The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-03

And Joy in the chill that comes silent and lone
From the willowy bed in yon valley of tears.
S. G.. G..
The Female Union Benevolent and Em-
ployment Society or Washington.
At an adjourned meeting of this society. heldon
the evening of the 9th of January last, the follow
ing annual report was submitted and adopted, in
cluding statement of the receipts and expendi-
tures from lst November, ls49, to lst November,
| 1850, amounting to the sum of $3.50 l3:
WAsHINGToN, Nov. IL. 1850
Since the last annual meeting of the society, the
plan of operations adopted for employing the poor.
by providing them with work, has been carried in
TO execution, and with every prospect of
But few applications, comparatively speaking. for
pecuniary aid have been made, yet at all times in
dividual cases of distress have existed among
tain classes OF the poor known to us from actual OBJ
servation; and, by personal inquiry into the state
Of their affairs, we have found 1t necessary to ap-
proprate pecuniary aid, endeavoring at the same
time to avoid imposition and fraud. The mana
gers of the society have observed with much plea
sure the tone Of independent feeling that appears
10 exist among the poor women generally that ap-
ply for work, exemplifying the true spirit Of our
republican institutions by feeling the value Of their
resources, the pride OF noble effort in behalf of
their families and the proper appreciation of cha
| racter and standing in society.
| Numbers apply tor work that we are compelled
to deny, owing TO the very limited state Of our
upon an average we have been enabled to furnish
| from sixty to seventy women with constant en-
ployment, and most of them widows and or
phans. few days ago poor woman called at
our sale room for work, and on learning from our
superintendent that she could not be supplied ex-
claimed, with tears streaming from her eyes, "what
is to become OF my ak orphan children? oh how
to put bread into their mouths, If cannot obtain
| something to do?' Our worthy superintendent
encouraged her to call again. and consoled her with
the hope of employment soon One ofour working
women, widow, who has been employed by our
| society since it's commencement, expressed tO one
Of managers her earnest desire that the efforts
Of the society might be sustained, remarking that
the proceeds of her labor hitherto had been appro-
priated exclusively to the payment of the funeral
expenses of her two sons, deceased sometime ago.
and that she had nearly accomplished the mourn
| full duty, {" for,'' said she ." am paying the
last ten dollars due, and have other prospect of
earning my bread except by the work that pro-
cure from the Ladies' Employment Society; on this
alone depends my hope of support the coming win
ter; constant employment is all that ask or re-
quirc of the world.
Our community are deeply interested in this
subject; the employment of the poor is essential to
its peace and safety. Street begging should be
suppressed; it has become great and growing
evil and is daily practised in midst frequently
imposing the most observing. Impostors also
of higher order have often practsed their epecious
frauds upon the credulty of the public car, and
not unfrequently assume the name and recon-
| mendation of some distinguished individual, as
| cover to the fragrant fraud. The name Of a be-
nevolent lady of our society has been used in this
way by one Of those impostors, upon whose repute
! she obtained considerable funds This is one Of
the instances to show the necessity of some efficient
plan being adopted by which the community may
! get rid Of such imposons, by sustaining the ef-
forts OF this society in giving employment and ex-
amnng into the pressing wants Of the meritorious
poor. The public will do the society the justice to
acknowledge, that since the commencement of its
operations they have been witness to less of distress
among the poor in this city, and the introduction
IoFa hoh; an1x
has tended further to relieve the public sympathy.
From this brief review it is fair for the society to
expect the support ofa generous public. II will be
absolutely necessary for the society to its
liabilities to meet the benevolent demands of the
community, and to meet these, the general sup
port of citizens will have to be brought into
qusition. The plan proposed by the society is the
annual subscription and payment Of small sum
by each person and family the city, which would
amount to little more than what they have to con-
tribute yearly to the personal wants Of the poor ap
plying to them for relief. Instead of their Civ
ing in this way in common charity, often with
hesitation OF tho merits Of the applicant, the amount
would be paid into the society's fo ds, and the
lief would be afforded by the society under the
recommendation of the donor. In this manner
more etlectual relief would be afforded the poor
than by individual effort the prospect of profta
Bile employment would offer beyond their immedi.
| ate wants.
sflording employment to the poor, upwards of ff-
| teen hundred garments have been made up, (ex-
elusive of private orders) most Of which have been
disposed Of, and the work done very crcditably to
the operatives Such has been the character Of the
business transacted by the society in the purchase
of goods, cutting out garments, giving out the
same to be made up by the poor, making sale Of
these articles, and repeating the same operations,
when required TO renew repicnlsh the stock,
that to this period of the societys business transac
tions. balance remains to its credit after all its
expenses arc paid.
The society, in the closc of it's yearly labors,
have the satisfaction of announcing its freedom
from debt, and with the confidence that generous
public will afford more liberal means to enable the
society to carry out more fully the active benevo
ence which characterizes its operations.
All which is respectfully submitted by the Board
Of Managers.
Reports were received from portion of the col
Letting committees appointed at a former meeting;
and, upon motion of J. p. ISoLE, esq, it was re-
solved that further time be extended to these
raj committees carry out and effect the purposes
Of their appointment, and that they be authorized
in their disc rction to increase their number and fill
vacancies.
Mr.. BaoccHrs submitted the following resolu.
tion
Rtsoiced, That the managers of the Ladies' Union
Benevolent and Employment Society deserve the
thanks Of the public for the faithful manner in
which they have discharged their Official duties
during the past year, and that the society merits
more liberal support and encouragement for the
future
This resolution, after most earnest and clo-
qucnt address from the mover, unanimously
adopted.
In connexon with the proceedings Of this meet
ing, il is deemed proper TO republish those of the
former meeting of this society.