The New York Herald Newspaper, February 5, 1877, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN PROBLEM State of Political Society in Florida. Sinister Tendency of the Ne- gro Politicians. THE TORCH AND THE POISON CUP Threatened Re-enactment of Odious Labor Laws. THE CONTRACT SYSTEM. . Suwanes, Jan. 24, 187 Florida has just safely omerged from the anarchical crisis which has contemporaneously endangered the existence as Commonwealths of South Carolina aud Louisiana, The interests myolved in those States aro undoubtedly much gre but the passions which might be arouse: here were more to be dreaded it they once obtained unlicensed sway. Tho tourist in Florida, if he is like tho majority of Northern visitors, is im most instances exempt from contact with the elements which compose her most characteristic population, The regions which are most haunted by them havo been to some extent rescued from what might ve fermod the barbarism of tho ante-bellum period, ‘They have been metamorphosed as were the outlying provinces of the Roman Empire which had been long- est under her sway. The ‘asperities of prejudice, mistaken patriotism aud sectional resentment have been somowhat softened, aud the contact with social power, tho wealth of the North, bus relogated the negro to his natural and proper position, that of subordination, But in the intorior and western portion of Fiorida olden ideas still strongly prevail in the superior race, while tho exuberance of pretension engendered in the infe- rior by its sudden manumission and elevation is very rank. These moral conditions, so strikingly opposite, tend to hostility, which, at any unfortunate moment, may become active, They would bo, perbaps, Icas dangerous were more of mutual abuse indulged in by the adverse parties, That species of candor would not only give vent to the inner thought and impulse, but would afford admonition, which might render the avoidance of real conflict more simple. INTENSITY OF ANTAGONISM, Tbe animosity which I have noted in Florida is ofa more sullen aud taciturn kind, Tho negroes and tho whites ougerve & reserve toward oach other which shows that they mutually recognize the strength of ieeling which subsists on both sides, The recent elec- tion in Florida was preceded by the most ominous in- dications, Deepiy seated malice discovered itself in both parties. The current talk in this portion of the State was of sanguinary possibilities, and on the eve before the opening of the polls there Was open preparation for a conilict, The intense apprehension felt by the whites of the purposes of the nogroes isshown by the fact that for weeks before the 7th of November the merchants refused to sellthem oil or ammunition. To tho plauters and “corn crackers,’” however, they supplied these arti- sles treely, and there was a busy distribution of shot and powder before the decisive day arrived, The dem- ocrats declaro that they apprehended a genoral reign of arson just prior to the election. SINISTER TKYDENCY OF THE NKGROKS. Circumstances have induced me to give credence to tho prevalence of this apprehonsion. 1 arrived in Flor ida just prior to the settlement of the question of tho gubernatorial succession. ‘The aspect of society was calm, but the embers of a fierce excitement were glow- ing under the ashes of the previous outbursts, My ar- rival was immediatcly the topio of curi- osity and inquiry, und characters aod mis- Blons were trgely conjectured and applied to me, Florida society, in this section at least, has much of the peculiarities to be looked fer in the wil- derness, [The correspondent of the HERALD was said to be a leading agent of the republican party? whose ‘Unclean work bas made him especially notorious aud odious to all decent peopie.) The chivalrous Fioridians gazed upon me with choking emotions of disdain and disgust, but 1 moved unconscious of the enmity whicu watched, lynx-like, my every fvotstep. The colored eitizens were drawn toward me by a sympathy, of the (mpuise of which Iam ignorant, 1 projected a jour. ney toward the Gul/, whose motive was secret. As guide I employed an inky Alrican of powerful phys- tque and emphatic featur I had not gone bait a mile, with him seated in the vebicle with me, before 1 learned from bis willing hips that he was a brilliant political light with his dusky fellow citizens, He was & stump orator, dreaded and hated by the democrats. No one of bis own race had been more prom, inont in the struggle for power, and the reputation which his opponents bestowed upon him was unenvi- uble, Ie evidently viewed me with loyal respect, and during @ ride of filty miles, over abominable roads, big confidence naturatly flowed freely without my solicita- tiou, Unkoowing of the strength which my compan- souship with this radical and my Supocent search after & carpel-bagger in relation to business foreign to politics would lend to the mistaken conception of my character, | listened with au interest born of novelty, TUBIR TRUK SENTIMENTS. I learned from him that the negroes place no contl- dence in the professions made by the whites of a more hotest disposition to beiriend thei than that displayed by the curpet-baggors, The reasons which he gave in tupport of bis opinions were founded upon observa tion. He said that the whites here could not ve Irusied with the destiny of the colored race because ot their deeply reoted anupathy to labour, Ho expa- tated jong on their indolence, and with illus- trations which had much of force ana originality, This quality of tho whole Southern people will not, I think, be denied, it isthe curse vequeathed by the “twin feiic of barbarism’’ and the disease which paralyzes dheir genius, The tendency to contemn labor is the mother of a false pride, a quality which will nevor Spontaneously accept tho povitical equality of the children of tol, “To support the habits of laziness in which the white poopie indulge,’ he declared, “they must bo able to command labor for less than its teal value, This will be the aim of all their political Struggles, not only until they have learned through hecessity to adopt a nobler standard of pride than one | based upon inverost, but uatil they are convinced of Mes futiiity.”? THE POOR WIITKS Of course my ebony acquaiutance did not utter tho | nage Whieb I bave employed, but | was astouisted Ab the Intelligence and terse’ force of bis expressions, fnd listened further 1 the hope of greatly bettering my conception of the situation of the representatives Dt govercignty im the South, We entered the gloomy = colonvades = ofan —oxtonsive iney foreal, Which covers many square wiles of territory near the Guli of Mexico, The topic upon which tho negro had lit was unexpeot- edly illustrated by am apparition, which engaged my attention 1m iront of the humblest kind of « jog hut. It was tn the midst of the primeval wood, and arouud itthere were nono of the evidences of industry that would have cheered the eye by teir sucgestion of | thrift, ‘The merest patch ol a garden was the only land which bad eeu rescued from the sombre raie of ture, and it was the very picture of cearih and neglect, fa that it had lof the eye no such attraction as he virgin Wilderness around, We were plashing throu. th & pool of mire, when, chancing to xiance up, | espred a Most singular figure. Imugine to yourself » woman devoid of a suggestion of the gente womanly charms. Her hair was of toat anremantic Lue which vulgarity | expresses in tho Compound word “tow-head;” 1 was wokempt and long. it hung in tangled strands over bor face and sboulders, while the wind trifled with it ond gave it all the varying and hideous aspects of the fainous cheveus worn by Medusa, If one were lust im this “forest primeval” and came upon a creature like this, after his mind bad long been in a state of aberration from inces- faut wandering, he could bardly be deluded into the idea that sho Was Calypso or Cifce. His only conclu. sion inust bave been that he bad stumbiod into the lund of the Amazons, where it 18 always leap yoar-— “and terror seizeth tis soul’? But this Was adangoter of Kve, and I have no besitancy oping that her | habits aré more wilied to those of the first mistress of | the World than those of most of woumnkind., This sentiment would probably, however, suit the phiio- sopbic sudiol Darwin more than 1% would please the | shade of Malton, AN #PISODR. ‘the tur creature im question was engaged in an oo. Cupation not usually affected vy ber sex With pro- NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 187 Ae NE Pal Na ICSD 1 PR NDE tl Soe nN ak SE MR color and tattered at th was tucked about ber waist, which was other than delicate, and tt was se- cured there by a strand of ‘manila rope, whoso antecedents may have invoived the co- ercive detention of forgotten mules at places whieb were not attractive for them. Into that unchronicied past I shall not permit my curiosity to intrude, Her feet, as she stood, were fn. fh deep ih tbe mud, but her ankies betrayed their innocent nudity, We paused. “Where :@ your husband?’ She sus- pended an uplifted stroke and stared, Her gaze had a vacant light, caused by (he color o! her optical orbs, which was like that of the marl of her native Florian We repeated the query with more than our former com: miseration, ***Lonzo! *Lonzo!”? Sheshonted. The dénouement ‘was unex) A yawning specimen of the “corn- cracker,’? with yellow hair, appeared at the door with the aspect of having been roused from twenty years of slumber, like that of our Rip Van Winklo.’ But before he had cast his eyes on uz we were wendingour way onward, the information (or which the late spectacie had given us a desire was not such as he would have willingly given us The Amazon, when we' looked back, was standing statute-like, with arms akimbo, and shouted:—‘'Hyere’s my oid man, 'Lonzo; but reckon yer don’t want ter seo him nohow, for be ain’s no ac count,’? We wero satisfied. Her report seemed only to con- firm our observation, and the negro remarked “These hyere no 'kount white fellers ain't good for nuthin’ in dis world but ter suck bar "backer pipes an’ once in 4 while ter jump decr with a cur outer de thicks,"”” ‘How do they live?” ‘Well, dey insists off uv de watery sweet taters what de wimniin raises off de sandy sile in de gardens, and off de ?coons, ‘possums and sometimes de deer what dey happens for tor git spite der lazinesses.'” ‘Do the sweet potatoes grow welb in this gray sand?” “Well, yaas; I recken dey does, right smart,'? We subsided into political tik, My dusky inter- locutor thought that the corn-crackers or tar-heeis are imbued with just as pure blood as their neighbors who formorly were slaveboiders, They had remained in tho gmp of poverty because they bad never becn able to delegate labor to ovhers, as had the rieh pian- ters, The consiitutional characteristic which in the Jattor was dubbed ‘pride’? was the laziness of which the former are so justly accused. ‘ihe fegroes are beginning to speak of the planters with contempt sim- ilar to that which they bave always bestowed upon the “poor white trash;"’ and this ts due to the tact that their perceptions bave been sharpened by freedom, and they avalyze the diseinetions which they fur- merly dumbly accepted as constituting differences, POLITICAL NECESSITIRS OF THK PLANTERS. My companion drew copiously from the substance of some of his stump orations, the eilect of which was as follows ‘The education of the Southern whites in exemption from toiland the poverty which the war has inflicted are influences which: render their sitaation day by day more desperate, More circumstances of a vature to impel them to resist the lessons of the conflict now exist than ever betore, They had obtained the gov- eroment of Florida through Iraud and corruption, and 1b would inevitably be wigided to restore as far as*pos- sible the old order of things. The imiamous vagrant Jaws which were enacted just alter the ‘surrender’? would be revived. The dreuin of secession was not yet over, “They are expert in deceiving and overawing our people who have never yet emerged trom the Shadow of the hohse of bondage. The ivaders of the colored peoplo are superior to such ivflucnce, and their only resource 1a encouragement of the impulse which first naturally occurs to the oppressed laborer here, Impuise 18 the kindling of the torch. It is the only instrument eit us by which to bring the planters back to their senses. And when we think Liat our po- litical necessities demand its use we will carry it through the land." THK TORCH AND THE POISON ov Such a bold, undisguised threat was startling enough, but I was not unprepared to recetvo just such confl- dence, Ip South Carolina and Georgia I had been ap- pallea by the frequency of incendiary crime, So tar ug l have travelled inthe South the negroes secin to deom tba pertectly legitimate means of effecting their ends, and I believe that many desperate politiciuns of the demno¢ratic party uave ‘been suaken in many of their bitter purposes and ‘given pause” by their knowledge of the tacility with which a conspiracy having for its insignia the turch and the poison bow! could be consummated, Northern citizens may sneer at this assertion as that of an alarmist, but it is wholly justified by the spirit which pervades the political at- mosphere in the South, The negroes make no secret of their determination to pursue the poticy of destruc. Uon if the whites do not respect the sanctity of their Privileges, They trecly gave it utveranco in their gatherings during the late political canvass, and have Tepeated it many times since, FERIL FROM MISTAKEN LDENTITY, 1 experienced a turther tilustration of the Intense ha- tred with which the race of carpet-baggers are persecut- edinthe South. We siopped fordinner at a cross road, | where is clustered a small bamic. My negro squire wituout my knowledge sttode ubout, talking extrav gantly of pontics, aud even by his braggadocio pro- voked a democrat nearly to tue point of Killing bim, i was not enough tor him to get himself im trouble, but be must involve me, To sugment bis own im- ortance he declared that I was an intiwate triend of President Grant, and Was intrusted by Lue great ruling party with a grave und weighty micsion relating to thy decision of the electoral count of Florida. Imagine the passion of indignation which this statement aroused in the chivuirous breast. The citizens de- nounced me ag au aliea intrigucr, and some of them even threatened assassination. My squire championed my cause with all bie pattve cioquence, but I was in'the meautime happily oblivious vf the situavion, being seuted iM a cosey Southern parlor by an open Ve pine fre. A charming young lady who, I trust, Ad DO Unjust suspicions about me, beguiled the pust- prandial hour with graceful conversation, and not uatil we were Spain onthe road did I learn how interesting an object 1 had become, DEMOCRATIC DISCONTENT. Subsequently, my neutral churacter being recognized, Iwas able to obtain truthful impressions from the other side, i ‘The democrats of Florida wero at first very exultant over the instalment of their chusen executive and Leg- islature, Almost every man of" cousequever stepped forward and claimed {rom Governor Drow an appoint- ment to a lucrative office and of course a muititude of parcenues were disuppointed, ‘There is now to be beard scarcely anything but growling In relation to political topics from the friends of the numerous undistinguished aspirants. Aud this is tho fact i spite of the creation of tmany new posts forthe purpose of rewarding partisan zeal. They have not Tealized in the spoils of oifice the recompense to which they imagined their citizenship and their personal ef- forts enlisted 1p tho cause entiled thom. They are dis- contented and morose, and tcel themselves only in a fit disposition to plunge into a struggle for a more dan- gerous object, Resentment tor the loss of their ha- ian chatiels still broods in their breasis, and the con- sciousness of once more holding the key of powor sug- gosis