The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23

banners assured OF success over corrupt
political schemes, and the spectators and
banker who are preying like nerpaes upon
the fruits of honest labor, and thus restore
to our political and social system that equll-
ibrium of rights and justice 40 necessary 20
good government and domestic Tranquility
therefore, be it
Resolved, That laborers in all depart
ments of useful industry are suffering from
system of monetary laws which we're enacseo
during the late war, as measures, t was as
sumed necessary to tbs life Of the nation, and
which is now sought to be perpetnated in the
interest of bondholders and bankers as a means
to subvert the government Of our fathers, and
establish on its ruins an empire, IN which all
political power shall be centralized to restrain
and oppress the rights Of labor, and subordinate
its yotaries to the merciless demands Of aggre>
gated capital and superscillOus authority.
Resolved, That the National Banking system,
being inmcal to the spirit of liberty, and sub
versive sf the principles of justice, and sithout
warrant 10 the Constitution of the United States,
and wrongfuilV 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
ts;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 "legal-tender
Treasury notes" therein contemplated.
Resolved, That the present rate Of interest is
in excess of and disproportionate to the increase
IA aho Hrin
power in the distribution of the products OF p
ital and labor, is oppressive to .ne producing
classes
Resolved. That the revenue laws ofthe 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 legaltender in the payment OF all
debts, public and private, and convertible ut
the option.of the holder into Government bonds,
bearing interest at the rate of three per cent
per annum, with privilege TO 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 we're bought with green
backs, and the principal Of which ID by Law pay.
able in currency, should nevertheless he paid in
gold, is unjust and extortlonate.
Resolved, That the exemption from tax of
bonds and securities is u 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 in rights I"
and if persisted in, must ultimately result in the
subversion of free institutions also the social
and political well being of the laboring masses.
To prevent this calamity, the public lands
10 i.
sonable quantities, to none bnt American citi-
zens, and such as have declared their intention
to become citizens. Individual owners OF ex-
tensive tracts Of land should be cncou. aged TO
dispose of the same in small parcels, at reason
able prices to actual settlers, that may thus be
come identified with the soil, as responsible, in
telligent citizens.
Resolved That it is a duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, to guard with vigilant
care the delicate and sacred rights of the daugh-
tiers Of toll who engaged in various industrial
pursuits and solicit their hearty cooperation in
our efforts to vindicste the rights Of the labor.
ing classes, while We pledge them, in return,
our individual aud 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
and interest of government to foster and pro
tect it. IT'S importance, therefore, demands the
creation Of an Executive Department Of the
government at Washington, to be deuOminsted
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 entaied 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 as legal days work.
Resolved, That voluntary associations of
workingmen and women are entitled, at the
hands of legislation, State and National, to the
same chartered rights and privileges granted
associated capital, and demand their
practical recognition aud 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 abolishment
of the system of contract labor in our prisons
and penitenIiaries, and that the labor performed
by convicts shall be that which will least con-
hct 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 wOTkingmen
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 be 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 a servile race for the sole
aud only purpose of pauperising the labor OF
the American wOrkingmen.
Resolved, That We demand the rigid enforce
ment OF the law of Congress Of 1861, prohibit
ing coolie Importation.
Resolved, That when a workman is found ca
pable and available for any office, the prefer
ence 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 a 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, illyventilated 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