The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-27
Interview Of the WOrkingm'ns soh'
mittec with tho President.

At3o'clock this afternoon the commit
tee appointed by the National LABOR
League, lately in session in Baltimore, had
an interview with the President.
Mr.. John IIinchclifie, of Illinois, al
dressed the President on behalf OF the
committee. saying that it was not the pnr-
pose of the workiugmcn to form new
party, as had been alleged. They wished
TO be considered as ignoring all party ques-
tons. Mr.. HinchcliiIc proceeded to ex-
plain the objects the Convention had IN
view in their labors the eight.hour rule
being the principal one, and in their efforts
they desired TO have, as far as might DC,
the cooperation of the Chief Magistrate OF
the nation. In regard to the reduction OF
the hours !pf labor, the President had a
precedent in the action of President van
buren,, when visited for similar purpose,
the object then being to reduce the legal
hours of a days work to ten. That had
been accomplished, and it was now believed
that by improvements in machinery ana
otherwise it was now practicable to reduce
the laboring day to eight hours, and give
the workingman an opportunity Tor physi-
cal and mental culture, enabling him 10
become u better citizen.
They also desired to call the attention
of the President to the monopoly of the
public lands by capitalists: they wished
protection from foreign paupcr labor and
from the present system of convict labor.
The speaker dwelt with considerable force
upon each of these points.
The President replied, expressing his
qualification ut the visit. In regard to the
propositions presented to him, he would
refer TO his past acts. In reference to the
system of convict labor complained OF, he
would say that he had opposed it years
ago. The homestead policy he had advo-
Gated as far back as 1916, and finally, in
1851, the homestead bill passed the House,
but was lost in the Senate. Subsequently
he was transferred to the Senate, and he
called it up there, when it was passed, but
vetoed by President Buchanan. He was
opposed TO the whole policy by which
capitalists can monopolize the public
lands. He was in favor of the principle
that the workingman should have suitable
time 10 labor and 10 rest; and although he
had been democrat in the widest sense,
he was in favor of an ariStocracy OF labor.
As to the number of hours which should
constitute Il days labor, that was IL matter
of detail and experience, which they could
consider and settle as they went along !;
but he would say that he was in favor Of
the shortest number practicable.
In conclusion, he assured them of his
sympathy and his influence, and expressed
the wish that in their efforts to better the
condition of the worlingmcn they would
be successful, and that the influence of the
Congress they had just held would be felt
for good throughout the country.
The President spoke at some length, and
the qualification of his hearers was cx-
pressed by various warm expressions Of
applause.
Upon the conclusion Of his remarks, the
spokesman of the workingmcn introduced
the members individually to the President,
and very pleasant interview cnsucd; the
delegation retiring afterwards much graft
fled by the visit.