The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-14
Young Mems National Reform AssociatiOn.


Young Mems National Reform Association.
A meeting was held last night, Of the above
association, at the Lyceum, in Broadway.
very large, respectable, and attentive audience
was present on the occasion. Mr.. Rykman
was unanimously called to the chair; Mr.. Barr
was appointed Secretary.
Mr.. BAKER, of Philadelphia then addressed the meet
ing the subject of reform In the matter OF land Mr.
Baker went briefly into view Of the propriety OF limit
ing the possession Of land and showed the evil of suf
fering monopoly. This evil such that in
California the spectators had swallowed up the best of
the land One man had bought up for himself thirty
miles Of land
HoRAcK GREELrY ESQ. then addressed the meeting
and met with loud aud continued cheering from The
whole assembage. lie began with srking upon The
nscsssty of general and thorough reform which idea
he illustrated by the motion made in the French Ma
oua Convention at the period of the greatest agony OF
the French REVOLUTION, by member who moved to
rest all the enemies Of the Republic at So Mr. O.
would wish that all the evil, which pressed upon the in
dustrous classes all the bad laws aud policy which
cursed the social life, might II possible, be arrested
cut OH and exterminated. not in little FRAGMENTS
but at MIR. q. then proceeded to expatiate
upon the evils, the difficulties aud the impediments
wheh at his very outset met the honest and genuine
settler, the real cultivator OF the soil The real settler
penses Of his removal to the West he seldom
than few dollars left In his pocket He then goes
upon the land works hard clears him little spot and
fences 1T he has presumption right to the land but 1t
must be paid for within two years Now, during those
two years he has work enough do support himself
and family and clear little land How be acquire
sod specie enough to pay the demand of the
The consequence is that II he does raise the money
required he is liable be stripped fruits Of all
labor himself and family turned destitute again upon
the world and his little farm taken from under his feet
Some foreigner comes, and his little clearing and
coves it; and then repairs the land oacc and puts
his mark upon 1t. Ii is now sold for money to .
who has done work upon It, and he has labored
and made it worth what IL is, is turned out II the
| neighbors should prevent the purchaser from COM
ing personally to turn out tho settler and enjoy
| IN ON fn TO,ta
some city where he may live and send word to the
settler requiring him to Pay SO much for his own
man the real settler and given by law to money and to
who perhaps intends to settle to labor Mr.
bly,, upon the gros, moral and political Injustice Of
this atrocious system: Mr.. G. then depicted with
ton to which new country is reduced by the
license which the law gives the monsyed man resi-
and improvement and prevent the actual settler
from clearing or possessing the land Mr. q. stated
West how in the neighboroood of Chicago aud other
Cities spectators In ditant eastern cities had pur
chased whole tracts, which lay idle like desert,
| preventing all Improvement in the country. M,
| q expressed his hope that the time was not far
of when reform would be effected in this matter and
he hoped to see the day when the setter who had
money, would be able to get land and the non settler
and non worker, who bad money, wsud not be able,
with all his money, to get land This sentiment most
happily expressed, was unanimously and rapturou.iy
| spplauded.l MIR. Greeley proceeded to explain
| rsform--the LIST, that there ought TO be
Limitation to the extent Of any one mans possession
curity and certainty attached to his homestead Mr.
entered into very interesting calculation showing how
in proportion population landlords received
more from the land, and the laborer taxed the
more, and the farmer paid more rent Thus the benefits
of the improvements Of large population only chief
~ rebound to the landlord.
After further highly interesting and useful re-
marks upon the present and past condition Of thu
ing classes OF New York Mr. Greeley read the ewing
resolutions, which put and carried unanimously
Whereas, The experience Of years proves to that
alaboring class sinking down to the level of
the pauperiz.d masse. OF the old world Aud Whereas
the annual message ofthe President of the United States
announces that the prosperity Of the nation yearly
increasingly statement also. endorsed In the message
just sent to the Legislature Of his State by tho
norwe soemny declare as the working classes of this
city that such Increased prosperity has not home
to Our rents rising, while at the time
wages falling, and the necsssares Of life command
higher prices than for many years hitherto thus limit
ing us In the quantity procure Added TO this,
the labor market has become overstocked thus render
Ing the chances of employment more and moro precar
Resolved, Therefore, That We look for a remedy to
these grievances to the opening of the public
for the of actual settlers and the working
this country to join in demanding the pas
sage or such aiaw by our national government.
Resolved That We earnestly press upon
of the Legislature the necessity Of early adoption Of
the resolution offered September l7h ls47 by special
committee of the House to whom was referred memo
rial on the subject of the freedom Of the public lands
the Of the homestead and the Limitation OF
the quantity Of land to be obtained by any individual
hereafter; and again presented by the Hon Mr. Bowie
| Of New Yots on the 9Th day Of January, ls4s, and
| Resolved, Qf the Senate coneurJ that the public
lands are the common property OF the people, and Of
right shond be held and approprl ed for their
use and benefit aad tor no other purpose what
| ever
Congress be instructed and our Representatives in Con-
requested their best Efforts TO procure the
passage of law to prohibit the sale OF the ublic lands
and be surveyed into lots of limited
| quantity. for the use of actual settlers.n
Resolved, That tho abovs resolutions Just and
polite. and that call CONGRESS to carry them into
| eGsc. at the earliest possible period.
Resolved That for reasons which must be obvious to
every rehectipg individual the homestead to limited
number Of acres, should be exempted from all forced
GALE for debt other liability contracted alter the
Resolved, That limit should be fixed to the area Of
soil any individual may hereafter possess hold in
this State because the earth is the com mon parent Of
all, and on whose bosom have much right to be
aud to rest as have TO breathe the air above it,
drink the water upon It.; which right denied by
our laws that permit wealthy individuals to hold more
Of Its surface than they can properly to the excu
OF their BIRTH and refused at the option their fell
lows nourishment from the breast of that mother which
the great Author of life rnade amply sufficient for the
su.trnance and comfort Of the whole human family.
Mr. CT esey having concluded the reading of tt above
sat down amid the loud and rapturous applause Of the
assemblage.
The Rov Mr.. IseLxs was hereupon introduced to the
meeting, when MIR M. T. o'Connor loudly called
MIR O'CoSsoK came forward, and respectfully de-
clined intrudins himself upon the meeting until his
heard.
The Rev. Mr.. IseLFs hersupon proceeded to address
the meeting In favor OF the general principles Of the
great measure of land reform when
Mr.. O'CosSoK was loudly called for again. On
Ing forward he said that the gentlemen who preceded
him had ably demonstrated the advantsses-the jus
tice-nay the immediate necessity, OF making the
of the national party the basis Of repub
lean social tystem, thar, DOUBT many considered It
would bs only to bring the before Con
gress 60 have the law OF the nation fthere BE-
any tuch in this they deceive themselves The
strugsl. for It's accomplishment lies surrounded by de-
feat--oy treachsry.ey ohieansry, aud, probably, By
massacre and bloodshsd This IA no struggle In
which engaged II is rs old almost rs the OF
man History repiete with aud strife furnishes us
few glmpses of the worlds early social condition
There ID that matter how barbs the nation
the Invariably sought to get OF the soil