Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-07

W1ereas, This is meeting of the mechan-
les and working men Of this city, called for
the purpose Of obtaining an expression Of
their opinion upon the important political
topics which is agitating the public mind,
therefore,
Resolued, That it shall be out of order for
any one other than mechanics or working
men, actively 70 participate in the proceed
ings, or to address the meeting.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Loud calls were made for various persons,
in the midst of which Mr. Hartenburg step
ped upon the stage and spoke as follows;
Friends and Fellow Mechanics:-I never
believed that the time would come when
should be called upon TO speak 70 en- audi
ence Of my brother mechanics. / am glad
TO be here. am glad to be enabled TO say
something on g question which has been
laid upon US by the unjust and tyrannical
policy Of those who have brought these evils
around US. They are the men who plunder
the treasury who demand Of us 70 work
six hours day, and then give US in pay
ment such money as they leave. feel my
blood boil when such traitors appear before
the country as have appeared both at the
North and at the southl Il is for the Union
that we are here, the Union which was
handed down from our fathers. (Applause.)
The slave is the property Of the South as
your horses and cattle are your property and
equal rights, say, North and South All
parties are misrepresented now-a-days.-
When we had only Wings and Democrats,
then we had good times and good wages,
it is to them, that broke up the old Whig
party, that ali this trouble is due (Ap-
plause.) Negro equality means nothing
more than equality with mechanics, not
with aristOcrats. 1 demand that this ques-
tiop be settled by concession. Extend the
line Of slavery, and give the South rights
and to the North rights.
We were unable to obtain the name of tho
second speaker, young man, who said
Fellow Citizens;-I was born an American,
and my father fought at Bunker Hill, but
none the better for that. I wish to night
to speak only the sentiments of a working
man. We should make all concessions that
brave men have a right to make, and no
more. loud applause.) The South has
had concessions enough, and she still calls
for more. She threatens, bat let her at
tempt TO strike, and we will drive her back
at the point Of the bayonet lCheers. y |
Had jackson hung Calhoun higher than 1
Haman, we should have had peace. He
is dead now and peace to his ashes, but his |
pernicious principals still live. Let as
rather bear want, than be slaves to dam
nable tyranny. What do you suppose the /
South cares for you or for me No more /
than for the niger that goes at his bid |
dingi They ask US for one half of the ter I
ritory they would revive the slave trade, /
and people that territory with 10000, 600 Of /
slaves, as Senator Hammond said. They /
want you to enable them 10 do this, to pol |
lutte that glorious Constitution for which /
our fathers bled, and to put therein the 1
word " slave p Will you DO it2 (Eo, no.) /
Will you sacrifice your principles for q shils |
ling or fifty cents a day? mol
] am not afraid of the South these /
threats and this arming We understand and |
its only object is TO delude the North into |
making concessions. She must have them /
now or never. (ApPlause.) Tell the South |
you will have your rights. We in Ohio /
have DO liberty bill except the one which /
exists in our hearts but if a slave should /
escape from Kentucky, and flee hither, re-
turn him: but do it in the spirit of brotherly |
love and kindness, but l will say farewell /
t. lite before being compelled to surrender |
the great rights which I know to be mine.
loud aPplause,)
The third speaker remarkedl
Fellow Mechanics:-I love the Union, but 1
sometimes the world has been benefited by
Our country has come to this,
that we must either surrender our rights or
stand by our principles. I say, let us stand
by our principles (eheers). and we can rule
America, and America shall rule the world.
Though I would see q STAKEHOLDER too, haze
his rights, he should never make me slave
catcher. He feels for his purse and feel /
equally for mine. South Carolina has seced-
ed--on paper. Does she allow her working |
L l. Il Il Al j
It is the toll of the working man which has |
made the North what it is. Weare crowded |
here So let those who believe in the South |
20 and live in the South-for want higher |
pay-I want a protective tariff. All the |
concession I would make is to shoulder my /
musket and show that stand upon princi- |
pie. (APplause.)
Mr.. Price said that he had come many |
miles to attend this meeting, as an adopted |
citizen. He advocated peace princi-
ciples, and said that the men whom the
South had driven out, were those who went
about with their hands in their pockets, and
net working men.
The Committee at this moment returned
and submitted the following resolutions,
which were read and, and with the ezcep-
ton of the last were adopted separately.
PREAMBLE.
WHEREAs, several States have attempted
to seeede from this Federal Union, and
whereas, much misapprehensiOn exists in
the Southern States in regard TO the views
and purposes Of the people in the Northern |
States, and in the present crisis Of public af- !
fairs it is desirable that the position Of the |
mechanics and working men should be
clearly defined: therefore
Resolved, That the mechanics and work |
ine men Of Cleveland, without distinction Of
party, believe that a strict adherence to the |
Constitution Of our country and the exeeu- |
ton of all Federal laws made in pursuance
thereof, is our only hope Of happiness and
future security.
Resolved, That holding, as We do, the
power to prevent the great ealamities which
threaten our nation-haVing the skll, the
nerve. and if needed, the disposition TO sac
rifee our blood in defense Of our beloved
country, we win not allow traitors TO sacri-
fee our Government and bring disgrace upon
our patriot fathers and the glorious emblem
Of our national greatness.
Resolved, That our national prosperity has
demonstrated that ours is the best govern
Inent the world ever saW-that our Constitu
tion makes ample provision for its Own
amendment, as time and experience may
suggest the necessity or propriety Of amend
ing it, in any respect by the people them
selves in 6 peaceful and constitutional man
ner; and much as We should regret the ne
cessity of a resort to arms for its mainte-
nance, ss.a choice Of evils We greatly prefer
that TO the much greater calamities that
would most certainly follow its subversion,
and therefore we are in favor OF sustaining II
at all times, under all circumstances, and
ct all hazards.
Resolved, That we extend to our brethren
Of Louisville and all other sections Of the
Union our hands, and pledge to them our