Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-18
CITY ITEMS

"sAvK Ne Mt FRiExDs."-About ten DAYS since
We Published very brief and indefinite allson
ported case OF severe punishment In Of schools
No name or ccality was mentioned aud the ntimaton
was given that the sLbstantiated the facts
would be communicated to the public Our obvious n-
tenton was 70 say nothing about the matter unless
the runor was confirmed. We confess that We rather
apprehended indignant visit from several Of city
schoolmasters In consequence OF the paragraph,
did not know but that the cap might dc others than tho
individual whom alluded also confess that
we feared the indsfnifsasss Of the em" might excite
suspicious against worthy pedagogues who in no
manner amenabe to the charges impusdin the paragraph
But, IL turned out that sancum not invaded by
score more Of teachers and, must infer from all
that has taken place. that injustice done TO the
aforesaid worthy pedagogues, since by exraord
nary instinct claryoyant power, perhaps from the
general currency OF the report-nAmes and al-every
body who read the paragraph fixed ut once upon the
nghtindividual who was so vaguely referred to.
One OF his friends called upon US and expressed his
regret nj the publication. We told him that did
design to notice the matter further unless
maory evidence Of the truth of the report In publish
ing the item we accomplished leading object which
had In view, viz to Indicate that Of the nhc
ton OF cruel punishment, coming to knowledge,
should not pass unnoticed. Whether such ntimalon
would exert n salutary influence not we could not
foresee, but hoped that Il would do go
Well, the following day, Mr. Cone the associate or
partner Of the teacher Who IL said had inflicted
cruel punishment called upon us and In the gem
tlemany manner, gave statement Of the facts of
the case. Before he had concluded Mr. Thomas sam
entered the ROOM aud forthwith proceeded dcmol
ish US, with that unruly member the tongue" If not
with weapon nilar to that which Samson of old used
with such fatal execution against the Phstines. lie
was mounted upon high horse but speedily pre-
vailed upon him to alght and the pro-
ceeded IN spirit OF becoming moderation all sides.
In consequence OF this Interview, published, the
following morning, excupatorY paragraph which we
closed by saying that the teacher alluded to- We are
glad to be informed has conducted his school for
raj years. TO the general satisfaction OF his patrons
has not provoked the dipeasure of any Of them we
learn by his system of discipline" The parties immed
ately Interested said that they satisfied with this
PLANTATION We purposely refrained with their concur
renee, from Introducing their names as We
and believed that this notorety would be Of advan
tage TO them, nasmuch their had been
TONED in the original paragraph The propety with
holding their Names under such circumstances must be
apparent TO every rejecting person.
We presumed that the matter had been finally dispos
cd OF, but somewhat to surprise the Dispatch of
yesterday contains "a Card" from Mr.. Thomas Samson
in which the OF the schoolmaster to whom we in
definitely alluded is only published to the world but
our own connection with the affair commented upon in
terms demanding some notice hands The school
master contributes to his notorety by certifying
over his own signature (oracc r. Smith y that for Il
last five years he has been identified with Virginia and
he challenges investigation in regard to his here
teacher or citizen, during that time, elsewhere
Tor the earlier portion of his life IL Mr. Smith
tent that the original affair shall be thus reopened for
public discussion, and that his name shall be upOn the
tongue OF every newspaper reader in the city aud else
where, in connection with it, have right object
Nor can he, on bis part object now, to the introduction
OF his name in this article, albeit the circulation of the
Wig extends to the uttcrmos; parts of the world
We shall not discuss the subject further than say
that we felt justified in publishing the original item
view of the fact that worthy and phanthropc gentle
man holding Office of responsibility aud trust in the
service Of the State, had called upon Mr. Samson and
evnced such interest in the as to lead others
TO believe that he sympahzed with the little orphan and
that there had been unusual punishment This was
the "eyidence" upon which we rested and We could
make it more clear If thought proper to do 80 We
concluded that If evidence" proved unreliable no
injury would result from publication in which tue names
OF the parties not mentioned and clue to their
IDENTIFY afforded except the aluson Virginia which,
confess, might have been omitted though il did not
indicate the person aludedto Mess Conc Samson aud
Smith thought there should be contradictory state
Hent aud on the strength of their asurances dccar-
cd that the great smoke which induced to notice il
1.-THE reported cruel punshmentl proceeded from small
spark" II the great smoke has by continual blowing
broken out into unquenchable flames the fault ours
and we doubt If the fire is likely be subdued BY n-
creased ventilation the addition Of nfammatory fuel
There are or two other passages in Mr. Samson's
card which might, with propety, notice. but this
tcle already longer than intended. In conclusion
then we will say, that in the future, in the past
we will conduct this department of the Wig without
consulting friend, Mr.. Samson, Mr. anybody else
III we unwttngly do injustice any one none will be
more ready TO make reparation. If err all men are
liable to do, will be ''of the head aud not Of
the heart" We have great mind to quote a few of
Solomons proverbs, for Mr.. Samsons ed6caon hut as
suppose he reads the Bible every day and derives
tererom his lessons OF Christian charity forbearance
and meekness will forego the pleasant task trusting
that he will remember in his prayers.