The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-28

Society.
The delegates from the different dem ,crstic societies
met at the No. SO Leonard street, Mr.. VIM. Ar
buthnot in the chair.
Col FORBES called the attention Of the Chair to the
fact that at adjourned meeting held during the past
weeb lengthy report had been presented the state
Of the working classes in the city. 1t was then read
but decisive action had been had on it, The follow
ing ia an abstract OF
REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON THE CONDITION OF
THE UNEMPLOYED POOR.
In conformity with the wish of the delegates to this
convention, expressed by them at our last meeting,
have prepared the present brief report upon tie cond
ton Of the unemployed operatives and the poor this
the laborng classes brings uppsrmost this subject In
the thoughts Of all good citizens and regret that the
ton, together with my inability exclusively 70 vote
my attention to this sole object should compelled
me to delay I'LL this evening the presentation Of this
document false statement has been widely circulated
represent ng the want of employment and consequent
distress in this city to be almost wholly confined to TO-
recessitous nearly all Europeans nevertheless it
should not be MISTER OF surprne if large portion Of
borers be Of foreign birth for we learn BY the last
OF this city sO that out of SIS 457 Inhabitants 2T7
1862 we're born the I'm ted States 27 7O5 other
countries. II is certain that there are many OF
wealth among the adopted citizens, yet the greater
number OF immigrants are in humble circumstances.
sphere, are highly uieful TO the nation for they
the vessels build houses ships &C., construct railways,
Transform 4 into fertile rms toll IL in mnes Or on
metals and machinery, or at manufactures, importing
Of ~S IN s
instructors or employed in bookkeeping tailoring,
shoemaking &C., or in decorative aud ornamental work
When wide spread distress visits the community, pro-
portion OF the calamity must Of course fall upon the
adopted citizens, to whom is but justice that
by referring to the above mentioned census find
number of public paupsrs in the United states on the
LIST Of June, 1850 to have been 9S native and
foreign born and in the State Of New York; 755 native
n thnaa axvhn lana lin ~toirS
public relief win be shown further in this report
Those who have sympathy only for the native born
above quoted the native is fraction more numerous
than the foreign born population In this city,
and that their chr born her ncaed under
the head OF native population and as it is papable
that children are for many dependent upon taer
are deprived of employment their native American
children are reduced to beggary, and to star
walton.
1t il impossible to make. without suitable organza
non per Getty correct return OF the poyed ope
ss on s on the q
ing the families Of the unemPoyed) were in state Of
dtstituton. This number, however large it may ap
the actual amount; and it must be likewise taken INTO
confederation that the majority Of those who have
the 1876 are at reduced wages workins three oartas
and twothirds Of the day; while others, though they
have only two or three days in the week,
are considered - being in work.
TIC statistics Of deaths furnish With some evidence
respecting the condition Of the poor for those who
staIve the only victna Tho their death from
the effects of distress The deaths in this city in the
year 1863 amounted to 22,702 and in the past year
1s54( to %, 422oi which CONSUMPTION claimed 2ss2;
lung Diseases $50; cholera morbus 325; scrofuls 1885,
tyLhus lever $685. This ratio nearly double the pro-
portion Of mortality il London Whereas the mortality
than for any other period Of life, toe average
Der ought here TO be ess than any part OF Europe,
composed d inmisr.ns, who rarely come out as naat
OF az aged people The rates Of lite insurance. it is
,rue not much Heavier here than in London but
pus be observed that the poor rarely III ever insure
their lives this hab being nearly exclusively condnsd
to u ose who are in easy circu instances.
existing Distress Prominent among the suggestions
may be found the appeal Of the capitalists, who demand
prices Of manufactures &C. for the advantage of few
specuators who might they could procure for them
selves monoroly undertake large turing, min
mercantile, agricultural aud other interests The United
STATES census of 1850 gives the average wages
and 50 6s for females per month"; Of which ptAncs
they have to feed, lodge, and clohe themselyeswhs
are much less as in Virginia $40 is and &c SsNortS
Carolina $l % and So 13:n Alabama S1l II and VI 9s
Tennessee $40 % and 50 42-Mssouri $40 s3 and slo
Operatives In wo,lep goods in New York males $40 81
and females $1l 49, in zig IRON $26 and In wrought
$40 while in North Carolina the same would earn
IN New YORK ate on tS. other hand, earn from 100
to $50 doare year, BESIDES their food and lodging
and they have more healthy and less severe work TO
labor augment In proportion "A the be
come more pumer di,,r,ss and o.nics
win be more frequent
There Ia another asnect from which the tariff, ouasop
sboula be viewed hut which tho CAN'T lst have Ios
sight Of and which ought TO demonstrs 70 them that
What IA sty ed protection would in fact he rnnous t
it's for II 40 improbable AZ almost 70 amount
to an mnossiblitv that thev couLl cnov hgb nri,ss
through protectoh fer I length OF time suaicens 10
for their OUTLAY for thron0h the
iIAuypce of the South n from mo other cause some
alteration would soon he effected which would deprsste
lures and cause the captass TO lose an their
investroepts-thus 70 use a honely phrase, .fkiIns
them nv kinduess3 rA-' s
Under proper systenn Of relief NJ the moor there
need he no opportuntes left onen for poaits
cnIy who are actually In need would be relieved nor
should these be reouired 10 mart with THAR little sock
Of clothing fool, and urntnre n thew are IN receint
Of any ANAL earnincs The amount Thar sof shonn be
tai an into Account by Tho relisyinr oascsr =