The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-02-14

we have seen hundreds met in front Of the City Hall
IN the Park. From f,cenfy to twenty-five thousand
persons of all ranks of society, met together TO con-
sult on the terrible expressions of the tmes-@n ths
high price Of fuel, food, -four, rent &C. The meeting
began 10 assemble at o'clock, full hour before the
period affixed by the CALL and through the whole al
ternoon the people crowded in thousands TO the spot
OF destiny.
This great meeting also held in the midst Oh an
atmosphere the coolest yet felt this season. mo na'-
ter for the cold,' said man in the crowd Inc
winds of bleak heaven-the frost OF winter sMy arc
moi colder, cruelty colder than the misers breast
he usurers feelngs-the monopolist bosom.
In the morning the "Courisr and Enquirer ,ha'
advocate of all species Of oppression and specuao
eame out and after exposing It's utter ana rrecalia
ble ignorance the causes OF the present crss ao
v,s,d all respectable people from attending the meet
ing The San also-the recreant and renegade Sun,
abandoned the course it had adopted, and endeavored
10 stiac the movement of the people, by its silence
The miserable rickety, dapidated Star talked about
party and Gen. Jackson. Miserable fools!-uncon-
taminated blockheads Corruption, cold venality,
mbecility--al could not prevent the assemblage OF
the tosnty thousand peoplcn this great city, who are
ground down by high rents-hlgh hour-mgh oreao
high fuel, and high crimes.
soectablitv of the city. The cold and the wind pre-
vented the sentiments of the speeches from being
heard, but there will be plenty Of time and opporuni-
Nv TO hear them before next May day.
This meeting is only the beginning of the move
ment The spectators and the politicians have
DOT alarmed at this bursting bud of revolution.
They may well be alarmed. Every week-every fort
poht-eyery month"; there will be general meeting
of the people in the same spot-n every ward OF the
civ. ill healthy reaction shall take place IN the al
fairs ofthis country. great and exciting crisis has
arrived in the social condition of this land. The curse
of Heaven is on us The politicians and the specula-
tors have been the of the great evils which press
all TO the earth alike There must be an entire re-
construction of things The politicians of every party
msst 90 Il private life Their best place of refuge
would &c the States Prison, but this is too great a
favor to them. If they would not go TO perdton in
this world, they will get their accounts balan ced in
the world to come.
After an expression of opnlen on the present state
of the times took place in certain parts OF
the city which be deeply deprecated, from the
fact that they will be used against the character and
objects of the general movement certain number
of individuals, comprising probably several thousand
went down to Washington street near the market,
aud made an illegal attack upon the extensive flour
store of Eli Hart a. Co. About five thousand persons
broke into the building, smashed the windows, and
turned out fifty sixty barrels of flour into the street
Little boys were filling bags sacks and stngger-
ing home under the burden general cry was raised
against the -four spectators. The police to qucll
the riot The Mayor attempted quiet the mob, but
they cried out "bread" ''bread," "bread" Fer some
time the crowd had complete possession Of the pre-
misses Justice Bloodgood was nearly knocked down,
and the police were set ut defiance.
We understand that at the commencement of the
attack apon FL. Hart a. Co.'S store, an agent of the
firm declared, that if the multitude would depart
peaceaby the flour should be sold to them SO per
barrel The only answer returned, was" too late
100 late"
This mob also appeared to be different from any
ever seen in New York. Ii composed Of all
classes of society-some of them highly respectable
IN appearance. The police cried for aid-called upon
the citizens TO help Them but to their relief
The -four was scattered about in all directions.
The fonr store of Hart & Co. is large FIVE story
building filed with -four to the very roof Their fury
burst forth in a simultaneous shout. mo monopoyr
was the cry and in an instant the doors burst
in. and the work of destruction commenced. The
barrels were dashed into the street. and the staff of
life thrown into the air with execration and trampcd
under foot by the infuriated multitude. In short
time il was several inches deep Immediately in front
of tho store, and the adjacent Streets for good dis
lance, showed traces of the havoc going on. When
we reached the spot about half past SIX the rioters
had assembled to the second story, and throwing
the barrels through the windows dcmolishng the
frames and glass, into the street. We counted fifty
seven which could not have been half the whole. AT
this time there very little plundering; but towards
the close those loafers who are always the look
out for such opportunities began the work Of plumber
by wholesale Two rascals of this kind were driving
off in wagon, absolutely loaded, but stopped in
Greenwich street, by gentlemen who after Sc
we're ussle secured and carried them both to the po-
lice court
There were several other smart skrmshes with the
constablcs, who now began TO show themselves in
one Of which circumstance occurred which we shall
mention The officers were nearly overpowered,
when n tall athletic fellow, in carmans frock, ell
bowling his way through the press came to their as
sstancc, and thus addressed the crowd No plumber,
my lads, plunder; destroy, destroy much you
please. Teach these monopolists that we know our
rights, and will have them, but d-n il don't rob
them"
The special consiablcs now begun to muster thick
ly, and the mob drawn different ways by the various
arrests left the of destruction in comparative