Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-09-06
The National Labor Congress.


The National Labor Congress.
The National Labor Congress, which has
been in session for the last five days, in the
city of Baltimore, has closed its delibera-
tions. After the installation of the newly
elected officers of the permanent National
Labor Congress, the President declared the
Congress adjourned to the third Monday in
August. 1867, to meet in the city of Chicago.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the fol-
lowing admirable resolutions, which were unani-
mously adopted by the Congress-
Whereas, The growing and alarming encroach-
ments of capital upon the rights OF the Industrial
classes of the United States has rendered it i'm
perative they should calmly and deliberately de-
wise the most effective and available means by
which the same may be averted, your committee
would recommend the adoption Of the following
ResolUed, That the first and grand desideratum
of the hour, in order to deliver the labor Of the
country from this thraldom, is the adoption OF
law whereby eight hours shall constitute legal
days work i'll every State of the American Union,
and that they determined never to relax their
efforts until this glorious result is consummated:
ReSOlUed, That it is the imperative duty Of
every workingman of the United States to con-
meet himself with his labor organization, if any
exists, and where none exists to immediately
commence the formation of the same that IL is
| the equal duty of every Union to be represented
| IN Trades or Workingmens Assembly, and also
to aid III the formation of national or inter-
! national organization where the same does not
exist.
Resoloed, That in cooperation we recognize q
sure and lasting remedy for the abuses of the pre-
sent industrial system, and hail with delight the
organization of CO. operative stores and workshops
| IN this country, and would urge their formation
IN every section othe country, and in every branch
of business
ResoEred, That the public domain belongs to the
people of the whole States purchased by their
blood and treasure, and is to them as an inheri-
tance, endorsing fully, we DO the opinion of
our statesmen on this subject that minium price
be DC nxed Tor the whole agricultural domain to be
dlsposed OF to actual settlers only. Further, if
! Congress or the several States where land may
exist, as belonging to the nation States, that
thHy shall not De so considered but shall be
sidered as belonging to the people, and in cases
wh7re the lie gislators may wish to encourage any
| pubic works, such railroads, bridges, roads,
agricultural colleges &C., for the several States
or any other Improvement that may be thought
proper, rom time to time, then in all of this
Emo 1t shall be considered injurious and destruc
tive to the best interests Of .he people 10 make
specf grants of these lands, but only the proceeds
Res0toed, That we this day join hands with la
Dot In the interests of agriculture, and hereby
declare 1t primary. in our different organizations,
and that all that are now or hereafter organized,
shall adopt the same in the following words !:
THAI the whole public agricultural domain shall
be disposed Of to actual settlers only" and that
the proper officers of tLis Convent ipstruc-
ted 20 see that the foregoing resolutions shall re
carried into effect.
RESOLVED, That the system of prison labor which
is practiced throughout this country is not only
M nous to the pr ducing classes, but an incen-
tive for mean employers to contract with the gov
errment for cheap labor, and the honorable me-
chanlcs not b1lng able to compete with thi- class
OF labor and support their families are obliged to
seek living elsewhere, much to their inconven-
fence, and we would recommend that the public
De requested not to patronlZe parties who can con-
tract for prison labor, except they pay the rate Of
wages d. d'malded by mechanics outside
. ResC:ued, That we pledge our Individual and un'
divided support to the sewing women and daught-
ers Of toll in this land, and would solicit their
hearty cooperation, knowing as we do, that no
class of industry is much in need of having their
condition a1ueiOrated the factory opera Nv, y,
sewing women, &C., Of this country.
ReSoI3ed That this Congress deprecates what
is familarly known as strikes among working
meu, aid would recommend that every other hon
o"a5le me ms be exhausted before any such course
is resorted to.
ResolUed That the formation of Mechanics In
stltutes, Lyceums Reading Rooms, and the trec-
ton OF buildings for that purpose is recommended
to the workingmen in all cities and towns as a
means OF advancing their intellectual culture and
social improvement
ReSOtUed That this Labor Congress would most
respectfully recommend to the workingmen of the
country that in case they are pressed by want of
employment, they proceed to the public lands and
become actual settlers, believing that if the indus
try Of the country be coupled with its natural
advantages, it will rebound both in individual re-
lief and national advantages.
ReSOtUed That we heartily concur in the action
OF the Committee on National Organ, and Wold
recommend the Workingmen's Advocate of Chi
cago, Daily and Weekly Voice, of Boston, Daily
Union, OF Detroit, Herald, of Troy, New York, and
Industrial Advocate, of st. Louis, and would re-
commend that workingnen in those localities be
requested to patronize these papers in preference
to all others.
ResoI0ed, AS the of this Congress-, that
the speedy restoration of the agricultural inter-
ests of the Southern States is Of vital Importance
to the laboring men of the North, and that the
aggregation and capitalization of the surplus
earnings OF labor for the twofold purpose of pro-
noting an increased production OF cotton, and of
aiding and elevating the laboring classes, pro-
posed by the American Industrial Agency, is very
desirable, and invite the attention of the labor
ing men to the subject.
Resot0ed, That we would urgently call the at
tention OF the industrial classes to the subject Of
tenement houses and improved dwellings,, believ-
ing it to be essential to the welfare Of the whole
community that reform should be effected in
this respect, as the experience of the past has
proven that vice, pauperism and crime are the in
variable attendants of the over-crowded and lily
ventilated dwellings, Of the poor, and urge upon
the capitalists of the country the blessings to be
derived from investing their means in erecting
such dwellings.