The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-28
Great Meeting or the sIechanles.

/
The meeting was convened by public notice, to re-
ceive and approve of draft memorial prepared by
a-commttee appointed at former meetDg) to be
presented to the Senate, praying the passage OF the
bill lately passed through the other branch OF the
legislature. nn
There were several distinguished persons present,
amongst whom we noticed the Hon. Judge Smith,
OF the Marine Court, the Hon. Elbridge ]. Gerry,
x-nember of the legislature.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. James
G.. Monaghan. Mr.. Baldwin was appointed chair
man, and Mr.. p d. Kensella, Secretary
The CHAIRMAN explained the object OF the meeting,
Prison Bill 1t hau undergone much opposition, not only
the part OF those opposed to 1t principle but by
ton The worst Of the arduous struggle was past The
bill was designed to procure the establishment Of State
Prison in the northern district Of the State, in order to
employ the State prisoners in the manufacture Of IRON
which is imported from other countries He wished
to say something also in relation to the injury inflicted
mechanics by the competition of State Prison labor at
present There doubt but il injurious to them
calculation had been made that in Buffalo alone the loss
to the cabinet makers from this cause was $4,000 As
suming this calculation to be correct which he had no
doubt Of would give for the city Of New York lots to
class of $3.50 900 When was recolected that
this but branch of the mechanics and that In
every other the proportion would be nearly the same
they could form idea Of the loss their body by the
competition Many, however were ignorant OF the IN
jury done them for being favorably situated to OBJ
tain nformatonhey took part in the removal OF these
under free government lCheers) Although the blii
should pass the Senate might not give them the iu
State officers fail in duty defend the mechanics
thing certain long the present law stands
there prospect of relief He was for sending the
couvics different and localities Of the State
that the Contractors be deprived OF the means OF rob-
bling they have hitherto done had been too often
promised to be relied upon the intention Of the legsa
employ the convics not to injure the mocha
MICS has been repeated often to be relied II should
he borne in mind also that the State instead Of benefng
by that system running into debt and that for the
sake Of syng set of rapacous and greedy contrac
tors Another hing would be seen by the report clearly
urOv m Dri
the State The deficiency of the State prison was
this year He then read extract from the speech
OF Mr. Suydam in the House of Assembly, the State
Prison Bill to show that the finances of the State Prison
sinking with accumulated velocity that that did not
arise from mismanagemen hut from the nature Of the pre-
law that the grievances of the mechanics great
and the mode of redress reasonable and adequate
was, that crime increasing beyond the proportion Of
the population was proposed to establish State pri
in the locality of the iron mines to manufacture that
article, for which enormous sums were now paid to TO
reign countries This could not interfere with mechani
cal labor while we had the OF making article
fully equal to the Russian Swedish at home, and these
qualities generally considered the best OF that art
Gle That scheme was not visionary plan. He then
in support of The bill and the great saving that would
to the State in short time after going to the
expense OF building another prison He hoped the rea
there submitted would be sufficient to satisfy even
regards State policy He was for his part prepared
defend principles Of political economy Had it be
the law last winter would have saved the State
thousands of dollars instead of sinking at pre-.
sent 500 O0O yearly He hoped therefore, that every
gentleman there wonld sign the petition before leaving
that might be in due time forwarded to Albany in sup
port of the bill (Appausel ,,,,ou.. ~ .., ,,,, =.
the meeting had been informed that Mr. Suydam and Other
gentlemen would attend he would read letter of apology
from him for his absence MR. Moatt then read the let
ter apprzing the meeting Of the necessity he under
to Albany to be present at the discussion Of the bill
say that he that letter satisfactory and that
they would accept it from Mr.: suydam who like true
and faithful servant at his post He lost no time by
being there to contribute to the passage Of that BILL which
the most important to mechanics that passed the
Senate He (Nr NJ believed that the history Of reform
in every country showed that moments arose Of
rous importance than the resmomens for action the
part those interested in those reforms He thought that
mechanics of this great State (Great cheering) H.
could not be induced to think that it was want OF
that prevented this room being thronsod tonight
they "S nS, sse attended ans to r the
interests and neglected the greater" loud cheers
What, he asked they thus assembled for at wa
heard and understood in Albany" They had assembled
to seek what To seek what was their right and 1t was
they wished that bill to become the law And why dc
they think that bill of SO much Importance Oh if they
were in Albany to see for themselves those contractor
who gorged and enriched themselves at the expense
the all their energies at work. and usnf
every particle they possessed of ingenuty-givng din
Why to battle the passing Of this Bor at all events t.
accomplish their victory by getting to sleep in the Sc
nate These were the men VINO on honest MeCni
ncwho got their dollars in thousands without toll
ing sweating for one penny of it. They know
that, the axe laid to the root laid the tree
on the earth-so your exertons would overthrow
their attempts to Illustrate this bill becoming
law What were the merits of this bill 1t demands
better principles than the present
He did main tain that instead of being detriment to thu
state would be absolutely benefit and dsappoin thu
contractors If any should get the benefit of convict la
nor it the State and that alone. loud cheers.
What they sought was justice; and that should pro
ect the interest of the mechanic as well as every
tI.r ns,t 20 the hasa
pointed for that purpose by the Legislature il
Justice to the State. On former occasion bill wa
Senate The present bill had the sanction of of bu
siness-men high in the city OF Boson-and they know
hat the eastern men are not visionary-do not move
without some ground to go upon was easy for some t.
make assertions against it, but he could answer all the OBJ
iections. The gentleman continued at some length in
support Of the bill and applauded by the audience
when the report was read and received
The following memorial was then prepared and read
70 be sent to the Senate Of the State, in favor OF tn
bill -
To The Honorable the Senate Of the Site Of Nev York.
The undersigned Mechanics, Of the city OF New Yor'
consider iavorably the Bill providing for the building
new Prison, in the northern section of the State
The principle upon which the Bill is founded was sub
jected strict and thorough examination by the Com
missioner. selected by the State officers in 1912 who ha
received authority to make such appointment from you
Honorable Body
The Bill now before you based upon the Report
this Commissioner was considered in committee repore
to the House OF Assembly and approved OF passed d.
that Honorable Body in lS43
The has again been reported to the House by tn
| regular committee anl again undergone more rigid an
crunous discussion than has been imposed upon any Ac
Of Legislature for years past when il has agai
approved and passed upon by that Honorable Body
and is now awaiting your favorable action
The undersigned mechanics would further respectfully
state that earnest and anxious for the passage
this bill under the full belief and assurance that II wi
eventually divert the labor Of state convcts from
interference with the labor Of any and all citizens,
being sincere conviction that the labor Of the convict
under the law will interfere only wit. goods impor
ed and such imported goods consisting mostly of the bes
iron from Russia and Sweden, made by the convicts chic
ly Of those ntries.
The undersigned mechanics would, therefore, respec
fully state honorable body that they prepare
to prove satisfactorily by experienced manufacturers
steel that by the application OF convict labor the no
living In State may be converted into ro
highly refined enable the manufactures to conve
the steel and thereby take the place of the ire
imported from other countries at expense Of upwar'
Of 100 dollars per ton therefore with diiiidenc
and of our liability to be biassrd by our own Sc
interest lay before your honorable body these o.
views upon this subject but submit to your wisdo
The decision of this question of State policy, Wit