Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-19
The Workingmsa's Assembly.

chamter, CRY Halt; me Prgsident, ~ ruaf-
iangly IN the chair, and Ir. Cayis AGING as
| y cIrtary. a's' tat
Tie. Secretary read Communication from
Mr.. VIM. i. Jessnp, etary OF the Workinz-s
items As. emily of New York IN yiting month :
ly or eSpondence between the various societies
in the United stst's, in order TO protect and
promote the welfare Of the wprkin grnen
thrOug bout the Union. The circular sets forth
that in New YORK there is an unusual decree
OF dle tress and Suf ring among the nlechani s.
emp lOym mt. The Shosmakers' Society had
STOPPED work on account OF the refusal of man.
ni'eturers 10 give them fair wages, and now
SIX hume red were walking about the streets
On motion of Mr.. Mitchell, the Corrssp r1ding
Secretgry of the Assembly was authorized 10
begln correspondence with the New York So
cit ty.
In answer to an inquiry as 10 what progr,sss
the Commute which was appointed some months
since TO Wait on members of Congress and solic.
1t the passage OF bill prescribing eight hours
as days work, the President stated that the
matter remained where it was left II the time
OF the last report. Members had been approach
ed upon the subJect,and some oftheIn had prom
passage of such a bill.
MIR. Whal, spoke OF the recent attempt of
psIue5 in luis city, styling themselves the
meeting, ostensibly in favor of the industrial
classes, but eally tor the purpose of nominating
a gentleman for the Presidency of the United
St tes an d in order to aid this object to seen RI
the election OF delegates from this conven ion to
be held in Cincinnati in May next The sDea xer
said that, in company with NJ: Mat;ingly they
hld presented themselves at the meeting and
protested against it.
Mr.. Mitchell, under the call for business for
the good OF the order, read the report Of the pro-
seedings OF a meeting of the Master Builders
Union, held few weeks since, wherein severe
reflections were cast upon the Workinglnen's
Assembly generally, and Mr.. George w Hark-
ness severely criticised the conduct OF Mess rs
Beron, MeCathran, and Mitchell. So far as he
lMr. Mitchell) was concerned, he cared very
little for what had been said about him. Init he
thought 1t incumbent upon the Working mems
Assembly to take some notice of the reflections
upon the purposes OF the Assembly.
Mr.. John +. Collins, who had defended the
Morkingmen's Assembly at the meeting of the
Master Builders Union, and who was Commit
mented therefor by the Assembly, being pres.
ent, made few remarks in denial of the alle
cations made at the Master Builders Union "A
10 ms dlselalming having spoken for the rights
OF the workingmen. He had gone there he
said, to join the Union, but did not approve Of
thelr principles, and withdrew. The attempt
to array the Journeymen and master workmen
against each other was exceedingly repreheu-
sible, coming from whatever source it might
ana ne hoped no such position would be taken
IN tne assembly. He thought that both the
1ourneymen and bosses Were justified in the
adoption OF measures TO protect their respective
interests. He had talked with many of the
m OF the Master Builders Union, and
had found the most subs tantial men annonr
them the most moderate and Just
Mr. McCathran said that having come in for
tii SNARE OF criticism at the hands OF Mr.
Hardness at the Builders Union he would
briefly reply Thereto. by his defence OF the
cause OF the workingmen he was TO no the rec,
plent OF personal abuse and criticism, he should
not regret the position he had taken. His enc
mics might squirm and fret, but their inyec
nyes would fall harmless. He considered the
source from when it came, but was not unwil-
ing 10 meet any of the champions OF the oppo
sltlon to fairly discuss the rights of the work
ingmen. He was sorry that the gentleman
(Mr. Htrkness) had stopped SO low as to use
suGn PtIsonal vlndlctiyeness against any one,
and MS bowels yearned with compass ion for
him. His nomination for the mayoraIty bv
Mr. Harkness had somewhat panied him, for
1t was step beyond his most salguine ex pee
tatlons. However, it was exceedingly nm
pleasant to stir up such odors. and he was
therefore disposed to let the matter pass.
