The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-27

Ths Anti-Rent Ceunties-The Balanee of
YslitieaI Power In the State OF New


Ths Anti-Rent Ceunties-The Hslapes of
YslitieaI Power In the State OF New
York.
The aAtirent party, it is shown by the result OF
the recent election in the State of New York. still
hold the balance of power 1.-The various influences
that have been organized and brought to bear-psr-
tScxlarly the movement commenced at Castle Garden
n this city, last year, and continued this year
have failed to overcome the balance held by the
voters in the counties inhabited by the anti renters
1t Will be interesting, at this time, to give compare
tive tables Of the votes polled by the antirent
party, and to notice few of the points bearing
mon a subject SO important to the people Of the
whole State.
Although not regularly organized for political
action until the election Of 1916, the antrent party
trst exhibited itself at the polls at the general
election Of 1914. There had" says Hammond,
in his Life of Silas Wright, "during the winter of
1874, been several outrages committed by the to-
nants of General Van Rensselaer,, in the county Of
Albany, and disorders of similar character soon
appeared in the counties of Delaware, Columbia,
Greene, and Rensselaer,. The pretence for these
ou.rages was the rigid, and as was alleged, unrea
sonable conditions contained in the leases by which
the tenants held their lands. Bat there was large
who entirely dsapproved Of physical opposition to The
laws and who commended that long leases, and the
provisions Of forfeiture for breaches Of rifing aud
frivolous covenants, and the restraint on alienation
by the tenant, BY means of clauses in leases cove
nanting that heavy fines, under the names Of
quarter sales,' should be paid by the tenant to
his landlord, upon transfer Of the interest of the
former in the de missed premises, tended to prevent
useful and permanent Improvements OF the country,
and were inconsistent with the genius OF our govern
ment. They also complained that the law which
authorized the summary collection OF rent by dis
tress and sale, was unreasonably oppressive. They
insisted tina. these evils ought TO be relieved by
legislation and that if eectual relief could be OBJ
tame in no other way, that the State ought to ex
ercise its right of eminent domain. The people
who thus reasoned, sought, as they had right to
do, 10 make their voice heard through the ballot
bex"
AT the election Of lSii, the anti-renters COM
menced operations by pursuing very wise and
polite course. In counties where they were uncer-
tain whether they hada plurality of votes over both
the whig and democratic parties, they selected
yuch Of the candidates nominated by either of the
parties, as they had reason to believe would be
most favorable to their views and give the persons
thus selected every anrent vote by this course Of
policy they, holding as they did, the balance Of
power controlled the election fer members ofthe Lee
gislature in albany, Colun oia, Delaware, Greene,
Rensselaer,, Schoharie and Sullivan counties, and
brought into the Assembly, from those counties,
sucn men az favored and supported their views, 50
far as they could be supported consistent with the
constitution Of this State and Of the United States
Two Of the most Efficient and able members of
the Assembly Of lS45 were brought into that
Assembly by means Of the SURFACES Of the
anti-rerters. We allude 20 la Harris, Of
Albany county, and William II. Van Schoon-
hoven, Of Rensselaer, county. These gentlemen are
both Of the whg party, and both Of high standing
among the respectable and wealthy portion CT the
community among whom they reside. Mr.. Harris
lie Leading msmber Of ne Baptist Church, and the
family Of Mr.. Van Sehoonhcven are connected
with The institutions Of Troy, hnan;ial and other
wise, ard are also aEopg the profGie:ors Of real
estate IN Rensselaer, county.
The following is list Of tie autirent counties
their area in square miles, population in iojo, and
their woes ior P,esiGeL. e the United States il
November, lsi4:-