The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-10
Demonstration 1T Favor OF the Omnibus
Drivers.

| Demonstration III Favor OF the Omnibus
| Drivers.
Pursuant to a call made, large assembage Of per
sons gathered in the Park yesterday afternoon TO con-
slider the pres condition of the stage drivers in
their relative petition with the propreor nd the re-
solutions which have been passed by that body for the
| government Of their future action.
| The meeting organized by calling FRANCIS
SwEEzr to the chair, and appointing ELIJAH Hat Sc
cretary The call of the meeting then by the
chairman; after which
| JAMES w. GREEN, Esq, appeared aud delivered a
very anima ted speech He said Fellow citizens-I do
the old maxim that charity ber ms at homn and 1pI
do not know why the citizens of New York should not
interest themselves for those who oppressed our
own land. hardly know what the real objects of
this meeting but am tod that the drivers of the
stages feel that they have been wronged-feel that
called this meeting to lay their grievances before the
public; and there is reason why should ex-
plain Are not drivers men, and have they rights
we'll az propretors? We cannot get aleng without
them, and those who have determined not to submit
to the oppression are respectable class Of men, The
public have called meeting express their indg ma
ton of the conduct of these men There ia something
wrong, II not then why the calling of this meeting
than the drivers licensed and ii they not com.
peten men they would not be permitted pursue their
occupation by the executive authorities Of the city
They are oppressed, and have determined that they
Will not work for ess-a nd is the amount nordinate?
The sum of 81 so per day, and have entered into a
part of the drivers, there meeting of the pro-
pretors, and compact entered into whereby a
G,t YER should aitx mot have employment on any line
tihcate from the line which he left, under penalty
to the proprietor so employing him. 1t seem. to
that this thing j. not fair. very large number have
been put upon the stages within the past day or two
who know not how to drive, and We are constantly
hearing of accidents, and they have authority to
drive Its to have men to drive these
stages who underst and their business: for with
the very best it is dangerous for children to be run
her hip1a lo
would justify this meeting, every will act in VEN
dicaton Of his character when he is charged with
stealing do not know whether they have done this
thing. God only knows; and, without the proof of
their dishonesty, bound to believe them honest
the drivers; and in two three cases they have
been obliged to throw them down and make them dis
during the day Shall the report go through the city
that all tie drivers set of thieves? Why if
there was but one honest man among them, he would
call meeting and assert his honesty They too,
have long been blamed for things improper, which
they have done at the express command of the pro-
prietors We led to believe they not the set of
men they represented to be By the proprietors
We have the right to express opinion citizens
and what is the opinion we have arrived at? We be-
icve they have not been treated right and it is but
just they should have living for their services Have
they no mag nanimty about them? But short time
thousands of dollars What was then done? Meet.
ings called. the citizens gave them money, the
drivers were not indifferent They mounted their
stages and wrought hard all day for the benefit those
men, to contribute their mite and the amount
from each was equal in proportion to the largest
amount given by any citizen. They gave to rich
proprietors who had something to lose. But
now the drivers are poor men; they have nothing
to lose, and compact is formed to take from them
that which they have. The drivers sympathized
with them but where now is their sympathy . hone
such gathering this will have a good effect upon
the proprietors would be the last man to stand here
and array one set of men against another but when
prcprietors array themselves against the drivers is
our duty to sympathize with the oppressed Messrs
Mackerell Simpson, and Berteen Co have honor
not believe they all thieves they would not have
them. They have made their money by the drivers
and are willing to pay them for their work
Mr. Green retired amidst great applause aud re-
ceyed three cheers from the drivers for kindly voun-
teering his services to their aid
r.Nocn CAMP, Esq or the Police Gazette was next
called upon who came forward and said :-Gentlemen-
1t is great qualification to to large body of
citizens assembled to sympathze with class Of mem
who have long been tramped upon by those who should
succor and sustain them The omnibus question is
Of the most import ant connected with city. The
grievances of the drivers these-They have many of
them been driving for years at q miserable allowance
they engaged from till night, many of them
let us look at of the prominent points in this
matter According to the approximations of some of
the propretors there at this of the year.
about four hundred stages running daily each
makes eight trips per day. and averaging eighteen pas
sengers to the trip makes an aggregate of 81 900 pas
sengers day. and receiving for the the of
$4,000 per day, $4,000 per week, and tl3l04Oo per
year From this estimate the business it will secure, is
vast, and the profits must necessarily be heavy They
thus giving profit of 81 per day. Many of the lines
they receive profit of Say per week.
$46s00 per Now let us look at the other side of
the pcture the driver and examine the condition of
his prosperity They are occupied from five o'clock in
the morning until nine O'Clock at night making full
sixteen hours per day without any except
per week upon which to support themselves and families
and the big bull leader Of the combination against
as "A No. - recently attempted to establish rule to
prevent any driver who might be discharged for any
cause or who refused longer to be employed any
out first having certificate Of good character from his
late employer This conspiracy most Infamous,
and tended only to degrade the reputation of every
driver who might be subjected the caprice of his
employer II is an outrage upon human rights and
will be dscountenanced by every upright citizen
On Sunday, the drivers, having other time,
called meeting and, avowing their grievances, de-
termined to demand dollar and fifty cents per day
days notice. and IT. at the expiration ofthat time the
restrictions agreed upon by the propretors should
upon the public to sustain them They have asked
for nothing that is not right, and IL they had longer
submitted to the wrongs which oppressed Them would
have evinced want of manly feeling. Let us look at
the condition of tie driver six dollars per week. and
shall discover that he has not penny for any little
comforts but has just enough to keep him from starv
ing to DEATH without coal to warm his shivering
frame The drivers are right and the public will sus-
MIR. Camp was loudly cheered by the drivers, for
the assistance rendered them, and expressed their
qualification that they had the sympathy of the public
IRA DAVIS, Esq, also made very spirited speech
having been stage driver himself he knew all the prva
lions and unpeasa ntness to which they subjected
The meet ng then adjourned, when it was manifest
that the public, those present all on the side
Of the drivers and many expressed their determination
to walk whittier they wished to rather than encou
those who held to the oppressive against
them.
Another Grand Demonstration of the Friends
or ireland.
The friends of Ireland to the number Of ten thou
sand, assembled last night at Vauxhall Garden, and
was another of those enthusiastic demonstrations
which, of late have become popular in the
down-trodden Ireland. There quite a number o.
ladies present, and the true spirit of patriotism
most fully displayed in the liberal contributions aid
that oppressed nation in her struggle for freedom The
meeting organized by ling to the chair in the