The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-06

Political Reminiscences-Ths working.
n. ua4Q.


burg, as noticed in the HERALD Of l4th inst, re-
wives in our mind the recollection OF tho original
working mems party Of this city, Of which he was
one Of the founders in 1929, and ran ON the
Assembly ticket for this city, in November
Of that year. Mr.. Clannon was . native Of
ITelsnd He came early in life to this city,
and followed his occupation as mechanic,
and for many years kept paint store at No
$50 Broadway. In 1929 he became known to tho
public IS . politician, by his association with
Thomas Skidmore and other rad Gals, who induced
the mechanic and other working men to declare
their ndeps adence Of both Tsmmany Hall and
Masonic Hsll-the headquarters Of the Jackson and
tho Adams men-by nominating candidates for the
Legislature from among hemseives Being, Is was
supposed assisted by tie couusels of Fanny Wright
and her coadjutors, the anz alton Of the working
men, under the auspices Of Skidm ore, received the
name Of "Fanny Wright men" from their oppo-
nents. SkidmOre was JEALOUS advocate of John
Quincy Adams, and high tariff man, and figured
IN the Adams nominating committee in 1928. The
overwhelming triumph OF the jackson party in
duoed him to abandon nation Il for State and city
politics, and he at once acquired great inf uencs
among the working Glasses particularly in the up
per wards of the city. working mems party had
been organized and in existence in Philadelphia
for nearly year previous TO It's Commencement in
NeW 1OIA anu Ill November, IozS, the Snllauek.
phia organization denied the charge Of their being
tbe disciples Of Miss Fanny Wright, declaring the
report to that effect false fabrication, props.
gated by their enemies with view of uring their
cause and that they dsolaim all Interference with
religious matters or adherence to Miss Wright's
principles, and hold them entirely foreign to their
views, and appeal the fact OF the verkiog mems
existence IS . body, on the same principles they
now profess, tor nearly agar previous to her ap-
pearance amongst us
Notwithstanding this disavowal. and similar dc.
elsrations made by tho working men in this city,
tho belief was nearly universal that the new party
was intdcl in Its character, and that the leaders
took their Que from Miss Wright, whs about that
time began to take q part in American politics, by
writing for the press, aid by publ, lectures which
were at first numerously attended by many citizens.
Frances Wright, on her return to England from
her hrst visit here, in 1921, had published volume
on this country, entitled s'Vews Of Society and
Manners IL America, by an EnslIshwoman," which
had boon favorably received both sides of the
Atlantic. The work vas extremely partial to this
country, but not disclose the writer's pc ,uliar
views on religion and socialism On her drst visit
TO this country, she was Omitted into the most
circles of American society, such the
family and associates of the late Or David Hosack,
of this city, and Of the late Mr.. Wadsworih Of
Livingston county. Her second visit to the Unit I'd
States was ignalized BY her avowal of inhdel sem
timents in religion and attack upon some of the
Interests OF organized society oonc,dlng in many
of the ultra views with The original working men
Of Philadelphia and New York Miss Wright
~,
in connection with Robert Dale Oven, called the
Free Enquirer, in which in6del sentiments, a. we'll
as socialism, were advocated. The same cotrie
also started daily evening paper. called the
-SfHtlnG She also purchased or leased, building
IN the Fourteenth ward. which she called the Hall
of Science, in which she others delivered leo
lures On Sunday, against the Christian religion,
and in favor OF what she called reform.
In the autumn Of 1879 there was great excite
ment among portion of the mechanics OF this
city, on the subject of the want OF = lien law on
buildings, and on various other matters OF interest
to them as Q class, which points we're adroitly
seized upon by Skidmore to sssis. him in organizing
working mans party. large meeting to nomi-
nate legislative ticket was heid by these working
men at Military Hall, in the Bowery, in Ooto-
ber 1922 at which, among other violent resolutions
drawn up by Skidmore spd adopted by ths meeting,
were eundry pointed against the holders Of real
estate in large quantities banking institutions and
bankers. The following OF tnese resolutions show
that anti rent notions were strongly entertained by
Skidmore and his working folio Wers, more than
twenty-five years ago:-
Resolved In the opioion Of this meeting, that the first
apprc nrstion Of the soil Of the State and
elusive Possession, was eDineuSIy and barbarously
unjust
Resolved, That 1t substantially fsuda in Its cha
racter, pssmuch those who received enormous and
unequal poesesson lerds aad tnoe who received
little or nothing were vasssl,.
Resolved That herud tAIy rar smiesion Of wealth on
tie one hand. and poverty sn the other has brought
down to the present generation AL the evils Of the pre-
cent stem and that this opinion is the prime
source OF ell our calamities.
Resolved In this view Of the matter that the greaest
knaves, nposto1s and paopers Of the age, are our
bankers &C.
The meeting which adopted these, and other
equally stringent resolutions including one against
eXemptng churches and church property from taxa
tiop proceeded to nominate tickets for the Senate
and Assembly. Slas Wood, of Suffolk county,
who was nominated by the Adams men, and did
not, of course, sympatniSe with Skidmore end his
followers in their dostrines was nominated for one
of the Senators, and Edward J. Webb radical
working man OF this city, for the other. For
members OK Assembly, many names were placed in
nomination, and put into hit, aud the required
number OF eleven candidates we're drawn ont,
namely--Tbomas Skidmore, Simen Clannon, Ece-
nezer Ford, Alexander Mug. 81, Ebenezer Viii
ting, Frederick Friend, Cornelius u Beatchley,
Robert M kerrison, A den Potter, Amos William
son, and Benjamin Mott
These names formed me working mems Assem-
bly, ticket, in November, 1922. aud their nonina-
ton led to soene OF exc,t. meat which was not
Terminated Until the close OF the election. At first
the matter attracted bat iitte attention from the
great macs Of the citizens and the we'll known
infdel character of some of the names the ticket
and the daring nature ct the resolutions adopted
by the meeting, induced men of both parties to
believe that there was little danger Of the sue.
cess OF this working mems TICKET, wnioh tar ,atened
to upset the VERY foundations Of cur o,ial rea-
items. Bet It so happened that both tho jackson
ard Adams party III the city were, at that timo,
distracted AID divided. particularly on questions
relating t. the renewaio OF bank charters, and others
OF o kindred character. Being at that tine
connected vih the daily press Of this city.
we perceived that the prominent elcctioneeTefs
in the upper wards were sstng with the working
plen, AID the first day wero carrying all before
them The election was then held for three days;
ard the second day we SCUM led the alarm, thus:
s'We undois'and, vita sstonishment and alarm,
that the .isidel ticket misealled the working
mems ticket is far ahead Of every othor Assembly
ticket IN the city-rot excepting even the regular
Tammary Hall ticket What a state Of thugs
have we reached! ticket got up openly ard
evowedly il opposition TO all banks, to social ord.r
TO the rights Of lroper;y-Tunnipg ahead OF every
other! Is rot this sufi ,ient TO startle mon who
bave reg ard for the fundamental laws Of society!
We are surrounded by dsnger--not only IS the
party but 10 the country" Sc. &c.
This alarm gun, and similar one in Ltngs
dlstfie, had til desired effect The two follow
ing days, jackson AID anti ia 'kson men rushed to
the polls, and voted generally tor tho Tanmany
Hall amended ticket, containing eight names on
Tho regular ticket, ard three names nemi mated AT
tho "Pewter Mug" tavern, by disanected Jackson