most readily projects tor its gratification, The democrats of the Soush fancy that they are bog to see the general resumption of rule by their Snceess must inevitably revive all THE OLD DREAMS OF SOVERKIGNTY, INDEPENDENCE AND OPULENCE, Kyen now thoy aro again entertained, secretly by somo, candidly by others, Ono of the’ first resulis of thig condition of the pubtio thought will be the institution of acts tor the — punishinent of yayrancy and for the custody and dis- position of vagrants, Their undisguised tendeocy will be to gradually push the negro backward into the abyss of seridom, from whicl he bas hurdly yet emerged. I hardly,” because I have secured prools to the eflect that his condition at this Jate day 13 little better than that of the calont described by Guizot and others who in ihe Dark Ages were attached to the Jands thoy cultivated, ihe system of labor now in Vogue in the South 18 that of the contract between the Inaster and servant, by which tbe latter binds binselt quite as strictly during a certain period as if he were f, ‘The contracts which were formed Just alter the even, under ‘he supervision of the Freedman’s Bureau, are extremely severe, The penalties stip lavod against the negroes tor failure to accomplish their agreements ure such as to render independent action ruinous, They have not yet tasted the sweets of well regulated freedom or ise they are incapable of appreciating its bliss, or they would not convent to conditions so nearly akin to those of actual slavery. Their faculties are still too benighted for them to know the 1uil extent of the possibilities which belong to their quality of freemen, ‘THR CONTRACT SYSTEM. It is, undouiedly, ia my opimon, bettor for them to live under the domination of a truly friendly superior clues, who honestly would caro for their anterests Thoir havius are improvident, their natures cuntding, But the great question of the present political conditions im the Svato is, Whether the late masters of the negroes can be trusted as their Ppatrous? | will give some extracts trom labor con. tracts legnily filed during the administration of the Freedman’s Bureau, which was supposed to guard the wellure of the negroes with zeal. The first specimen which I give is one uf the most indulgent in regard to the terms oxneted vy the employer, It 1s a8 follow Stark or FLowipa, County ov Articles of agreement made i Axa) . piety the seeond pare, «ll State and county afore, wit:—That tho party of the first part agrees to furn party of the second part with quarters and (uel a powwss of meat, one pint of sy ent each woek for rativis, and pay her ab the esp he your S80 in currency, and furnish necessary treatment free of viarge,' The party ot the. x bargains and agrees to labor diligently mud faith e party of the first part the «tw be charged with fifty ve and further agrees that it sie fail to ve his employ before this agreement is filled to {url nay be due at th In vextimes t we hereunto xet our hands and ont seals, th January, 1808, In the preseace ASAM ot her _—, MARIAM X Hs, — mark. PINCHING THE SERVANT, The above document dves nut appear to the casual reader an instrument of oppression unless he 1s ac- quuin ed with the relative facts; at ‘eo thea it is Inud 1n contrast with toe terms now required of the negroes, eight yoare The allowance of tood to the servantis always less than he or sbe wili consume, Its crude quality may be judged when I explain. that it ie merely bacon, corn meal and molasses. Co! which is Jor nim ao essential article of diet, he must procure for himselt, It needs no demonstration to show that to — comfortably subsist nearly all of the wages earned during the yeat must be expended, But this is not the worst feature of the mutual relations of the employer and employed. The farmer supplies the latter with extraor- dinary provisions and charges hia much more in their murket value, The negro Ait with none bat fis master, and 18 obliged by ne warty LO Hequiesee In Lhis ptactior. / At the end of the year he almost invarwoly finds that bis wages have beew uvtoriy consumed and that be is much tdebted to his pate ‘The law mereilessiy places all that he bus, be it ever 80 Mean, In the power of the creditor, and, to eseape his pitiless seizure, he is fain to bire to bim again attho same disadvantageous terms, By this digious sweeps of her lank but powerful arms sho BWwang an ax over” diminutive woodptle, We paused Al the spoctacie, 80 refreshing to brate man m thi Binciecwin coutury, Her gown, of uo determinate twethod employers secure a hind of lien on their sur vants which can only be brokea by the latter sacrific- ing all tucy cail their own, except sic, ior tue sake of can yet | independence. Vagrancy, under the administration of Governor Waiker, was made punishable by IMPRISONMENT AND THE LASH. To show how the law could be used to force negroes ‘tmto bire almost identical with slavery | give the en- ‘suing contract ;— Stats or Fromipa, County or ——. An agreemeut made and ‘entered sito this 27th dai June, 1467, witnesseth that Edward M rt and Henry Clay: (colored) of th th each osher as foliv That Stevens agrees bo take said H. Clay out of jail and to settle all costs relating to the offence for which said Clay was put tn Jail and so feed him until the 25th day of December, INOS; wud the said Hl. Clay on bis part acrees and binds himself to work on or adout the plantation of said EW. Stevens at any kind of Jaber thy id Stevens may direct, sud the above oumed costs paid by seid Stevens and the board he is to receive are the full and entire wages for sue labor, as is, hereby agreed to by the said H, Cla; nd it is farther agreed that, shonid the said cle leave the place of said stavens or prove worttless as 4 hand, the said Stevens is to bave the privi- ir t ret tas bina 6 ii, Wit ur hands, (his 276a day of dune, 1907 Kit) SSTENENS. “wenry X'CLAY, mare. The contracts for the culture of the crop tor a sharo in {tare not more liberal The negro incurs the risk of w failure of the growth through drought or blight tp most of them be binds himself by express stipuia- (tons to obey the patron in all things portuining to bis labor impheitly and tacitly, it must be remembered that these contracts wore formed during the existence of the Freedinuu’s Bureuu. | have deen unaole to | any of more recent dato, but am assured and 2 that they are more severe than any which have heretolore seen the public lighk A law of Florida commands that all labor contracts shall be filed in the offices of the county justices; bat It is kuown { to be unconstitutional aud’ has for a jong | time been disobeyed. Consequently those documents | which might epfor.e what | have said are not acces: sible, Without danger of odium the planters may ex- act condivons as hard as those of seridom, and, whether it be true or not, | am assured that such 18 Often the case, It would be interesting to tose who are ut present pondering over (he phase of the uni versal problem of political economy presented in the South for the system of labor which is growing here to ve iuily examined and elucidated by a phitosophia imtod, The siatermen of the navion, it t would | early enter itito this study, might be far better pre- | pared for approaching issues than they now can be, Such practical political investigation i$ much too rare ip this country, and the erndity of our public policy, whether the Executive or the Legislature be re- Sponsivie, 18 the general resuit, in iuture hope to write more fully on this subject, THK VAGRANT LAW. 1 have referred so the vagrant laws enacted in some of the Southern States immediately after the so-called reoonstruction, Jn Florida tha s:atute book of 160% contains provision that “every able bodied per- son, having no visible means of support and not em- | ployed at some labor, or leading an immoral, idie or profligate lite, shall be deemed a vagrant, and may bo arrosted and bound to good or future industry tor one yeur, or nay bo beld or committed for trial, and if convicted shall