New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-14
Meeting Of Laborers at Gloucester. NJ.
To the Editor Of The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune
On the Jersey shore, at Gloucester, a
mass meeting was held on last Wednesday evening.
There were present from two to three thousand per-
sons, one half whom were young women, the EN-
ployes OF the corporation, who worked the mills IN
that city, and had refused TO comply with the law
recently passed At Trenton, providing that no minor
should be worked more than ten hours The young
ladies occupied an elevated position, a Kind of am
phitheaer by themselves and the novelty OF the
scene the location the night the purpose the beauty
Of the girls. and the moon all lent iniescrlbabls
charms TO the scene 1t certainly Was the most IN
terestlng meeting ever attended.
Mr WILLIAMSON occupied the Char, called the
meeting to order and introduced the first speaker,
Mr l.. H. PHILLIPS, who said That as we passed
along the Delaware these TWO structures (polnting
to the mills) strike us as grand Sight-yast est&o
lishments wherein peace and content would seem 10
reign Their very positions would lead US 10 be-
heye that they were built and originated Tor the oene-
fit Of the human family. They were edged IN by
pleasant grounds-thelr neatneSS and their quiet
would seem 20 say that labor was there made "A
pleasure. But how were you doomed TO disappolnt-
ment when you landed upon the shore. You were
as much narrowed By the creS OF the IA ';ory slave
as though you were In Manchester. Those who
gave wages there exacted l3i hours work IN re-
turn, each day. Was not this cruel Little children
and young girls to be shut up from sunlIse to sun
down Those who talked Of education could not
be- sincere If they would not give young people time
10 read, wTe and improve themselves Ia mind and
body Stand out, and God send you may be success
fu You have no hopes from these men-they would
work you every hour that God has sent hope that
they will be brought TO sense OF their shame-men
who sell their souls and hearts for mOrSel Of labor
they can wiring out OF the factory girl and the baby
who IN Christian society should not work at all.
Loud applause
Mr PERRY spoke to them as father,and as a hus-
band, and said II was painful to behold girls OF so
much worth thrown upon the merccs oi men who
love dimes and dollars better than the human family
lie said they were going for great principle, and
they must be firm TO be successful lie showed the
disparity IN the condition OF those who owned and
those who worked the mills and remarked thaf, al
though mil owners were continually taking ABOUT
Their charity and goodness to their wOrkpeople, We
would like to know II It would not break the heart OF
MANY a cotton lord 10 see his child WOrN Tor an 1Our
az a loom. The gentleman told some very interest
ing anecdotes, which elected laughter and applause.
Mr MAYER sad this was serious affair, when
men were called upon to step N between woman
and man. and protect the former from the tyrannes
of The latter II was an uneyeN an unnatural con-
test and they we're noble girls VINO hti risen up
against the giant Capital, and declared, without
means or favor from high places to back them, that
the monster should rule no longer.
What ridiculous thing II was for men to run
about and make glorious speeches raising easts and
festivals. In favor OF the Declaration OF independence
and our popular institutions, our free country &c,
knowing that they are doing all they cin IN private
to oppTess the weak, and on the iih of july know
Ing that on the 9Th they intended 70 oppose the ma
lesiy Of the law themselyes-to put hlndrance TO
The carving out Of the ten-hOur aW-that Law which
Wa fresh from the hands of the Legislature But
he thought If they were true 10 themselves they
could succeed and with hearts like theirs he believed
success was certain, they mad Law, Legislature
and Justice their side not forgetting the almighty
voice Of public opinion. tGreat cheering
Mr. l.. W. POWER then made an eloquent speech
upon the wrengs Of labor. showing up the petty
tyranny OF building lodglnghouses letting them to
Iei sons whom they made their Tools, ana turning
poor houseless girls into the woods ii they pleased
The master lie conjured them to commit no acts OF
violence-to lnJure no property. lie gave an Illus
lfai,Cu u he work!..ss srs Of ALLEGHENY Cny-also
the nefarlous but aboTtye attempt. al similar rob-
bcry OF the peoples rights IN the lower part Of Penn
sylyania lie SAID he scarcely knew ho" to talk
about ten hours for he had been Tor thirteen years
advocating eight hours as s'lihclent days LABOR.
This gentleman was listened 10 Win attention, ex-
cent when the shouts OF the multitude followed the
many good things he said.
The following resolutions were carried
Pcsolued That 10 hours sufficient for day labor OF
any man. much more woman slfl OF cAd aAi .la W. lue
factory ope rtives o Gloucester relying the hrmness
m IN. law Of the # NewJery, are determined 70
SUPPORT or fall them the advocacy OF our ust rgnts IN
the eyes # God and man IL =. -.
Rssolrsd That ask slslaFe assehDies W pass
law ort.ddng aHy child under "a e. u age "OTA III
lie factory az all and the breach u which law heayy
I'm. Ia he nat On the employer who snail wEtAsy Use MA
knowing hls age for any purposes Of iabpr -,
Ees0ired That appoint COInnlue 20 ~al Upon tls
C0rn0ratiOu asking them their answer whetner thsy Will
m oy o. ~ the gal time. whelhtr they "sL ~ Try the
sreadf alie NATIVE Of Starving - INTO submission 10 the
detrmeui II their capital Is well
Another meeting VIII be held on Monday evening
- hear The report Of the Comntttee.
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Rprr,1 MreDyR-We have TO record