The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10


The National Reform Convention OF Fourier
ties, Socialist, Anti-Isenters, sc. &c., for the
purpose of organizing Industrial Com
gress.
This Convention met pursuant to the call, at Gro
ton Hall, on the morning Of the 9Th. There were
about thirty persons present as delegates from kim
bred societies, whose earnest and intelligent man.
ner impressed us favorably. The meeting was call
ed to order by Alvin c. Bovay, the Secretary Of the
Association /; and after the appointment of L. w.
Ryckman as chairman protein, it was resolved that
all persons who wished to take part in the proceed
ings of the Convention, might do upon giving in
their names to the Secretary. Messrs. Evans,
Bovay, Pierson, Wilson, and Albion, were appoint
ed committee to nominate officers and prepare
rules for the Convention. Messrs. Parke Goodwin,
Ryckman, Bovay, Thornburgh, and Moon were APP
pointed committee to report resolutions. The
Convention then adjourned, to meet at 2 p. NJ,
when the committee reported the following gentle
men as officers of the Convention President, J.
d. Pierson, of New York; Vice Presidents /: L. w.
Ryckman, of Brook Farm John Speakman, Of
Philadelphia ]. d. Thornburgh, of Pttsburg, F.
c. Treadwell, of Brooklyn, and Ransom Smith, OF
New York. Secretaries: l.. Masquener, G. w.
Robins, and DIR. Newbery, of Pittsburg
PARKE GOODWIN, from the committee on reso lli-
tons, reported series OF resolutions. Mr.. Goodwin
supported the resolutions by few pertinent, though
rather general remarks He said that the time had
come when men should meet together with an eye
to the good of al-not to build up this church
or that creed, but to establish universal church
embracing all, and having for its object the eleva
ton OF poor, fallen humanity. And, although he
might differ with the majority of the persons pre-
sent, yet all who aspire to better state, and who
strive to mellorate the condition their fellow men,
though differing somewhat in creed, have some
thing IN common.
Mr.. ALBION, delegate from the ant-renters Yoi
Delaware county, was then introduced by the Pre-
sldent.-My fellow citizens, am member of the
Equal Rights Societies of Middleton and Roxbury,
IN Delaware county, and assure you that the de-
mocracy OF the inland counties sympathise with you
IN your great movement and that you may under
stand the peculiar views of the equal rights Of
Delaware, and learn to sympathise with them. 1t
VIII be my privilege, as their representative here,
to explain them to you, and show in bold relief, the
grievances under which they labor-they are oppoed
to the present leasing system OF this State, for IS
relic OF the old feudal ages, when the few ground
the masses to the earth, with the iron heel of OPP
pression-it is anti-democratc, for it places the ten
antry, who constitute the great body OF the popua
ton, entirely at the mercy Of the landlord. For in
stance, suppose some poor fellow, an honest and In
weh haS dsbe ya OF d
be Frustrated in bed of sickness, or his land, by
the visitation of Providence fail to yield its annual
supply and he be unable to meet his rent, what is
the consequence Why, the landlord can re-enter,
and the poor tenant be stripped of the
labor OF years, for the improvements 60 with the
land This, however, is not the worst aspect of the
case, nor the one of which we most complain. In
Delaware and some other counties, land is held by
tenure differing somewhat from the Ordinary-t is
called the one generation lease. In these
leases are reserved to the propretors OF the land all
mines and mining privileges, all mill seats and mill
privileges which may be upon the soils consequent
y, farmer who holds one of these leases is so UNI
fortunate as to discover upon his farm mine of any
description, his farm may be riddled through and
through by roads to the mine if it suits the landlord
and the poor tenant has no redress another thing,
one-thlrd OF the sale money OF the farm improve
nents must be given to the landlord-et me explain:
tenants lease is unexpired and he wishes for in.
stance, to move West he may upon written permission
nder seal from his landlord transfer the remainder OF
lisease to another and sell to him his improvements
but the landlord under the terms Of the lease is entitled
oneird of the money for such improvements Iwould
however remark here that all the leases do not say
hird part, some say one-Surth, onc-ffh and To
sum up the terms thesetwenty bushels OF wheat to
the landlord per one hundred Of land ngress and
egress all mines, mill seats &c. with sufficient land
about them and of the purchase money for the
tenants improvements-all to the andord-and for all
this the tenant has kind permission to till the soil and
the landlords give when they asked if it
unjust to crush their fellow to the earth in this
because you pay this is what they say and when
the lessee dies the land reverts his lord the
But fellow citizens the democracy of old Delaware have
determined that the land there shall revert the
landlord without consideration (Cheers) And for that
particular purpose the Delaware Equal Rights Society
was founded have never bowed the knee to q priv
legged class of menand never will The landlords are
privileged class In the first place. he is his wit
ness in swearing out writ to dstran for rent and if the
poor tenant believes that Landlords ought to collect
their debts like other people he has remedy but
plevn, and thus the matter, after long delay and much
expense comes for the first time before jury who then
decide perhaps year after the tenant paid the money
alleged to be due if the landlord was warranted in dis
training They have precedence of all other classes of
creditors flor instance and will suppose the strongest
"a tenant borrOws Of a neighbor Of money; this
neighbour DESTROYS Of assisting his friend and yet wish
ing to secure himself takes mortgage for the amount
on the goods and chattels of the has it re-
corded regularly, and thinks he is safe; but no. in mo.
men in the twinkling of an eye, down the land
lord like hawk with dstraner for rent in his pocket
and sweeps all away Again. suppose tenant borrows
OF neighbor some farming implements use for few
his landlord has an execution against hmthai omnipo-
tent instrument in the potent hands Of landlord
all and away they go to sacrifice Again drover goes
some needy tenants live stock for which he pays and
then wends with his brute companions his winding way
to Gotham Surely hear you say he is safe they Ger.
tainy injure the drover-dont be quite SO fast
As the leper of the East contaminates all who come in
contact with him, so the tenant of Delaware seems to
have transactions with him. Yos the landlord can fol-
low the drover, and with bit of white paper carry off
the cattle, and even II no rent is Immediately due vet il
in six months will then the stock Is subject to
execution of the landlord might continue at great
length in this way. showing in what different ways the
landlord possesses under present system Of laws
the power OF grinding his tenants to the dust In 1910
we petitioned to repeal these niqutous laws but the
sapient committee to whom the petitions were referred
decided that their repeal would be unconstitutional
have been opposed to carrying our measures by
the force OF arms it is not in the present enlightened
age the true means. We must argument; We must
agitae the subject bring up for discussion before the
people and then We may expect to succeed. Many Of
the antrenters Of Delaware have formed an
called the Indian Association" TO prevent the collection
OF rent nc iii course deprecae much, but at the
same time permit me to say here, without fear of con.
tIadicton, that the conduct of the Sheriff Of Delaware
ana ms mnons has far exceeded in turbulence thing
when the Indians may in their mistaken zeal have done
VIII designate Bob Steel the deputy sheriff. as the in
oarnaton OF all that is degrading and disgusting. What
beng torn from her bed at midnight and her person mi
nutely searched to discover if she was an Indian
might mention more atrocities of similar kind but
nave not Tune; suice It to say, and speak what do
Know tna the Indians sinncd against than sin
nIng Tho landlords obey pretty faithfully one com
mandmcnt to multiply and repenish the earth but they
appear entirely obi OF the otherto get their bread