New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-02
p;scbaree Of An,i-Rent Prisoners.

Mr. HARRIS of Albany asked indulgence oeloIc
he sent ~ the resolution he held IN his nanu oey
20 bring to the notice of the House its ooiec,:
was one of great interest IN some pofuois o' liie
State deep feeling exists IN ieietoh 10 inc conie
IF % If the citizens of The State in the State
Prisons II was now matter OF history, that Tor
nav ,,a.ra in this central portion OF the State,
denn and prevailing discomfort has existed IN reia
,ion 10 the land tennres here in force. so deep
tyae this feeling, that in repeated instances 1t had
manifested itself in violations Of law and resist
apce to the execution Of legal PROGRESS. In
consequence Of these outbreaks il had been deem
ed necessary by the Legislature to enact laws
of most stringent character with penalties OF IN
usual severity in order to protect the pubic peace
and preserve order Under these laws, % citizens
men mostly farmers industrious, orderly, peace.
able citizens unaddicted to crime whose names bad
not been familiar with vice, and who had previously
faithfully discharged their duties in relation TO So
ciety-had been convicted of a violation OF these
laws to preserve order and imprisoned IN the state
Prison with felons.
Mr. II said he had reason 10 complain oil the
hardship with which these persons had been visited
II was necessary that extraordinary means should
be resorted TO- 10 maintain the supremacy oil the
laws But the dawn of better times had broken US
up The spirit of legislation had happily changed.
We had been informed by the Governor IN his an
nua Message to the Legislature, that there was no
longer any apprehension Of outbreaks In tins sec
ton of the Siate-that there was disposition
TO return 10 the strict obedience OF the laws
At a recent term Of the Court in Columbia Coun-
w. on motion of the Attorney General, unoer me
advice of the Governor and with the cordial appro
baton OF the Court n0tte Proseqta was entered III
tho case of all the individuals who were charged
with similar offences Here evidence that there
was no danger of similar outbreaks or violation OF
the public peace hereafter. He repeated, ne MADE
no complaint Of the manner in which the law had
been administered.
Ind If 10
District had discharged hisdutes, met with his entire
approba,ion-nay more, his course had been the sub
ect of his admiration for the rmness, dignity and
mpartality IN which he had discharged his duty,
while at the same timehe dealt mercituly. Ii seemed
TO him the time had come when 1t was proper TO IN,
terfere The Imprisonment OF these individuals hoo
been the cause of deep afiiction In the section from
which they were taken And if The time has come
when no farther apprehension need be entertained
of the repetition OF these offences, had not the time
also come when these persons might be releaseu !
Under these circumstances he had drawn up a reso
luton tending 10 effect this object. Ii was not per-
haps to be expected that the pardonng power vest
ed in the Executive would be exercised in relation
10 so manv persons unless he had frs the counte.
nance of the Legislature. Mr. III. sure that that
officer had no reluctance, but would be pleased 10
obey the recommendation Of this House To effect
that object he bad prepared the following resoutIo
which he would now send up.
lT. II.
resolution:
UHerens deep and pervadipg discomfort has long eX.
listed among the agricultural population oil the couhnes OF
Delaware, Columbia Rensselaer, Albany and scnonarle'
and large portions of the counties Of Greene Ulster
Sullivan Schenectady Montgomery and Otsego growing
of the evils and expressions incident 10 inc sys
tenn of under which most OF the lana IN
those counties is held and under the influence oil the
irritation and intense excitement produced by sense
of those evils and expressions, many peaceful eS'
empary citizens have been induced to engage In ior
r,l.a n,,.s.,r pl 81 npultN
And whereas with view to the more efectual preser-
walton Of the public peace and social order laws oil Inc
most stringent character, imposing penalties OF eXtrao
binary severity hive been enacted under nicn Inc lol
lowing persons who had before sustained the character
of industrious quie; aud orderly citizens have been con-
vcted and are suffering the punishment oil ielons
IN the STATE Prison TO n Sas moses Earl
John Latham Edward Conner, John Van Steenbureh,
John PheniX, Elias J. Osterhout William brisbane
Calvin Madison William Josceiyn, Lere Ireston
Isaac t. Burhans William Reside, John Burtch Charles
T. MComber and Daniel Northrup. OF the Coun-
~ of Delaware and Smith a. Boughton John T.
Coons and Thomas Morgan, of the County OF Columoa
And whereas His Excelency the Governor In his An
nua Message has informed the Legislature that the
opinion very generally entertained that the scenes
OF violence and armed residence to the laws have ternl
nated-that DISCUSSES have been permanently discarded
and that hereafter legal and constitutional modes oil re-
dress for the grievances supposed exist VIII be alone at
tempted: And whereas, in accordance win tue views
thus expressed and upon the application OF the Attorney
General under the advice of the Governor the criminal
court recently held in the county Of Columbia, dScon.
tiuued all pending prosecutions against persons charged
with similar offences the ground that 1t is now evil
dent that the dea of resisting law by force has been
abandoned and that those asgreyed have rcsorted 10
peaceful and lawful means OF obtaining relief:
And whereas this Legislature are satisfied that all eli.
fort or intention farther TO resist the execution OF legal
process by force has been abandoned and that the ten
ants will hereafter only seek relief by peaceful and law
f modes of redress And whereas in the Judgment oil
the Legislature the majesty of the law has been sufficient
~ indicated and good purpose can be effected BY
prolonging the imprisonment of those who have been
convicted of offences arising from these unhappy dis
turbapces Therefore,
RESOLVED az the Senate concur,) As the sense OF this
Legislature that it be recommended to His EXccency
take immediate measures for the release
of the several persons above mentioned and for that pur
pose to issue pardons in their behalf respectively
Laid on the table and ordered printed TO come
M with the Ambient bills.
Mr. SMITH of Schoharie, said as the organ OF n
large portion Of people interested in this question,
he cordially assented to the sentiments OF Mr. HAIR
EIs He believed that the law had been Sufficiently
vindicated and that the public peace and order
could be better subserved by tempering mercy
with Judgment. He hoped the resolution would
be adopted.
Mr.. HAYSrR rose to speak, but the Chair re-
minded him the question was not deba'able
Tremendous LocO-Foco Row and Spit.
Corrssnondepce of The Tribune