The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-04-01
Hudson.
From our Correspondent

March SOth, 1S45.
Your antcipations in regard to the result of the
antirent trials have been realised After two NOR
tai weeks Of intrepid argument the cause of the
people and the accused remains just where it was
at starting. DR.. Boughten is remanded to prison,
and the ubiquitous Big Thunder no place at all
or as we say in law-w0n eat inveatps.
If Ihad pen of fifty pencil power might At
tempt to sketch the highly worked up state Of pub
lie feeling that prevailed here for the two last days
OF the trial. From the beginning it was an object
not of idle curiosity TO loaisrs and loungers as IL
often the case about courts of justice; but It was
the centre OF attraction and deep interest to the
distant and remote dwellers OF the country for forty
miles round. Bronzed and athletic farmers came
q day or two's journey in their wagons TO hear
what was to be said against anti-rentem, having
heard good deal for twith all the devotion OF the
Mussulman on journey to Mecca. Men took
their seats IN court IN a business like manner, and
with the air OF persons who intended 10 retain
them and their serious and scrutinlzng vsasss were
calculated 10 lmpart the Impression that they
1 all sworn jurors.
Agreeing with all you said, in relation to this
prosecution, In the Herald and duly Impressed with
the gravity OF the issue, and the principles involved,
| was present, myself, during nearly all the time
| occupied IN trying Boughton the Indictment tor
robbery. could say good deal upon the merits of
| the case In detail; but my remarks would, fear,
be 100 voumlnous,ll came to the particulars of the
evidence and, therefore, it may be better to gen.
| erahze In what may say-and am the more in
clned to do so, as one consideration appears to me
as more deserving OF notice than these details and
that If, the probable consequences OF the result of
the trial.
II is to be regretted that the Jury did not agree,
| and remove, by clear decision, the ncertitude
and deluslon that hangs about the anti-rent agita
| uon What good grounds are there for saying that
| OF Ignorant men, will not continue TO resist the
! law with impunity? VIVA, good reason is there to
remove the tear, that they may not, with this pre-
cedent OF the impotence OF law-of all but an &C.
qui.tal before them, renounce whatever intention
they had to "bpry their tomahawks, and threw
away theit scalPing knives" when it is now appa-
calico for mask, they can commit highway rob-
berry on the Sheriff of the countyl It is TO BE-
feared that these lawess men will 90 farther than
they have yet done and fare no worse
No doubt can exist that there is a very general
ard settled feeling against the claims Of the land
lords in this part of the country. This was proved
| by the difficulty there was in finding Jury, and
perhaps some would say from the manner in which
| that Jury disposed OF the case. would not 60 TO
| tar as TO say that any other jury would have
acted differently, in review OF the evidence. Far
| swore solemnly to Judge rghteousIy and justly;
but without insisting that must be right in regret
| ting their decision, will say that even jurors may
be wrong without intending II.
l. You may think il singular opinion, but am
free to confess it mine, that il would have been
better, had the arrest of Boughton and his asso-
| ciates not taken place In the first place, he il
either guilty or innocent; if guilty, what effect
must this failure to convict him have on the thou
sands who know exactly how far he is implicated
in the antirent outrages1 Why, they will say
Eve can do as we please we can laugh at the
landlord, worry the sheriff, mock the law, and baf-
fie the executive; we need not pay rent and we
will not; it is much more pleasant, and not whit
more dangerous TO take papers out of the pockets
OF the sheriff than pay money out Of our own'
On the other hand, ii DR.. Boughton il innocent,
who could avoid sympathslng with him account
OF his long confinement; no would not feel len
confidence in, and respect for that authority by viz
tue of which he has been incarcerated7 More
over, elk months OF excitement, and in many cases
OF toll and hardship, not 70 speak OF the heavy
penses incurred, have all grown out Of these ar
rests and now, to crown the matter, ten men out
Of twelve have very solemnly decided that the law
cannot reach the evil, and that Boughton ought to
| be acquitted
What will the Legislature say to all thsl Per-
hars they will reply that 1t 10 better to let them
alone. and wait till the unruy como round to their
sober senses. rs the less men governed the bet
ter This appears have been their doctrine since
the commencement Of these outbreaks; but pro-
badly, ithey all came from disturbed districts they
would think differently; they might then discover
that people must be governed who cannot govern
| themselves. At all events, If they are determined
to make merry, i, 10 hardly fair that others should
pay the piper; and therefore 1t Is the duty OF the
state to fork out the expenses.
Although the result OF these prosecutions has not
been satisfactory, it was fault OF those engaged
in conducting them. and two much praise cannot
be given to Judge Parker for his Judlcious manner
on that occasion. 1t was matter Of some delica-
cy, as there was great deal OF feeling enlisted in
the cause on either side, and II was consequently
highly desirable to allow the fullest scope to the
defence of the prisoner, and at the same time ex-
| pedite business and uphold the dignity Of the
bench all OF which were observed tcrupulously
Counsel, too, did their best they discharged their
obligations well, and il they did not please all par
ties, including the Indians Of Columbia, it was not
| for want OF avery s.ong talk"
| appre bend the venue will be removed to sno-
Their county, when these TRIALS next come on
This will be the surest way Of coming 10 tefmi-
nation They may try them IN Columbia until
they grow gray, and just be tar from their object
as they are at this moment have but one remark
more TO make at present, and that is the public
again indebted TO you for giving report OF these
important proceedings. the only accurate one, and
alrnost the only one ,f soy kind that was vi der