The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-07-16
LABORERS WAGES.

LABORERS WAGES.
A few weeks since, it was stated in the Post and
ifw do not mistake, the attention of the working
men was called to the fact, that, since the present
administration came into power, the ten hour Sys-
tenn introduced by Mr.. Van Buren, into tho Navy
Yard at Charlestown, among the mechanics and
workmen, had been abandoned This fac; stands
recorded in the Post, nor has syllable, we believe
up to the present day, been published in that pa
per, to show that the statement was founded on
incorrect information. But it is fact, that no
change whaierer, has been made al the Macy ldrd
in relation 10 the hours Of iobor, since the in0u-
gWraiion Of The lamcntci Harrison !-Aler Jour
nal, June o..
The above is entirely untrue so far as it relates
to the Post. Not ono word has appeared in our
columns, since the present administration came into
power, relative to tho time the lnborers We're en-
ployed at the Charlestowr Navy Yard. We do not,
by any means, wish 10 accuse the editor Of the
Mercantile with intentional Misrepresentation, for
we have no doubt believes TO be true what he
says; but he has committed gross bunder, which
has led him into an act OF injustice towards the Post,
AS he has made his statement unqualilcdy, we will
leave him to find out his error, and relieve himself
from his awkward position in the best manner the
fertile genius of I" lluwscr Marlingae" can sug-
ges
The editor Of the Mercantile continues -
"Agan, we find in the Post of Monday, the fol-
lowing paragraph
'Hgh wages .Adminislration.-Th wages of
the laboring men at the Navy Yard, !Charlcs;own,
have been reduced one mn. This is done by 'the
,corkiagman's friends,' as the wings called them
selves WHEN THEY WANTED THE WORKING
MANS VOTE
The simple facts in this case, which seem to en-
cite, in remarkable degree, the 'virtuous indgna-
ton Of tho editor of the Post these. According
to general and in our opinion, very proper or
der from the Navy Department, issued many years
ago, and which has always been strictly observed,
the wages of the aborers in tho Navy Yard, are
made to conform to the current wages of laborers
employed out of the Yard, in Charlestown and Dos
ton. In consequence of this standing rule Com
modore Downes lately deemed II his duty, us Com
mandan, Of the Yard, and wlouta any previous con-
suta,on with President Ty Ter, the Secretary of the
| NAVY the Board of Commissioners, or any other
distinguished functonarlcs, or members OF the pre-
sent government, whatever, TO reduce the wages OF
day -laborers in the Yard, not one fnh, as stated
in the Post, but one Sereah, that is from 81
per day, TO 81, the wages given elsewhere, 10 mer
employed from sunrso to sunset while the labor
ers at The Navy Yard arc employed only ten hours
a day.
And in this consists the 'nct of oppression com.
planned Of. Surely the opponents Of the admins.
taon must be hard pushed, when they grasp Al
such siraws as these But further comment is un
necessary"
The only assertion, in the paragraph quoted from
the Post, contradc,ed, is, that the laborers wage
have been reduced one fGh; the Mercantile says
one serenh; but in this the respectable editor o
the Mercantile does not " state his premises lairl,
and correctly" Some aborers have had thei
wages reduced ono seventh md others one fifth
that is 10 say--those who were paid one dollar ant
seventeen cents per day have had their wages re-
duced to one dollar; and those who were paid on,
dollar and lwenty-lour cents day, have had their
recuced TO one dollar also. Now, according 10 on
arithmetic, it appears pretty plain that the latte
class have had their wnges reduced near enough Il
one fifth to call it so, whatever Capt Sleeper ma,
think about the matter.
The editor of the Mercantile scouts the idea o
complaining of the reduction Of laborers wages on
crenh, or one i'm, as mere bagaielle-as grasp
ing at sirars. How different is This from the ton
the wings assumed befor. election Then High
WAGES" was the theme Of wing orators iron
Governor Davis down 10 the hero Of cider mug
laborers were assured Of an advance IN their pa
immediately upon ueh iiaTiisoh e'eo'on' a"
told that his Inauguration would be the laborin
mans millennium. "IIIGH WAGES" was EN-
blazoned on wing banners, which were followed b.
thousands Of honest workingmen who believed tina
what was promised to them would be fulfilled
But nor, instead Of realizing this expected i'm
provement in their condition, they find rfIEII
TIME OF TOLL PROLONGED AND TIIEII
RECOMPENSE CURTAILED THIS II
WING FhITlI-WIIlG LOVE FOR TIL
LABORING MAN Further comment is unne
cessary. Dos. Post