The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-02-04


in these days SO increasing, enduring and SO spread
ing around that the mind naturally recurs to the M
ouiry-ais there no remedy ~" can our laws aiiord
ne alienation ?""i there nothing IN the frame OF
society that we can f1y to?""are all our civil ana
sosal institutions powerless =
In relation TO the article of monopoly IN Hour we
have seen in neighbonng city, Portland, Name the
people meet together in their original capacity, tae
the matter into consideration, and resolve to intimate
10 the dealers that it would be necessary to sell the
reat article of food reasonable price, or TO pro-
ride far its reshipment. But how public meet
ing carry this resolution into effect? The present state
of the laws prevents any interference with the rights OF
property. There is no law to prevent usury IN hsur,
as we have in money The intimation of the Port
land meeting the -four dealers is clearly, remedy
beyond the letter the spirit of the law They may
refuse to use -four bat they have legal right to IN
terfere with mans property or to direct INN 10 re-
ship il to any port. 1t is Lynch law, and as such,
clearly illegal We therefore oppose it. as we oppose
all Lynch law.
The people of Centre county, Pennsylvania, have
adopted different They feel the evils OF the
present system Of monopoly IN flour as well as others
but they devise no instant or immediate remedy
Their views merely re.er TO the future. They have
made no their minds to submit the present evils
but endeavor smarting under the influence OF mo-
noposts, to look to the legislature for some aeva-
lion at another day. In this respect they adopt
more legal but less immediate course, than the peo
pie of Portland
But in this city we have been accustomed 50 long
to high prices in flour and provisions that the mo-
nopolsts calculate upon quiet acquescencc IN their
exorbitant exactions.
There is however, one item of human existence that
admits of different treatment. The article OF house
rents is the immediate grievance here TINS is car
RED at the present crisis beyond all former preceden'
IN avarice or cupdiiy Search the annals oil exacon
and hardheartedness through the world, ana we VIII
venture to say that the majority of landlords IN New
York are unparalleled unsurpassable. The grasphs
miser formerly rara arts, tusus ndfurd rare
creature is now the ordinary ravenous animal Oh the
day. He walks the streets and fills the churches
We do not aude TO those who let houses for the men,
the wealthy the great. Tenants who can afford 10
pay $1,000 for a single soirf ought not to grumbe al
any degree of rent Let them pay--thcy can afford
II. But the great and numerous productive class are
those who demand and will secure the sympathy OF
the public-the sympathy of the world-the sympa-
thy of the next age-the sympathy OF Heaven and
the sympathy of Eternity.
Rents of small tenements going up beyond all
former precedent. The day of removal comes too at
period Of the year. whene few are prepared to move,
unless it be the grave the poor house II NOV
iRa day were in the middle of summer or the begin
ning of the fall the poor would be able to fly 10
cheaper, more congenial and more hospable cline
But at the close of April they in no state OF pre-
paration unless it be starve, 10 hang, to DROWN
TO die II is at this season. therefore, that landlords
and their agents under the instgaon of the devil,
of avarse combine together 10 increase the rents of
their dwelling houses from 20 TO SO per cent over all
previous sugmentatiens-and thus to turn tins great
and beautiful city into habatlon worse than hell
Is there any remedy for this great evil Is there
any method by which the great mass of tenants can
combine in protection Of right justice and humanity
Can the devil be cornsred," chcck-mated or tied
mp like q chained bear
Legislation is useless-the ordinary process ofpub
lie opinion is useless Nothing can reach the Shy
locks but law, nothing but the bond-the bond-the
bond. Well then take the bond. On examina
ton we have reason to believe that tho oppressed
class of tenants may be be able to find remedy and
defence against these exactons, in the great and
cradle institution of the Jury, composed il will be Of
their own body. We will state the process. Let every
tenant who is warned by his landlord TO leave his
premises, or pay higher or exorbiian, rent refuse 10
NOSE step single step. Let every tenant retain
possession. Holding possession IS called in law
enforcement, or a forcibie detainer. The landlord
cannot expe the tenant holding such possession but
by due process of law. His remedy is pointed out in
fhe eighth chapter OF the third part of the Revised
Statutes In all cases of forcibie deaner or tenants
holding possession in spite Of landlords, the latter
must make complaint to any Judge Of a Court of
Record. The complaint is accompanied by an afh-
daut of the forcibie entry or "torcibie holding
ouf" stating tina; the complainant has night to pos
session Upon this complaint being presented 10 the
Judge he issues a summons for Jury Of Inquiry, of
twenty-four persons the tenant being notified Of the
fact This jury acts somewhat in the capacity Of a
Grand Jury. They make inquisitien into the
matter, possessing at the same time the sole power
the law and over the fact Ii their finding should
be traversed by either party another jury of twelve
persons is then TO be summoned to try finally the is
sue, the tenant holding possession all this time.
Here, then, is the great and powerful remedy
against the exactions Of the landlords Of New York
and their agents during the present crisis Every
Jury Of reemen has the sole power over the law and
over the fact both in equitable and common law
points. II would first devolve with the jury of twenty
four 10 say whether each case should be tried a, all
and II they direct finding and trial, then would
tho Jury Of twelve have it entirely in their power to
-. Il ID. -. L.. -