The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-05
The Strike ON tho whnrvc..

The strike Of the Longshoremen, under
the auspices Of the "Longshoremens Pro-
tective Association" has doubtless caused
great embarrassment to our shipowners, and
has certainly retarded the delivery and ship
ment OF the produce and merchandise which
'cumber up the wharyes of the city. But
the Longshoremen have the clear right to
combine to obtain higher wages; it rests
with them to say at what rate they will or
will not work. On the other hand, tito ship
ping agents must determine for themselves
whether they can afford to pay the price de-
manded, or whether they can get the work
done at a lower rate. 1t is their right to
employ. whom they please, ut whatever price
they may agree upon, and when the Long
shoremen endeayor to prevent. any persons
from working, because they take less than
tho standard price OF the association, thoy
commit an L,nfa$ful act and expose them
selves, we should judge, to the severe penal
ties OF the law.
E The whole matter is lucidly explained in
the following extract from note in Dir. Nc
Cullochs edition of Adam Smiths s.Wcalth
of Natiohs:' el
i .s.If any number Of persons choose to COM
blne to refuse to work, except for a certain
amount Of wages, OF for certain hours per day,
orweek, toforbld them would seem to be
most oppressive interference with one of the
distinguishing privileges OF free laborers. It
was found, too, that, practically, the laws
against such combinations were good for moth
Ing, and that, Instead of putting them down,
they gave them q secret character, and made
them be easily perverted 10 other and more
Objectionable objects. But when workmcn
have power TO refuse TO employ themselves on
terms of which they dlsapproyc, they have got
all, In this respect, to which they nre entitled.
None Of them have my right to dictate to their
fellows, or to say that, beca;lsc they object to
certain stipulatlons in the terms offered by
such and such employers, TO one else shall be
allowed to accept them. A pretension of this
sort strikes Mt the very foundations of society,
ana, II tolerated, might enable Juntos of de
signing individuals to lnfilct irrcparablc injury,
not only on the employers of labor, but on the
manufacturers OF the country, and consequent
ly on the lasting interests of the laboring class.
We need not, however, be, surprised to learn
that this is.what numbers of wOrkmen In varl-
o,is places have attempted to do; and TINT
combinations hive been formed, not for the
Legitimate purpose OF refusing to, work except
on certain conditions, but for preventing other
workpc9plc who mhy disapprove Of or not
choose 10 lnslst on these conditions, acceptInr
the terms offered by their employers The
measures taken to enforce this most un}ustifl-
able pretcnsion have, In some instances, been
OF avery obnoxious description, dnd have
evinced tho existence of very dangerous
spirit. Nothing should be omitted stllat may,
serve to root out and suppress combinations,
for such illegal ends. They are completely
subyerslyc of that security essential to, the
prosecution Of oil industrious undertakings;
and are, at:bottom, rs hostile to the. interests,
OF those that enter into them as they are to
the interests Of everyone rlsv.r '--r,
s. But the Charleston LongshOremen, nearly
mn Of whom are negroes, are now striving
!. mess their ends by brute violence and
intimidation. On yesterday, uneyJ atracial
and wounded white man, not..a memlo,rS
OF course, Of the association, Who was
working on; the wharves Mt the old rates OF
pay; and later in the day, they hurled brick
bats at the laborers who continued to work,
bruising them slightly. Encouraged by
the impunity which attended. their first on
slaught, they made a second attack; and
to-day we may look for more serious dis
turbance unless our pusilanimous Chief
Magistrate plucks up the courage to- do his
duty and protect the working laborers from
the violence of their black. assailants. II
Mayor Plllsbury will not do this the men
who desire to work must take care OF them.
selves without'his help; but we cannot for
get that the same official who now sends q
contemptibly small. squad OF policemen,
armed r with their slaves, to save from harm
abody Of industrious laboring men, could turn
out the whole police force, with Winchester
rifles and fixed bayonets, as we'll rs q batts-.
lion OF United States troops, when there
was o likelihood that number .of Georgia
gentlemen, with their Charleston entertain
lers, would resent, as 1t deserved, any yin In
dignity tint s,eelored mol. might offer
them. 9H'' ,h5;39'c7r -. st'.9ai.ry:,} vi =