American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-01
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
wASHINGTONi
MONDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER i.
Do Printers Rest.

lie VINO would ask carpenter, blacksmith,
bricklayer, shoemaker, or other mechanic, to
execute piece of work within a period of
time that would require the whole night and
the Sabbath day to be devoted to it, would be
regarded as preferring very unreasonable re-
quest, and would find it necessary to reward
such unusual services with compensation as
unusual. Within the hours regularly set apart
for labor every man can perform his duty; and
the extension Of this period tends but to con-
fuse and PROSTATE the mind, to blunt the moral
perceptions, to deprive life of its most precious
enjoyments, and in all respects to degrade the
map. The agreeable amenities of life are also
soon forgotten under the pressure Of such ne
cessity; the proper and becoming rites of hos
pitality, courtesy, and religion, both in public
and within the retiracy of home, are sacrificed
and forgotten; and to the extent Of the infiu-
ence of each individual thus oppressed the
community suffers from the unnatural practice.
Ii, however, excessive labor is not performed,
but the times of rest and labor are only re-
versed and the best hours of day are devoted
to rest, while, by artificial light the silent night
and the sacred Sabbath are devoted to labor,
the influence on the laborer and the community
is only changed in degree Both must suffer,
as in every other violation of the natural and
written laws of God.
In despite of these universally acknowledged
truths, the custom is general throughout this
country, but prevails to greater extent in this
city than elsewhere, to compel all persons con-
M xpif fba b,,c; ~ loh in,
the manner we have named above, in both the
first and second instances given. 1t has always
appeared strange to us that such custom
should be tolerated throughout SO long period
of time, and especially when, without inficting
injury upon any, by a little concerted move
ment those directly interested could so easily
reform the grossly oppressive abuse.
1t is argued that peculiar necessity exists
for the performance Of labor in printing offices
at these unusual seasons. If so, if there is a
real necessity for it, then the work must be
executed; but unless the necessity is pressing
and stringent, it is wrong to comply with the
demand urged upon fictitious necessity.
The plan of reform we would propose con-
templates, in the first place, testing the ques-
ton of necessity; and, secondly, compelling
adequate compensation for the sacrifice made
by the workmen. 1t is simply to double the
rate Of wages for all work done after the usual
hours of daily labor or on the Sabbath. The
men will in this manner relieve themselves of
labor when not absolutely necessary, and at the
same time secure a good reward for the sacri-
fees they are compelled to make.
We are aware that this proposition is neither
very new nor startling, for we have heretofore
urged it through the columns Of another jour
nal; but we are also aware that is reasonable,
just, and of easy enforcement. 1t will be op-
posed by few Of the proprietors of printing es-
tablishments, and sustained by the sympaibies
of the whole community in every city in the
land. The responsibility of the abuse indeed
must rest solely upon those who suffer chiefly
by it; and they, if true to themselves, to their
families, to society, aud to the cause of morality
and religion, will surely feel imperatively urged
to action.
We have sometimes heard men who were
laboring in this manner declare themselves sat
isfed with it, and profess to be as willing to
labor on the Sabbath as on any other day Of the
week. This merits no other remark than that
it is good evidence Of the tendencies we have
described as resulting from the unnatural prac-
tice. Yet we will go little farther, and re-
mark that the abridgment of the hours of labor
in any pursuit, when done carefully and judi
ciously, and with reference to competition from
where such abridgment is not enforced, is sure
to be followed by an increase of the price of
labor. This is just as true of labor, in any
department, as that diminution of the supply
of any staple in the market will beget an en-
haneed price for that which is produced. A
twofold advantage must therefore result from
the measure proposed.
If the printers i'll all the cities Of the United
States have not the intelligence, the mutual
good faith, and the ability to establish the rule
we have with Difference suggested, VIC would
desire to know what community of working
men in our country can effect salutary con-
certed movement.
There are many men in all our cities who
never, in the whole revolving year, remember
q single Sabbath day to keep it holy, and we
have known some who had not observed Sab
bath in several years. In this city there are
men who often for many weeks, and even months
labor regularly for sixteen to nineteen hours q
day We often read of great men, with wonder,
that four or six hours out of each twenty -four
sufliced them for repose-and this though they
were at liberty at all times to choose and vary
the character Of their employment; but here it
is constantly practised, and at the most serious
disadvantage. It's true that this practice leaves
its marks--that the sunken eye, the pallid
cheek, and the furrowed brow often reveal its
depression and exhaustion, when nature has not
possessed the power to recuperate, an artificial
stimulus has been madc to subseryc the pur-