Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-18
CH2RIESTOH

SIIRLCoIO
A numerous town meeting was held on Saturday last,
in Philadel phIa, 10 devise means for the relief Of the
Charleston Observation-Disclosures Biddle, Esquire, in the
Chair. The meeting was addressed, by Joseph r. In.
gersoll, Esq, and with a view to carry out the object
Of The meeting, ward committees were appointed for The
several wards Of The city and the adjoining districts, 10
commence operations Immediately.
The citizens Of Baltimore were 10 assemble in ward
meetings on Wednesday evening.
The adjourned public meeting was held at Charleston
on Friday lus,-the Mayor in the Chair. Gen Robert
Y. Hayne, from the Committee Of Thirty, presented a
vary interesting Report. It consisted of a series Of Re.
solutions, and an address 10 Gov. Butler requesting him
to convene the Legislature of South Carolina immedi.
ately, and submit the case TO their favorable c%onsidcra.
ton. The following extract from the Address exhibits
a very touching view Of the effects Of the contiagration:
"From a careful estimate of the lossfs sustained, it
appears that about five hundred dwelling houses, front
ing the public streets, have been totally consumed, and
an equal number Of kitchens or other buildings occupied
by slaves; making together, upwards of ONE THOUSAND
DWELLING HOUSES destroyed, exclusive of a vast number
Of other out. buildings. IL is impossible TO ascertain the
number OF persons who occupied those dwellings, but
they are estimated at from FIVE to seven thousand. We
have no means of asccItaining the value OF the property
thus lost. But when it is recolected that this deslruc-
ton of property has fallen upon The very heart OF the
city, containing 4 number of stores Of great value, and
that goods as well as furniture, TO a considerable amount,
have been destroyed, it may safely he assumed, that the
amountof our losses cannot have fallen far short OF -FOUR
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. /, has been ascertained, that OF
the property destroyed, about one million and a halt Of
dollars was insured, but of this upwards OF one million
was insured in Charleston, Gnvolving, probably, the loss
of the entire capital of two out OF three OF our lnsur.
ance Companies so that n clear loss has been sustained
by this community Of upwards of THREE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS. Taking into consideration the amount OF
our population, and The extent OF our resources, 1t IS
believe that Charleston has on this occasion sustain.
ed 4 greater loss than was suffered either by London or
New York on the occasions Of what were emphati.
cally called 'he Grea, Fires at those places. We
present these details, because it is necessary that the ex.
tent of the evil should be known, 10 enable US TO apply
the remedy. If this loss had been one OF an ordinary
charac,er-if only a few hundred houses, valued at a few
hundred thousand dollars, had been destroyed, the Gill.
Gems of Charleston would have relied on their own resour.
cs for relief. That manly pride, which regards personal
indie %pendeDce, as a treasure that cannot be Too hIghly
priced, would induce us even now. TO suffer in silence, II
there were no considerations Of q high public character,
which seem to demand a different line Of conduct" nc.
But it is as a CoMMUNIrY, that we deeply feel the ne.
cessity of obtaining some immediate and comprehensive
relief. The industry and enterprise of our city have
been struck down by a blow, from the effects OF which,
we cannot recover without immediate and powerful as.
sistance. Time, so far from bringing " healing ON his
wings will only the more surely seal our fate, 1t the
necessary aid is not afforded promptly and efficiently
The evil is, not merely that hundreds Of our dwellings,,
and millions of our property have been destroyed, and
thousands of our people driven from their haoilations-
great as these calamiGes unquestionably are-but the
true evil is, that we have been deprived OF the means oil
repairing these losses, and Of avering their fatal conse.
uuences to the community. The late fire found the IN
habitan,s of this city in a state of active and vigorous ex'
ertion. Within the last four years, the slumoer'ng en-
ergies o. our people had been reused into action; the
pubIic mind had been stimulated-the spirit OF ~enterprze
awakeued-and an unwonted energy pervaded every de-
partment of industry. Suddenly without a moments
warnipg-,he whole scene has been entirely changed
Labor is deprived Of its emp~loyment-industry OF Its re-
waid-and the capital that sustained them has utterly
persisted"
Among the resolutions of The Committee was one,
which touches the immense loss which Charleston has
sustained by the fire; and the precautionary measure
which they suggest, is essential, viz:
"3d. RESOLVED, Thatihis meeting have seen with grea
satisfaction that the City Council have already taken
measures to prevent the erection of ,cooden buildings
That this meeting heartily approve Of The object in view
and hope that Council will lose no time in exercising
their power over the subject by an Ordinances; and ap
ply to the Legislature for such farther enac,ments al
may be deemed necessary for effectually and completely
suppressing the evil"
The Resolutions and Address were adopted with grea
unanimity.