The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-28
Meeting OF the {" National Reform Union
last Evening at CrOton Hall

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| Meeting OF tho "National Reform Union
last Evening at Croton Hall. !.
A crowded meeting Of the members OF Thu
association was held last evening at Croton Hall
Mr. Perkins in the chair to hear the report of The
committee, and adopt the necessary measures u
draw up suitable memorial to Congress, with
view to draw The attention of the National Legis
ature to the objects and principles OF the associa
lion. Twenty thousand copies Of the report have
been printed, TO which the following preface wal
attached:-
The National Reform Union OF the city Of New York
although in existence only few weeks, has attained
perfect organization They have held upwards OF twenty
public newspaper for the purpose
OF expoundng their principles and recording their pro
have fixed Head Quarters at the
Chatham and Mulberry streeis-where they meet every
Thursday evening.
This has been done by limited number of working
They do not comprise among them single name
OF high note in public affairs They do not enrol in Their
ranks single OF wealth Their expenses, though
considerable have been all paid by they
print twenty thousand copies Of the following docu
nent for the purpose Of efecuay placing before their
eilow.ctz the great, and truly National object fcr
which they contend
On the 18th OF March last, at public meeting Of work
ngmen, committee was appointed 10 inquire into the
causes which produce in this Republic depression Of
labor and social OF the iaborer, vers similar
to tina. which prevails under the deestabe governments
At the next public meeting Of the workingmen tina,
Committee submitted the following Report which was
adopted unanimously nearly in it's present form Read H.
working men, you that would escape the fate that over
whslns your brother men in Europe. II your wives
your children your hearthstones dear TO you'll
own independence and the liberty Of the Republic Of
any valua in your this document an attentive
pernsal Even it you feel spark OF patriotism within
you'll your daily toll and your hopeless condition have
sunk your mind from its human dignity-have broken
your spirit, they have bent your frame-s,il read
who will net bow to he insoencs s Of weahIwho will
not give up the country to counterfeit arisocracy-e
wretched imitation Of the vile Nobility" Of Europe.
The following pledge Of the members was
solemny read by the Chairman
PLEDGE cr THE NATION. IL REFORM AssocIATIoN.-"We
whose names xed desrous Of restoring to Man
his Natural Right to Land, do soemnly agree that we
will not vote for any man. for any Legislative Office who
will not pledge himself in writing 10 use all the inau
ence of his station, il elected to prevent all further
traffic in the Public Lands of the States and of the United
States, and I, them to be laid out in Farms and
Lots for the free and exclusive use Of Actual Setters
After which the form of the memorial to Con.
gress was read and unanimously adopted. The
Chairman then introduced
Mr. GOODWIN, who addressed the meeting He com.
menced his remarks by thanking the members for the
invitation he had received from them The present he
considered most important period, alter the political
exctea ent they had Just passed through-which had
swept through The land like the surgng pillows Of the
sgated ocean, absorbing every energy Of the popular
mind The excitement was now passed away. and quiet
to inquire what the meaning Of all this excitement
The stump orators to be said was all for the good
since the days Of Jefferson. At time they talked about
Bank" Internal Improvement, and Tariff" and the
next time they would as if to vary the matter, make Y
Tariff and Bank and Improvement - but still the cd
story was the same loud lughter) DR.. Franklin had
some idea that he wished to be bottled Qmmoderate
laughterior sixty and to be able get uncorSed
after that period and what changes had taken place
and would seem that II politician who had been bottled
the days ole srsen had come among them at the
sent day, he would just the same thing going on II
seemed that the politicians did not know the wants Of the
people, loud applause) The first fundamental want OF all
grown men, was the right to labor. Mr. 9. went of
length into the question Of mans right to labor, and
showed that the object OF the politicians was to impose
upon the people aud deprv them OF the advantages Of
their labor There radical defect in that sys 81
government under which large of the operative
classes in want Of employ and the system Of sell
ing the public domain gave monopoly to the man OF
wealth which, if not checked in time would gradually
bring this country ID the same position as the Euro
pean despotisms ana would establish in this free land
the very kind OF aristocracya monied Arisocra
cracy the system of selling the public land by which
soil was not put down (Applause) He was therefore
in favor OF maintaining the freedom Of the public lands
(Appiause) He had known one poor man that went with
no less sum than one million dollars-Qa ughter)-to
each sale Of the public lands in the west and make his
purchases, and il the system not checked in time
this splendid country for which their fathers had bed
aud in which American freedom established for its
hardy applause to freely breathe in would pass in
to the hands Of monied arstocracy who had sympa
thy with the laborer the mechanic. It was now in
their power to check this system and to do at the
per place. namely the ballot box MrG after stating his
inability 10 continue his address that evening, ntma
ted his intention to give the continuation at the next
meeting OF the Associations when after dsposng Of
routine business the meeting separated.