The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-09-12
Tie Laboring Men and the presidan.

re!eNstoii, Hald
i has tecH represented that our convention i f,r
IL; formation of new political party Ths is N.Y..
thu CASE but it is convention formed for +b wv
pcre Of discussing those reforms that we tlinl, no.
say ana due to the a5oring community We ara.
pettliy interested in the reduction Of the hours Of
bet That Is tiIe cornerstone OF our movement W.
define to bei04 about reduction Of the present ho,
to- eght, and have it understood THAT eight hours i
hereafter the measures Of days work legally and r
custom. We want to be considered rs IGNORING IN
political partnership or issues.
We &rprar before you rs laborers for the purnoso
Of presenting claims your favorable consii.r
ton arid asking YOU to sanction our movement win
your Immediate appropriate application as far rs all
the labor IN the naval and other government works l.
cgneerHed and initiate the example Of president Va,
Buren, when approached by the employees of the ror
eminent en- similar request-the request then mad
fir the reduction to ten hours per day This he did
order bf proclamation, and 1t immediately fol-
l6ycd az over the country and the cnstom made il
;w We believe the time has come lor a still further
reelection; that we have advanced sufficiently In i'm
ptoy ement mechanical and other to render this pnsf
be, AMI believe that we should participate in some
degree in ;hc benefits arising from these improve
Ttcrs: that We would become better citizens bv hay
ing tine for intellectual and moral culture, we tik
tpo it would aid Us in our physical well us in our
Intellectual hdath If not called uron to wur,, SO hard
add for such prolonged hours W. desire to ct your
attention also % the disposition OF tie public lands
accumulation of them in the hands Of the spectators
and TOO much given over to corporate companies for
the purpos OF encouraging the formations Of railroads
We think ta has acted badly for the arricul1uraists
aid that ii hdy were given settlers and others and
u3 permtedto accumulate in the hands Of few th9y
would De cultivated, where they lie unprodoctige
!. is now harA work for settler to make it profitable
u settle by reason that all the choicest portions Of
tle lands are being held by large capitalists and the
ENDS are improbable in the sense that they Weld less
supplies ana less taxes to the national or government
GOOD.
We would like to have YOU take these things into
consideration for the provision Of means to remedy
i'uis which wa claim to be wrong. We simply hold
Principles that lands should be held by those who are
ftug cultivate them. The land to the tilIer the
fools the mechanic II connection wish that sub.
get Mr. President, desire to Prese 90 you this pc
etian sent from one of our frontier States which mqv
.!iva ln better words and more condensed form, the
EIras 81 orr ironticrmcn upon that subject
have stated, Mr.. President, that for our appica-
zion to Won we have precedent in relation TO the
Sure II tier an example set by president Van Buren,
commend it to your attention most respectfully. Do
with the matter as may seem best to YOU But in the
pcral matter Of reduction of the hours of labor we
10 desire to have recognition at your huds il
you deem it wise to give it. We have other object
In view than to seek out and apply remedies to the
wrongs that lRborers now suffer.
We regard the present system Of emigration as be-
ing in some sort unfair and protection il sought by
come Of our large manufacturers rs the head Of the
government through the prohibition Of the importa.
zion Of foreign goods, desire to have some pro
lection for our interests. Ir they desire protection
against tiIe competition to which they may be sub
ected by importation, also desire protection against
aoreiga paurer labor Another subject to which
,woaId cali your attention, is the sy stem Of convict
:lhor.
we think that system exerts Il very deleterious
;fuence upon our Interests nasmuch AZ it is obtiued
a. ~ 3 .. I- H..