The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-06

YESTERDAY pursuant TO announcement, committee Of
she unemployed workmen, appointed at meetiaS held
ut Hope Chapel recently consisting Of Robert Grant
william West, Ben Price, Ira b. Davis william Rove
md william Arbuhnot, appeared before COMMITTEES 81
ehe Board Of Councilman, to whom referred TIE %
btion Of the unemployed workmen. The meetig vas
RIed At two o'clock In the chamber Of the 8oard Of
pbuncllmen, but the committee did make their APP
pearsnee before three
Councilman BARNEY took the chair and informed the
workmen that the committee was ready to hear what
they had to ofsr.
Mr. RoBIRr GRANT desired to know II the committee
wished to hear the whole question to the merits of
the subject of the memorial discussed simply on the
proprey Of allowing the workmen to appear before the
Counclnen.
CHAmxAS-We wish 10 hear all you have to say.
Mr.. WEsr-I understand that the committee can hear
anything we bring before them.
Mr.. BEs PMcK-lf We have the right to come before
the Board OF Coupcilmen we should prefer doing So
CHAMAs-We tear that If the privilege of pleading in
person before the Council allowed IL would lead to
great abuse and would be well for to lay all your
Mr.. WET then read the following
ADDRESS.
To Tm HONORABLE BOARD OF CoUNcuMES
tENTLkMEN-We approach you in behalf Of thousands
OF unemployed worsing men of this city, in the per-
OF duty they have imposed upon u.s. to ask at
charity, but to demand justice. There is yet, amid
these men, of manlness which forbids them
come to you in the character of paupers pray for
and to receive at your hands pauper relief They feel
that for their inability TO obtain work, of
which they are now suffering extreme want being re-
duced to almost famine rations they in nowise
to blame. They, indeed, impute no blame any
person. or class Of persons through whose instrument
tality the wrongs which been indicted upon them
may have been occasoned. They know, OF a surety,
that they and their oppressors too are equally the VIC
On the Of their oppressors there power Of eda
cation OF custom, and OF unwise legllation On their
side there Ia only the power OF truth, of mmutable
right O ustice Now gentlemen arat tho ooisl
tors in and for the city ana county of New York Joined
with the Beard Aldermen, you are together Familiarity
Ealed we cannot conceive, unless i be that you hold
he same relation to the citizen that parent does
iou, parents, and ask that you win simply pro-
beet us in the exercise of our rights, upon condi
fou in the first place. that you WILL far as in you
hes 10 the right to labor. The law does in
the sweat of brows If find in the community
any fortunate brethren possessing land and capt
tunity. Such men, however cannot be found in
sufficient number to employ the many thousands in
whose behalf we speak Gentlemen, the labor market
is oyerstocked. There workmen than there is
work for them to do at the instance of private indi
viduals: So, gentlemen, all the efforts they
ceasingy make to obtain leave to toll made in vain.
II is q sad truth-one to which you cannot give too
much consideration to wit, that private capital is in
sufficient satisfy the demands OF labor Unless YOU
therefore, substitute the public for private capital in
the employment of these thousands of compulsory idle
workmen, it be apparent that these men cannot
live except upon charity (which they win not ask and
very reluctant to receye or by theft (Which is
their last alternative Unless YOU at this trying
crisis nterpose your protecting arm it is evident that
these men because existing laws accord them pro-
lection in the exercise of their natural right labor
must perish. We ask you, in the second place, to
secure to us the right of acquiring and to protect
in the enjoyment OF, inahenable homes. Probably
own the houses they 1--we in Why they do not il a
rieus question, which think demands from you i'm.
mediate attention. The custom-sanctioned by law,
1t sof private dviduals letting their dwellings, to to-
nants for rent which is limited only by tue ssation
OF the demand OF the enantr for the occupancy such
dwellings abetrac one third of the work ngmans
wages Then the rent which is paid TO private indivdu
ais always demanded In advance and in the midst of
universal d tres, hundreds of tenants ilyturned
Streets and deprived Of even the most miserable
mand coupled that demand H. with the state
ment that the next year It will be ncreasedperhaps
one half as much more Should not this system Of dis
posing OF the product of labor the necesstous (which
the only one known 10 the laws under which the
pent required TO pay for that product before he has
eceivedtO be speedily brought to closcS We believe
should be; bot can imagine o. accom-
lhhing this end, except by appealing to your sense
Informed, and believe, that the Corporation Of the
han ae thuaa building the people sacn not Are ess
ret unimproved Now, therefore, in the memorial
thch wehave teeo instructed to present to you, we
fray that these lots may be improved by the erection OF
buildings thereon suitable for dwellings, for the tenant
~ of the city and then let to occupants only at just
ind equal rem ny hch mean moderate and limit
I'd per cent upon the value OF the You have the
power 10 enact that this shall be done Do it, and
there will be rort enough, and than enough to
occupy Ave thou, and six months in the year.
proect the working class against the increase Of exor
bant rents decrease tue rate OF taxation yield
promptly take into consideration these reasons for
the request have preferred, and forthwith grant our
rye published the memorial In Wednesdays HxRAIp
in the proceedings OF the Board of Aidermenl
Mr.. WEsI-we do not come before tbs committee
beggars but ask what deem right We ask not aims,
but work and there is no use IN having government I'M
they furn sh the people what they want seems
to the workingmen that they have right to their own
and all that 10 the city government comos pr
nnary from them. We don't want a little soup now,
and some cast OF clothing morrow; but do want
work and means of making homes. livelihood II
there plague in the CITY, riot, every means in
the power Of the city government would be put in to
cave the people. Now the condition OF the working
classes Is most pteous They want bread Is there not
@sSs w ws right to Of Se
city government TO give work, and demand OF this
committee favorable report II was stated in one Of
kill the application. ct hope sir, rather that II win
be the Of ensoring the of this application
question: and as soon as the Committee have heard u.s.
we would like to know what they can say in reply
CHARMAN-The gentleman mistakes position;
have come here to hear arguments not TO discuss plans
OF relief
the workmens petition, II they could. When vote
for legislators is not that they may do thinking,
Mr. ARBuTHsor-If leave this matter to the Coun.
ciluen for their action, will be in the same situation
as q prisoner who ba. not chance to defend himself
we want TO be heard before the Council
Mr.. GRANT, propose gentlemen that we withdraw
application TO be heard before the Councnen and
leave the subject matter Of memorial 10 the action
nf this Committee.
This course was at length agreed TO. Messrs. Davis
rant and others, briefly addressed the Committees
se else appearing they at length adjourned and the
bmmittee separated.
STARVATION AT THE FIVE POINTS.
Dcstituton and suffering al the Five Points have In.
leased 20 such alarming extent within the last few
ees that the undersigned being OF the advisory
mittee Of the LADIES' Home Missionary Society, have
been constrained by their interest in that locality and
their intimate knowledge Of Its pressing wants TO take
definite action in It's behalf Their simple object Is 10