The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-09-01

= y. e0Ikasnd il to your attention most
20 CO. t6e matter as may seem bszg9,
bll 3ksspecial matter Of reds11iol|
q The - Of labor, We do desire to have
ns reeeEition at your hands, II you deem
me- t3give IL. We have no other object
~ vis4 IAN TO seek out and apply remediesl
70 the wrongs that laborers now suffer.
We regard the present system Of emigra-
ton ~ being In some part unfair, and 90
Prptection y sought by some Of our large
Hmannfacenrcrs ~ the hands Of the govern>
ment, through the prohibition Of the impor-
tation Of foreign goods, % we desire to have
some professions for our interests. III they
desire protection against the competition
- which tkey may be subjeceed bv inporte-
tation, Ne also desire protection against
foreign panper labor. imported against our
interests, to reduce the price Of labor.
Another subject to which would call ycurl
attention, is the system of convict labor
We think that system exerts a very delete
rious influence upon our interests, inasmuch
~ IL 10 Obtained nc very low rates Of COM
peasation, BY parties who have contracts TO
fulfill and the work 10 thrown upon the
market, and causes competition with free
labor in such manner ~ to tend TO gra-
dual but steady and certain depreciation Of
feoe labor. We therefore think We are en-
titled. TO ask protection against it, but, Mr..
President, the great cornerstone OF our
movemept ID the reduction OK the hours OF
labor 20 eight
We DO mot desire 10 overturn the institu-
of the country, or to interfere with che indi-
vidual rights Of any capitalists, but simply
claim the privilege OF eight hours for labor,
eight for ielf-cuiturc, and eight for repose.
This we seek, Mr.. President, and to do this,
we ask your cordial Endorsement. The
whole Of the working people Of this country
are beginning to be alive 20 this. They can
hope for no assistance from the capitalists ;
they have determined to take their own af-
sairs into their own hands, and they now but
ask some recognition al the hands OF the
head Of this nation. They ask il, believing
he IL in symathy with them, and that they
will meet with favorable response. They
ask it, at the same time determined that
they will prosecute the agitation Of this
thing as far, legally and justly, as they can
and till they have achieved the consumation
of their wish.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
| The President then replied as follows
am much obliged to you, and to the com
mittee that accompany you, for this visit,
and for thus cffording me an opportunity oil
making your acquaintance. feel grati6ed
that you thought proper TO pay your respects
to ne, and to show that much Differences.
In reply to the various propositions you
have stated, shall attempt no set speech
but IN way of conversation permit me to
say, that in regard to the subjects upon
which you have touched, i might SIMPLY
refer you to my prst Gets, which on such
subjects must make answer sufficient for
me. need make no declarations now, foI
instance, regarding convict labor. That j.
. subject am tolerably familiar with. In
1S43 or 1874 you will find introduced in
the Tennessee legislature bill on the sub
| ject, and endeayored to show not only liz
action upon the labor market, but also that
by its associations il had an evil tendency
That is an old thing to me. might claim
priority in these views over even some Of
yourselves. yIApplause and laughter.l Ex
pcrierce has only confirmed me in the VIEW
regarding labor which then hold. UpeI
the labor question every thing else depends
It ought to be respected, and the iabore
ought to participate in, aud control tn.
Affairs of the government, for In fact upor
them they rest. sa, DID,.
In reference to the homestead policy,
imagine that you all know that was lon,
laborer in tnat field As far back as lS4l
or 1874, introduced the frst bill in th'
House Of Representatives. Il was Mt frs
met with taunts and jeers. You all know
succeeded in 1850 or 1851, in having il pass
u ed in the House. Ii went 70 the Senate an'
was there lost. Later | was transferred I,
the Senate, and took the bill UP again, AM
finally il was passed, but il was vetoed b,
j MIR. Buchanad I need simply refer you Il
|. my past acts i'm that matter, aud surely
insed make no other reply. My whole histor,
will show you that my course has been al
ways against this policy Of monopoly in III,
lpublic lands by spectators, % be sold b,
lfhe- high prices. THE chairman hers
sa1Uy mat the committee very we'll remem
lbered his veto Of the Montana Iron Mana
lfucturing Company's bill The Presiden
lcontinaed I In many Of my old speeche,
on. this matter, you viii see various esti
Imates which made to prdge that the ces
sation Of this monopoly would result in in
lcreasing the revenue Of the country, and il
lettering the condition Of the people, ant
rendering them more independent; and jus
4 in that connectiCn it is now q very impor
taps time for the people, the laboring peo
pie, to see to their Independence for W,
have almost reached time when the peo-
pie require second emancipation. Their,
are some wearing shsckles and bonds tha
Require to be thrown aside. I SYN.
pathize with you 10 Jour movement
and hare given recent evidence Of ii
There ia nothing i could say that would Civ,
Iyou additional evidence Of the fact. am il
flavor, and always have been, or that system
(which had the most tendency to elevate ths
working people Of the nation, and / am GLAD
Ito see the labor Of the country taking hold
LOT, and looking to its own rights I hav,
lbeen q streng democrat but there, always
4 was one arlstDcracy Of labor. In, the. labor
jing men, industrious and intelligent, are tbs
lreaI aristocncy Of the country for upon
4 them allsthe rsst depeads- As to tbs hours
leflabor per day. il is simply matter Of OK.
lpediency / think, but am certaisly In favor
lof the shortest number possible, that will
i nllota If the discharge Of dutv and the re-