be punished by sentence to labor or to &n imprisoument not exceeding twelve months, or by whipping of not exceeding thirty-nine stripes, or by being put in the pillory, at the discretion of the jury. Ana if sentenced to labor the sheriff ol the county or other officer of the court shall hire out said person for the torm of his sentence, the proceeds to be paid into the county treasury.” Vagrants not known to be peaceable, who bear arms, may be disarmed, Tho compluint of only one person i necessary to eflect this. ‘In caso no person will hire a vagrant he may be employed at any sort of labor the County Commis- sioners or the Probate Judge may direct, and may ve secured while at such labor by aball and chain,” Minor vagrants may be hound as apprentices, not longer than uvtil eighteen years and twenty-one yours ot age. A‘ittte reflection will show how completely such a Jaw would place oven the moss thrifty treedmen ip the grip of their former owners, The deflnittoa of vagrant ws loose enough to admit of its application almost as often as enmity might suggest. The example of u vory mild sort of contract, whiob I lust gave, indicates plainly enough how the negroes might be bound to a species of degrading servitude alter they had ouce como within the grasp of the law, TUX DEMOCKATIC SPIRIT. ‘Yhe democrats have long protessed shame for enact- ments of this kind, which are found in the records of their legislation just after the end of military rule. They certainly are very loath that any one of the o;- posite purty shoald know the full measure of their Purposes in these acts, and their hwyers have taken pains to destroy as many copies of the obuoxious laws ag they could get in their possession, But, strange to say and contrary to the hope for earnest reconcilia- tion, which every true citizen of North or South inust have, the same partisans oow breathe threats of restoring the whipping post, the piliory and the chain gang. A companion law of ‘the vagrant law 1s one which provides that negroes fatling .o fulfil tueir con- tracts for labor shall be tried aud punished as for vag: rancy. Most of tue contracis under the Froedman’s Bureau provide that the negro shail work diligently, and the Oxing of the standard of diligence remains with the empioyer. If the latter at any time deems that the former fails in that requisite bo can, by the simplest interpretation of the law, cause him to be Punished in the most revolting manger, The ex-Contederates, since their capvure of the State ot Florida, have hinted at @ repetition of this species of legislation, and | have given a digest of its principal foutures that the country may know what to anticipate if their menaces are sincero, THE PROBLEM OF LAKOR. I must admit that 1 have liberally reflected the views of radicals iu this letter, but 1 have also permitted tno democrats a tair representation of ideas. One party, in my opinion, is not more dangerous to peace und order than the other, But the responsibility of setting the match to the mine must fall to the whites. They alone, just now, possess the motive for such a terrible risk,’ The planters epjoy the cheapest service to be obtained in the United States, Emigration from the population of Europe or the North receives no encour. agement from them, unless 16 brings with it capital sulicient to enhance the value of the jorritory, and thas to render their position ot superiority nore mafked. and secure, Besides thoy lvok with aversion upon white labor, because its introduction would tend by exampie to inerease the negro’s estimate of bis own worth, But the primary and chiel reason why they de- ho poor emigrants, however thrifty, 16 that the ne- gro can best eudure the climate and tend the crops of the Soutu., The malaria of the lowlands is innoouons to him; he endures the heat of the summer sun with- ont suflermg and even loves its ardent rays; in the fleid he is a more rapid worker than the white mao, Such a valuabie member of society the planter cannot well spure, and be desires to control him completely. It remsins to be geen whether he will succeed; but, without help irom Northern republicans, it seems provable that the negro wust succumb, His initiation «into political ~— enfranenisement should have been more gradual, fle should not tora long ume have been permitied to have a claim upon public office, His premature trial in positions of re- Sponsibility bas had a sinister effect upon his political Prospects. Tho people at large have become disgusted With his ignorance and lack of churucer, and 1n1s dis- gus: has Cuused an inditierenco to his welfare which ailords to the udrepentant Confederates tho opportu- nity which they much desire of resuming their strict domination. They watch every crisis in the affairs of purties with this hope pre-ominent. 1 is identical with their political ambition, DANG (CRIOAINTY, ; bas been worn away while periorming its jegitimate | watebful, but MUTILATED CURRENCY. A PROTEST AGAINST A GRIEVOUS WRONG TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE—LEGAL TENDEB NOTES DEPRECIATED IN PROPORTION TO AMOUNT OF AREA MISSING—THE EVILS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE REMEDY DEMANDED. Wasuixorom, Fob, 3, 1877, To tux Epiron tae HeRALD:— J appeal to you i the name of the American people to redress @ grievous wrong put upon them by the misinterpretation and abuse of the laws so framed by themselves, 1118 the pressure of public opinion, born of the education of the people through the press, that | frames and enforces salutary laws, and to the press I appeul to lay betore the people this usurpation of legisiative, judicial and executive functions by one of the departments—a usurpation without defence, with- out palliation, On the reverse side of our Segal tender note ts printed the fotlowing contract with the public, which contract alone gives the note valuo as an exchange mediam :— This note is a legal tender, debts, &c, Yet when the mutilated note is sent to the Treasury for redemption the power ta there assumed of valuing the note by tts superficial area, reckoning by tenths, thus declaring a fragment, any corner of a note to be money, if not handed in; worthless, however, if offered, The note is depreciated by the amount of area missing, A tive-dollar note, one-tenth of which tite taco value, for all duty of exchange, 18, when it reaches the Treasury for redemption, worth only $4 60, A set of measuring glasses are used in the Redemption Bureau, and the counters are required to estimate the proportion of the bill destroyed, and depreciate tts face yulno ace coraingly. It sometimes happens the graduated ginsees aro not precively alike, and an uniucky counter | passes a Dill at face valuo, estimating that uine-tenths of the bill remain, while another clerk, with a ymalier glags, condemns the samo bill, in which cuse the dis- count ig made good from the salary of the first poor clerk, This, of course, makes them not only doubly | even anxious to condemn many notes as possible, and note after note is daily cou. demued by the wary clerks who guard their little sti- pend, and, ently, swell the revenue of the wholo People by contiscating the property of a few. 1088 AND ANNOYANCE TO UANKS. The clerk fastous to the condemned note an esti- H mute of its vaiue, and the difference between this assumed value and the face of the note is churged to the bank sending it, as s0 much ‘short’ of the Value of thei package. A vauker sends in his package of $1,000; in the fractional currency a tenth is miesing from aten cent note, aud there is returned to vit $999 99, and Le must, to muke his books balance, | charge up 6 his account of proflt and loss one cent, Thousands of dollars wre thus sent daily into the | Treasury by the various banks from all purts of the | country, which they lave received at face yaluo, and | they are subjected to the annoyance of making good sometimes petty ‘shorts’ that are more trouble and exponso in the balanoing of their Looks than actual Joss, sometimes serious