The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-06-12
The President OF the National Labor
Union TO President Grant.

Z
Union TO President Grant.
OFFICE NATIONAL La Boz UNION
PHILADELPHIA, May 2Itn 1869.
To His Excsilercy, L. 8. GEAsr Pr ssident of the
United States.
| SIR When the Attorney General, sd-
veiseiy to the interest, of those intended to be
benefited by the enactment Of the Eight
Hour Law, decided that under it workmen
employed in the government shops are en-
titled to but fouF-ffths of DAYS pay for
what that Law constituted a full days work,
We almost despsired Of securing justice uu-
til after the reconvening Of Congress, but
your proclamation under date of 2lst inst.
has pleasurably disappointed US. Though
this is prepared as letter Of thanks, we do
not feel it duty to accord express thanks
TO government officials, who, in remem-
brance Of their obligation faithfully inter
pref or administer the law. We regard gov.
ernment officials as public servants, selected
because Of their honesty, sAgacity, wisdom
and affection for country and an equitable
execution of the law as a duty, TO the faith
ful performance Of which they have made
solemn pledge-and rot as favor meriting
special thanks. The proper discharge of a
pledged duty is certainly incumb eut upon
the servant Of the public, equally as upon
him who occupies the same relation to thcj
individual, ksha isxs.s-i::aals pus.s. - sss
q improper, though not specially tkAr sol
for proper performance Of his pledged or
implied promise.
The history of our country during the
past several years, has proven, however,
that the faithful fuiIlment Of official pledges,
the rigidly honest construction and admin
stratiOn Of law, is not the rule but the ex-
eeption, 80 that il has become customary to
especially thank officials when in moment
Of alteration they condescend to equitably
lcgslate, administer or interpret. VII
Ia your inaugural address to the country.
you pledged yourself to the enforcement of
all laws just or unjust, which you very propal
erly told US were enacted for the govern
as well Of those who opposed, as those who4
favored them-snd by reason Of that pledge
we bad right to expect just such an order
as was contained in your proclamation Of the
2lst inst. But you will pardon US Sir # We
say, that accepting official conduct during
the last few years, as an indcx Of that to.
come, we seriously doubted that in the faces
Of the Attorney Generals very learned opin-
ion, you would render to the laborer Of the
nstion-we say Of the nation for a mighty
principle is :nvolved--that which the Eights
Hour Law has declared to be their due.
But your order came, and coming unexr
pectedly is doubly welcome, and we expert
ence augmented ,leasure in thanking Yod
for it. Nv
We, plain people, believed the provisions
Of the law to be plain enough. Their being
so, perhaps, accounts for the egregioas
error committed by your learned legal sdv
ser, Ia his Interpretation OF them. YoH>1
practical mind OWNED its intent, while q
his acumea--the accumulated wondroQf
wisdom Of years or varied experience, Wa
an occnlt problem, from the solution idf
which he emerged defeated-Ehich was wora
for bis legal reputation than for his mater
condition, seeing that he is still your Attd
ney Geperal. -
IMPOSITION, IS officIal headUf ths'rsss
al Lahor Union, has brought me into eoatas4si
With many Gmslcontsnts,'' who deeeming
that government deals inequitably by them,
attribute II to too much law aud q superb
bundance of lawyers. Whether they are cor
rect or not they seem determined "A combat
from that position, and their ranks areshu-
merous. Their success or defeat, the pro-
gress O time alone can develop, but mnl-
duplication Of instances wherein, as in the
one that has just passed into history, the
learned decision Of a self-puffed lawyer ID
compelled to give way TO the unvarnished
rendering Of practical citizen, unread in
Blackstone. and IMMERSED in the technicssi-
ties Of Coke or Littleton, win make tbs
former extremely probable.
If thanks are due for simple justice, the
National Labor Union thanks you for yonr
order. -
Trusting Sir that your actions throufhout
your official term. may be gagged bY ffs
rule Of justice that impelIed you to trsst NJ.
Hoar's opinion with the iDdiiferencs W It.
ter Stiffness deserved, I am very respective
ly your obedient servant, w. Fl. SrLyIs.
President Maternal Labor nlan.
! Mr. Wailacess Letter.
In another column viii be found 4 letter
from Mr.. s. J. Wallace, msmher Of The Ex-
ecutive Committee for the Stale Of Psnnsyl-
| yania, in which that gentleman deep1s Dim
self from the charges OF neglect u duty