The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-23
Congress or WorkingInen.

Ito dCCOuuG III Iio LAY DUN VI bho bhOOi
convention was up to two o'clock, P. M Of
the second days proceedings avt-q
ID The congress reassembled at two O'Clock
P. NJ, and was called to order by Mr.
Whaley, Vice President at large
The Committee on Resolutions recommend
ed the appointment of committees, and the
chair selected members from each State and
territory and from the District of Columbia
on the Eight Hours Committee-zD. ID. Bal
som, of our city, is the name from Virginia.
On the Committee on Trades Unions is Bald
win of Virginia On tile Committee on Per-
manent National Organization, is Lee of vir-
ginia-and the same gentleman is on the
Committee to confer with the President of the
United States in relation to the reform move
: ment. The following were the Committees
appointed. = ~ !. - & -. 80 e5'
Committee on Eight Hours; Committee on
Trades Unions Organizations and Strikes;
Committee on Corporation and Convict Prison
Labor; Committee on National Labor organ;
Committee on an address to the working men
throughout the country; Committee on Per-
manent National Organizations; Committee on
Public Lands and the National Debt; Com
mittee to confer with the President OF the
United States in relation to the Reform move
ment; in all, eight committees. ..lst4ss
A number of memorials, petitions, and
other matters, was presented from different
States, and appropriately referred. ..
The Congress adjourned at 8 pm, till 10
o'clock, "Wednesday morning. aA soe
THIRD DAY.
The Convention duly assembled pursuant
to adjournment A motion to appoint COM
mittee of five on ways aud means was post
poned; and the report Of the recommending
committees on printing and finance, was laid
upon the table. ssff aag4 .gses I
a. The Committee ON Eight Hours made re-
port as follows ~ - '9sgHi ~ s
Whereas, There comes from the ranks OF
labor demand for more time for moral, in
tellectual aud social culture, and believing
I that this demand is the result of that condi-
ton of progress in which the workingnen of
this nation are prepared to take step higher
in the scale Of moral and intellectual life;
therefore iff&a8
Resolved, That it be enjoined upon the
members Of this Congress. as they reach their
respective homes, to use all honorable means
. teagitate the eight hour question, publicly
and privately, and to effect some plan of or
ganization whereby We may secure the COM
bined strength of the workingmen of the ma
ton to effect this great labor reform, believing
that all agitationsi and organizations are the
two great levers by which we are to acecm-
plish the great result; that, SO far as political
action is concerned, each locality should be
governed by its own policy, whether to run
an independent ticket of workingmen, or to
use political parties already existing, but, at
all events, to cast no vote except for nen
pledged to the interests of labor. .@
81 A prolonged debate sprang up upon the
report, which partook of personal and polit-
ical Character. The report was considered as
received. .a
Mr., ySchleger, of Illinois, in the remarks he
offered, said: "a new labor party must be
formed, composed of the elements of Ameri-
can labor. We are shy of fighting the old
political parties The Free Soil party origi-
mated with. few hundred thousand voters,
but If it had not been formed, Lincoln would
never have been President of the United
States. This great Central Committee must
propose some action. That is the question A
political question is one that is dreaded at the
ballot-box, and there must the "eight hour"
question be met The groundwork must be
laid for a grand new party that will drive all
the old political parties out of the arena Cap
,ital is the Conservative organization. Labor
is the Radical party. They came here to act.
He wanted the full freedom of debate; that is
of the highest importance. This report leaves
the matter as it stood" f4