New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-09-24
IArrR IRON CANTON.

Secretary Of State, and deserve, as tneS wa
less receive an attentive and considerate Perushi
LATER FROM CANTON.
We learn just we are going to press that
the ship Florida from Canton has been wrecked on
her passage, and that the cargo, consisting OF
teas and silks, Waived at 100000, will be a
total loss She was consigned To Grinnell, Min
turn & Co. of this city. The vessel, we under
stand, was insured to nearly the full amount.
The Florida, brings Canton dates somewhat
later than were received by the Preble which sail
ed 1st Of May; nothing decisive, however, had
been done by the British forces, though prepare
tons were making for vigorous prosecution OF
rho Com. Elliot had held correspondence
with one of the High Mandarines and was asked
on what terms he would negotiate for peace. He
replied that if the Emperor would pay to the
British Government an indemnity, of twenty two
millions Of dollars the war should be concluded.
Or will be recollected that his former demand was
only 100000 The Mandarne, greatly sur
prised at the sum demanded, replied that the
Emperor never would consent TO peace on such
terms, and that the war must therefore he con-
tinued
Capt. Herbert, commander Of the advanced
squadron, ley off the city ready to make the at
tack. The British vessels of war lying off the fac
tories had received orders, in the least hos
tiiy manifested, to lombard the city, and
10 cease until it was reduced to ashes They were
enjoincd, at the sarae time, afford ill possible
protection 10 foreigners. The city was filled with
Tartar soldiers, above $4,000 having already
rived They were daily coming in in great numbers
from the adjacent country
Teas were scarce and only to be purchased with
extreme difficulty The Mandarines would allow
none to come in.
% we published yesterday terse. pungent
and rather clever argument on the wrsng side
of the State Prison question, which solicit the
attention of all OUR readers We do not think many
will be convinced but all will be amused by it.
The writer's argument against the policy Of
keeping fclons in absolute idleness is very strong
but on that point no argument is necessary. We
have never met three persons who in favor
of keeping felonS gentlemen of leisure and sup
porting them by tax en- honest industry. SO thar
ammunition is wasted. But the Mechanics do
coatend, and most strcnuousy maintain, that
the system of State Prison Labor which deranges
the business and depresses the wages of the homes,
mechaRic is palpable oppression, cannot be en-
dured, and ought not to be persisted in.
Does H. Y X doubt the reality of this griev-
ancel Let US repeat to him facts with which
every mechanic is familiar but which he seems
never TO have heard of. For instance An honest
Journeymsn cooper, who has little family TO sup
port, cannot afford to work fer less certainly than
dollar day. or by the piece at twentyi five cents
each for making hour-barrcls. But the Stale has
one thousand abe-bodied, skilful felons, whom she
boards, clothes and lodges and hires out to sharp
dealing contractors At twenty-five cents a day.
These men, if employed at cooperns, will, after a
short time, make many barrels as the honest
workmcn; their barrels cost the contractor six
ceats each for making, and he sell them a,
twelve cents the cost of stuff, and yet clear
one hundred per cent. profit on the labor. The
consequence is that the Prison Contractor who has
a hundred felons at work coopering makes q hun
bred and fifty dsars week clear money and
quick sales, while the master cooper out of the
prison is undersold, his business destroyed and
his iourneymen compelled to work at starvation
prices or s,arve doing nothirg-Here is the es-
sental evil: one law has already been made TO
correct it, but without the desired effect Another
effort is row making, and we uust i; will be sue
cessful Why should it mott Will Il. Y. X"
tell us
All that he says about the way the employment,
of felons should be determined is well enough
but it is powerful argument against the present
system 1t is notorious that the employment OF
felons is now decided, no, hy their capasilies
character or associations, but by the wants or
choice Of contractors, looking entirely to their OWE
pecuniary interest If the management and policy
OF our prisons is be all disciplinary and beneii
ceat, who will say that this system oush, TO cor
tnuci
Enough for the present. When az Y. X" is
prepared 10 speak to the question. we shall be
happy to hear from him again. LIE, him especially
remember that the State Prison Monopoly i.
not monopoly OF labor by fclons but Of enormous
profits BY contractors and the corresponding de-
preston of the rewards of honest industry. We
eauno, believe him considerably in favor OF these /
r~P Wb;cs nj onr Civ r,,menber that the Re-