North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-12-31
County Superintendent.

of the county, who have deep inter
est in the matter, we intend to bring up th'
record on the subject of the head CT this ar
ticle, They have right to know what po
litical and party movements have brough
about the present state Of things. The draf
was made on the 10th Of October and or
the 25th, DR.. John published the following
article:
e. Among the drafted in this county
was the County superintendent, Mr.. VIM
Burgess. 1t was generally supposed that i
School Directors were exempt, the county
Superintendent ought to be, but it appear,
that the office of county Superintendent was
made since the Act of Assembly eXemptng
School Directors, and through oversight nc
provision was made to meet an eXigeDcy
which at that time no one ever dreamed
would ever occur. Feeling an interest in our
public schools, not one of which can legally
open without the teachers undergoing an eX-
animation and receiving certificate from
the Superintendent, we wrote the Depart
ment at Harrisburg respecting the matter
Having no authority to act in the matter, but
realizing the importance of the subject, the
Secretary of War was consulted, who at
once authorized the Governor to order the
| Commissioner to relieve Mr.. Burgess from
the draft Henceforth County Supernten-
dents as well as School Directors will be ex-
empted from military service.
Directly upon the heels of that, came the
announcement that " Mr.. VIM. Burgess had
removed to Tunkhannock, Wyoming county,
and was publishing republican newspaper.
1t was patent, therefore, that the good Of the
schools was not the reason why Mr.. Burgess
was relieved from the draft and in order to
test the question, on the 18th Of December,
the following paragraph appeared in the Co.
LUMBA DEMOCRAT.
IL Have we a County Superintendent
Of Public Schools among us or is he up in
Wyoming county, publishing black rapub-
lican newspaper? 1t will be remembered
that Dir. John announced with great -four
ish of trumpets, not long ago, that the Coun-
ty Superintendent had been released from
the draft, by the Secretary Of War, because
the Schools could not 60 on without hin
Where is he now, and how do the schools
go on, and who draws the Salary? and was
he not released from the draft, because, un-
less he was, that Niger sympathHing news
paper in Wyoming county could not g on!
Tire t0 hunbug.
1t acted like charm. DR.. John, in terri
bic trepidltion, turns to Mr. VIM. Burgess"
for aid, and Mr.. Burgess steps upon the wit
ness stand, and answers all our questions in
the affirmative:
LETTER FROM MR.. BURGESS.
TuNKHANNoCK, Pa, Dec. Is. 1862
DR.. P. JonN - Having been charged Indirectly
through of your papers with neglect of official
duty wish to state through the Republican for gen
eral information, that my engagement to remove to
this place occurred than two months before the
draft and that consented remain in Columbia to
my pecuniary disadyants ge, to conduct the annual
examina ton of teachers while l was paying house
rent and other expenses here, but that on leaving l
rendered my resignation to the School Department at
Harrisburg to take place as successor could
be appointed That there should no serious difficulty
grow out of a vacancy, consented to perform such
official acts as might be absolutely required until
the vacancy should be filled.
If my position was such as to clear me from the
draft, l was on the same footing those whose
names were drawn from the Wheel without any bear
ing whatever upon the kiud of business 1 chose to
follow for a living after that event l also expected
on acceptance Of my resignation to express few
parting words to teachers and the friends of educa-
ton in the county with whom have so long min
gled on terms of fmuual friendship.
Yours truly,
w m. Burgess,
So it's perfectly clear, either that "Mr.
VIM. Burgess" stated faIsehood to the De-
partment, or that he was relieved from the
draft on political and partzan grounds. For,
observe both of these veracious gentlemen
claim that Mr. Burgess was exempt because
he aras County Superintendent; while he
he now contesses that "n,ore than tlcO months
before the draft" he had made " engagements
to remove to'' Tunkhannock, and abandon the
business under which he claimed the exemp
ton. Did Mr.Burgess tell them he was 60
ing to resign his office in few weeks, and Ell
gage in newspaper publishing? If he did,
then he was relieved on political and partizan
grounds, as we queried; if he did not, then
he was relieved under false claim knowing
ly made to the Dep artment.
There is the record. DR.. 10 hn may take
one horn Of the dilemma and "Mr VIM. Bur
CESS" the other, and look each other out of
Vire la humbug.
Follow LAW AS FAR AS CONyENIENT."-
The following extraordinary paragraph ap-
pears in recent letters from President Lincoln |
to Gen. Grant, Governor Johnson and others |
exercising authority in Tennessee, in which
he recommends to their consideration one
Thomas r. Smith, who goes to that State
for the purpose of securing the election Of re-
to the next Congress. Mr.
Lincoln says:
" | shall be glad for you and each of you,
to aid him, and all others acting for this OBJ
iect, as much as possible. IL all available |
ways give the people chance to express |