losses. HOW THE PROCKEDING ORIGINATED, ‘This arbitrary proceeding was ostensivly inaugurated to check a traud upon the goverument, therelore, on the poopie, in the matier of 50 manipulating a number of wotes by cutting and fitting as to manuiacture, say six notes trom lve, aud 1 1s 40 guard against this false Gbrinkage of noted which results in a rapid expansion - of the volume of currency that the practice is contin- ued, If it was necessary as a guurd against apy real fraud, accomplished or ‘attempted on the Sreasury, there’ would at least exist a Justification that would Shield trom revuke, Lut it 18 LOL so; It ty IMmpossibie to 80 CUb avd patch & set of bills to make, ay six trom five, and do the work 80 well as not to be easily de- tected, and these frauds are daily rejected, and rightly, too, until they ure no longer of so Irequeut occurrence us formerly, dnd it requires no expert to recognize a note so manipulated, ‘The cerresponding numbers in Opposite coruers uf the note, the duplicated letters suntlarly disposed, the signatures absolutely uee Ww every bill, aud Which may not.be multiplied, r detection easy. The rule 18 subjeot to gross abuse, und opens the way fur other irauda, OTHER PRAUDS PERPRTRATED, The toller of the bank, when such a Dill ts handed him, with «quick eye aud a show of medsurement, } decides it worth seventy-tive or eighty per cent of ite face wnd turns it over to the bank at 4 eight advance ‘on its value, and a cautious employé may, and many do, im this way clear $10 por week, yclept perquisites, Tue evil doc’ not stop bere; the counter in the ‘Treasury hus an opportunity, abd therelore tempia- tion, to embezzie by pinning one value to a mutilued hote aud reporting another Value, pocketing the difler- ence. It 18 but justice Lo say NO such case has yet been discovered ; but the possinility exisis, and it ‘may be unknown only because discovery 18 next to Impossible, for no chiet of a bureau can look over and record the arbitrary values put upon individual bills by the army of counters under bis charge. THM CUSTOM WITH BANK SOTES. This discount of mutilated uotes is vot exercised ‘with bank vilis, which are only the promises ot a cor- poration to pay. but only of legal teudera of the Uni- ied States backed wii the promise of the whole peo- pleto pay. Bank notes aro redeemed at face value it the name of the vaok, the signatures and threo-fitths Of tho polo are Intict. If less than three-titths ts | oltered the Treasury sends 1 to the bank of insuc, who generally.returo it with a promise to redeem it at tho | Vuiuation put upon it by the Treasury, Asa rule this 1s one-bait faco value, if one-balt is presented, | nothing if less than one-half remains, unloss the bank 18 satisied by the representations of the parties nold- ing the notes that their remainder has been actually destroyed, us by fire or otherwise, when they usually redeem at faco value even the smalicst traginont, A bank, however, sometimes refuses to redeem muti- luted holes of its own ixsue Ull 1b has accumulated a number of those of other banks, when it is generally well pleased to come to tdrms and send instructions to the Comptroller of the Curr that they aro ready to redeem their own notes and that-they havea few | belonging to other banks they wouid be grateful to have ‘tixed,’? WHAT JUSTICK DEMANDS, | Our legal tenders ought to be redeemed In the same | way—faco value, if turee-litths are presented; one-half | face value if either halt of the note is presented ; nota- ing if tess than balf, unless it can be eubstantiaicd by the holder that the remainder has been actually ud- stroyed, in which case justice would demand that the | face value bo paid for such fragments. Tho injustice But, if l mistake not, they wilt iil in this pursuit Unlens they proceed with more dissimulation than thoy now employ. The negroes, whilo they are at first | easily imposed on, deeply resent deceit, and have Jearned to be vigilant over their privileges. Lt tho means employed to oppress them are direct they will Fetaliato with blood and flume. The result wil be equaily disastrous to bovh sides aod advantageous to neither, unless to that which shall receive the favor , 01 the federal guvernment—an interlerenco which would in no event be desired by the whites, If the Jederal government should chanco to be suiliciently engaged to strengthen its position against insurg Agatust its central power there would be in this por- | tion of tho South utter anarchy; the struggle wouid be go equal, that itwould not cease boiore there had been a terribie destruction of life and property. LIFE ON THE PLAINS, A DUEL BY MOONLIGHT—-ELEVEN SHOTS FIRED, [From the Cheyenne (Wy. I.) Leader, Jan, 30)” George W. Via has for some time past been in chargo of a band of horses belonging to W. Whitcomb, Viw'’s headquarters being at a ranch some twenty-tive miles south of this city, on Box Kider Creek, in Weld county, Colorado, A. H. Swan bad a number of horses in this band also, A suorttime ago Mr. Swan dis- charged a berdor named Granville Peak, but not liking to turn the fellow away entirely, bo told Peak to join Via, aid bim in caring for the horses, and thus earn bis “grub” unui! he sound work, Via came to Chey- enne last Friday, returping Saturday, and that night Peak inquired ti be had brought aay’ money for him, Via raid be had vot, Peak then asked Via wo loan him & revolver, saying ho wished to go out and kil a rabbit bys mvontight, = Via handed bim a five-rhooter, and Pesk — started — ont, Dut soon returned, saying it was too dark and that he did not feel weil, ‘He stuck the weapon into bis boot- wnd the men then lwok one or two drinks of , when Peak proposed that they ride to Callo- beep ranch, six miles distant, Via conseated y saddied up and started, When about « mile from their cabin Via asked Peak how pie Was tevling, = ** retiy weli,”’ he replied, “ouly | I'm awiol dry.’ Via passed a bottie of whiskey to him | whi Peak took a large drink, Via wotiwed & strange | gitier in Wis eyes a’ be returned the vocue, but Thought noth ny of it, A tnomentiater Peak di revoiver, turew his arin a a Jn ihe leg, inflicting w pamtal Wound im the right call. He then whirled his horse, spurred hin torward, yell- ing hke ademon, and again tring at Via, T drow his revolver and opened « hvely tusilt shot striking Peak in the bip near the ‘sj parsing Mrough Wis body aud lodging just under the | skin of the abdomen; auother taking effvet ih thie back of the neck and comig ont throng the Jaw, while a third mortally wounued Peak's borse, wnd a jourth puseed through his hat, Peak of course emptied brs levolver at Via, three of the five shots iniiicting seri- ous wounds, the titst being, as stated, 1p the call of ihe Jeg. ‘The second siruck him in the grom and tunped upward, where it have struck a vital place, while | Whe third ball bit him in the jait wrist, shuttering tho bone, and making an invensely painful wound, When they reached the cabin Peak's pony feli dead. Alter lying there « short time leuk arose, saddied avather horse and rode to Callowav’s sbecp rauch, ax miles distant, where be was cared for, Via was Drought 10 this city, a surgeon summoned to attend him, and 18 as comiortable as good nursing can make him, Peak is said by Mr. Whitcomb to be subject to Periodical attacks of Yuua nd when in such condi. tion willarm bimself, rust’ About wxeitedly, snouung that somebody is ‘alter bim,” but never attacking tis 10, one | Feolunn, | | season. | Mesers. H. W. Loud & Co. of the present rule must be apparent tothe most | thoughtless—un injustice which eventually ialls | | beaviest ou the poor man, The worn bills are naturally | those of rapid circulation—ones, twos, &e. The stores, | aware of the risk, get rid of the suspicious notes as | quickly as possible, accepting them ot a valuable | customer, retusing them of the poor man, whose trade they care not to lose, till a poor leliow finds himself in | possession of a noto which yesterday seemed good enough, to-day the store