New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-16
Deferred.
seeIety on the Basis of Mutual Assurance.


sse,etv on the Basis Of Mutual Assurance.
This ia the heading of an article in Hunts Mer-
ebspts Magazine discussing the principles Of Mu-
,oal Assurance. The writer after briefly referring
N the history Of Insurance and Insurance Compa-
oies in which he shows how the principle Of guar.
,uiyng security against the various risks OF life has
grsduaIy been extended, and urges still farther
application Of it to numerous other risks His argu-
men. well and clearly put and deserves the
earnest attention. not only of the mercantile com
mamty but Of Philanthropists in general
Insurance has heretofore embraced only risks
BIZ fire, by sea- and by death but as these are
ouly few Of those to which individuals are liable
IN the present state olsociety why not if the prin
chile be good one, extend it as TO embrace other
md equally important risks Much has been done
By the peculiar organization OF our Government TO
protect the citizens in the enjoyment of rights
which are ruthlessly invaded in despotic coun.
tres The rights OF personal society. OF private
property ind Of reputation--the rights of marriage,
ofeqaaly before the law and the elective franchise,
&C. are toleraby well provided for in our political
constitutions But this is not all that men want Of
society says the able writer in Hunts Magazine
Side By side with this civil liberty may exist want
destination and degradation In the enjoyment of this
ol liberty, life may be burden The greater Its per
lection the greater the mockery OF the contrast al
lords one OF the many Illustrations OF that wise saying
q lohnsons, there many things II IS misery TO
want which 1t is not happiness TO possess Civil liberty
ny h the highest boon TO man, but there are some
hBe pror II not higher. Man must be free, 10 be
hgly but he must live. to be free.
styil liberty prevails 10 great extent In England
nd fnnceto greater OF less degree In all the civi.
zsd States OF Europe Americans think II IL enjoyed
ode fun In America 1t prevails In Great Britain
rhere the strong may not strike the weak the poor
nay not rob the rich the equality OF all before the law
Is oersbly well maintained Yet what shall we say oil
The four millions of Enelish work house citizens-of
ihe seven millions OF Irish freemeR IL prevails ID
America Yet what shall we say OF the millions OF our
dsylsborsrs irecmen ALL under the guarantees oil cVh
liberty yet hrelings whose lot II is TO toll eaeh DAY
the long but for meat to give them strength 10 toll
The three millions Of Southern slaves without rght 10
their own lives or their own limbs without tne iku.
property or OF marriage, standing IN the scae Vi esn
liberty far below English psupers, yet have ia more
than they othose and socs comforts the want
u which makes life dependence and deeradstoni-
slavery true to the domestic and social nature OF the
nstut0ns secures to the slave, while II humans MIN,
macy OF the physical and social wants OF man while
Essh liberty In its respect for the sacTedness OF civil
gkp stands reyerentaly apart and leaves them sacred
1d 10 nss Want and the Tear Of wan'o.ne De
Jeodsnce Of the employed on the employer oil the Ia
bore on the capitalist OF the borrower on the lender
al he ev in short. OF an unequal and Isolated social
eohanun nav cOexsist with civil liberty out where
cy exisi the degree they exist there is not social
liberty. We would have both In addition to security
Tor the rights of man ask provision for the wants Vi
man. We would have secured q fair reward and Ger
TAN reward for labor"
The writer then proceeds TO inquire now these
evils Of society can be met Re says that he Is
opposed 10 all new theories OF society, and that nc
xsas something practical and feasible. The
remedy in his opinion, must be brought about not
By the destruction. but by the modification and
snehorAaon of the present order OF things. We
must take men as they are, the interests, the inc
latiOns bywhich they are pow moved, and not by
uprootIDg but by giving them new direction
hrlng sbOu, better state Of things Let them all
e the existing ordcrsl remain, he exclaims'
bal give US at least some modification some new
,daptsnm Of them which shall put an end to the
cod ISOLATION Of man from man, which shall make
mutual dependenco bond Of union, instead of a
tain q ,erytude. which shall secure aid 10 mis-
i',ane nc, as a charity but as right which, In
'hOrt shat make the freeman in law free also In his
sNrscoBaitiop. and shal relieve civil liberty from
the harsh contrast in which it now stands with the
fassef lis victims" lie continues;
he great and growing inclination TO associated &C
To- which peryades society in this age, has been often
rntked Sprineing from clearer recognition. than
IA ever before prevailed OF the true use OF society as
sca ior mutual good, II may, perhaps be looked upon
nce than any other thing as the Characteristic OF
u sge BY partnerships, by interpretations, oy JOINT
ssosa companies by lodges, by united fraternites and
Seaos the benevolent purpose ana me eteat ana asi
- purposes OF the age sro effected or essayed. ny
ssse canals have been dug and rsllrosds lad steam
pslsanehed and factories built by these. food has
seppaed for the hungry and care Tor the SICK by
'e great commercial enterprises have been carried
sSss.aaes have been planted and empires Iouheeu.
use missionaries and teachers have been sent out
4D ~ the earth How much the principle oil assoc
ssa nnon has done for insurance We have already |
-, we have seen that insurance by indiVidess
-. vas never prsctised In more than one oIsnch OF
hA been partially superseded. even IN that one !
go y Companies for insurance, TO when All the |
Vtsnenes VI insurance are exclusively eonhDed
vLo nave noticed iis last aud most interesting de
s3es ~ NE mutual 81 stem.
Aasse iseu force upon US the ueston-may nox this
~. xe-,s ~ esed scton which has done so muen ior I
A., nv 70 snA more May not this plan. which has
assns Of as form of insurance DO Tar more y
wen NJ as.anee Let not be misunderstood,
asn We say that BY wide and general application OF
a. ~. % insurance. direction may be given to
yhA agent the spirit of associated action,
O. ps,ss, eao % much good Only political quscks
~ cannot be too often repeated that ii socleiy Is
sssS '.efed Il u 10 be done indirectly by degrees.
-, b, d. kpaesuon Of forces now at work IN society
s,,..y .ae introduction OF new forces. Among these
orees the spiri, Of which we ,peak is certainly
q voc most powerful as directed the purposes
r-.s snce II is one OF the most familiar For both
De ae'eiofe, general system OF association for
eaSsS A'ee Of all the great nsks Of society Is recon
n..s,n. wa the system OF insurance, thus applied
De wis arising from the unequal allotment and
sa~ons sn reward OF labor We have said thst this
Ia, -. s1Aotnent and uncertain reward, from
e.rs ~ arrangement which leaves each man TO take
u,k.s ~, himself to stand or fan by himself and which
b,ssd me masses dependent on daily labor for daily
r,'s~. No" 70 the sborer. thus selfdependent thus
Of ls % single dependence loss OF health on loss
Mr. = "a utter blight What case can be imagined
ussasy calling tor relief from system Of com.