MI. 6eron followed on the same subject and
IN connection with that portion of Mr.. Hsrk-
ness remarks rejecting upon the ouaIifirat,nn
OF painters IN the Nayy-yard, made an earnest
defense of them.
Mr.. Whaley submitted a resolution. express
hg confidence IN Mr.. Mct'athran as a gentle
man ana mechanic. and recognizing IN hum a
sincere and Jealous COW orker in behalf of the
WOrElng men in attempting to have adopted the
After remarks by MIR. Mitchell, in which ne
expressed his Willingness TO support Mr. Nc
Cathran tor the Mayoralty or Alderman In.
re oiutlon was adopted.
Mr. A. L. Cavis briefly addressed the Assem-
Oily upon the warfare OF capital against labor,
when
was an Attempt on the part of the master me-
chantCs OF Washington 10 pull down the Jour
neymen, and concluded by Offering resolutions
recommending 20 all mechanics and ygorlxino
men 10 be Watchful in the approaching election
FOR city officers, and that their fellow wort
lngnen are selected tor those offices: also. thai
III Tue OPINION OF the Assembly politics should
be thrown out OF the scale in the determination
u who shall be city officials, and none but those
I'm The interest Of the workngmen should be
lected.
Mr. Watkins rnovad 10 o,,o,,, -, -,
lions by inserting the words "without distinc
ton Of color" i'll support Of WHICH he con.
ende that the colored people were working
men and voters, and therefore should not be
ignored.
Mr. Judd objected TO the amendment but
subsequently withdrew his opposition and
was unwilling that it should be modified by
Mr.. Watkins. The fact that the colored men
Were voters was indisputable, and therefore he
had no objection to their being included in that
sense, but did not feel disposed TO recognize
them as members of the Republican or any
other political party. IT, instead CT the Repub-
lican meetings which were held, the colored
men were called together and appealed to as
workingmen, and they Were instructed how
best to promote their welfare as such, ii would
in his opinion, be much better.
Mr.. Boron was sorry the amendment had
been introduced. because it appeared like intro
ducing politics in a matter where il should not
be spoken Of we were workingmen and not
poll icians.
Mr.. Flynn did not regret the turn which AZ.
fairs had taken. He thought the issue had TO
De met, and 1t was as well to have II out then as
at any other time. He desired to hear The views
of the me m bers of the Assembly
Mr.. Collins earnestly opposed the adoption OF
tbe amendment There had beer enough o.
this negro equality. The fact that they had
been empowered with civil and political rights
bad been accepted by him long ago; but when
the attempt was made to give them social PRIV.
leges with the whites, and admit them to our
councils, fresides. &c, he should enter his op-
position. He desired to know if the author of
the amendment would be willing 10 admit
negro delegates 10 seats in the Workingmsn's
Assembly; and If he were not, then IL seemed
inconsistent 10 invite their cooperation at the
ballot box. For himself, he would encourage
them in the formation of workngmen's socie.
ties of their own, but could not consent to apy
intermIngling of the races.
Mr.. watkins replied that he would not be
willing TO admit colored delegates in the AS.
ssmbly, but still was " Hing 10 recognize them
az citizens. entitled 10 privileges as voters
His position had been miscOnceiyed. and he
thu refore hoped his amendment would not ap-
pear upon the record.
Mr.. Judd said it was too late, as there Were
some ''chlels amang them,' &c, and the mat
ter would 60 before the public.
The question was then taken on the am md
ment. and ii was lost when the original re- oil IL
ton was adopted.
The Assembly then adjourned.
N
TIE RIVER FPONT.-Messrs. Cox &c Sprang-
Ter and Thomas Shackelford left this morning
with the gil!-fshing fleet lying al the moorings