The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-03-09


! MECHANICS AND STRIKEs-IMPoRTANT DEcIsIos.
The decision recently made by the Supreme Court OF
this State has been pubshed-and it truly contains
of the extraordinary principles ever deved
of the old books Of corrupt English law, enacted
in ignorant and barbarous age when personal liberty
was ill understood and the rights OF the many placed at
the within of the few. Such opinion only in
crease public excitement and force the passions Of the
multitude beyond all bounds.
No one can have worse opinion Of Trades Unions
than we have Any permanent combination of men,
whose object and practice is to interfere with the per-
sonal liberty of others, illegal and variance with
the first principles of the Constitution But there
be limit somewhere. The principles in relation to
traae-the wages of abor-aRd the rights of workmen,
put forth in this Opinion the most contradictory,
tyrannical, and inconsistent that emanat-
ing from any any Judge the country. "Jour
neymen," says the Opinion, may each sngly refuse
to work unless they receive advance of wages but
iftey do by preconcert association they may be
punished for a conspiracy" This is the ground work
of the whole opinion and to enforce its legality, the
Judge refers to the statutes of King Edward W. and
George Ill. of England besides great many decisions
that have taken place those in the English
courts
Now what is this principle stripped Of all its echni
calitiesi IL one journeyman says-"I will not work
for less than so much day. it is legal and jus-but
if any number beyond one should make the same de-
caration, they are be indicted for conspiracy. BY
what principle of justice is it that single act is limo.
cent-but the act by association is made crime
We thought the age of constructive treason had passed
away-but this decision of the Supreme Court Of New
York revves the principle in more odious form.
II reyye too for the purpose of taking away the per-
so.o rights of mass of individuals forming the largest
portion of society. Ifhs be right every man in the COM
mun;ty is guilty of crime, and ought to be forthwith
indicted. How are rents raised By"preconcert and
association" How are provisions SO hight BY pre-
concert and association" How do the very jour-
neymen get low wagesl BY "preconcert and associa-
tom of the mastersl In this country and under
constitution, not measure can be aone-not church
built-not price regulated-not movement in trade
set in melton, without "preconcert and association"
The Opinion does say forced associations-for to
forced and involuntary associations totally op-
posed No. II takes the broad ground OF all precon-
ceun-all association'-withou qualification of any
kind. Now such opinon-such a decison-we
take 70 be one of the highhaned and atrocious
attempts to engrat the free institutions OF this coun-
,rv the worst features of the law of England. The
secures 10 every Pfi~c
nc his own labor and his own property. Ii extends
the same night to million. If any nevidual chooses
N work for less sell for less, than another no one
has right to interfere Any compulsory act 10 pre-
vent such ourneymen work. is illegal and punishable,
by every law and every principle Of common justice
But the idea now put forth by the Supreme Court
that voluntary association Of individuals to regulate
their own wages, conspiracy by statute, is utterly
epos,erous and absurd. II that be the statute law OF
New York, the il is swept away the better for
the great principles Of liberty and common right.
No doubt during the present strike, great deal OF
blame is to be attributed many journeymen and pos
sbly as much many masters. The quarrels between
them-,he periinacity of each side-he vindicveness
of both have led to riots, confusion and uproar We
trust they will settle their affairs and meet AMIGA
bIy together on ground of fair dealing
The decision of the Supreme Court, now vauntngly
published by certain papers, cen only lead TO general
excitement through all these classes Of society Istoe
utterly at variance with constitutional liberty ever to be
permitted to rest the statute book-and if the Judges
by this decision have fixed it our backs il ought tc
be expunged as possible by declara,ory Law
to that effect.
We have more to say on this subject.
Scorr will be at home to-nigh in the City Hotel
see his advertisement in the inside. This Scott Is q