refuses, butof course the bank next door will make all right, aud 50 it does— jess twenty-live or thirty per cent. Thisloss which falls ihus on individuals shoald fall instead on the whole people, Who stould in common | bear the expense of the heavy oxchange med | call currency, There 18 no necessity ior any ne | lation bo right this Wrong, A resolution tro | house, caliiug on the Secretary of the 1 cause Why this discount is made from | promise redemption at faco value, would at once | settle the matter, or, better still, 1! some bank would but take a tvst case of but ouc cent before the courts, it would at least be decided in how far the Secretary 18 thus authorized; and, if bis action be declared within | the letter of the Jaw, then should such a law bo changed, n either asury toxhow notes whieh THE GAIN TO THK TREASURY, The operation turns yeurly tuto the Treasury $7,000,000, aud at first thougnt this seems $7,000,000 saved, but it 18 no such chine, The whole people of the States aro paid this winoaut by individuals, and this much taxes, Which should ve borne by all alike, paid by 4 few When the wear and tear of the currency | should be borne by all, since all reap the benetit of | the cireutation, and 1 isan outrage that the unfortunate | last holder of a dilapidated legal tender note sould pay to the pubhe for this privilege, and that this puviic should confiscate his little substance as @ tine for | accepting what was thrast upon him by a wealthy | patron whom he dare not offend, a worn note of tho | people which bore the peopie’s promise to be redewmod at face value, T., Jr, THE APPRENTICES’ LIBRARY, Bieven hundred and filty-seven volumes were issued to the readers of tho Apprentices’ Library at No, 472 Broadway on Saturday, ‘This library is eujoying a re. markably successful season of usefulness, There are now on its roll of members nearly 1,600 more names than last year—which was the busiest one in the annals of tho livrary—making a total of 8,400 persons now enjoying its privileges, Daring the past month 19,000 Volumes Were issued Lo readers, and about 3,500 volumes bave been added to the library during the The ‘hbrary now contains 66,300 well selected volumes th all the bravebes of sctence, art and liter. ature, It was established in 1820, and Is free to all working boys and girls, Lt is vpen from eight A. M. woul nine PM, THE ISLAND BELLE SUFFERERS, | New York, Feb, 4, 1877, To Tnx Eprror ov Tue Henanor— Under cover we send you $37, which amount bas been handed in to us jor the benellt of the master of tho schooner Island Belle, Captain M. W, Wood- man, whose inisortunes aud hardships have been ro+ ported by your pap: ig 6 James W. Wenman., J, R. Brown. Messrs, pel R. A. Reed Messrs, D. B, Everett & © comrades, 11 is probuble that ho was out of his mind — | when Via reached bome, und that the whiskey ho Total seesesee GOT | drank caused murder to omer his crazed thoughts, | We remain, dear sir, yours respectiully, } Wilh tho terrible result above stated, . iY, BROWN & GO, | | On the investinent. The poor way: 7.-WITH SUPPLEMENT, THE DESTITUTE, SOCIETY FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CON- DITION OF THE POOR, The Boclety tor the Amelioration of the Condition of the Poor has been for the past few days receiving the reports of its visitors from all parts of the city. There are ip all 397 reports to be tabulated, and it will re- quire a few days yet before the work done during the month can be properly computed, The Secretary stated that he had been informed by soime of the old- est of the society’s visitors that never before had the work of assisting the poor been #o systematically and effectively performed as during the preseut winter, The chief difficulty found by the society im dealing with the poor is to find out the worthy sut- ferer and discard the regular professioual beggar who g008 round from society te society seeking to impose upon cach, This i# not so easy a task as tt might at first sight appear to be, for it is bard, when a sad case of distress is narrated in piteous supplication, to turn a deat ear to it and refuse food to one who professes 10 De famishipg with bungerand who aska flor beip for children in an equally pitiful condition, he Secre- tary bas been unable to form a rough estimate of tho number of familtes relieved during the month, nor could he state the condition of tho treasury until the next monthly meeting, REQKIVING THR HALF TON OF COAL. The number of people who are daily applying at - Superintendent Kellock’s office, in the Department ot Charities and Correction, for the half ton of coal given by the city to each deserving poor person is enormous, Since the carly pars of January about 13,000 applications have beon presented to Mr. Kellook, and of these about two-thirds of the applicants have already received the coal, Theso appiicutions are sometimes made in writ- ten form, some kind hearted citizen recommending the applicant as deserving, while others aro written by the applicants themselves. These latter — peti- tions are not infrequently very pathetic in the statement of the poverty from which the writers ave sufforing, But the majority ot the appli- Pants appear in person and state their cases to the Su- Perintendent, who, baving become coavinced that the charity 18 deserved, takes the names and addresses. During the closing days of last week the large recep- tion hall surrounding Mr. Kellock’s office was daily crowded with men, Women and children waiting to make known their want These people etand in line around the hall watting for their turn to ascend the platform in front of the Superintendent's desk. If any one de- sires to tee the class of people who aro this winter suffering irom the “hard times” he need seek no better piace than here to find out tor himself, Mon who bave evidently been tn distress for some time men who have all the appearance of being only tem- porarily embarrassed; mea who scom to be both Bick | quite aatisfled with the excellent coals and the cheaper and hungry; women who are very respectably dressed; women Who bave evidently been struggling with the jong distress; women whoee thin and scanty garmenta te of the extreme destitution that has” overtaken | {ted 1,303 families and extended relief to over 6,219 sons, Donations may be sent to Dr. A. H. Smithy (0, 110 Anat hye rete street, or to REV. D M. McUAF#REY, 558 Lexington avenue, Fesavanr 3, 1871, WHAT MR. WISWALL WANTS, No, 42 East Fountexsts Srai New Youk, Feb, 1, n'y ‘To tux Epiton or tae Haraty:— . ‘The Purchasing Committee of St. Jobn’s Guild beg toexpress their thanks to “R. P. R.” for hie sugzese tons ip regard to purchase of coal, They now wish to purchase Ofty tons ot red ash stove coal, which has been screened and kept under cover, the same to be promptly delivered, at such time as may be required, 1 quarter ton jos, at such places in the city below Fifty-pinth street as may be designated. The com. mittee will be thankful if “R. P, R.” will send them he name of a respous.bie dealer who will turnish the ine at the prices aamed in “RK. P. &.'s? comm: tion of January 30, 1877, ALVAH WISWaL! Master of St Joun’s G CHARITY COAL, To rue Epiron ov tax Hreaup;— Pardon mo for occupying your space again with thig sudject, but it is one of very wide interest, Calls are made upon tho charitable overy day and most of ug have but littie to give, however great our desire t@ help the poor, and when we have given our mite it dat natural we should like to see it do as much good ag possible and not be absorbed In its passage tw the poor by thoso who are not im actual need, ihe §t John’s Guild has, no doubt, done, and is Yoing, much good, aad we can understand how in tho muitiphcity of duties it may be possible lect some little point, We, therelore, judge with charity of its course in the purchase of coal,” Mr. Wiswall says in the HxewaLp of yesterday that the Guild buys its coal—the very best red ash—at $6 25 per ton, and that Jeremiah Skidmore & Sons are the dealers trom whom it has heen bought. I quoted ta the Guild the actual wholesale and retail prices of coal, as quoted by several of the large companies. 