Daily national Republican., 1863-11-28
THE wORKINGMEN At THE WASH
IyGTON MAYNARD.

Relieving that a plain, simple statement of
the grievances of the workingmen of the WASH
,ngton Sayy-Yard would enlist the interest oil
the Press Of this city, as well as that OF our
whole country. | am Induced, as IAN humble
mechanic to ask the liberty Of limited space
in your columns. o.
Sou are aware that the present Admlnistra-
ton camanto power declaring as platform,
IN part, the principles of free men, free labor,
and the protection OF the industrial purs oi
tue country, avowing that every man who Ia
bored felt he had an interest In the man VINO
represented this great idea; and, though CON
slant toll was his lot, 1t would be remuneratiye,
and at least no more severe and extended than
in the past. (2.)
But what has been the experience of the work
,nrmen in the employ ofthe Government since
the inauguration Of the great principle OF tree-
dom First, men who held high official posi-
tlons under the old regime being continued, they
nave sought in various ways to annoy by strln-
rent and peremptory orders, and then, under
the plea of reform. TO change long accustomed
hours Of labor; and when the most urgent ne
cessity demanded an increase OF pay, they DE-
fcrred the matter until pressed to 1t by every
influence the working men could bring to bear
upon them, until the employees of the Wash
ing Navy Yard have become so chafed as to
suspect. and then insinuate, that Republicanism
is a failure as far as the elevation oil the WORK
lng masses arc concerned. (3.)
Thus reasoning, they conclude that the return
Of the old dynasty to power IL their only nope
Tor rest from such annoyances. Having gained
their accustomed hours of labor by determined
effort from the old Democratic organization
with all its leaning to the slave oligarchy, theS
are not willing to surrender their rights so easily
under an Administration whose ideal is freedom
and mutual rights. (i.)
Believing, as many friends do, that It Is only
necessary to lay the matter fairly before tn
heads OF tho Department, (who truly represen
the Administration and expose to them tn
machinatiOn Of many subordinate eNccutlv
officers in the Government, who do not com
prehend the real value Of workngmen, an
seem TO care little for their interest or influence
that our wants will be appreciated and OF
rights will be secured 10 us. This was recent
,he case of the workingmen OF the 1reasul
extension, who, upon application TO Mr. Seer
tarv Chase. was quickly rightedi II was al
true with the employees al the arsenal. NJ
stanton giving them (what belonged to then
thrIr hour by sun to go to work. This rece
notice To all employees In his department
also inst, We are also happy to TESTIFY IN
Mr.. Secretary We,les has In every lhstau u
(ours excepted) acceded TO the proper rigl
Of the workmeu Of the navy, ana we YET pehc
will do us ample justice, when he can pe
lieyed of what he conceives 10 DC la"iui opJ'
lions to our demands. (5)
II seems as though some strange tdtdtRD
tended us OF the Washington navy-yard W
any law, or act of Congress made for the gene
regulation of the workmen of the Navy, shot
Justly (of course law to he operative should
iusD allow the men of the New York, 'harI
town and and other navy-yards of the country
work one hour by sun, and the men OF Wa
Ington navy-yard fifteen minutes by sun, allo
ing the former rate Of pay averaging abt
us. when everything that men or families c
wear or live on, is FULLY oue-third higher he
Than with them, is something we have not b.
able to solve by any rule Of abstract Justice,
relative rights. (0.)
You will III, reiore not wonder at our p"
uacily for our supposed cherished equality.
NAV be asked If we are equal in ability
The men who loat our ships, man our gl
use our ordnance stores, answer the qn'st
and You will lind that We are not behlnd
brothers of the great northern cities. IL Is
that many of us have no direct representa-
and that may be the cause OF the leak IN
craft. But know this, that the great nun
OF working men Of this city are Maryland
Driven from the long. cherished associate
ny the opprcssor's mark upon us, we sustai
,,tr Government and the upper class did
need our services, (eveu on Government wo
and hence We are here, many OF us win
families in Baltimore, not b~lng able TO sec
. tomicll In Washington. Shall we thei
denied the rights accorded 10 others' VIII
The voice of this community, and the conn