New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-04-10
The Ambient Question-why not Settle liz

ipss Estate Land Lsnifdiion--f Pteres bhty ~
trin>s- Timid Ls1islat0s-M Manor TroEbks-Pduo
Refvysd-Anti Rent Grievdnees sunnzed up by Pa'
troo7s-Equal and Unequal Tardtion-A TUE Confer
ing Law.
Correspondence Of The Tribune
ALBANY. Monday night, March p
| perceive that the N. Y Express copies the trst
paragraph Of my letter on the Anti-Rent war e1
penditure and denounces my views as shame
full If the highly intelligent editors OF that jour
nal the feelings and sense OF the people
of Montreal as they rrotess to do those OF New.
York, they would use expressions less strong ano
significant There, every transfer-every improve
ment-!s subject to the same onerous burdens as we
hsve-sand no clsss complain loudly or with more
show of reason, than the mercantile body. The fa'
troons of the Canadian commercial emporium are are
nsious corporation Of French Jesuits.
There was time when believed that the party who
claim, but IL deserve. the speculation of Democrat
(or they have proved themselves to be the worst enc
mics Democracy could have in America) would, II uni
tsd do much good. have lived TO see my error In
that and must here express the regret feel that this
Ambient question much and so unnecessarily d.
vdes ard weakens the Whgs and prevents their united
acuon for the general welfare Honestys the best pol
icy. Cannot the wisdom of ls47 find it OUT
Verify II look back through vista OF forty years
at the wars fghtngs law suits trials deaths and lmprs
onments the hindrances In legislation, the pubic eE
penses private nwil and the injury TO the oooy pol
tic, within and without arising solely from tois cues
ton Of tenure. might conclude, that II small vote
Of public money would pave the way TO its nnal settle
ment II would be very wisely granted
Mr. Van Rensseaer's statement OF this day, taken oy
itself and measured by the rules which apply TO proper
o. In this Union does not look 10 me, as exhibiting
case which honest welLmeaDing men might not easily
Get at without another s350OO expenditure In can
non cartridges horse foot and all the parephernalia oil
war ver
full legislation produces chickering's and strife where
harmony required If good TO be done through the
medium OF legislation.
am sstopished that any one who looks back at the
in which Spectators in lands have conrved TO
roll In wealth wruDg out OF the toll and sweat OF us
farmers of this aud other States should delay io one
day the enforcing of the republican system OF Land
Limitation. 1t would be great step gained In 'ne True
direction -, ..
Here 10 case in illustration
Frederick Philpse owned immense tracts at Philips,
burgh and also much Of your City and
near IL He OF a Dutch Bohemian family, and mar
rcd Van Courtlsndt One of his daughters espoused
Col Beverly Robinson. whose son, Beverly Robinson,
was a Colonel 10 the English army Theee Philpses
and lobnsons are extensively allied TO ancient and hon.
orsblo families but except brother, Philip Phlipse
tley ali went for the monarchy in lT16. and Pit allowed
COL b Robinson, who had married Phipse $4,000 for
hi life in rest--to Col Morris other $4,000 for life
inerss,snd 20 Frederick Phipse $4,000 all In Brit
ish cash for ais land losses here. Philip retained bis
sharc Of the esstes having taking the winning side at
the Revelation
l.; the treaty OF l7s3 the loyest heirs were never
heess legally secured in an estate far larger, the
whole than Yorkshire in England bot what could Co.
bn NenrT Gage Morris OF TOE British Navy do as to
expe.ng hundreds Of stout and hearty Newio ORR farm
ers. and others, who had possessiVn Absolutely
nothng.
