Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-13

Of his situation, to the Dispatch. The worthy
foreman of that office was discharged for doing
his duty as member of our Society, and sever
al other journeymen left it rather than yield
their sense of right, their allegiance to their
Craft, and their duty to the Commonwealth, in
to tho keeping of the dispatch"
The Dispatch admits that its ''obstiuacy" has
brought about the present exigency. 1t is true.
We believe it to be mere obStinacy-not that
spirit of independence" and "enterprise,"
which it would have the public believe promp-
ted its course and we give two reasons for our
opinion The first is, that the printers were per-
fectly willing to work late Saturday night,
and get at it again on Monday morning, in order
to give the public the advantage of any news
deemed important and the second is, that
that proprietor of the Dispatch had rather
disregard the laws of God, violate the statute law
of the State, do violence to the rights ofhuman-
ity, and impose upon helpless apprentices, than
put himself to little inconvenience.
The Dispatch says: arbitrary as are these
proceedings of the Typographical Society, they
are all gentleness compared with others which
we understand are now in the process of develop
ment Those editors who have lent them the
hunder which they are now aiming at us, will
no doubt be delighted to hear that they contem-
plate driving out all the negroes now employed
they are determined that no more apprentices
shall be employed than they shall themselves
prescribe" The "aohich aoe understand" so
shifts the responsibility in the above paragraph,
that we hardly deem it necessary to say more
than that his informant knows much more about
the 'intenhons'' and determinations" of the So
ciety than ourselves. We have taken noaction on
question ofexpelling remployin ing negropress
men; and we have report from the committee
on apprenticeship, on our table, which we are
willing every master printer in Richmond should
read-and we aver, that there is not one word on
the subject of limitation to number or age of
apprentices to be taken in any office. Our pur-
pose is to aid the employer in securing the labor
of his apprentice for his full term of service
and to aid the apprentice in mastering his trade
When we act definitely on either of the sub
jects alluded to, we doubt not we shall have the
hearty cooperation of the entire Craft-inclu-
ding editors and jobbers, [except-p erhaps-the
sDispatch."1
Now we wish to state candidly and fairly our
aims as n Society-and some of the reasons
which have induced us to act on the subject of
Sabbath labor.
In the first place we aim to effect perfect or
ganization of our Craft in the City and through
out the country, for the advancement of the
Graft l. To establish uniform scale of wages
just alike to the employer and employed
2. To secure the attainment of the highest
qualifications as compositors and pressmen g.
To regulate the system of apprenticeship so as
to render the services of the apprentice valuable
to his instructor and beneficial to himself 4.
To protect ourselves, and all reputable men,
bers of our craft, from imposition and unworthy
competition from Rats and worthless typos and
runaway apprentices. 5th and lastly, to give
to our craft all the power and influence which
high accomplishments, high moral and social
worth, can secure.
These are our aims and objects. Is there any
thing in them to find fault with Or to subject us
to unkindness, to suspicson, to persecution! If
there be, let the employers and editors speak
out. Let the Public frown upon us. But if
not, may we not crave the kind hand of friend
ship from our employers-the cheering smiles
of the noble editors throughout our land, and
the welcome 'sGod-speed thee" from the whole
community!
A fewwords on the subject of Sabbath labor
| and our aims in respect to it. We as a class of
society have long felt the oppressiveness and in
furious tendency of Sabbath labor. We have
never felt willing to perform it. Sometimes
the law of necessity has compelled us to do it.
Sabbath labor is wrong. and we printers have
experienced its degrading and demoraizing eff
fects. We long to see the day come when we
shall be free from them. That day will only
come when public opinion aciUs it. When we
contemplate our position in society, our duties
to our families, our relations to our Creator, our
duties to our State, our rights as moral intel
lectual and physical beings, the inquiry pre-
sents itsef-"What ought we to do!' The
law of God declares s'Six days shalt thou Ia
Dor, and do all thy work. &c.
We desire toobey this command to the best
&c ob,
BILE effort to place ourselves in position to do
so. Shall we be sustained, Or shall we be
forced to yield!
The statute law of Virginia declares
eff free person. on Sabbath, be found la
boring at any trade OF calling, or employ his APP
prentices, servants, or slaves in labor, or other
business, except in household, or other work of
necessity OF charity, he shall forfeit two dollars
for each offence-every day any servant, appren-
tince Or slave, is so employed, constituting dis
tinct offence. "-Ch. 1876, SIG, Rer. Code IA.
Believing it to be our bounden duty to obey the
statute law so far as we can, and to set good ex
ample to our fellow citizens, we feel encouraged
to hope that we shall be cheered in our efforts to
do so, by all good citizens. We are aware that
the "Dispatch' considers Sabbath labor a acork of
necessity-for it argues to prove it. But we dis
sent, and we are happy to have the concurrence
of the aohole press Of our city, except the 'sDis-
patch"
The fact, that railroads convey the mails on the
Sabbath and that the gas works manufacture gas
on the Sabbath furnishes no reason to justify the
printer to labor on that day, unless the necessity
for it is shown to be as imperative in the other
cases. And we submit, whether the dispatch
has established the point in dispute. 1t seems
to rely mainly for the establishment of the "ne-
cessity'' upon the "latest ne,os'' received by the
mail on Sunday evening There is, in fact, lit
tie OR no news received by the mail on that
chants receive their dispatches of the business
transactions for the commercial marts of the I'm
ion DUNG Saturday evening-and if they do this,
we submit there is no necessity for the papers to
be kept open for Sundays mail, which will bring