New-York tribune., 1868-04-28
HIGHW4Y ROBBERY DICK TURPIY At
dIR4NY.

HIGHWAY Robbery - DICK TURPIY At
ALB4HK.
There is a plan in the Legislature to give
into the power and tender mercy of three
men. 10 be chosen by the Supreme Court Nt
the biu passesl. autocratic control over all the
property bounded by Fifty-seventh-st., East
River. and Fifth-ave. The bill authorizes such
commissioners To close old streets, open new
ones, make or close parks, determine grades
and TX over all this property the assessment OF
improvements and damages 70 suit themselves.
Moreover, it enacts that the decision OF TINS
irresponsible triumvirate shall be final, that
their iDse Dirt shall be a sufficient answer TO
remonstrance. and conclusive evidence IN court
against aggrieved landowners. Was there
ever ANYTHING more atrociOusf The Demo
cratic Assembly. led by that immaculate emblem
of Spartan virtue Mr.. Alexander Frear, pro-
nose 10 Overturn the established rela-
tions of property through nearly all the
Nineteenth and a quarter OF the Iwelfth
Ward : if the bill pass, they may
of their mere notion, shut up the First,
Second. Third and Fourth-aves. they may
shut up any Of the seyenty-hye cross streets
they may change the grades, years ago hxed' 10
1 SUI LLtll WILLIS Lutg A1at N~4A~-----
! LACE Of Harlem, and turn the site into q lager
/ beer garden, a race-course, or wilderness as
they please they may project the most stupeh-
/ dous improvements, and rival the central faIA
i'm its own line-in fact, clear the whole space
of ground within the boundaries named Oh
| every vestige Of human habitation, or pack II
! with six-story tenement-hOuses at their pleas
ure What SAYS the bill: " The maps and
plans. when made and filed as aforesaid, shall
be final and conclusive as well in respect TO
/ the Mayor, Aldermen and COmmonaity OF New
I York as in respect 10 the owners and Occu-
pants OF lands, tenements, and heredIralnents
/ within the boundaries aforesaid But we have
no patence 10 90 over the matter. II Is scarcely
/ nos,ible that TIE bill can become a law We know
/ something Of tie extent OF our degradation; we
/ know that we are robbed, plundered, and
/ laughed az by or honorable lawmakers; but
until now we had supposed that the vested
rights of real estate were in some degree re-
/ spected-ve were not aware that the hungry
/ volve. of the lobby had really set their minds
upon wholesale oonfiscatl0n OF oqT houses and
lots But II Is so: this bill Is nothing less than
/ highway robbery, under the hImsy disguise OF
uubIie iuprovement. Ii hands over 70 the gang
/ of conypirators VINO have robbed Us OF
hundred millions. the fortunes Of fifty thousand
people and a hundred and fifty millions OF
Z propertv. 20 be by these men, or rather the
one man at the bottom Of it, assessed ex-
/ emuted. put up, or put down, augmented, or
/ obIiterated. Just az the greed Of the gaunt
/ wolves may dictate. Do these fellows suppose
/ that there is no end 10 forbearancei Do they
never pause TO think what they would do
under such outraees7 Do they suppose that
worbingmen. widows and orphans, and tax
/ PAYERS. great and small, will stand and deliver
I'M tins foor-pad fashion 70 all time What If
there should he a change; what if a hundred
or p thousand men should have the bOldness
20 say "we VIII no longer be robbed by these
! "cousuirators; VIC viii resist we VIII appeal 20
! the hws1 OF cOuTse the conspirators Will
I laugh Tor they have hopeful reliance upon
| the Courts. and not without reason, we fear,
/ In some instances. But there have been eman-
/ ciuations from such rObberies, some through
I the natural operation of law, some quite other
I wise. How the plundered property owners OF
/ this city shall finally escape from their Oppress-
/ ors we cannot say. hur they must escape soon.
/ or the renorseless leeehes viii not leave them
! blood enough TO put on even the semblance of
\ vitality.