Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-19

IT.
tor their president aud appointed their other officers
they proceeded, after short delay, to disirbuts the
business OF revising the Constitution among four great
committees Of tweny four members each, which were
respectively directed TO consder the Legs ive the
Executive, the Judiciary, and the Miscellaneous parts
OF the Constitution, and report t. the Conve n,ion
Their several reports have been made. aud referred
committee Of the whole, which commenced its DELHI
erations Monday the 26h OF October with eon.iier
Ing the report OF the Legislative committee,-Mr Phil
Up y: Barbour in the chair,
The debate, which begun, and still continues on the
delicate aud interesting question OF the basis Of repre-
sentaion, hi. been hitherto conducted with great ab-
ynopiical view Of the further Of this
dy and perhaps, summary of,he argument. urged in
debate. For the rest, must refer to the Richmond
journals, in which the debates appear to be very faith
fully reported. O.
| The toorkiDg Mems Party.-We have heard many
inquiries lately as to the principles prossed
ty taking this name, and have been more than once
called upon TO satisfy the public curiosity We have be-
fore us several resolutions passed different meeting
OF this new political Sect aud weekly paper issued
der their auspices, called the Wo king
With the help OF these propose giving some account
OF their doctrines and we do it principally with the vie
that none OF the rational aud orderly portion Of the in
dus,rious classes may second time the mistake
oil identifying Themselves with this party.
The leaders of the Working Mems party, il il syl
ed hold that every thing is wrong in the present state
oil society, AMI that the whole system Of things must be
remodeied Their ohectso far collect it from
the extracts given below, is TO apply the community
system oil owen to the whole state. They demand that
real estate shall no longer he the exclusive Of
individuals, but be given up by the TO the gene
raj use OF the community. They ask that those laws
wnlch allow the son to inherit the earrings Of his faith
es industry should he repealed, that the liberty which
cixens now have OF choosing and pursuing such occu
paons rs they deem most likely be profitable should
be abolished; and that the institutions of learning found
ed by private funds should he thrown open 10 tho yra
tuous use OF the community. In short their pIan il.
to make second New Harmony OF the state of New
YORK. and TO compel the people large to adopt the
system which experiment has already, ia signal man.
ner shown to be incapable OF application to free and
intelligent community
The following resolutions among others were alopt-
ed at meeting of the "workng mems partv which
was held on the 18th Of October at Military Hall in
Wooster-st, and of which Isaac Oien was chairman
and WIN. &. Tllou, and r. ID. Uwen-,he latter a son
OF the great father OF the community -.ystsm-were Sc
cre'ares They l.velled against the private own
eshp oil real estate and against the rights of
ami express the fundamental principles of the comnu
nifty. system:
Resolved, In the opinion of this meeting that the
rs appropriation of the soil of the state 10 private and
exclusive possession was emincntly and barbarousy
unjust.
Resolved That 1t was substantially feudal in its
character nasmuch those who re- eived enormous
and unequal possessions lords. and ho,e who re-
eeyed little or nothing vassnLs.
" Resolved, Tina, hereditary Transmission of wealth
on the hand and OF poverty the oher has bro
down TO the present generation all the evils a the feu-
dial system, and that this. in opinion is the prime
source of all our caIamiiies.''
These doctrines are further developed i'm the prospec
us OF the Working Mems Advocate, living before TIE
in which the whols system Of society under which we
ve win various provisions for protecting individuals
in the enjoyment OF the property they have acquired
condemned in the most unqualifedmanner.
In the first place we would premise that we think
we see, IN the state oil society existing around US,
something radically wrong. We observe one portion
OF society living in luxury and idencss; another en-.
gagged in employments which are useless or worse
than useless. to the community at large; while the
merons portion to which profess to belong, and
which aspire TO be the humble advocate are gcoan-
ing under the expressions and miseIies imposed upon
them 10y the two former diyisions-and all are suffer-
he flrct yicp ed
by luxury and incidence, and by ignorance
on poverty on the other.
"Whs, then, these divisions, in society exist il will
be our object draw the line distinctly possible be
tween them, in order prevent any further encroach
ments on equal rights by those whose interests are
in opposition TO them, and who now faen on the labor
| oil the industrious. But il shall be ultimate aim TO
devrlope, as far in lies, the means by which all
may De placed, as IRE think they ought to be, on an
lqunt footing; that those who vainly seek for
happiness by depressing and ,ramplng the rights oil
their fellow beings, may be brought to knowledge OF
the truth that all men ought TO be equal, and that the
only way 10 enjoy true happiness ourselves is by en-
deavorng 10 promote the happiness Of those around s
After saying that the Working Mems Advocate will
oppose all exclusive privilege, moDopoles exemptions
&c. II proceeds in these words:
We consider il exclu.ive privilege for one nor
ton OF the community to have the means edcafou
m colleges, while another ia restricted to common
schools, perhaps by extreme poverty, depry
ed Of the limited education To he acquired in those
tabhments Our voice, therefore, shall be raised in
favor of a system Of education which shall he eouaIl,
The meaning Of this is, either that those who by their
industry or SKILL have acquired suIiciency Of proper.
~ TO give their sons university education ought
compelled 10 share il with those who have been less in.
dustrious less ortunate that those who take fan
cy live by their wits instead OF their hands should be
educated at the public expense.
One Of the objects this party desire effect 1. tn.
destruction Of our banking isstituons-we should "a.
iher say the destruction Of the principle OF banking
self for their opposition TO be dire ted not
against the banks such, but would go 10 abolish
ing in any shape. The objections against hank. in the
following resolutions OF the working men adopted at the
meeting above mentioned, II they have any force would
apply equally TO private banking and, indeed TO an,
other mode Of making credit supply the place Of cash
however important IL might be TO commercial transac
| tons
/ "Resolved, As banking is conducted the owners
OF the banks receive annually of the people Of this state
not less than two millions of dollars in their paper mo
ney, land might as well he pewter money! for which
there il and can be nothing provided for its redemption
1 on demand.
d "Resolved In This view Of the matter that IA, great
eel knaves inposcrs and paupsrs Of the age are our
bankers, who they have promised nay To IN
ldebors thirty tbirty-hve millions dollars on de.
mand, at the same time that they have, a. they also
swear, only three, four five millions do 1t with"
Such the Doctrines and the projects Of those who
falsely call themselves the Working Mems party
They form The political part Of the New Harmony doc
/ rines now openly broached in this community, with a
view, II possible. Of introducing them INFO state ls
gislaon. Whether The abolition NJ marriage is among
the proposed Improvements which these working men
wish 10 Introduce into the state Of society," does not
pesr from then resolu ions, though have heard II
was ayowed in the Meeting at Ma7onic Hall. Probah
nn,ended hat shall share the fate OF other exclu.