly useful to Mr.. Wheeler: "Thou that
sayest man should not steal dost thou
commit sacrilege." Oh if men would
obey the Divine Precept "whatsoever ye
would that men should do unto you, do you
even so unto them," if they would award
the iame candor, the same charity towards
the failings and misfortunes of others
which their own cases so imperiously
demand for themselves, what heartburn.
ing, what strife, what contention, would
cease from the earth.
We repeat again that ROBERT L.
MORRIS never was rejected. The poor
subterfuge that he failed of certificate
because he came too late, is like charging
the Board with breach OF duty for moi
granting q certificate to man who die
not appear at all. The law expressly re-
quires us to examine on all the branches
an examination, on two only, does no
entitle man to certificate and we woult
be guilty of a breach of duty in gran
ting it. But to make assurance doubly
sure, Mr.. Archbold addressed the follow
ing letter to our late worthy colleagu,
Mr.. John Moore and got the following
reply:
WooDsFIELD, Nov. 10th, 1859.
JOHN MOORE, Dear Sir
Mr.. William Wheele
persists in the assertion that Rober
L. Norris was rejected by the Board o
School Examiners. Feeling high respec
for Mr.. Morris, the assertion is painful
to me, if erroneous it is injurious to him
The record gives no countenance to tn
assertion. 1t shows that, at one session
Mr.. Morris came too late, participating ii
the examination of two branches only
whereas the law imperatively demands al
examination in Eve. As private examina
tions are illegal the consequences wer
beyond our control. I have not tn
slightest personal memory of any rejec
ton of Mr.. Morris, but feel willing to b
corrected if mistaken. I also enquir
whether persons coming as late as MI
Morris received certificates. The recor'
is very far from sho wing any such stat
of facts. Yours Truly
EDWARD ARcHBoLD
WooDsFIELD, Nov. ] 9th 1859.
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