1 have called upon the officers of theso and have ascertained that, with ite customary liberality, the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coat Company will’ sell the Guild or any other charitable institution coal at its wholesale price, and will have it delivered trom its res tail yards im such quantities 8 may be desired, charg. ing Only the actual cost of delivery. ‘The yard prices ta the Guid will be as follows:—Broken, $3 50; exy, $4 60; stove, $4 chestnut, $5 9. ‘These priced are for either white or red nsh coal, and no botter coals come to this market than are mined by this company, If we add dolivery, forty to eighty cents a ton, av age sixty cents, the price of the coal will be from $4 20, 1o $4 85 per ton, us against $6 25, paid by the Guild to Mr. J. Skidmore & Sons. * The Pennsylvania Coal Company informs mo tt will | wave $1 65 per ton on the most expensive sy soll tho Guild or other charities coal at twenty cents | per ton below its regular retail prico or in yard ag fole | lows:—-Grate, eag and chestnut coul, $370; stove, #4 | Add say sixty couts tor delivery, and the Guild | 20) | and if tt buys chestnut or exe coal it will suva | $195 them; children ot all ages, all stand here waiting to | Present their petitions tor the hall ton of coal, THE SILOM SUKLTER, . The proprictor of the Stnioh Shelter, corner of Prince and Marion streets, since the beginaing of the winter has charged the inmates or patrons, or what ever they may be called, tive cents jor a weal, but gives lodging free, ‘The building used for the purposes of the Shelter was formerty un vid chareh, and the Donebes, the gallory and the pulpit are all to be seen there to-day, Iu tact, the seats are tho “bunks,” and not only this, but the floor of each pow 1s also mado to render a similar service, afew boards made into the sbupe of a box serving ns the pillow for the weary brother. A small fee ig still charged for the occupancy of bunks on tho gallery, In the basement are wash rooms, cooking rooms and tho “vermin? room, the last named being devoted exclusively to the poor strcot wanderer who may vot bave bad & chance to clean himself for several days. ‘The proprietor of this institation, up to tho begin- ning of the winter, when ho ‘threw open the doors of the edifice to every well behaving man, tree of charge, not only bad cleared expenses by charging a few cents for a night's lodging and breakiast, but made a profit ‘ers begin to come in to their dreary bome about eight o'ciock in tho evening, The doors ure closed at tem’ The najority of them sleep in the Shelter every night, and their bunks aro reserved for them as long as they continue to come regulurly. A clean towel is laid words every pew, und in the moruing this is handed to the Super- intendent as the lodger is leaving the building. Poor fellows who have uot the five cents to pay for their breakfast aro pormitted te work Mout in assisting to clear out the plac Tho scene at night as the men are all assembled, betor, stretebing their weary libs on the benches and loo! 43a picture of “hard thes” that must long remain 1 the memory of tho scer, It 18 the ousiness of the Superintendent so see that no “bumnmors” are allowca to rest in the Shelter, and the stray ones of that class ‘that creep in ure soon discovered and ejected. Sothat to the crowd of men seeking here a lodging tor the night there are tow present but honest workingmen out of work and reduced to an extreme degree of des- Utution. There is accommodation for 367 men, but tho number admitted generally exceeds that, the excess being provided for around tho spacious hall in one way or another. All these men have been street wanderers during the day, trudging around the city, hopclossly looking for work, It 18 plain that thoy must havo begged the five cents necessary to secure the breakfast of mush which is served every morning. There is many a pour fellow who does not sleep inuch on the bard bench, and who no doubt rests his tired body wh his troubled mind remains active, There is a silence in the place which Jndicates how fully every man 18 occupied with the reflections which poverty creates. Tnerg js not a cheerful Jace in all the throng. THE WASHINGTON MARKET SOUP HOUSE, Tho sceno at the Washington Market soup kitchen on Saturday was ono that might be taken as an | examplo of the averago sight presented almost daily at this Tho soup hou: place for sovoral weeks past is at the river end of a frame | structure that extends from tho front of the pier about half way back to the river, the part nearest the street being occupied for commercial purposes, Tho line of hungry men and women stretches trom the kitenen door toward the river, In the portion of the building allotted to tho kitchen thero is alittle nook partitioned off, in which a large boiler or pot brows the savory soup or stew which ts served to the hungry. A long and broai table occupies the outer portion of tho | space, AS many as can conveniently stand around this table aro permitted to enter, and when the table | is full tho officer at tho door shuts out the remaining | crowd, interost centres, for here is a motley crowd of human beings down to the very lowest degree of poverty. LOOKING DOWN THK LINE. There aro mon of all classes in the line, from the | poor out-at-olbows clerk to the corner bummer who sueaks his Way into the crowd to get a meal, There is not ono of these men, except the red faced, bloated gin drinker, who bas not the trace of hunger written | on his face, Some are palo and haggard in appearanco, evidently weakened mach by the ordeal of starvation and homelessness through which they have passed, Some are altogether broken down, Others still are fresh and healthy in appearance aod would be rea for work at a moment's votice, Others are their appearauce in the line for the fiest time 44 @ subdued air about all these respectable mnen whic would make one think, in looking at them, th: they are ashamed, They stand in the line, shunning the gaze of those who, through curiosity or on business come to Jook at them. They are all honest men, who wonld work for a living if they got the chance, but can’t vet any chance, In dress there is quite a'variety exhibited im their garments, There are not a few whose turned-np coat collars would tndieate that there 18 but an undershirt beneath, In the matter of stovepipe hats, the shape and dinginess of these articies bespeuk a consideration for days long gone by. ‘There ts not a man with an overcoat on along the Ino, Theslimness which tight fitting and cutaway jackers impart imcold weather only adds to the uéjected. downcast appearauce of the untoruunate wearers, and plainly would tell « tate of distros, even If the bodn they covered were not seen at a soup house door, Young men wearing the relics of fashionabie eiothing may be noticed side by side with the dirty, sloucnily dressed bummer irom ome adjacent corner. A more Motley crowd in the way of dress could not well be gathered together. THE Women, The women are ali poorly clad, but not like stroet Vagrants. Some ot the young girls and children are boun clean and neat In appearance, though tho clothes are uch “the worse for Wear.” Andstill, much asone may wouder at Unis strange medley of humanity, they are all here to receive what to then 18 n@ mean boon, The lofty pride which, no doubt, in other days many of there now in the line indulged tn, falls very low when iv js seen what a queer world it is in which we live, and how hungry one may be through no fault of his There 1s a moral lesson to be learned every day king along the line around one of these market Hichens. It was gaidon Saturday that this kitchon js to be closed; but itis to be hoped that the market people will make an effort to continue the charity, rhe place was not open yesterday, . THE EAST SIDE POOR, To THe Eviton ov tak Henanp:— Since my last acknowledgment of