The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-30
ANTI-RENT.
The Qriain and IIistory of the TrC

| Inc Qf1gin ana History oil the TrOubicss
The Albany ECenjng Journal speaks OF the
! present anti-rent troubles in Rensselaer, county,
! N. Y, as follows:-
Most sad and deplorable was the murderous
conflict which transpired yesterday within sight
! OF our city, upon n quiet farm about a mile east
OF the village of Greenbush. A Deputy Sheriff
OF Rensselaer, county and his posse-manly
| composed of Albanians-were set upon by q
band OF armed men, while engaged in the ser
vice OF legal process, and FIVE of their number
wounded, the Deputy Sheriff and one other it is
believed fatally.
This outbreak revives interest in a prolonged
ana most exciting controversy which had almost
come to be regarded thing of the past-the
resistance of a numerous tenantry i'm our own
and adjacent counties to the collection of rental
upon their estates, under the old manorial titles
in times past this issue has been a breeder of
physical strifes, of social dissensiops, of DO
lltical enmity. 1t has been deemed of suiIi-
cieut interest and importance to hold the
balance OF power between parties in the State.
lime was when the tenants had a secret organi-
zation numbering thousands of men, who i'm
the disguise of savages, and adopting savage
method of warfare, undertook to accomplish by
IOrce their sworn purpose of defeating the
claims OF landlords. The militia has been called
out to suppress them, and ''the Heidelberg
war, THE Grafton campaign" and other
features OF the struggle, will long be remem-
beLCd. we nave seen an "anti-rent meeting"
I'm Rensselaer, county, at which not less than
&uOOO persons were present OF course dema-
gogucs and place-scekers undertook to profit by
the existence of this widespread and deep-seated
feeling, and the secret history of manGuvres by
TINS or that class OF Wirepullers to secure the
Indian vote would constitute an interesting
chapter. But the struggle was unequal, and
malktalned at serious cost. Many of the farmers
lost their lands-not few their lives. Some
found their way to prison. The courts uni
fOTmly decided against them. A desire for relief
from tumult and from a sense of insecurity
began to prevail. Large numbers of the tenants
compromised their claims, though protesting
iig fln hi,
compelled to do so. So of late years the ''anti-
renters" have become less numerous, have aban-
doned their armed opposition, and only occa-
sional skirmishes between defaulting occupants
and disraining officers have indicated the con-
tmued existence OF Il leud which the shocking
events OF yesterday will again bring into promi-
nence. However the public may SYM
pathiZe with the tcnantry, in opposition to the
antl-democratlc system OF which they are vic
tins, it can feel nothing but repTobatiOn for the
murderous conduct of WtbecB and his fellow
assassins. Grggs and his posse were engaged
in the performance of a duty. In seeking to
take possession they were justified by we'll
settled principles of law. The tenants knew
this. They were perfectly well aware that
forcible resistance TO the process, in any de-
gree whatever, was criminal. The only place
in which they could legitimately fight
their cause was in the courts. Having delibe-
rately organized to shoot down, stab, and beat
the Sheriff and his assistants, they must be held
accountable for the full consequences of their
acts. Should either OF the wounded men die,
the crime of which their assailants are guilty
comes under the definition of murder. 1t is to
be hoped that they will be promptly arrested.
If the civil authorities are powcrless to take
them, the Governor should order an adequate
militia force to do so. The majesty of the law
must be vindicated. That will be a sad day
when in this State deeds like those committed
| by the ribbon societies and other oath-bound
| fraternities of murderers in Ireland go un-
punished.
Three years ago bill was presented in the
| Legislature providing that the State should buy
up the landlords cams-which could be done
on reasonable terms-and thus eXtnguish the
titles. 1t passed the House, but failed in the
! Senate for want of time. We believed then, and
still believe, that this would have been just
and wise settlement. If we must pay SO much
to be rid of lingering relic of mOnarehical tyr
amy, let the whole people generously assume
the burden, and not have it all laid upon the
shoulders of farmers most of whom are men of
small means, and have hard work enough to get
| subsistence from their lands, without being COM
/ PEELED to clear off from them the unpaid and ac-
/ cumulatcd rental of many years.