The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-11
Pr0sperous Conditi>n Of the WOrlkin
ClnnAess


for the condition Of the working classes during
the winter that followed It was supposed that
a revulsion which put sudden and general stop
to industrial and commercial operations Of every
sort must naturally affect, to great extent, the
immense number of artizans and mechanics who
were dependent upon them for livelihood. In
October the panic reached its climax, and for
several months afterwards the demand for manu-
featured articles might be said to have wholly
ceased. The fears created by this state Of things
led to the belief that bread riots and attacks upon
private property would follow, and that the
peace of the city would be daily disturbed. The
arrangements made to meet the pressure for re-
lief, contemplated on the part of the poor, were
by most people deemed inadequate to avert these
dangers In spite Of all forebodings we tided
comfortably over that dreaded season, the de-
mands upon the charitable institutions of the
city and upon private benevolence being not
only much fewer than were expected, but even
relatively less than are looked for in the most
prosperous times.
This fact, of course, puzzled some Of our poll
tical economists and humanitarian philosophers,
and various were the speculations put forward to
account for it. The prevailing notion seems to
have been, that during the period referred to the
working classes of New York lived upon their
economies of the previous years, and thus passed
safely through that season Of trial.
We have before us document which exposes
the erroneousnecs of this impression, and which
also serves to demonstrate the true character of
the panic itself From summary of the amount
on deposit in ten Of the principal New York
savings banks we find that, whilst in January,
1857, the deposits were only S32 ,452,O0O, and
the number of depostors Isl ,OOO in the January
of this year (lS59) the deposits $36, 709 900,
and the number of depositors 10000. Thus in
the. year and half succeeding the panic the in
crease in the savings Of the working classes of
New York, as shown by this table, alone has been
nearly four millions and half, whilst the num-
Der of depositors has increased by upwards Of
nine thousand.
The conclusions to which this statement points
are still further borne out by the fact that du-
ring no winter within the remembrance Of the
city authorities has there been less suffering or
fewer applications for relief amongst the indus
trial classes than during the present. Although
this may be said to be in part owing to the I'M
precedented mildness of the season, it is mainly
to be attributed to the sound condition of our
trade and the improved means Of our artizans
and mechanics generally.
These data prove indisputably what we have
all along commended that the revulsion of 1857
only caused real distress amongst the spectators
and gamblers, who, in trade as well as in the
stock market, had pushed their operations to the
widest extremes of recklessness. Most of these
persons were entirely ruined, and few were
but too glad to compromise with their i'll luck
by abandoning their splendidly furnished resi-
dences and extravagant equipages for more
modest style of living. None of our commercial
men who had carried on their business on legit-
mate principles, and avoided trading beyond
their capital, experienced anything beyond a
temporary interruption of their transactions
Manufacturing houses in general met the pres
sure by working at half time, and thus prevented
the distress that would have been occasioned
by the simultaneous dismissal of their hands.
Comparatively few of the large factories stopped
work altogether, and most of these resumed
again after brief suspension. The consequence
of these prudent arrangements was that me-
chanics were subjected to no other Inconvenience
than that of being compelled to observe greater
degree Of economy than usual for a short period,
which probably exercised a wholesome influence
over their moral habits. The dangers to which
they were exposed during that winter no doubt
had its share in bringing about the satisfactory
results established by the table before us, by
convincing them of the necessity of providing
against the recurrence of similar pcrils
There is one other fact demonstrated by these
returns which it would be well not to lose sight
Of There u.s. as it is well known, great ten
dency amongst the benevolently disposed to in
dulge in indiscrimiDate acts of charity If the
figures to which we have directed attention have
any meaning, there is little or no want of en-
ployment amongst the poor Of our city. Those
who have bodily strength and the will to
labor have really no difficulty in finding work.
1t is only the infrm or the idle and viciousy
disposed who have occasion to seek eleemosynary
aid. Now, care should be taken in distinguish.
ing between these two classes, for the charity
which is bestowed on the latter only serves as
stepping stone to the Penitentiary or State pri-
son. There is no community in the world whose
working population have more abundant faciIi-
ties of employment than ours, and there is none,
we may truly say, whose criminal statistics
afford less satisfactory evidences Of the fact.
There is o radical fault somewhere, and whether
this lies in the i'll directed administration of our
public charities, in the defects of our criminal
system, or in both of these causes combined,
steps should be taken to remove from the cha
raoter of our city so unnecessary stain.
OBSTRUCTION OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
The Intelligence we received from WASHINGTON