New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-28

acme perhaps distant day, the hopes OF the phanthro
pis and patriot will be realized. Liberty can only DC s
tanned by great sacrRces anc preserved ony ~ e'e ~
vigilance T.
The Blight of Feudnlisni.
Epidenee taken before TIE Committees Of The '0 Houses
on the Landlord and Tenant question.
Tn the Al6anv Freeholder of the 1lth inst we
have a summary of the evidence taken before the
Committees of the Senate and Assembly appointed
10 consider the relations Of Landlord and Tenant as
existing on the great Manors of our State, and re-
port what Legislation with regard to ii, if any is
demanded by Justice and the Public Good. This
summary OF evidence has now been SO long before
the public that we presume its general correctness
may be fairly inferred from the absence Of any contra
dicton. We omit however, such parts of the report
as reflect on the PATRONS lawyers in attendance
and on Hon. ]. A. Spencer OF the Senate Commit
tee, who leaned 10 their side OF the question: and
conne our selections TO the testimony alone, as fol-
lows:
HARRY BELTS, of Rensselaer, Co. first addressed
the Committee He spoke OF the value OF tue sna ul
der the present leasehod system and remarked that it
would be enhanced at least fifty per cent II 1t could be
released from and the farms be all owned absolutely
by the occupants. lie related instances In which the
quarter sales had been exacted, and compromised at
various sums He spoke also OF the very general i'm
preston among the tenants that the Van RENSSELAER,
title was originally not valid He told the history OF the
moor house lot for which Mr.. Van Rensselaer, insisted
upon the payment of S700 for land which yielded him
only $40 year. He stated that Mr.. V. R. would not
sell out his interest in lands in the vicinity OF Troy for
SUI less than $780, for every bushe of wheat rent
served He also related of fraud prHctfced upon
persons by promises of leasing and conveying property
and inducing to spend their money ana aoor upon
II and afterward refusing to fulfil their engagements
Mr. Belts had been TO Mr.. VIM. P. Van Rensselaer,
and had received from him offer OF terms upon which
NJ altar tha
he would release his claim for in advance equal
TO the amount Of thirty years rent This demand Is
more than double the amount OF rent II paid year by
year, because money put at interest doubles al SIX per
cent in fourteen years Mr. Belts also showed that the
perpeual rent public evl-that II was the most
obnoxious kind Of ncumbrance upon land. and greatly
depressed its value-thst intelligent and independent
men dsked to purchase land with such liens upon II
that in consequence, the changes in population
were for the worse-that the lands were not 30 well
cultivated and that public policy required that the
leases should be abolished and the tenure of the land
changed Mr. B. remarked that the laws now opera
ted as u bounty TO hold on upon the tenures
Mr. C. f. BoUToN stated the facts in respect 10 GER
tain mills in the village of Rensseaervlc The people of
the village had formerly to 20 over twenty miles to
mill There stream OF water running through the
will reserved of course to Mr. " r. and upon which
he would not erect mills, Mr. " K was finally induced
to lease the privilege but would only give lease for the
term of l6 years Before the death Of the late Stephen
Van Rensselaer, the tenants upon these leases had erect
ed mills and dwelling houses which cost them about $780,
l
of the PATRON this property has MI been sold out 70
single individual for the of $4,000. and all the
tenants turned out of possession. One Of the tenants
was David Adams who had been miller there for forty
years and WHO lie now over 50 years Of age All the
property he had invested in the mill. He is now
in his old age entirely destitute. Another was Garrett
! Human who part owner Of a satnet factory He
ost all hs property the factory and all his machinery
and turned into the streets destitute. Mr. Gurdon
Conhling the purchaser. He thought he was max
log good bargain. Mr.. V. X. would not give him time
| and he and
ments he could make with them. and would merely
allow him hour 60 into the streets 10 see II
chase Since MIR Conkng has obtained bic title he has
learned, what not communicated to him at the
time, tina, Mr. Teunis Van Vechsen holds mortgage up
on the whole for more than he paid Mr. Bouton for
got to tell the Committee this Last fact)
Mr. Bouton stated that there were leases some OF
the Msnors in which there that the
ant should take his grain to certain mill TO be ground
and that the family should so certain specified store
of the Psroou trade and that the tenant should not
entertain than Is hours, and laure 10
perform such worked forfeiture OF the lease
The lease had also all the other odoas covenants and
-ISome OF the Committee doubling whether such
leases in existence two OF them were produced
1 and copied
Mr. Bouou farther ssid that the farmers thought that
the Legislature had moch power and good right
provide for their welfare for the welfare OF the
State Many of the chartered privileges OF the Psroons
had been taken taken away and why could not others
By the OF his grant Mr. Van Rensselaer, had au-
thority hold Courts Baron and Courts Leet and ap
point bio ocers How have these chartered rights been
taken away and State judges and State officers appointed
iusseadi Why abolish other privileges as contrary
10 the spirit Of our institutions as those which have been
taken away.
Mr. VAN DUzEN, of Albany County, stated that
in 1889 notice was the tenants of the Heder
berg towns that Mr. Van Rensselaer, wss willing TO sell
them the quarter sale reservation and requested
them to come into Albany aud purchase Committee
OF the accordingly came to Albany at the time
and place appointed for meeting. Mr. Van Rensselaer,
passed through the where they were assembled,
and did not coudescend address single OF them
They were af;nrward informed thar they must do all
business with bis Agent-and whatever propositions
were made must be iu writing The price proposed for
the relesse of the quarter sale $50 for each lot
Some of the tenants conceiviDg themselves not well
used left but others the number OF about 80 con-
sened 10 buy OF the quarter sale at the proposed rate
They paid the money and went home with he under.
standing that they have their deeds ss soon as
they could be drawn
Subsequently when they received their deeds ii ap-
pearcd that clause had been inserted in each OF thern
reservng the payen, OF double rent every transfer
of the land instead of the quarter Of the purchase no
ncy. Here Mr.. Van Duzen was interrupted oy Mr. D.
v n Rsdclf who pronounced his statement false. Nr.
Van Duzen reasserted the facts OF his own know
LEDGE and vouched for their truth upon his character for
vsracity. Mr.. Radcliffe being about to reply was
checked by OF the Committee who told him he held
In his hands and reading Of the very deeds 70
rred 10 by Van Duzen and that his statement true
M, an Duzen like the gentlemen OF the South Travelled
wiz me documents in his pocket
aa oelen said that at another time MIR. Van Rens
the tenants aPpointed Committee 10 wait upon him for
thar purpose Inc tenants offered TO estimate Wheat
81 per ousn the onr tut fowls Soc and the dayss
services at 81 whien would have amounted SIS for
every 100 and give him durable ense M rate
az other reservations aud conditions 70 be release and
discharged And farther any tenant war to bo nj liberty