Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-01
From our New York Correspondent.

NEW YoRR june "a, 1868.
The great event of the week thus far has
been the banquet to Mr.. Burlingame and his
associates of the Chinese Embassy, given at
Delmonio's last evening. Over two hundred
Of our leading citizens were present. The
distinguished visitors were escorted by Gov.
Fenton and Mayor Hoffman to the elevated
table assigned to them Over the Presidents
chair the American and Chinese flags inter-
twined. The tables bore prolusion of flow
ers and all manner Of palatable dishes. The
Rev Dr. Osgood invoked the Divine blessing
upon America and China. The first toast
was, .. The President of the United States"
to which the guests responded by rising and
giving cheers, the band playing Hail CO.
lumbia." The next toast, :" The Emperor Of
China was responded to by Gov Fenton.
" Our Guests, His Excellency Anson Bur-
lngame, and his associates of the Chinese
Embassy" was replied to by Mr.. Burlingame.
" Our Continental Republic and Its Asiatic
relations was responded to by Mr.. W. NJ.
Eyarts. Mayor Hoffman made reply to the
toast, 4" The commercial cities of the Old
World and the New" AN enlightened di-
plomacy, reorganizing the universal brother
hood Of man. and that equal justice To all ma
tions it will inaugurate,' was responded to
by Mr. james o. Putnam, of Buffalo Toasts
were then responded TO as follows The
obligations of the world to the peculiar indus.
tries Of China" by VIM. H. Dodge 4" An
cicnt and Modern civilization commingling on
the Pacific by Prof r. d. Hitchcock "In-
ternational law preserving peace OH both hemi-
spheres" by Mr. d. d. Field; The Mari
time commerce of the Globe, by Judge DAILY;
" The labor of China and the labor of Amer
lea, by Mr.. Edwards Pierepont; One uni
form metallic currency for the entire world, -
| by Mr.. W. s b. Ruggles. The festivities
were not ended till midnight. The Embassy
leave for Washington this evening.
The labor movement in this city and vicin-
| ity is assuming proportions which cannot be
overlooked The various labor organizations
are most active. Strike follows strike. One
of the most important of these is that Of the
bricklayers. There are about 2, 800 members
of the trade in this city, thrce-fourths, proba-
bly, more, of whom belong to the Brieklayers
| Union On Monday a strike was inaugural
ed by the Union, their demand for the eight
hour system having been opposed by the mas.
ter masons The bricklayers now announce
their intention of remaining on a strike unit
their demand for fewer hours of labor is ac
ceded to- The old standard was ten hours
work day for s5 the present demand il
$3.50 for eight hours work, or a reduction
of 30 per cent. of the hours, and of 10 PEI
cent Of the wages The Union has $4,000
in bank, and is branch of the international
Bricklayers' Union, which is empowered t.
tax every bricklayers' organization in the
country for the support Of any strike. Som'
of the master masons published an address en-
titled, Why Houses and Rents are so dear,
in which they announced their determination
to stop all work until the men in their en-
ploy returned to their work at IS per day fo
ten hours. They assert that the record o
the Bricklayers' Protective Union, and othe
Unions connected with the building interest
of this city, has been for several years one o
unparalleled oppression and wrong The ad
dress says; Since 1862 to the lst of June
1868, the wages Of our men have risen stead
ily from about So per day to So per day. Il
the spring $3.50 was the regular rate. o.
the LIST of June by the action of the severa
, Unions, the rate was raised TO S5 day 70
ten hours work To this we readily assente'
and paid our men 50 per day We did sup
pose that here the matter would rest. w
thought that the topmost round of the lad
/ der had been reached. On the 18th of Jun
the Unions demanded $3.50 per day, am
eight hours to constitute days work, whicl
is an increase over So per day, being 56l cts
/ per hour, or s5.62A for ten hours work. w
wish it distinctly understood that we are no
! opposed to 50 per day, if the market can bea
as high rate of wages but we do oppos
any advance over So, knowing that it is tn
very highest point that the market will bear.
They further announced that II is well under
stood that the purpose of these Unions is h
demand s5 for eig ght hours if they should sue
ceed in obtaining the present demand. The
: say I'VE believe that the cost Of building ha
e reached point beyond which it is not safe t
90. We believe our men are well paid, am
9 that there is no necessity to impose additiona
9 burdens on the public by compelling them t
{ pay higher rents, simply that few of ou
citizens should be benefited thereby"
: The regatta of the Jersey City Yacht Gu
b came off yesterday. The Solus, Virgins
!. Jennie, Viola, Ella, Comet, Zephyr and Lo'
9 ia sailed The Ella won the first prize in tn