The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-01-30
Memorial of the Working Men of
New York.

\ committee appointed at mass meeting
Of the working men of New York, presented
a memorial to the Mayor and City Counci
of that City, On Friday evening. asking tor
some efficient centralized action, whereby tn,
laboring classes may realize present and per
manent relief. After calling for immediate
action in the premises, the memoralists drec
attention to the following alleged facts, which
they say, are within their coguizance:
l. That there arc now in this city GO 0O(
able bodied men ont of employment.
2. That $4,000 women accustomed to carr
their own livelihood, and in many instances tt
support families by their unaided efforts, arc
out of employment.
3. That 10000 children, accustomed to carr
their own livelihood, and in many instances tc
aid materially, if not altogether support, de-
pendent relatives, are out Of employment.
4. That $4,000 persons, men, women and
children, aged and nfrm relatives, mostly o
respectable standing, are now chiefly, if not
altogether dependant upon l2O, 900 unemploy,
ed residents Of thu, city, thus forming an ag'
gregate of l95, 900 members Of our common
humanity, all OF whom are thus for the most
S. That these l05, 900 persons have now, in
the purchase of food, chiefly, if not entirely at
a ruinious sacrifice, disposed Of what available
means they had accumulated in more pros
porous times, and we regret to say that the sa-
wing banks robbers have not passed by the
"poor mans lamb"
6. That to supply these 10000 persons
with essential food, at present prices, at least 0
cents per day to each individual is required
tie aggregate of this is l9,l50,00 dollars per
day-l3G,500 dollars per week.
7. The public duty and private bcncvolence
have up to this time been totally inadequate to
supply the vital wants Of the suffering work
ing classes in this city, and now deep mur-
muriugs are heard around the hearthstones Of
proud, stern hearted men, who would prefer
death to the crouching supplicalions of repuls'
el beggary; and your memorialists most res
pectlulIy and most earnestly represent to your
honorable body, in view Of the passage of
some measure Of extended relief have been
met in many quarters by deep, despairing cur
scs, and we regret to be compelled to add,
that confidence in the integrity of your honor
able body in the assumed intention of supply
ing efficient measures of immediate relcfis now
largely impaired; and in view Of this state of
feeling, we, as the central committee of the
wording men of New York, will be directly
compelled, unless prompt relief is afforded, to
throw off all responsibility as to the results now
looming, like the dense precursor Of the hurri-
cane of death over this unhappy city. We do,
therefore. most earnestly and cnt' t'ea''nsly urge
the Immediate passage Of AN appropriation for
the improvement Of the public domain, or some
equally available measure Of relief for our de-.
spairing aud starving fellow citizens.
The memorial WAS referred to the commit
tee Oh finance. Its spirit is any thing but
crcditabl,', while its statements are said to be
considerably exaggerated.-C Char. Mercrry.