New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-29
FROM PHILADELPHIA.

A
LABOR AND HOSEy-AN AUTHOR DEAD
BEEcBrR AND BENRY-EsTMATE OF BU-
CIiANAN.
From Oar Own Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20, 1860.
Say what they may of money being tight, of
confidence being impaired, and labor standing idle
in the market-place with none to give it employ
ment, there must be tens of thousands here who
co through times like these untouched by panic,
unscathed by losses undepleted in pocket. Per-
haps DO Christmas Eve Of late years has poured
larger crowds into our streets, or more buyers
into our thops. Gaie.y and rejoicing have
abounded money has been spent profusely for
presents, and the Juveniles have been quite as
generally remembered as aforetime. At every
fancy shop whose windows gave token OF Christ
mas preparation, crowds pushed and struggled
for chance to see them, blocking up the pave
ment, while within money passed over the conn
iers in profusion. Good humor everywhere pre-
vailed. The only panic was that occasioned by
the rush for Christmas notions. No secession
fear hung heavy on the public heart no cry of
bread or blood was heard, as Southern journals
have humaDely described our condition. The
streets we're perfect carnival under the glorious
sunlight of the day and starlight of the evening.
Troops Of youths, organized az fantastica clubs,
paradcd with sproriOus merment, only now and
then attracting notice from the police by creating
dead lOch in the progress OF the moving throng OF
women. Many note will be paid at bank from this
outIoripg of money. The theaters, concerts, aud
lublic entertainments of oil kinds We're crowded,
uld stn continue to be-. The public schools the
urthan asyums the blind asylums and almost every
place whlIc the lame and halt are csngregated,
had it's own festiviiy. Every head of q family con-
triyed TO be turkey gobbler. Take it altogether,
this Christmas has been merry one all round. Dis
union has not yet intimidaed the heart of this COM
munity. 1t possesses seit-sustaning powert too
g,eat for either intimidation or overthrow.
You have doubtless noticed how careful Southern
newspapers are in refraining from giving any sc-
counts ofthe condition of money, labor prices &c,
in their several neighbOrhoOds. They avoid these
topics carefully they would conceal the yellow
fever. Occasionally garrlilous print lets out
fact or two; but, az general thing, the whole
Southern press is studiOusly c0ncealing from the
North bow deplorable condition they are in. But
many sources Of information concerning it have
been opened to my notice. A heavy house in that
trade, embarrassed by tho failure Of remittances
and the protect of innumerable notes, some weeks
ago dispatched two clerks on different routes to
make collections, "a the only remedy for suspen-
sion One of these clerks traversed the country
along the seaboard TO New-0rleans. At many
points he was assured that payment now was impOs-
sible. The debtors had no money, nor could they
collect any from those in the country who owed
them. In fact, oil money seemed 10 have disap-
peaIed. Cotton was at a dead lock, down in price
and 10 buyers. Real estate was utterly unstable
Negroes were ruinousy depressed. One man in thu
interior of Georgia, pressed by maturing obligations
Oh bis plantation sent six Of his choicest hands 10
seabCa;d slaycpen for SALE fixing last years price
upon them, $l,7CO each The slave-dealer sent
hlui word they could not be sold. He then lowered
the price 10 81 400 and was answered they would
not command il. Then followed orders TO sell them
for what they would bring, "a money must he had,
and they were finally sold at 500 each. This ratio
of depreciation prevailed throughout. Negroes
were III fact, the only personal chattels that would
command money. Owners were 10 many cases
Compelled 10 sell, while others sold from ap-
prehensi0n Of the future. The dstrust as 10 slave
property was universal. Invasion was looked to,
nnd inslnrecii0n guarded against more stringently
thar ever AS these chances multiplied, 20 the dit
iculty OF selling Increased and prices fell. In only
one Instance was payment Of his claim offered him,
aud that was IN negroes ut prices ola year ago In
Virginia offered 10 eel bis entire property
for thirty Der cent of it's recent value, s0 that be
might get money enough 10 get away TO the North.
9th s privately expressed the strongest determine.
L u 40 !eoye region where valnes were disappear
ny AID everything was in CONFUSION. At many
p.. be grossly insulted and throateued, and
'.t New-Oreans escaped lynching only by So
cieiiig himself Oh board vessel smiling the next
corning Tor Ncw-YoIk. He returned without hav-
jug collected dollar. He describes Alabama "a
almost destitute Of food qnd looks to great suffering
auoig the slayes from thai cause.
lie other messenger fared no better in Tennessee
ard Kentucky. His employers believe that be was
actually lynched in Mississippi, though be ia reso.
iutely silent except as TO repeated insults and threat
crngs which be encountered. His Northern origin
Was enough ne soon as known, to compel him 20
leave. Everywhere the same depreciation of plan
tatiOn values prevailed, While the want of money
was universal. Yet in the mdst of this breaking
up, there was nothing heard at the taverns and rail
road stations but the mad cry for disuuion. III
contrary feeding existed it was among the nerrap
tlle community only, or Oh among the owners oC
plantations, who had everything OF stake While tbs