New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-13
Aetu71ork Dailp Taibm,re.
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
OF LIBERAL. SOCIETIES

Il
Tie Convention held their regular semi-monthly
meeting on Wednesday evening a; No 60 Leonardst.
Mr.. HIssER in the Chair.
Col. FORBES presented the following letter, which
he had be.p directed as Corresponding Secretary,
pr.p.re in r, ply 10 one from Victor Hugo;
Tic ne Cisr-s Tietor Ruco BAXTER Teke PIHazni, Set
asar,s n>~be-, Of Ia Co~~'tiee - aid u TIE PO!i'ieai
EsJuSeo' n England 50
CITIzLss: Your appeal in behalf OF the PoiicA lie
fusess in England hac been laid before this Conven-
ton, which deeply .ynpaihizes with those sufferers,
ard Committee has been appointed to procure aud
forward 10 you aid for hem. This effort has unior-
tuna,ely not been attended with success-~hich the
Cow ention feared might be the case having from
experience learned the difficulty OF collecting assist
al &c 10 supply the most urgent wants OF those
political ex.lts some OF whom are highly eiucated)
Who daily reach his continent, ignorant OF the Ian
gusee, and so little cared for by the Americans,
IA At those who know trade often at loss how
10 turn il TO account Moreover il is properto inform
YOU that powerful org Inlzatons OF Native Americans
ar. forming sl over the country under tue name Oh
Kho,r- k6hfngs" for the express purpose oil deprv-
ing the stronger Of the rights be nov enjoys regard
les the fact that by immigration that the power
ano orosperfy of this country has been created add
that one If the chief complaints of the Revoutionsts
of l776 was that the British Government had tram
mell.d immigration Tor the purpose OF arttully pre-
ing them 70 long ar possible poor and dependent. In
Tie Atu- Yok Herald of this day ia to be found an
editorial upon the great quantity ofimmgrants return
ing Europe in which il appears that many vessels
in this port have their passenger lists full, ana thss
numbers return in the same vessel which brought
them out: which reuX is chiefly attributed by the
above paper the disappointment OF the Immigrant az
the condition of labor here-at the dearness OF the
n,cessares Of life compared With the scale OF wages
and the III feeling against immigrants produced by the
Know Nothing excitement To you who have no; a
practical knowledge of this country these words may
sppf ar strange therefore we, from this side OF the
Atlantic feel il to be duty briefly possible TO
lay before you the naked truth that it may be under
stot by such a. contemplate comm. here.
II IL a question much debated whether persons
immigratiug lrcm Europe :" 10 better their condi-
"tion' materially, really do wise thing, tor though
some may succeed very WELL others, on the contrary
l,se the little they bring with them Respecting po-
lticsl persons however there can be no question bat
that those who desire TO be useful to the European
movement would do more service by remaining as
near possible TO The future scene OF acon-uniess
their presence here be for special object con-
pec,ed herewith The farmer eau in tue West pro-
cue land chesp-but he must clear 1t aud sustain
himself and family for at least year before ne can
re- The fruits of his labor-and be must moreover,
take INTO consideration that If there be no market
within reasonable distance Of his farm, and II there
be ne easy means Of transport for his surplus pro-
duce TO the place of SALE he will mod It an emoarass
ing after TO provide himself With the necessarles oil
clothing, &c. Ii must also DE DOrne III uiu ny meu
who e1peot 10 find means of living, that those who
have devoted beir time chiefly to mental culture, and
indeed many vi have been brought up to sedentary
trades are ply sicslly incapable of working on roads
and canals which humble and laborious occup tuon
il sometimes difficult 10 procure ana III most Pdfts Oh
America exposes the laborer TO fever and other
dis. ases.
Lisa delusion TO suppose tina. every American can
earn comfortable liy eiboOd-snco the TACT Is that
there are hands ready to perform the work than
there il work 10 be perfOrmed-cons. quently 1t very
frequently that the native mechanic, although
be has here connections IN his trade Is yet unable TO
find any occupation bow much more difficult then
mutt be the situation OF the Tlendless political exile
10 vbom the very language is unknown. As an in-
stance: apunbeT Of political exies lali brought up TO
tradesl having been recently transported to this coun
try BY the Pope, fou d Themselves in most critic 81
positipp ns,quenty this Convention passed resoa
ii, Is calling public Dotice to their case which appeal
was vic ely circulated by the press In the report OF the
proceedings, while III the columns of nearly every
paper Of this City editorial their beh alt appeared
notwithstanding all which publicity, not one Ameri-
can offer Of employment sent 10 these poor men,
and those who eventually procured some work are
pcebed for this good fortune 10 the o1ertions OF their
fellow refugee themselves struggling bard for piece
Of bre ad aud being III able 10 spare the time requ-
site 10 ,tek occupatIen for others.
You will probably Inquire wha. can be the cause OF
such spathy-sucb waLt OF feeling for others You
will perhaps be disposed to blame the AMER ,ans
On examining facts however, you will see that cur
which in the course Of time may and praba)ly Will
alter.
The first European settlers on this Continent, hav-
ing had TO struggle anst want were obliged 70 de-
vote all their energies Ia sustain their existence, and
they became iorgetful of every other concern. Alter
them followed crowds of lmm grants seeking TO i'm
prove their lot in material point Of view, nearly all
Of whom bad suffered privatlons IN the old country,
ard OF whom feE had enjoyed he advantages of fine
intellectual culture-eonsequenty they gave them
selves up exclusively To the ACCUMULATION Of that ma
teral eal,h the absence of which had in Earops
caused them so much l4ferlng-helr ehiicren follow
ing and even surpasse the example of their parents.
Hence arose a scramble for money, exceeding even
that existing IL the corrupt countries whence
there immigrants had come, and the selfish principle OF
er,Ty one for htBset sogn broadcast over that
virgin tol where true brotherhood end philanthropy
alore should ever have been permitted to take root
Another cause which augments the difficulty for a
foreip per to Obian sympathy here, even though he
ma, have rendered essential service to humanity, Is
the prevalent ignorance OF the people upon all mat
tiers Lot Immediately connected with their particular
trade This is accidental and will therefore, under
favorable circumstances be gradually removed, since
il flows chiefly from the love of gain already men,
toned whereby the youth that they may make money
esrly teyen the soDs VI rich men who could afford
the very best education for their children gener
alIy al preutced come business the first
rpdiuents Of Amer lean education have been learned
reading writing summing, and little American his
tory and geography. Hence high degree of educs.
ton Though there are considerable facilities for its
attainment within the reach of the youth is much
reoectec-tbe sphere Of Knowledge is restricted and
III, great il tsrests and duties of this country
pards the res. OF tie world are little understood or
cared for Thee evils are, however slowly dimin-
ishug and is hoped that in time they may be fsy
rectt.d.
Another circumstance which contributes TO benumb
that sympathy which II i natural for al men 70 fee,
fo- tbcse who suffer persecution for their efforts in
favor of humanity can be found in the preponderstag
influence of the clergy in the United Stsies-for the
cLrgv, be they Papist Puritan, of any other sect
are eutal conservative and therefore are
to ali who oppose authority Of AsY description.