Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-13
Special Correspondence Of he Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. II.

echTceiy TououlpoT Auy luoruph hOt
ly political or partIzAn which has caused
such very general sommotion. It is
natural that it should, for more
important question could hardly be raised, but
the feeling shown excites some surprise in view
of the languid manner with which the delibera-
tions OF the Convention we're viewed. II is hard
to understand why the opposition which is now
making so desperate an effort to defeat the new
instrument. did not expose what it terms the
weak and faulty places in due time, when they
were being debated aud passed. II is now loud
in declarations that the Convention was year
in preparing code which the people are called
upon to pass sight, but this is not in any fair
sense the truth. The portions upon which the
greatest struggle is made were passed months
ago, and there has been ample opportunity to
place the whole subject properly before the
people.
position owing to the judgment OF the Supreme
urt.grunting injunction to restrain the Com
vention OsmmlssOners from holding the cleo
ton by special form, but that advantage has
been largely nullihed this week by letter from
Chief Justice Agnew, who delivered the opinion
of the Court. to the effect that the document in
question expressed his views AZ a lawN or but not
a. citizen In his own words. he
had passed III giving the opinion Of the Court,
on tile powers Of the Convention and not on the
merits Of it's work " He goes on to say that
there is so much-such a prepondersnce-in the
| constitution that Is good that It wonld be the
direst OF pities to lose II Tor the sake OF some
questionable matters which, even should they
| prove to he evils eau be easily amended In the
| future In short the Judge u as strong Con
| stltution man" could be desired: aud you
may believe that sthe appearance OF his letter
has caused a vide consterOation among those
| who hold the opposite faith. II cannot take the
| election IN Philadelphia out OF the hands OF the
''riug" but it has made mauy votee for the anew
Constitution. Ii seems scarcely possible that the
revised code can be defeated, aud yet the Anti
| Constitutionsts are very confident.
TIE oppo siton route To New York, the Nation
al Railway as it il called shows signs OF renewed
| life AID it's directors express tho determina-
| ton to proceed without delay to the construc:
| ton of the road. winch shall take the principal
| spoke out of the wheel OF the Pennsylvanla
/ company You may remember that the last Leg
| islature chartered body called the National
Company having for Its object the construc-
tiou of this neS iiue OF railway. Since
| the passage of the act, the Panic aud
| 9th er causes have led to considerable cham
| ges; In fact there has been new
| deal" all around. Ito last shuffla OF the cards
| has brought preponderance of New York tai.
/ ent to the surface, 30 that supposing the ROAD
| to be built Philadephia will have little to do
| with it except being one OF the te'WWt OF the
| line. But this fresh element has plenty OF
nancy aud the debts OF the coloeru-the obsta.
| Gle effectuaIly stopping operations under the
/ old management-are being paid. AS 1t is, the
/ work is well nnder way, and with the fresh I'M
i petus now given it is supposed it Will be COM
/ plated and IN operation in the Spring. The
/ company announces ~ 20 as the price oil pass
age on express trans.
The .times" are hard but they might be
| harder if that is any comfort, and they have
| bean harder. in psint OF fact. There is very
| sensible relief from the situation OF three and
| four weeks since There are not great many
| people oHt of work who could not get employ
| ment at the reduced wages and hours OF work
I ,fT. 1
time of stringency and suffering like the present
there are many stuff -necked people who Will not
accommodate themselves to circumstances Dut
who insist opon demanding tne same
pay and privileges III a time OF
general financial depression, that they
have been used TO at aereuer perO Is. Nearly all
the manufacturers have made A. least partlSl
| resumptious; very many are running win tnree-
quarters their usual force aud many again are
working to their full ex ent No good workman
need now be without enough to do to supply
himself with the necessities OF iite,-and after
all that 10 10 be Fortunate as tmhBs go, anu 10
| be better of than the labOrers OF some COM
| munities are There have been some very
wild and whrling" stores told OF desltutlon
| in Philadelphia Set them down as as Ialse
| whenever you hear them. Our Industries are
| rapidly resumuig, and the Rsllef Societies are
80 we'll organized that absolute want smong
deserving people, who choose to ask for help, is
| impossible.
You would hardly suppose that there were
! bank ClefkB enough III IuhhaiolPlile w ScASNi
tutute fratel nifty, but there are. The number
| OF banks and employees has so increased OF
| late years that the clerks form conslderADle
| body Not to speak Of bankers clerks, there
| are in the banks proper and in savings instltu-
tons over 300 individuals who lead very mo
| notonous and dragging sort OF life for very httie
| pay The clerks situation is sure one Dut IL
has no future and gives little margin for Vlclssl-
tudes Of family, sickness and the IKE: saaiy ann:
of young man, but he OF MD,
die Age-and with growing boys and
i, grls-regArda it with sort OF terror.
The BankiClerk's epic has not been Written
vet Some longheaded ones among the fratern'
| ity had the happy thought few years age
| to establish Beneficial Association, by which
on the payment of small yearly dues sum Of
$500 was to be paid to the family OF eacl
deceased clerk, and certain other provl-
sions we're so be made in case oi
| of peculiar destitution in sickness. The scheme
, | was clever one and has been genuinely sue
! = cessful. The fifth annual report has Just neel
| made from which it appears that majority OF
:, | the clerks are members of the association tina
| eI 900 have been paid for the purposes Tor WHICH
4 tho organization effected, and that there 1t
balance of nearly S4OOO IN the treasury. lh'
| idea ia one that might be utilized Dy All elAsHei
/ of men in the receipt of small fixed incomes.
Charles Macalsster who died this week, wa
4 | one of the best known of our old and wealth.
a | citizens He moved in most exclusive ant
aristocratc set, but nevertheless had the ropu
. | tation of being very generous and liberal man
Still, he did not come very near the common
people, WAS not man to rally around, as on
one may say ; was not endowed with thos'
genial characteristics which make Col. forhe!
or Mr. Ohids such veritable men OF the time
l. MIR. Manchester didI not, for example, bear
II yery enyable reputation at certain times duIihl
m the rebellion, being one OF those west emu Ioi
n ies whose neck were exceedingly dlincult I
r. | bend But that is all haPpily over, aud peopi
10 now only remember the much that was eoou
n him. He was for many years, leading autnor
a. | ity on Third street, where he accumulated
Ia large fortune as a banker. He further aade' %
to his wealth by judicious investments IN Mess
IA ern real estate and was reputed, when ne % 9ieu
Nd one of the richest men in Philadelphia. VIVA
the amount OF his estate may prove TO pe, an
ne now it is disposed Of are now questions that at
ar freoneptly asked. He had but one chlidI
na widowed daughter-and it is thought propapl
r. thAt large public bequests have been madt
% Mr.. MacslesterIwas one OF Mr.. Peabodys tlu'
1e tees for the Southern Educational FUND. an
neople will have it THAT he has long had som
similar ideas relative to the disposition Oh III
own wealth. -. ,,oo,, in on
er vay success That is while this troupe has mao
H. money it has fairly deserved to, and has proye
no tsalf the best and mo complete company tnl
't66 hss hssn mere in number OF years. There wa
W W -.sst d;aanno ntment at the outset when IL we