New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-20
MANS RIGHT TO HIS OWN.

Among the questions cOnspicuously raised BY
recent proceedings in our City is that Of the
right Of each man TO whatever he may have
fairly earned or acquired-bis right to possess.
control and enjoy it, subject always to the die
tates Of morality and the laws Of the land, but
never, never to ruffian violence AID mob die.
tation.
For instance:
A manufacturer or mechanic in large bust
affairs, when bis attention is challenged by
some one he never saw before, who walks up
in his shirt sleeves, cigar in mouth. aud abruptly
says
81 am here TO request you 10 close tbi: e.
tablshment forthwith. aud keep i closed for
the remainder Of the day"
| "By whose ordsrl"
by order Of tue mob"
| Under what penalty
"Uuder penalty Of being burnt out within
two hours"
Hereupon the gentleman in shirtseeves
takes himself off, and the business man pro.
ceeds 10 turn bis workmen into the street and
close his windows and doors. feeling Like a
sneak and taking care not to catch tho rehec.
ton Of his own face in q mirror.
There were many instances of this sort dur.
ing the last week. Here is fragrant case:
| The agent Of one Of our great gas companies
visited US on Thursday to ask US to be very
sparing Of gas for the present He did bis er-
rand courteously, aud, we fancied. had the
grace to be ashamed Of it,
"But Sir. how can We comply with your
requestl We live by light-csunot live with.
out it. A family may &c IN bed at dark and do
without gas entirely; but we must work all
night or our paper is stopped-our business il
ruined. We need not less but more light than
usual in these times, with gangs of rufiian,
prowliDg in every dark corner. awaiting au
opportunity to surprise aud destroy us. Why
not let Us have our full supply Of gasl"
because our wOrkmen have all left US !"
"What! do you employ and depend on
riOtersl 2"
"No: ou, men are not rioters But we
were required to discharge them for tho day,
or have our works burned down, aud We had
no choice but compliance"
"Was this the first dayl"
| "No-the third"
"And you have not yet armed your work
men, fortified your premises, and hidden the
villains defancel"
mo: they would burn US ont"
We could not help feeling that said rich aud
powerful Gas Company had failed in ito duty
to its dependent customers and to tho com.
munity.
The case 10 little different with . private
individual who il ordered to discharge his col.
ored servants or worknen under peril Of sach
and arson; but even he has no right to resi-
quiet under the outrage. A man will cOncedt
very much to shield his family from measure
less violence, but he should 80 cOncede barely
once. The next day should find him so com
bined with and strengthened by his neighbour
a. to DO ready to treat a. ho deserves the mex
scOundrel who may como to bully him con
corning his own personal affairs.
Tho merchants of New-York are to hold ,
meeting to-day TO devise and provide means o
relief for tho abused, malsreated, Persecuted
outraged colored population Of our city, nov
covering in cellars and stables from fear o
their abusers, torturers, murderera This Il
proper and lsudable, but We toll the mer
, chants that these poor victims Of sensees
brutality and Internal malice need ju'uc
more than charity. end that what the power
. full and humane ought to do for them il Il
unite in firm resolve that they shall DO pro
. tscted In their rights and their homes. ant
; made welcome 10 any work that they GRO sbl
!, sud willing to Do ct sstisfsasoy prices. u