January 27, I baye | received the following sums for the East Side poor For the Eust Side poor, $; Baby “Eugene” Bogert, $2; a Hebrew, $1; L.A. In, $25 a friend, $15; Mra. George Boll, $5; for the Hast Side poor, $1; J. i. W., $5. Total, $aa The naraber of applicants that called on me during the last week surpasses that of any other week, and that by respectable people who would not beg i they could get work, 1 have visited personally each of families and found many of them fairly starving, if pawntl they had, Uniess an immediate a st clone the by 4 Against them this week, Upto tho proseat wme I bavo personally vis- per ton, The great majority of thoso wha contribute the money the Guild distributes are probably 81208 Of these companies, and it 1 strango that these | should. not be considered good enough tor the recip. tents of charity. » But even fur the “ancy” coal it dike tributes the Guild pays from $1 50 to $2 ton more than it con be purchased for elsewhere. It would be Interesiing fo know whether the Gull Days also “fancy? brands (at extra high price) o} sugar, meal, rice and bread? and whether tt exeretset the same loxurious babits in its other expenditures as it does in the purchase of coal ¢ RPK COAL YOR BLOOKLYN’S POOR, The Supply Committee of the Kings County Board ot Supervisors have voted an appropriation for the pure chase of 1,000 tons of coal to supply the numerous applications inade for that article by Brooklyn's destie tute. The coal will be dealt out under the supervision of the Ubarity Commissioners, THE POOR IN NEWARK, Over 2,000 persons wore liberally helped to food yesterday tu Newark by the Newark Men’s Kelicf Store, making ovor 10,000 that have been aided dur- ing the week. These secured 1,520 gallons of soup and 1,784 loaves of bread. AS a Whole tne charity 1s dong @ mosi noble work, AMERICAN ‘TEMPERANC UNION. Sctence Hall, ia Eighth street, was filled to its ute most capacity yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the American Temperance Union, Tho meeting wag called to order at threo o'clock by Mr. J. B. Gibbs, tho President, and several hymns were sung, after which.a prayer, in a rather vigorous styio, was offered by th¢@Rev, Mr, Liutchinson. Mr. Gibbs then iatro- duced Mr, Elijan A, Morse, of Massachusetts, aw the speaker of the day, Mr. Morse’a address waa” witty and full of drolt stories aud illustrations, He began by propound?ng tho conundrum, “Why am Ia temperance man?" and, in answer, told the story of Leigh Hunt’s “Abou Bon Adbem,” and then said thay he was a temperance man becauze he loved his fellow men, APPALLING STATISTICS. In the course of bis addresy ho said that statistica showed that each year there were 60,000 men who died the drunkard’s death, 600 murders and 500 suicides and 100,000 paupers, ail directly attributable to ram, in view of these appalling figures bow cau it be said that there is nothing new to bo said on the tompur. ance question? ‘There 1s always something new, How is it if these figures are iruo that our courts and Legvlature do nos sec them. Mr. Morse said that reminded him of a story about & man Who was accused of sicaling hams, Four wite nesses Baw him steal the hams, and his own counsel could say nothing in his favor but bis previous Soud character, and yet the jury uequitted him, » His counsel afterward privately asked uum how it was, and he ree plied, “The jury bud some of the bam” That's what's the matter with our iawmakers, gaia 4 apeuker; they've Lad some of the hums, Henry W: residenl, Was once asked at dinner oa glass of wine, He relused, and was then askoi to pass it toa lady near bin, He again refused, saying, “Woe to him thas putteth the bottle to his neighbor's hps.’? Thav’s the kind of temperance men ty have, “HoT Pips.’ Some men call themselves temperanco men, but won't sign the pledge» ‘They aro like an Irishman in Boston who went out ove cold morning to sell pies “Hot pies!’ he cried, About noon a man bougut one, but, on biting it, found it trogen. | “How, you raseal do you call hot pies, when this is frozen!” “Arraht be aisy sir; thav’s the pame of ‘em’? And to 1t 18 With temperance men who object to sign the pledge. They bave the name but vothing else. The hope of the country, said Mr Morso, is in the boys. A But it 4s in the line of the waiters that the | heathen mother ouce ok her voy to the altar aud We him swear clernal hatred to the Romans, 80 ought we to take our boys and mako them swear eters nal hatred to rum, Some say they can drink or let it alone. This 18a tallucy. The man Who begins to tam. per with these poisons never knows where he is yuing Lo fetch up, Whether a6 a euicide, a murdorer or @ pau- per. The speaker thea toid @ mule story to tiustrare Unis point, Mr. Morse then mado an earnest extorta- tion to the backsiider who had broken his pledge to renew i. "We will save you, we will help you,” Rum never did any one any good, and when Mr, Bar- | nom was once fecturing im Vhiladeipbia a man said that rum had done tim good, and Barnum wanted to engage Lim as a wondertul curiosity, THK LADIRS IN TIKK CAUSE. Addressing himsell when to the ladies Mr. Morsa said:—"You have something to do iu this business, In tho town in Magsachusetts where | came from thora have been 1,500 signatures to the temperance pledge, one-ball of Which Were obtained throagh tho persuas sion of women, If the young Jadies would decline ta be courted of married ‘oy drinking meu they would wondertully belp the cause, but they don’t like to | appear mean, 1 tell you there is something worse than appearing mean, and that is to be a drunkurd’s wite.’’ The speakor then read un extract from a papor reterring to a case which recently happened in tia city of a young woman who was driven irom Ler home by a dranken husbard, and whose child was frozen t@ death in her arma in consequence, THE WELL AL FLUSHING. A WHOLE TOWN ATTENDING PRAYERS WHILE A BROKEN-HEALTED WOMAN SEEKS IN VAIN FOR A LITTLE HUMAN KINDNESS. All day om Saturday ana until midnight, and throughout the day yesterday, a gang of nino meny under the direction of two experienced well digger trom Brooklyn, worked diligently for the recovery of the body of the unfortunate Schiedier, who was varied by the caving in of Korsler’s well, near the 4 works, town of Flushing, on Thursday alternoog si. Until Saturday alterngon the work progressed slowly in consequence of the inexperience of the mon engaged in it, those iu the well several times being compelled to leave wt hastily from the faet that the surrounding earth, boing @ quicksand foundation, was constantly coming in ‘upon them, This uifliculty, however, was remedied ow Saturday night by the more experionced men engag Who sided the weil with planking a8 they worke downward. Yesterday at nightfall they had reache depth of only about twenty-live feet from the surta fad bo all appearances the earth aud stones remarnil were closely packed to the bottom, a further distauce of twenty-inree feet, While engaged in the work of excavation yesterday, the workmen brought up other pieces of old pianking that had evidently been used for siding when the well was buiit, some filteen or twenty years ago, proving that the well was then cons | Bidored unsafe, otherwise the planking would havo f $2; C. HL, $2; from a | veon removed at that time, The stones with which mother who desires to comfort neody litte children, | the well was butit are large bowlders taken trom the surrounding grounds, not faced and weighing from 100 to 500 pounds each, "As soon a8 One Was started the: all naturaily followed, aud tho supposition i that Schiedler, who bad nearly reached the top of the well after cleansing it, was strack on the bead by one these bowiders and stunued #0 that he.was jorced t ronquish his hold of the rope, and fell to the bott where he was crushed by the foiling masa, Thi were large crowds of people at well yoste observing tue operations of the diggers, Work wil bo prosecuted without iniermission, and tt is hoped that tho body Will be roacued to-day, bn