New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-17

tioDs of the misery and wrong which tbs cr.ne tss
OceasOned ia our Courts
II Spring comes on sith laggard pace hcr tardy
progress hiss its compenssting good. The cold snap
has been the salvation of the iruit crop throughout
the country. The farmers q, me thar without, g
we should have had neither peach ncr appie, 90,
sine, il is over let rs not only De thankful BAT jubi
ant. seeing il costs nothing 10 bo both. Meantime,
the hammer of the carpenter and the sharp ne of
the masons trowel begin already "a be heard % city
,pd suburb Labor begins "a move, and s slowly
emerging from lis long hybernatlon: Mooey
plepty. and good security viii bring all You "aet at
.ix per cent unless YOU have \ mortgage to seu 70
which event you undergo shave OF ten' seven
hundred men are employed at tie Navy iAru,
mechanics Of all trades, getting out the frame ard
tmbers and iron.wOrk of the Lancaster, new
slOop. p.ofwar. Then the Congress frgate 10 70 Do
overhsuled and thoroughly repaired as soon
orders reach us from the Clrcumlocution Omco
At Washington, to which the surveys Of this Sessi
were sent some time ago. These works nave kept
many families from suffering during the season.
But, where one streak of light appears on the hor-
zon, there are gloomy spots looming up in token OF
impending disaster. Many business firms, which
suspended in November and obtained extensions, are
now breaking down again. They could mako
neither sales nor collections, and their matured
paper finds them with no assets more available
than they could show four months ago. Meantlme,
the general forbearsDce 10 giving way; suits arc
multiplied in the courts, and Judgments are sought
for with an esgerness unknown in the panic. Behind
all this the shadow of Bankrupt law Lifts up il
ominous head-the symbol of a new oblivion TOR old
Indebtedness. In the face of this extraordinary state
,f things among Us, bank stocks continue 10 rice IN
price and promise TO reach the level Of ak months
ago. The marvel is how the business community
can become insolyent without the banks encounter
ing monstrous losses. Thoughtful men know that
they must have sunk immense sums that their cap,-
tas at this moment seriously impaired, and that
they live, thrive and maintain the public confidence
only because they able to conduct their business
in profound secrecy. The despot'sm Of banking 10
auet but potential Yet when dividend day comes
ound they will divide 10 stockholders ~ if sound
as ever knowing that the dividend is the great sos-
pei by which all stockholders swear, and behind
which none care to 20.
But the curse of mammon-worshlp ls beginning
to yield before the impulse of the same mighty OUT
pouring of the Divine Spirit which is electrlylng
the churches in other cities. The revival 10 iairiy
maugurated here, and is even showing itself IN many
of the villages and towns adjacent Not only arc
churches crowded beyond all former example, but
even halls erected places for public amusemene
are throDged with prayer meetings. Three thou
sand anxious souls assembled at midday last weeh,
in Jaynes Concert Hall on Chestnut street, for
religious worship, prayer and exhortston' 'a,s
were men Of business who left their shops and
desks to participate in the exercises. No similar
event has ever occurred IN Philadelphia.
True it is that many must have como
from curiosity, but il made no abatement
in the feryor Of those who came with
other objects Numerous clergymen Of va
riOus denominations addressed this large meeting,
and the deep religious feeling which prevailed was
evident TO all who were present. These gatherings
have been repeated, and are still continued. An
earibquake or pestlence could scarcely produce 90
general an awakening of religious feeling among tho
people. But, as a community, We needed some
thing of the kind 10 wean the souls OF men from an
absorbing lust of mammon, from the absurdites OF
fashion, and the numberless vices which abound In
city life. Great AS the publication promises TO BE-,
We need it all. On Sunday last, oil the
churches throughout the city were moro
densely crowded than was ever known. In
many of them even the asles, lobbies and
steps we're filed. This throDg was not limited to
the morning services but appeared also in tho alter
noon and evening. The revival has extended "
every denomination except the Episcopal and Cath
oc. The former is only measurably innuenced,
while the latter is entirely exempt. 1t appears ~
be no temporary efferyescence Of religions enthus-
asm, but widespread awakening OF the whole
public conscience. 1t is evidently acquiring force
and magnitude as the time rolls on aud II also seems
clear that the churches will shortly be unableto ao
cOmmodate the vast number of new worshipers who
are seeking places in them. The cOpiOus nsices OF
this general movement which have appeared in TIE
TRrDUNE have caused the paper 10 be sought ioe
with renewed avidlty.