Page:Niles' Weekly Register, v21.djvu/15

 NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER

N. No. 1—V. IX.] BALTIMORE, SEPT. 1, 1821. [No. 1—V. XXI. W No. 52f

THE PAST—THE PRESENT—FOR THE FUTURE.

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY H. MILES, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE

HEALTH OF BALTIMORE. Interments for the week, ending yesterday morning, August 31st, at sun-rise. Whole number of interments 81

PROGRESS OF PAUPERISM. We have several times alluded to the alarming increase of pauperism—one of the most conclusive evidences, perhaps, that can be offered to shew the necessity of doing something to furnish employment, by which the laboring classes, as heretofore, may be enabled to support their own aged and feeble relatives—which they would gladly do, if they could; for there is something in the disposition of an American much opposed to suffering a friend to go to the poorhouse. Our documents in relation to this interesting subject are not numerous; but, with a view to enable political economists and statesmen to arrive at some reasonable conclusions, we shall, from time to time, notice such as we receive.

By a statement from the directors of the poor, for Bucks county, Pennsylvania, it appears that, during the year 1817, the average amount of paupers maintained in the alms-house of that county was 130; in 1818, 163; in 1819, 185; in 1820, 210–at present 206, we believe, for we cannot certainly tell what are the two last figures in the statement before us. The population of Bucks county, just ascertained by census, is 37,842, and shews that one out every 182 persons are paupers, subsisted in the poor-house of the county. Out-door paupers are not mentioned, but we believe that, generally, in Pennsylvania, many are partially maintained at private houses.

BANKING! The "Union" remarks that in ten counties of Pennsylvania, one hundred and ninety estates are advertised for sale by the sheriff. [If we are to place any respect on the lullabies of newspaper sychophants, these sales by the sheriff must be taken as proofs of public prosperity—of an enviable state of society—of good government—of wise counsels—well regulated establishments—pre-eminent wisdom—domestic comfort—and so much more social superiority as compared with all the world besides—makes all the world besides look foolish!]—Aurora.

WESTERN CURRENCY. The Kentucky Argus of the 9th inst. states, that the last half million of the paper of the Bank of the Commonwealth, first ordered to be issued, was daily expected at Frankfort, and would be immediately prepared for circulation. It appears that two and an half millions of paper have already been issued by this institution, the notes of which are now 32 per cent, below par.

During the last week, the editor of the REGISTER received two remittances of $5 each, from the state of Kentucky. One was a note of the bank of the United States, which the gentleman who sent it said had cost him seven dollars and an half— the other a bill of one of the Virginia banks, which, in like manner, the editor was informed had cost his subscriber seven dollars!

APRAISEMENT LAW OF OHIO. We noticed a case in the last volume, page 375, wherein a certain quantity of wheat, then selling at 25 cents, was valued, on oath, at 75 cents per bushel; we are now presented with a case under the same law, operating reversely to the preceding—which, together, go to shew the inefficiency and inexpediency of all such laws:—

A certain Nehemiah Wood, of Gallia county, Ohio, on the 10th ult. informs the editor of the Scioto Gazette, that—"On a judgment before justice Cherrington, against John C. Wylie, in favor of John Switzers, an execution issued to constable Hughes, who levied on a wool-carding machine, and selected David Ridgemay, George Eagle and Philip Wolfenbarger, to appraise the same; and, after being sworn, these men appraised the machine to $25, and four shillings; and to my certain knowledge, the same machine cost $500, without the cards, and is now in complete operation, and doing good work, without any repairs other than grinding the cards."

JUDGE WASHINGTON AND HIS SLAVES. From the Leesburg "Genius of Liberty," of August 21. "On Saturday last a drove of negroes, consisting of about 100 men, women and children, passed through this town for a southern destination.

"Fifty-four of the above unhappy wretches were sold by Judge Washington, of Mount Vernon, president of the mother colonization society."

The preceding having been published in the Baltimore "Morning Chronicle," the following letter, addressed to the editor, appeared in that paper on the subsequent day:

"SIR: I have it my power to give you some information respecting the charge that appears in your paper of the 24th, against Judge Washington. I was at Mount Vernon a few days since, and was told by some of the slaves, whose countenances were remarkably indicative of despondency and dejection, that, more than fifty of their companions (59 I believe) had been sold but a week before to go to New Orleans, for ten thousand dollars, the whole. One would have thought that the poor creatures who were left, the aged and blind, had lost every friend on earth. I enquired the reason. They answered, that husbands had been torn from their wives and children, and that many relations were left behind. Take the following comment: I asked an old slave if he was living at Mount Vernon when GEORGE WASHINGTON died. His answer was "no, sir—not so lucky—I should not be a slave now if I had." The reader ought to know that GEORGE WASHINGTON set all his slaves free upon his death, and that Judge Washington is his nephew."

Judge Washington, certainly, has as much right to sell his slaves as any other owner of them has—but there is something excessively revolting in the fact that a herd of them should be driven from Mount Vernon, sold by the nephew and principal