Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-12-13

How IT AFFECTS THE PooR.-On the 18th of
Nov. last some ludicrous scenes were enacted
in Cincinnati. Some over which we could en-
JOY hearty laugh did we not consider it wicked
to do so.
1t will be remembered on that day some Of the
most prominent banks of that city suspended
payment, depriving thousands of the poorer
classes as well as many in better circumstances.
of the mean which they had been saving for
years to buy them comfortable houses or pay
their honest debts.
1t is said in one Of our exchanges, that no
less than 10000 people must have visited Third
street during that day, and the emotions of their
hearts as they visited the several banking houses
where they had, many of them, deposited their
ALL can better be imagined than described
Among others came n rag gatherer, /" all tat
tered and torn" to the doors of Ellis g. Stur-
ges, but no admttance being granted he gave
way to the most violent paroxysms of grief
The bystanders supposing him hardly worth
dime, found by his account book, deposits in
said bank to the amount Of several hundred
dollars, although last winter he had applied to
the poor authorities for relief, and owing to his
ertreme poverty was supplied with fuel
A widow lady excited some sympathy at the
Citizens Bank. Her husband had left her
small amount of money which she had deposit
ed for the benefit of her children. She was led
to believe the bank had failed and became al.
most frantic under her supposed loss. She was
finally persuaded that her money was safe and
left better satisfied.
A person known for his misery disposition
drew some hundreds of dollars out of the Gen.
trail Bank. Some ways amused themselves by
persuadng him that the notes were not safe
that rumor said the banks which issued them
were about suspendng; others told him some
pickpockets were watching him, and he had bet
ter be on the look out 1t must have been tru-
" amusing to see him saunterng about an hour
or two, with the money clutched tightly in his
fists, and then again deposiling it in the bank.
An incident took place which truthfuly illus.
trates thousands of similar character, lately &C.
curing in our own and neighborng States: 1t
was the case of a man who made his appearance
at suspended bank at the hour of noon. He
wore no coat. The sleeves Of his checked shirt
were rolled up to the elbow, his face was cover
ed with iron dust, and his every appearance be.
tokened one Of those hard toing mechanics
whose every cent is earned by the sweat of the
brow. Approaching the door he was stopped by
a policeman: d" Can not get in," said he "No
sir, the bank is closed" said he. "Closedw he
exclaimed, his heart throbbing with unutterablc
emotion. Gentlemen" said he, addressing the
bystanders, " this is too bad For twenty years
] have been toiling to buy me a home, but The
harder toll the further am from accomplish
ing my desire. | was swndled out of the earn
ings of five years hard toll by pretended friend,
and now the earnings of fifteen years of unre-
hitting labor are lost in this exploded concern
Can working man be protected in any way e.
Yes we repeat it; can working man be pro-
tected in any way? Must the toll of many
weary month be sacrificed by the poor man. to
enrich the Golfers Of the specializing bankers.
and then end in his own ruin? Is there no pro-
lection for him? Must he suffer the ills of pow
erty, perhaps of extreme want, because, for
sooth, there is no law to enable him to regain
his rgh,ful property from company of men no
better in many respects than barefaced swim
that they carry on their operations
under the broad protection of State charter
Would it not be well for our law makers to
consider this subject seriously and see if some
way cannot be provided to protect the poor la.
borer, and save from utter ruin the man who
entrusts his all to an institution thus protected
by law!