The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1843-03-17
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"PROTECTiON TO LABOR!"


We find embodied IN the proceedings of tn
Massachusetts Legislature, the suhoincd petition o
Young females who work in the factories 10 Obtain
then Subsistence, Much has been said Of plotcG
ton to American labor. Mr. Greeley Of the hi,
nnnc has been praring Of the good results cnana-
ling from the late larIIl-lhc working people have
been appealed TO in order TO sustain the policy up-
on which II was adcplcd-PrO'eCiOn 10 home in
duSlry' The simple memorial we publish be.
| low, speaks volumes. II is more potent TO ava
Ken opposition 10 this scheme Of the lOrdly manu-
laclnrcrS--lor II Is designed TO enue TO their bcnc-
III and not the operalNcS-than all the ingenious
SpecnalonS Of mere political economists 1t is an
cUphalic, n practical argument rgainst the tar
III system. What does This simple appeal of the
GcencccsS female operatives tell us , WHY, that
They are in fact bond -womcn-whte slaves TO
black hearted iyranlS. Yet wc are appealed 10,
the workngn.en are appealed TO, that a system,
eng"Hdelmg such drSpoli>m, may be fastened to
The soil and pcrpelua'cd. The hholi,ioniSls crhe
North aGd there alc many in the State in W ich
exist the infamous tlranny and persecution gel
forth in the mcmorial-say not Il word about the
oppression of their own race. They cNpeud their
sympathy chlircly upon the ''poor negro" none
for the fair daughters Of the old Bay State Om
upon III" lhlIlNecS. Let such wrongs as are de.
tailed by these poor girls be known in Il slave. hold
mg State, aud we question whether the perpelrn-
Tors would he allowed 10 hold up their heads in
soclcty. They would be secuted ut 10y all honor.
able men. We advise every reader to cut out the
memorial and keep it in hs pocket, and when
talked 10 by any Of the CLONE Lcaguers' read II
for their cdIicalion. 1t shows what kind or pro
lection they would bcsow upon American Labor
FicjciaR.
TO TIE MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURE |
eve, the undersigned, females, dependent W.
on the lalor Of our hands for subsiSnncc hny inp
Jeff the employment Of the hlddlescx Manufacture
ing Company an account Of the violation on their
part Of the agreement existing between the under.
signed and said company, are now Suffering per
SeCnilon from SAID company, and are hunted from
place 10 Place, that we may find no employment
10y which 70 earn II living, Not being able TO con
tend against our rich prosecutors 10y bringing suit
al law Tor satisfaction, we are compelled to seek
redress, or protection, from the powers which ere
alCd said company. The "Rcgularion pnper"
which accompanies this memorial reads as follows:
IAN pcrso1s entering INTO the employmcn Of
The company are considered ms engaged for twelve |
monlhs,a nd those who leave sooner will not receive
u regular discharge" We did not imply BIS
agreeing 10 this, that our VICES were to lie subject
To any reduction winch The compay might see fl,
10 make, and when they gave Us oilicnI notice
HAT they were going TO cut oar wages down about
% per cent, we considered it violation of the
agreement which existed between US, and there.
fore did not feel bound by IN agreement which
they had right to break; (UI ii they could re-
'uvu our wages % per cent, why no, City, and
still hold Us to work twelve months? We there
fore quit working for said company, and the con
sequence to US Is ms follows some of US wen, TO
" ori ior other companies, hut these companies
soon received orr names, and we were mncdi.
llcIy tuned of. Some Of US applied for worl, !
where hands we're wanted, hu; were Informed that |
hcy could employ none Of 'thn turn outs lion the
\llddcsey," and many who laborcd with u have
been obliged TO leave Lowell, and seek their
bread, we know not where, on account Of the per.
;ccalion carried ON against them by the MddIesrA
Company. Our names arc upon all the corpora
inu| in Lowell, that we find no employment. We
therefore pray lha, YOU will, if consistent with
your constitutional powers, stay the hands Of oar
pcrsrrulors, and If not, la, some law may be en-
acted whrh will prevent our brothers, sisters and
friends suffering we suffer, if ever they should
resist Injustice from manufacturing companies