The New York Herald

Interesting from the Riotous District.
We have received an interesting and rather important letter from Hudson, detailing the death of citizen Rivenburg, which we mentioned on Friday, and giving the particulars of the arrest of the leaders in the recent anti-rent troubles near Albany.

This letter is important so far as that section and the laws of this State are concerned, because, by the arrest of the leaders of the rioters, further lawless proceedings on their part may be prevented.

These insurrectionary movements of a few individuals, disguised as Indians, have too long disgraced this State, and we begun to believe that our government had not sufficient moral or physical courage to put down a riot—when it is known that the anti-rent feeling was not universal even among the tenants themselves, and that families were even divided on the propriety of contesting the right of the Patroon to collect the rents, it is strange that Gov. Bouck neglected for so long a time to check at once the revolutionary spirit that would ultimately have spread throughout the manor. At any time a decided movement on the part of the authorities would have saved all the loss of life and all the insults that have been perpetrated by a few lawless loafers in the Rensselaer district, and yet for reasons best known to the Executive, the outrages have been winked at for months and months.

Hudson, Dec. 20, 1844.
Anti-Rent Meeting—Big and Little Thunder—One Man Shot.

A meeting of the anti-Renters of Columbia co., was held at Smokey Hollow, in the town of Claverack, about seven miles east of this city, on Wednesday, 18th instant. About 180 men, disguised as Indians, arrived with pistols, tomahawks, and swords, marshalled by their chief, Big Thunder, and marched after a band of music. They assembled at the house of Mr. Miller, (a tavern,) where Big Thunder addressed them at length. There were about 1500 spectators from different parts of the county, and from this city. While passing out of the building in which they assembled, a pistol was discharged in the hall, or near the front door, the contents of which entered the breast of a young man about 18 years of age, by the name of Rivenburg, whose father resides in the town of Hillsdale. The ball entered the centre of the breast, about one inch above the nipples, passing between the third ribs, tending downward, and to the right on an angle of 30 degrees, passing directly through the heart, and lodged in the spine, causing instant death. It could not be ascertained who discharged the pistol. No feeling of regret was manifested, or notice taken of it by the Indians. The body was conveyed home, where a post mortem examination was made by Doctors Squires and Hinsdale, of the town of Claverack, in the presence of the coroner. No jury could be got; the body was removed the next day to the house where the meeting was held, and an inquest held over it. Intelligence being brought to the city of the death of this young man, the sheriff, Henry C. Miller, Theodore Miller, Esq., district attorney, Joseph D. Monell, Esq., and Mr. John S. Auble, immediately repaired to the spot, where, with the assistance of deputy sheriff Thos. Sedgwick, and Colonel Root, of the town of Claverack, they succeeded in arresting their chief, Big Thunder, and his second, Little Thunder, and a man by the name of [name missing], who was very officious in attempting to rescue Big Thunder from the sheriff. Big Thunder, who is one Dr. Boughton, of Rensselaer county, presented a horse pistol to the breast of the sheriff and Mr. Auble, threatening their lives if they attempted to arrest him. They seized him, and soon made a different disposition of his firearms. He then called on his brother Indians, saying, "If I have any friends, come and assist me;" but the whole tribe of natives stood awe struck at the arrest of their chief. Big Thunder was brought before Judge Peck yesterday for trial. Sheriff Miller, on his examination, swore that he was the person who presented a pistol to his breast, threatening him with instant death if he did not give up his papers, in the town of Copake, where he had gone to sell on a distress warrant for rent. Big Thunder applied for counsel from Rensselaer county, to grant which the court adjourned until 2 o'clock this afternoon.

There has been a report, from a source entitling it to credit, that an attempt would be made to rescue the prisoners from the prison. The citizens convened at the court house last evening to take into consideration, and provide for the safety of the city. The meeting was ably addressed by several gentlemen, among which was Judge Hogeboom, and E. P. Cowles, Esq. A committee was appointed, who reported that there be an additional city watch of twenty men in each ward, and that the Hudson Light Guards, under the command of Capt. E. P. Cowles, be stationary to guard the prison, and that the same be kept as long as may be necessary. Cannon has been placed around the prison for its better defence, and every thing bears an aspect of war.

Big Thunder had, on his arrest, a horse pistol, which was loaded with two balls, a large knife, a thimble, balls, &c. &c. After the death of Rivenburg, Col. Root addressed him in public on behalf of the spectators, asking him why he had assembled with those natives with arms? He replied that he had been informed that the sheriff was coming with a posse from Hudson to arrest him, and that he had prepared himself to meet any emergency, and would never be taken by sheriff Miller, and boastingly proclaimed that, with ten of his natives, and he at their head, they would take the sheriff and all his posse in about two hours. This boasting knave found himself locked up in a cell of the prison. The sheriff's posse consisted of four men; and Big Thunder's posse was, at that time, about one hundred men.

Since writing the above, it is reported by a man, from Rensselaer county, that preparations are making there to rescue Big Thunder. A messenger has been despatched to the Governor to provide for the better safety of the city. Where this will end, no man can tell.
M.