What then was 20 be done For himself and two
sisters ne voted in 1902 the reyersonary right 70 Ger
man SPECTATOR j. Jacob As.or, for &2oOUO lSlOOOOOl
well knowing the, thea it was worth three or four
millions Of doIsrs and that its value would soon be IN
cScuabe considerable part of your Cty being built
corner OF one section of IL
Mr. Astor knew the kind of lawyers to empioy-the
way to get the right kind OF bills passed-io get the
preDer steps taksn-to squeeze the last dollar out OF
every being thus brought within his legal gaps
and Of those days will explain the course he took
aud IS results. The proud Enghshman could not and
would no; have 20 stopped even within the laws limit
nor would manly American. But Is II not clear That
LAND LIMIT krIoN-ssy OoOecres to any man. but more
20 none, for the future-is the only remedy Why do
We stternp, continually to work Republican Institutions
by the ussges OF Absolute Monarchy
St Pierre, the smisble and excellent author of the
"s,udics Of Nature" as quoted BY correspondent Of
yours remarks. that
eli wealthy families were permitted to purchase the
lands lying commodiousy for them such bargains would
speedily become fatal to the Slate have often been
tophed that there s law in France TO prevent the I'M
bounded accumulation OF landed property. The Romans
had Censor VINO limited the extent Of mans possession
seven being sufficient for the subsssnce Of
one family. BY tho word acre, was understood as much
land ~ yoke VI could pow 10 day. As Rome
increased 10 luxury was Increased To I've hundred but
red forward the ruin OF republic. ConQuerors have
always me, with feeble resistance In countries where
properly 10 unequsy divided Overgrown estates destroy
shs spirt patriotism in who everything and
those who have nctning'
How this 10, and how applicable 20 own sit.
uason and ye, have met with legislators here who
while they frankly admitted existing evils feared
% open their lips 10 propose remedy Meanwhile,
hesitation divides into factions and weskens
~ the Locos OF 1916 and their successors now.
Vim. p. Van Rensselaer, and the Manor TroaAes
Considerable excitement produced In the Assem-
bly, this morning BY long Petition presented BY Mr.
Speaker HAssxorcx, signed BY and seemingly In the
N contained seven iolio narrative and argument and
was read the reQHesg Of Mr. PERKINs effort OF Mr.
WALSH TO get rid of the reading having failed. A mo
ton by Judge SorKR TO refer this Petition 10 Special
Commttee favorable 70 its prayer and not the Com
ittre having the other Petitions the subject in
charge tailed, and by svoe Of 60 to L. IL sent TO
the usual Committee ss Mr.. V. X. appears 10 have de-
sired and expected.
Mr. " r states that in 1872 he became proprietor OF
nis fsther Stephen Van Rensselsers estate In Reese
lssr County That the leases were granted 70 the te
nsnts or those from whom they hold between ls5 and
1880 as rapidly a. the lands could be surveyed ana
were eagerly sought after That they are held - deeds
N fee In perpetaity to the tenant subject to rent pays
bic 10 wheatwere granted rent free during the nrst Sc
Yen years ana cent has ever been paid 40 pur
chase money for them That the possession Of tenant
hasever been disturbed by any one Claiming to have
better tue-yet that the tenants now pray Tor law 10
perm. them 10 contest and sdste tee ute OF the pro
under which they have held possession Tor more
dan 50 yesrs That If their request to DO allowed 10
ther titles Ia reasonable, should be gen
sralsw all property the possession OF which 10
conferred BY proprietor upon another That 70 con
tsst only utes long unquesuoned 10 10 stimulate fraud
and violence. and give greater hope OF saccess 40 time
may have removed some Of the evidence on which such
sitles founded.
Tia, the HxSr on the Van Rensselaer, patent hardly
averages bushe Of wheat 70 the 100 OF land,
equal 70 II cents per acre. at the average wheat price
and that this ANAL claim constitutes Iak WHOLE Anti
Rant. grievance which sgisa,es the STATE and de-
fss the Law;
That In the Manor of Rsnsselserwyek. the leases
with few exceptions grants in fec subject only 20
he small rent mutually agreed which scarcely equals
he interest Of the value OF the land threecors years
nes and that be has often offered 10 release bis claim
10 rent and make the title absolute for which at
per cent would produce an interest equal 10 the
rage value OF the rent LOT about II cents per acre
That the tenants could thus become propriecr for
suu under O. per acre nstssd Of wearing the badges
OF feuoal vassssee = but that neither rent nor prnc
pa 10 psid their real objecr being "repudisron Of
skeir covenants and the appropriation 70 themselves Of