New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-18

To Judge from the general recklessness of our
population, the value of human life is lightly esti-
mated among u.s. You cannot traverse street
may. the distance of single block of that
street, without being exposed TO injury to life or
limb. On every hand open cellar-ways yawn to
receive the unwary, holes in the pavement,
covered by -ftting iron caps threaten either to
trip him up, Weld with his weight and break his
legs, or infct upon him some other greyous
injury. In addition to these little draw
backs to pedestranism, the sidewalks of most OF
the business streets are appropriated for good
share of the day, 10 the packing and unpacking OF
goods. or the storage of crates, bales, boxes and
packages OF every description, which may or may
not break your shns crush your toes and tear your
clothes, according to the degree of care or agility
YOU nav exercise. To these dangers are to be
added those resulting from the erection OF
new buildings. No builder or property-owner
in putting up new building seems to en-
terrain the slightest consideration for the con-
venence or safety Of anybody but himself Half
the width of the street is summarily seized upon
and filled with pyramid Of brick, the sidewalk is
torn I'D and excavated for cellar and sub-celsr
and the pedestrian must content himself with such
foot path as two or three panks careessly thrown
across the abyss, may afford, and then count him.
self lucky if be escapes from tumbling into the pit
or being crushed beneath the topping pile OF build
inc material.
But these are emily few of the perils of
walking the streets of New-York. Who is
there among Us who cannot recall many hair
breadth escape from being trampled to death by
omnibus horses or crushed between the wheels OF
furiously driven vehicles How frequently have
We not seen a drunken hackman drive around a
corner quick as thought, regardless of the crowd
of men and women be was scattering to the right
and left In a word, who can feel assured that he
may 20 into the streets about his ordinary Occupa-
ton, without mourning great personal danger
through the gross carelessness OF somebody or
other Certainly no rejecting person can leave
his home, even III the daytime, and feel certain
that he will return TO it again free from accident
We have laws for our protection against these
things, it is true; but of what value are laws,
unless they are carried into etecti
If We are so VIGOROUSLY liable to accident we
are equally unsafe from ruffiany maltreatment and
even assassination. In proof of this, many facts
might be adduced, but we will content ourselves
with one or two illustrations. In what other city
paying as much as We do for police, could man
be struck down at his own door, and murdered in
the presence If his own brother without insurng
the arrest and punishment of the murderers9
Where else could young man, the son OF one OF
the leading merchants Of the city, returning from
party to his home, within the distance of
quarter of mile, and in one of the wealthiest
quarters of the city, be spirited away aud no one
know how il was done or anything about is
Brave Illustrations these, of Mayor Woods Wanted
police efficiency. How many assaults and bold
thefts occur in broad daylight in the most FREE
quented parts of the city, without detection, it
! is needless here to relate.
These indisputable facts lead us TO ask why pro
fessedly selfgoyerning community like this toler-
ates evils that would, under despotism, stir up q
revolution The only answer that presents itself
is the general Indifference of our people as TO
how or by whom they are governed. The con-
sequences of this apathy are becoming truly fear
full Year after year the tax list swels to greater
length, and year after year the person and property
Of the citizen grow proportiOnately less secure
The inference is obvious-bad men seek Office FOL
the plumber which it may afford; are nominated
BY worse men for the distribution which they ma,
mike of the spoils and elected because the psOpl