The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-19

forth clothed in the might which truth
brings out of the gloom of despair, and we
will gather together in the great cities of
our great Union, and with the platform Of
the National Labor Union we will make
power which will take, and not ask that
power which would fcign ignorance of our
existence.
Signed in behalf of the president and
executive committees. ...- 60
FLORENCE Fl. DAY,
4. G.. CAMERON,
"a" "". r. TREvELLICK,
A. 7. CAvIs,
A. NJ. PRUITT,
j. G. c. WHALEY.
Philadelphia, August l6, 1869.
ADDRESS OF MR.. LUCKER.
Mr.. c. H. Lucker, the acting president of
the Union, made n lengthy address, setting
forth what had been done during the past
year to further the objects of the Labor
Union, and setting forth the action, or
rather non-action, of Congress. Mr.. Luckcr
then feclingly referred to the death of Mr..
Sylvis, the late president of the Union, and
spoke encouragingly of the prospects of the
labor movement. We make the following
full extracts from the address
CONSPIRACY LAWS.
The conspiracy laws of the various States
demand from us an earnest expression OF
opinion. One instance will give to show
their unjustness to the toilcr: Two men in
Schuylkill county, in this State, were con-
demned to Imprisonment simply because
they werc members Of workingmen's s
union. AS we have delegates from that
section who are more intimately acquainted
with the facts l will refrain from further
comment. The law, or laws, that will con-
demn q man to prison simply because he is
n member of trade organization is so in
famous and 'unjustifable, so contrary to
what should be the spirit of our institu-
tions, hope such protest will come from
the people throughout the land as will cause
the Legislatures of the various States to
repeal them in hot haste, or the members
thereof be consigned to the oblivion they
deserve. .,. .....
TIE EIGuT-lIouR AND Cooperative SYSTEMS.
The question Of eight hours for a legal
days work demands from you calm dclibc-
ration. Great advances have been made
the past year in securing this much desired
reform. The Government of the United
States have recognized it-not without con-
siderable of fight, it is true, but yet to-
day, in every Government workshop, eight
hours is legal days work, and full
days pay is given for the same. Thus far
have our efforts been successful. 1t now
becomes our duty to take such action as
will bring it before the various State Lcgis-
latures, and demand and receive from them
the same recognition that we have obtained
from the Government Of the United States.
To this point every effort should be given.
Cooperation. The principles of co0pera-
ton, which have been go often referred to,
have not taken that hold among the pro-
ducers that their importance entities them
to. The great cause of the non-success Of
many of the so-called cooperative enter
prises arises from the fact that they were
spasmodic attempts, not the result of calm,
deliberate, intelligent efforts. These fail
ures do not in any way affect the principles
of cooperation, for if they are properly car
ried out it is one of the most powerful
agents for the discnthralment of labor from
the domination of capital. | earnestly
hope that the action of this Congress will
tend towards awakening greater interest
in its principles, and eventually lead to its
.. CooLIE LABOR.
The recent attempts Of unprincipled and
interested parties to revive the Infamous
coolie trade, which is essentially q revival
of the slave system, is one which demands
our earnest and serious consideration. 1t
is question that affects all classes OF So
ciety. Whilst we do not wish to array our
selves against legitimate or voluntary emf
grafton, it must not be forgotten that there
is q vast difference in the status of the vo-
luntary emigrant and the imported coolic.
The importation of these coolies, it is ac-
knowledgcd on all sides, is not for their
advancement socially or morally, but has
for its only object the damnable one OF
chcapening American labor, and to eventu-
ally force the Workingmen into condition
worse than slavery. There is q law on the
statute-books of this country, passed in
1862, prohibiting such importation, and l
earnestly recommend that immediate and
effective steps be taken by this Congress to
secure its enforcement.
POLITICAL ACTION.
AT the Baltimore Congress-, in 1866,
after mature deliberation, 1t was deter
mined that the time had arrived that the
workincmen of the United States should
cut themselves free from existing party ties
and predictions and organize a grand
national party, the cornerstone OF when
should be the recognition OF the rights oil
labor. The events of the past three years
have demonstrated the wisdom OF that de-
cision; for with few exceptions, where a
different policy has been pursued, 1t has
resulted in betrayal of trust or an lgno-
minious failure. Nor should this be n matter
of surprise, as both existing partiee are now,
and have been, manipulated exclusively IN
and for the benefit of capital. Oil and water
will not mix, and it is the shecrest nonsense
for any one to think that either of the exist
inr parties, whose very existence depends
upon the perpetuation of the system we seek
to destroy, will, so long Us they are the law
making power, be governed by other than
selfish motives. Moreover, movement to
affiliate with either would be especially to
be deplored at this time, when both the
Democratic and Republican parties are ra-
pidly disintegrating by their own corrup-
ton, and the people are demanding change
in our political affairs. And the national
labor party, with the platform of principles
adopted by this Congress, is the only one
that can lead the people to victory over
both the existing ones.
SIMPLE JUSTICE ONLY DESIRED.
The work before us is simple. We dc
not ask sympathy. All that we desire il
Justice. The aim and end of all the labor
movements now conyulsing the fairest por-