The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-06

and Cypress the rights Of labor, and subordinate
its votaries to the merciless demands of aggre>
gated capital and supersciIlous authority.
Resolved, That the National Banking system
being in;mical to the spirit Of liberty, and sub
versive IF the principles of justice, and without
warrant in the Consultation Of the United States,
and wrongfull' increasing the burdens of the
wealth-producing classes millions Of dollars an
nually, justice, the aspirations of honest indus
try, and the spirit Of imperilled liberty demand
its immediate repeal and the substitution of legal
tender notes as the exclusive currency of the
nation,
Resolved, That the National Labor Union
is opposed to the continuation and creation of
banks by acts of Incorporation, by either State
or National authority, with the privilege of
making, issuing, or putting in circulation, any
notes, bills or other paper Of any other bank to
circulate as money, except the "legaltender
Treasury notes" therein contemplated.
Resolved, That the present rate of interest is
in excess of and disproporti0nate to the increase
of national wealth, and being the governing
power in the distribution Of the products of cap
ital and labor, is oppressive TO She producing
classes.
Resolved, That the revenue laws of the United
States should be altered so that, instead of sub
Ordinating labor to capital, they may afford just
protection to labor and the industrial interests
Of the whole country.
Resolved, That the legal tender money should
be made a legal-t tender in the payment of all
debts, public and private, and convertible at
the option;of the hslder into Government bonds,
bearing interest at the rate of three per cent.
per annum, with privilege 70 the holder to re
convert the bonds into money or the money into
bonds, at pleasure.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondholders,
that the bonds which were bought with green.
backs, and the principal Of which is by law pay
able in currency, should nevertheless he paid in
gold, is unjust and extortionate.
Resolved, That the exemption from tax OF
bonds and securities, is a violation of the Just
principle Of revenue laws.
Resolved, That land monopolies are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that !" all freemen when
they form a social compact are equal ia rights, "
and if persisted in must ultimately result 10 the
subversion Of free institutions also the soci&I
and political well being Of the laborng masses.
To prevent this calamity. the public lands
adapted to agriculture should be given, in rea-
sonable quantities, to none bnt American ciri.
Gems, and such as have declared their intention
to become citizens Individual owners of ex-
tensive tracts ~ land should be encouraged 10
dispose Of the zane in small parcels, at reason.
able prices, to actual settlers, that may thus be-
come identified with the soil, as responsible, In
tellgent citizens.
Resolved, That it is a duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, to guard with vigilani
care the delicate and sacred rights Of the daugh
tiers of toll who are engaged in various industF Al
pursuits, and solicit their hearty cooperation in
our efforts to vindicate the rights of the labor
ing classes, while We pledge them, in return,
our individual and undivided support.
Resolved, That religion, morality and know
ledge, being necessary to success, schools and
other means Of education should be encouraged
such as the formation of labor unions, mechan
les institutes, lyceums, reading rooms, and
whatever additional agencies may hereafter be
deemed conducive to the cause Of morality and
intelligence.
Resolved, That as labor is the foundation and
cause of national prosperity, it is both the duty
aud interest OF government to foster and pro
! tect it. Its importance, therefore, demands the
creation Of an Executive Department OF the
government at Washington, to be denominated
the Department of Labor, which shall aid in
protecting it above all other interests,
Resolved, That the protection of life, liberty,
and property, are the three cardinal principles
Of government, and the two first more sacred
than the latter; therefore, money necessary for
prosecuting wars should, as it is required, be
assessed and collected from the wealth Of the
country, and not be entailed as burden on
posterity.
Resolved. That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption of such
measures among all classes of workmen, in all
sections Of the country, as will secure the adop-
ton of the Eight Hour system, and calls upon
the respective state legislatures to follow the
example of the National Congress, in recogniz-
ing eight hours a legal days work.
Resolved, That voluntary associations of
workingrnen and women are entitled, at the
hands Of legislation, State and National, to the
same chartered rights and privileges granted
to associated capital, and we demand their
practical recognition and enforcement
Resolved, That political equality being one
Of the cardinal principles Of this organization,
We therefore urge full restoration Of civil rights
to every American citizen, except such as have
been convicted of felony.
Resolved, That We demand the adjustment
Of the system Of contract labor in our prisons
and penitentaries, and that the labor performed
BY convicts shall be that which will least coz
fict with honest industry outside of the prisons
and that the wares manufactured by the con-
victs shall not be put upon the market at less
than current rates.
Resolved, That the Labor Congress would
most respectfully recommend to the woTkingnen
of the country that, in case they are pressed for
want Of employment, they proceed to the public
lands and become actual settlers, believing that
if the industry of the country can nc coupled
with its natural advantages, it will result both
in individual relief and national advantage.
Resolved, That we are unalterably opposed
TO the importation of servile race for the sole
and only purpose of pauperising the Labor o.
the American workingmen.
Resolved, That we demand the rigid enforce
ment Of the law Of Congress Of 1851, prohibit
ing coole importation.
Resolved, That when workman is found ca
pablo and ayailabls for any Office, the prefer
cnce should be Invariably given to such person.
Resolved. That we would urgently call the
attention of the industrial classes to the subject
of tenant houses and improved dwellings, be
lieving it to be essential to the welfare of the
whole community that reform should be eff
fected in this respect, as the experience Of the
past has proven that vice, pauperism and crime
are the invariable attendants of the overcrowd
ed, illy-ventated dwellings of the poor; and
we urge upon the capitalists of the country their
attention to the blessings to be derived from in
vesting their means in erecting such dwellings