Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-20
Letter from New York.
Correspondence Of the Richmond EnquiIsr.)
New YogK CRY, March II, 1860.

Correspondence Of the Rtehmond EhqWHsr'J
New YoEK CITY March II, 1850.
Dear Enquirer AS you have been so kird
heretofore as to give circulation 10 few OF my
letters. witten from the yilcst spool oi abo
lition -fanaticism, N mean Massachusetts, ain
prompted 10 send few lines more Of my poor
scribblings.
As near as l can learn, New York has suttr'
ed somewhat in her commercial interests, in
CONSEQUENCE nf the hostility Of feeling rns"lf-
ing from that reasonable ianatct:m which pre-
walls so fcarfully al the North and which cul-
minated in the Iiarpcr'S Ferry invasion. But
New io:k has not suffered ~ the extent that
Boston has, and think OUGHT not to, lor she
is no, quite so deeply dyed in the black tide Of
AhoIitionsin. -.
In Boston and vicinity, the boot and shoe
trade has suffered the most, and, notwith-
standing the ayowalS Of abolition papers to the
contrary, the real cause Of the shocmakeTS'
strike is the falling oil Of Southern patronage.
At IaS, accounts there was no prospect ot re-
Cancellation between the journeymcn and their
emplavcr<, ani the strike is extending all over
New England 1t is beginning to be felt here.
Last crcning there was 4 large sympathy meet
inc held here, and money freely contributed,
for the Use Of the strikers 10 enable them 10
hold out against the bosses. Enthusiastic
speeches were made, urging the shoemakerS oi
New York to strike for higher wages; anu also
20 induce other trades to join with them. You
need not be surprised to hear that the work
shoD; of the North generally, have become as
silent rs the cave If death, ard that the poor,
down.troddcn, free laborcrs Of the North are
attempting to assert their rights, and making
m effort to teach the corrupt demagogues who
have she'd SO many crocEudie tears over the
blacks of the South, that charity should begin
ut home.
There seems to be an irreprcssiblc conflict
ut the North. between capital and labor; capl.
ital constantly trying to eXtort the greatest
amount Of labor for the smallest amount ol
pav. and the laborer struggling for his bread
The capitalists Of the shoe manufacturing
districts, are even now threatening to starve the
Door lahorers into compliance. They may
succeed, and this is the boasted free "0ctety OF
thr North.
What if Southern planter should attempt
TO starrc his negroes as IL punishment "nuiu
i, DC tolerated ut the South? II 1t WOULD, |
have mistaken the character OF Southern ch!.
valry.
II the South will take advantage Of the
nrcsent crisis, and take the necessary steps TO
manufacture her own boots anu shoes, rs well
rs other articles of consumption, She may hnd
il much 10 her economical ind industrial ad'
vantage
There is considerable feeling here in regard
to the coming Convention ut Charleston, but
not much noisy excitement. think it is gen.
erally CONCEDED by Democratic politicians that
the South should have the candidate. For my
part, trust the Convention will make Wise
selection. But if the nomination should not bc
forced upon the great Frginan, the Dcmocra,
cy Of the North will be found lighting, sword
in hand. for victory, under the standard-bearer
of the party, whoever he may be. am not
endowed with the spirit Of prophecy, but
verify believe that more than one Northern
State will be redeemed from the black list in
the coming election.
There are many merchants aud manuiactu'
rcrs here who are badly frightened for fear that
they will lose the patronage of the South. 1t
is In the power Of the South to make the Abo
litionsts of the North bite the dust Of hunila'
ton. repentance and poverty. and ], for one,
hoyc they have the will to do it.
Yours truly, billings