Year: 1859

the editor has the names of those who as- sume the authorship and we must believe that they are by different persons, though our deliberate convictions, founded, etc., leads us to think quite differently.

 In the above article it is claimed that the people have right to know how much of the time the State pays him for, Mir. Woodward may consistently devote to the private interests of others. The answer is: Not a day-not an hour-not minute not second From eight o'clock in the morning, until sunset, with an interval for dinner, he may be found at his table, The Auditor three years ago, laid it down as rule, which he has ever since required strict compliance with, that no private business should be transacted by clerk during of fice-hours. The reading of a single article in paper, or of a private letter, might be permitted, but l am of the opinion that if clerk sat down to read newspaper through or to write newspaper articles or letters, that Mir. Miller would give him to under stand it was not the proper time and place for such things. Speaking for himself Mir. w. can trul ly say that nothing he ever wrote for publication was ever written in the Auditors office while he was clerk therein, during the daytime, or with pens, ink or paper of the States. And he firmly believes that no office in the State has more work done in it according to the number of clerks employed, and that no office or em- ployer requires more hours work in each day and more constant labor than does the present Auditor of his clerks. Indeed, so severe is the labor, that several, who have tried it, have been compelled to throw up their situations, finding their healths inn paired by the excessive application required of them.

 It is further enquired, if MT. w. can find time to edit the True Democrat and attend to his clerical duties. w. is no clergyman, whether his office may not be abolished In reply he states that if editing or anything else would cause him to neglect his clerical duties, he is very well assured that the off, flee would become vacant and remain so till some one was found to fill his place So far from shirking work, MT. w. in busy times has often returned to the office after supper and worked to expedite public busi- ness, until all good citizens were in their beds. Mir. Peek may rest assured that when Mr. w. shall have the position, the duties of one of which shall conflict with the other, one of them will be immediately thrown up.

 Mir. w. was of the opinion that, when his daily labor was done his eight hours of service to the State faithfully performed, he had perfect right to devote the remain ing hours of the day to what pursuit he pleases. He got the idea in his head, that if he preferred to go to bed and sleep or sit up and write; to sit in the house and suck his thumbs or go out and chop at the wood- pile to sit, stand, ride, or walk, it was nobody's business but his own. Writing this on Saturday night, while all others in the house are in their beds and asleep, by the light of Kerosene lamp and light fra ht,rr q l. for the life of him, conceive how it concerns x-payers, editors, or anybody else, whether he is writing, reading, sleeping or doing otherwise. If, while tax x-payers are sound asleep and snoring in their vrtuous beds, prehends the loss of sleep is his alone and the aforesaid tax-payers are, in no wise, injured If, to be clerk in public office precludes a man from writing at night, perhaps it does reading also. It were we'll to know how far the prohibition extends, and whether the amount he eats, the time he sleeps, the length of his prayers and other matters that go to make up the twenty four hours are to be prescribed.

 Finally, Mr. w. takes this occasion to assure the editor of the O. l.. D., that 1t was unnecessary for him to ask these ques- tons in the name ofthe people or in behalf of the payers. Being fair questions and courteously put, they were entitled to fair and pi ompt answer. Though the editor has not yet been in Arkansas long enough to entitle him to vote or to require him to pay taxes, yet his spirit of inquiry and anx- ious solicitude for the interests of citizens and taxpayers should be met half way A gentleman in pursuit of knowledge under a greater or less pressure of difficulties, is an interesting sight and we feel disposed to help him. An enquiring turn of mind is of great advantage to its possessor, espec- ially if he has a great deal to learn. It is written, :'Ask and ye shall receive seek and ve shall find" We hope that no false modesty will prevent the editor from ask ing questions, and if the people, the tax payers or himself are anxious to know what Mr. w. had for dinner yesterday or the day before, it will be cheerfully told. |