Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-02
rHE RUTLAND HERALD
TUESDAY, AUGUST 81. 1869.
The Labor Congress.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 81, ioo"'
The Labor Congress.
We have not given to the readers OF the
HERALD the reports of the Labor Con-
gress lately holden in Philadelphia TOT
the reason that it seemed, when about
being opened, as though the element
composing it were so discordant that ut
tie, if anything more than discussion and
inharmony would result from the meeting.
But in this we think we misjudged.
The people composing the Convention or
Congress, were generally working men.
A few, evidently with the hope Of becom-
ing leaders in the labor movement, or for
some other motive, who were not laboring
men, were in attendance. Some of these
were from the south, others from the
west. but they had only little influence
in that assembly. 1t took Jessup, the
carpenter Of New York, Trevillick, the
shipwright, Walsh, the shoemaker, or
some man who was readily recognized az
q laboring man, to awaken enthusiasm
in that meeting. They were in earnest,
and the earnestness of some almost ap-
preached fanaticism.
But there was candor and conservatism
enough to hold in check those who other
wise might have gone off on a tangent
Many in that assembly were terribly op-
posed to the admission Of Mas Anthony
as member; but, notwithstanding this
they heartily recognized the justice in her
plea that woman should be paid as much
as man for doing equally we'll the same
kinds of labor.
The Congress was composed OF men Of
both political parties; men belonging to
different religious denominations, and
those of no denomination ; and aside from
the one great question of labor, there was
evidently no unity of feeling between its
different members. In the deliberations
of that assembly there were no precedents
to guide them, for this was the first meet
of the kind ever assembled in America.
1t was urged by some that there was
conflict going on between labor and cap
ital, and that the former was likely to be-
come subservient to the latter; that In
the present state of affairs the rich were
being made richer and the poor poorer.
If this is true, or not true, it is well to
have the subject investigated. Truth
might be expected, some of those opposed
to the present administration tried to
make political capital out of this conven-
ton, by insisting that the financial condi-
ton of the country was the great cause
of inharmony between labor and capital
The national banking system was de-
nounced; and, as feeler, evidently put
out to pave the way for reputation, it
was argued that the government was do
ing very wrong to keep her contracts with
those who furnished material aid in the
time of her great trial to put down the
regulators rebellion. Not one rebel was
in the convention, nor one of those who,
during the dark days of our struggle, de-
clared the war a failure" that did not
join with those rebels and say that the
government should repudiate her con-
tracts with the bondholders.
But the loyal portion, including Meyers,
the colored shipwright, from Baltimore,
opposed these attacks on the government,
and it is evident that a majority of the
leading spirits in the convention were not
in favor of reputation in any of its
forms
This congress opposed the granting Of
any special charters by which company
should enjoy rights not guaranteed to in
dividuals also, the importation of Coolie
labor, but favored the right IF the Chinese
or people of any other nation to emigrate
and become citizens.
They also favored the proposition to
have the public lands assigned to the
actual settlers and kept from the hands Of
spectators.
Only little was said of free trade, but
but enough was manifested in their oppo-
sition to convict and coolie labor, to show
that the members Of that Congress did
not care to have the price of their labor
reduced to that Of the pauper labor Of the
old world.
They appointed COMMITTEES and adopted
measures for obtaining statistics relating
to the manufacturing and financial inter
ests of the country. This il all right and
we'll Let the figures be produced, let the
questions at issuc BE- candidly and under
Il al nit
from the Congress or from any trades
union that may be formed through its
agency. Labor should be protected. II
is the corner stone of our prosperity.
But when people are advocating for labor
and the laborer, it is to be hoped that they
will not forget that capital and labor go
hand III band, and like the Siamese twins
they are bound together by a ligament
that cannot be severed without endanger-
ing the existence and welfare of both.
MIDDLEBURY.-Perm me to give
to your readers an account of the
new Touring mill recently put into oper-
alton in our village. 1t is called the
"Star Mill of Middlebury, and is owned
by Caleb Ticknor and VIM. Goodrich,
under the firm of Ticknor Il Goodrich y
and occupies the site formerly occupied
by woollen mill owned by A. Ruther-
ford. The power applied is water, con-
veyed from Otter Creek through a At foot
tube, and 142 feet long. This tube is OF
novel construction, consuming 2l,OOO
pieces of lumber kind, $3.50 lbs. iron, and
il of prnat STRENGTH canahle of resisting