New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-17
NATIONAL LABOR CONGRESS.

SVmiam svlvis late President OF the National Labor
GnOn died on the 27th Of July and the duties OF Vhat
poe then evolved upon VicePresident O. H. Tucker OF
Eew-York On the sOth Of last month Mr. Tucker issued
circular announcing the death of the President OF the
Npio and giving notice Of the regular annual meeting
of the Congress The Resident Committee had MADE
ample provision for the reception and accommodation
the delegates in Philadelphia The large Han inc
Assemby Buildings engaged, and decorated Win the
National colors Before the hour for meeting large
umher ~ delegates reprssenng all parts Of the Union,
women colored men, and white men, had assembled In
Ghe Hall.
The Convention was called to order at 10 O'Clock by
Vice President Tucker. The session was opened WIN
prayer by the Rev. Joseph Kamp Of Philadelphia Inc
Committee Credentials was announced, az follows;
MIR Jessup Of New-York, Mr.. Cameron OF Illinois, MI
Trevehck Of Michigan, Mr. Walls OF Pennsylvania MT.
Kuhn Of NewYork. Adjourned until O'CLOCK
AFTERNOON Session.
The Committee on Credentials made partial reports
showing that FIVE international, four national, eleven
State and rs local organizations from EewYork Penn.
syvaa Massachusetts,, EewJersey, Connecticut, Wis
cOnsn Michigan, Kansas Iowa, Illinois Missouri Missis-
spp Tennessee Alabama Georgia, Virginia, North Car
DINA Maryland and District Of Columbia repre-
scented Among the delegates is Miss Walbrdge from
Crispn Lodge Of stOneve Mass and cOored del
eEates from Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia
delegates have already reported to the secre
tary This is a larger number than has attended any
previous Congress- Letters have also been received from
Senators Fowler and sprsgue stating that they VIII GER
tainly attend the sessions Of the Convention
On motion Committee appointed TO report appro-
rae resolutions In memory Of the late President OF the
SJnion WiliaU H. sylvs Mr. A @. Cameron OF Chicago,
BditOr Of The WOrkiR0mens AdTOeq pronounced an eo
queut feeling eulogy the hfeseryoes ana eharac
Ter Of Mr. Syvis which adopted as the sentiment OF
the Convention. Miss Susan B. Anthony, representing
abe workingwomen's Association was present She at
tempted to make motion this afternoon, but her Gre
denals had been reported and she was not al
lowed TO proceed. The YicePresident then delivered
the following address:
10 the Oncsrs and Members Of the National Labor U5ion
GENTLEMEN: 1t becomes my duty, under the C9nstint
ton to report 70 yCG upon E SopS 500 sbS enc
deayor to express my views upon the general SITUATION
demand youf attention Immediately after the adjourn.
OF the last session, proceeded to mark out plan
Further the objects view My first step was to open
arp a correspondence with such leading men as could
reach, who we're IN sympathy with our movement ana
10y that create an Interest IN our cause by
10 reach many people who had never heard of
them It was not long until found my ,6 once
pouring in from all quarters On the first day OF
October issued circular 10 the working people of the
country. calling upon them TO rally under our banner
and help 70 push along the good work OF reform Ihe
of the people comparatively, could be reached for the
that the general newspaper press was hostile to
movement and refused 70 publish my appeal but as
far it could be carried by those papers published IN
OF labor and the few others IN sympathy
with u.s. created general desire 70 Know our as ana
objects and the plan OF organization on the 10th OF No
the organization OF the labor OF the country especially
that portion not embraced in the numerous Trade
Unions Under this call the work seemed 70 take
p decided change and TO assume practical shape
BY the s December the proceedings OF the September
session had been printed and rapidly possible were
circulated the country These, together with the
Shortly after the meeting Congress council OF promi
men the movement was held in Washington to
talk decide upon some general plan OF operations
for Winter campaign series OF resolutions BRIEF and
10 the point, made public These received very
wide circulation and created much inquiry committee
of five appointed 20 reside IN the CITY OF Washington
huu1g the Of Congress. whose duty it 10
watch over the interests OF our Unon lay our pans ana
objects before Congressman and Senators, and take
the work The amount Of good work done by
This Committee cannot be oyeTTseStlmatea'
PRODUCED bill embOdying the principles contained IN
ne noney P s6iiy o ftar mis- ne Hon Bntler
made speech in defense Of the same principles These
two speeches published in pamphlet form and
widely circulated Up to this time our fight was an up
hill business. Our enemies denounced US as demagogues
60 stir up strife and Contention, aud array class
against another. The newspapers most Of which are IN
The pay power OF the moneyed interests either rlh
pulled or ignored altogether. When we talked, We
nwsiIy Consigned 10 the waste.basket But when Con.
ressmen and Senators Of high standing and ability took
attention OF the whole country was aroused and the
i'hush policy would no longer answer
hest men IN the nation have openly espoused
their cause-and have done very great service.
Ehe approval Of position on the question Of money by
many able and successful business men, furnishes the
best evidence that correct Thus Far had my
worthy predecessor written his report for this Congress,
death snatched him from Us HIS demise occurring
20 sudden aud unexpected, and the duties Of the Pres
dency devOlving on az such short notice. and 40
close 20 the meeting Of the Congress have not had the
opportunity 20 give the questions that Will certainly
before You that consideration their Importance de
mands. With these facts before you any omissions
that may be made earnestly hope. under the ercum-
stances may be overlooked BY reference 70 the books
sDd vouchers that Will be handed TO the Auditing Com
mittee II viii be seen that the expectations Of our late
President IN reference % the securing oi Means 10 sue
Bessfuly carry on our movement from the labOring
classes have not been realized and the question of
"a vat
Desiring 70 dictate any speehc PLAN must say that upon
She proper solving OF this question depends our ultimate
success without money we are nelpess anu lhls TACT
should commend itself 70 the earnest and Intelligent
alteration of every delegate present And we must. at
this session, take such action as VIII DRUG MS Suciet
successfully prosecute the WOr by the AID OF
Efficient lecturers aud the dissemination OF labor dOcu
ments. ana any Other means tna VIZ pIlns ou move
ment prominently before the American people TINS
must do II we expect success 10 crown or efforts
Our numbers during the past year nave Leeb greatly aug
menteG. The people are WaKenlhg 70 the necessities OF
the hour and an organization must De aole as wen
willing TO conduct them or direct them IN the pai
will eventually lead to the carrying out OF the plat
form Of principles adopted by The evils that tins
organization started ont 70 reform still exist possible
Ia aggravated form. Our liberties IN danger,
and the success OF the principles advanced by us in
lie name OF the producers America depends the saliva
ton Of the Republic. Either the people must rule or
mOneyed and landed arisOcTacy Will This Is becoming
evident 20 an We have. even now a paper published ina
the Interests Of fife uopeyed rover deindndiIg imperiai-
Ism. Aud they Will have u, with all its curses,
the ballOtbOX, thus proving themselves equal the
emergency. Tie conspiracy laws OF the varons States
demand from an earnest expression Of opinion One
instance Will give % show their unlustness the tOer
Two men ia Schuylkl Comfy, Ia tins state, were
demncd 90 Imprisonment Simply because they were mem
bers OF wOrklugman's union. As we have delegates
from section who intimately acquainted
with the facts. viii refrain from further comment The
law or laws that will condemn man To PRISON simply
because e Is member OF trade organizations ls 80 IN
famous and uniustable contrary To what should be
come from the people throughout the land as VIII cause
the Legislatures OF the various states 20 repeal them IN