American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1822, 1822-01-15

count, those who would call upon them Tor the ne
ccssary eXertion are branded as theorists and W.
sionaries."
The alternative which the report proposes as 1t
truly remarks, may appear extTavagant when u eN
presses the opinion that genuine humanity aud De-
nevoence TO the poor themselves, would di tate me
entire abolition Of our pauper system; and that the
health, comfort and virtue OF large proportion OF
them would be promoted, were they required to
bandon all hope o. relief from the pubic, The
opinion is confidently expressed that N period oil
years. there would be far less wretchedness and wee
amongst them than there would be, in like period,
upon he present system were they lett to tins al
ternatiyei and were they placed upon tins footing,
they as a race, would become extinct.
A reference is made to the report Of the mayor
20 the Common Council, IN which the number OF
licensed grog shops is stated at nearly 1900, and the
number who sell without license at about COO, max
ing $500; and the report states that many oil these
shops are supported by sales to the lowest classes
IF society, the very creatures who themselves
supported by the public and that many perso Of
this description expend for dent spirits, more than
would be necessary to maintain them comfortably,
were theg temperate and frugal. And It is appre-
hended that upon Average. where the city treas
ury gets i've dollars tor the license of dam shop
it pays away Thousand dollars in consequence OF
the nuisance it created
@ hale the poor can obtain the means they will
continue 10 be incorporate and surely they will
continue 70 obtain the means as they have done hi.
thePc, long the public provide Tor their sup
port Nothing but moral reformation Will deer
hem from incompetence except 1t be the rlgots ct
necessity Tor bread, which shall leave them no.
thing to expend for liquor II when reduced 10 this
necessity they viii still drink and Il they there fore
srffer the want OF wood aud shelter the penalty {als
where providence, and rea o., and humanity would
have u The discipline OF suferin, SO Produced.
nett her ought to be can be interce.,ed, without
en- oucaging or ssncllonmg the vice by which II Is
oceasioned. IL the lesson OF tins suffering ia los
upon hem humanity wll reg ct their mlsecy and
their ruin, bu will address sell to other objects =
The mistake n, spurious CHARITY which relieves them
is at war win lhel; cEn best interests aud those OF
the community,
The mana gers are well aware tia; s the mighty
labric Of our pauptr system at once destroyed,
and tie vast expenses Of the poor at once abolished,
there would be an increased degree Of suffering for
time; but thet contend that this. account oil its
ieaaency and ultimate results would even on the
score Of humanity be preferable to continuance Of
the present system
Were the poor obliged 10 support themselves,
there would be hope that their llNcs might be re |
formed and their children trained up to industry &
virtue they would feel the necessity OF forming
such character should serve them IN the hour
q misfortune and adversely haracter which
obn2'1 insure tie esteem and confidence OF their
neighbors aud acquaintance, aai commend them 10
he friendly c.!..:ces i Christian bcnei oicnce.
j is admit ed that sudden transition fiom the I
present to sound and he thy system, would be at 7
teHGed with many unwelcuRe circumstances, Ma
ny no longer doubt that change is necessary both
for the sake Of the poor and OF the public tu li.cy
are not prepared to go at once, the length Of tho
rough reformation, and to abolish the existing laws
and practices
he managers propose change which they
deem to Ge eHectual, rather than invite attention 10
any doubtful or temporary expedent; and Insist up
Oh hose sound ard permanent principles which
from the nature Of the subject, aud the testimonies
OF experience are clone to oe relied upon ior ,ureI
OF he evils OF paupeusIn
They prefer to be the advocates Of such princ-
PIES rather than of any doctrines or measures
however plausible, which promise only 10 qualify &
paliiae these evis-not to remove the cause. They'll
are sensible existing usages and habits are not ofenl
suddenly abolished, and that something must he Ina.
zarded bythose who rely upon ultimate aud subs an
ua benefits, not upon any casual and transitoiy re-
salts which might he Immediately produc, d.
Ater stating he arguments IL favor and agains.
Houses Of Industry, the managers came to the con.
cluslon that total abolition OF our present SYSTEM
ana TIE adoption Of House OF Industry, ls IN the
present cireums' ances highly 70 be recommended.
hey recommend that all street heggars should
be carled 10 The House o. Industry and street beg
ging be discouraged by an entire refusal on the part
OF the public to yield to such applications for relief
The kinds Of labor should be adapted o the pc
cuilar mental and bodily capacity Of the tenants Of
lot The ll2use and these Of Weaving and of
pln'maklng appear to the managers best suited TO
the ability Ct considerable potion OF those who
would be its inmates.
Next to the adop ion Of such plan, they recon-
mend that tipping houses should be utterly sup
pressed contending that no regulations which can
be applied to them, are likely materially to lessen
the evils which they produce.
| The price Of ardent splits is SO low, that with