New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-19
THE SMITH LANDS.
HrM YoEK. Tuesday, July y

the {" Unlted Ihlofs ht-uN'afiS"
The SMITH LANDS
Nrw YoKK, TOesdsy, July le 1850
To fAe Editor Of TIE Tribsns'
On Tusday evening last, at the Industrial 'on'
ere,s nv attention was called to an article IN inc
Ner York Herald Of that morning, in relation 70
meeting OF the Smith Benehciarles or Donee''
Of the previous evening, wherein the au'no' "
said article states that there were but two present.
and evidently epdeavors to create an impression
on the public mind that the Donees are uOgratei0i
and that Mr. Smiths benevolence has been thrown
away upon men whose motives were sordld' and
conse quenty, this cry for land raised BY the he
formers is all CANNON.
This nameless slanderer says in substance tnaf
we have refused the land. Now, su, we nave
,ince last February held some 10 or IL meetings
the greater part of the Donees have PAID four
Gears arrearaees OF taxes, and have had tneir
deedr-recorded at Malone. the Shire Town OF
Franklin County, paid out Of the clio sent Win tue
deed. And recently the Association sent p9,e-
gate 10 explore and examine the land when De
feeate reported favorably and the report was Us'
AsIMoUsLY adopted, which was formal acception
OF the land 10 all intents and purposes OF the noble
and munifcent donator
AsIvas not present at the meeting, cannot
saw bow many attended, but IL will be remembered
that Monday evening was rainy and dlsagreeaole,
and also that Nineteenth st and Seventh av Is an
extremely outof the-way place 10 bold meeting,
for those who are scattered from Harlem to the
Battery-no business Of Importance was before
the me citing neither. The major part oil tbe DO
nees are DESTROYS Of settling upon the land, are ex.
tremely anxious for home sacred from the grasp
of ayarice and in accepting chs had no other mo-
tive, no other DESIRE than that otescaping from this
great moral wen.
In order TO settle this land isoatedly, requires
more means than any one OF the donees, with one
or two exceptions, have in their possession. There
fore we have come to the conclusion 70 keep
united, and settle the land upon some simple prn-
ciple of cooperation and, as that cannot be done
this season, and there being no definite plan OF
action settled upon as yet, none deemed it neces-
sary, probably, to be in a hurry until II could be
ascertained that one or two Of the donees who
promised to bring forward plan for settlement
had announced their readiness 70 report.
One word as 10 an article in yesterdays Express,
predicated upon the Heraids article. The Er.
pres says ait is evident from this that the Work.
inemen Of New. York do not desire TO leave the
City except on occasional excursions, &c. Now,
cir can for one say that the Express Is mistaken;
on the contrary, these excursions have tendency
to create a desire for rural scenery, and to enjoy
the green fields and pure air, not by an "occa aston
a" stroll over the green sward and through shady
enjoy the fruits thereof If the Editor OF the En-
press would go with me III he gave currency to
this gross falsehood), among the hundreds l am
acquainted with who are toiling and sweating 10
exc out scanty pttance, and living in the stihed
dens Of this famous City II know Of none OF the
workers dwellings that can be called else than
sti6ed dens) he would find ninetenths would
gladly exchange the pavements, brick and mortar,
din and tumult degradation and misery, Of Gotham,
for a HOUSE in the Wilderness or the prairie,
where be might live in happiness and peace
Suffice it to say that nine tenths ofthe donees are
resolves to keep their lands and pay their taxes,
though they all may not settle upon them ever,
hoping that their children may be able 10 settle
upon Them when they are dead and gone.
Spectators may as well keep easy for we will
not sell. say this, because as soon as we had got
our deeds, aDdspeculators were on our track co
deayoriDg to buy us out az they seemed fully
aware that before many years rolled around, this
land would be highly valuable for its beautiful tim
her. Yours truly Z. s. MANNING,
Sec pro TEN to the Smith Land Association
n. win the Herald anil Express have the
msgnanimity to correct the misstatements they
have made relative to a numerous portion OF our
citizepsl