The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-02

being inimicai to the spiri, Of liberty, and sub
versive IF the principles Of justice, and without
warrant 10 the Consultation Of the United States
and wrongfullV 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
teSdsr notes as the exclusive currency OF the
nation.
Resolved, That the National Labor Union
10 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 disproportinnate e. the increase
Of national wealth, and being the governing
power 10 the distribution Of the products of cap
ital and labor, is oppressive to the producing
classes
Resolved, That the revenue laws Of the United
States shOald be altered 80 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 tender in the payment Of all
the optiOnlof 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 is BY law pay
able in currency, should nevertheless he paid in
gold, is unjust and extortionate. v-r-ar
Resolved, That the exemption from tax OF
bonds and securities, is violation Of the just
principle of revenue laws .---.- .r1f
Resolved, That land monopolies are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that " all fFeemeu when
they form q social compact are equal in rights,
and If persisted in, must ultimately result 10 the
subVersion of free institutions, as also che social
and political well being of the laboring masses
To prevent this calamity, the public lands
adapted to agriculture should be given, in rea-
sonable quantities, to none bnt American citi
Gems. and such as have declared their intention
TO become citizens. Individual owners of ex-
tensive tracts Of land should be encouraged tC
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
telIigent citizens.
| Resolved That il 10 duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, to guard with vigilant
care the delicate and sacred rights of the daugh
tiers of toll who are engaged In various ndustriI
pursuits, and solicit their hearty cooperation il
| our efforts TO vindicate 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 anC
other means Of education should be encouraged
sr"h as the formation of labor unions, mechan
| lea institutes, lyceums, reading rooms, anC
whatever additional agencies may hereafter b,
deemed conducive to the cause OF morality anG
intelligence.
Resolved, That as labor is the found alton ant
canse Of national prosperity, it Is both the dut
and interest Of government to foster and pro-
tect it, LIS importance, therefore, demands tn
creation Of an Executive Department Of th,
| governments at Washington, to be denominatet
| the Department of Labor, which shall aid il
protecting It above all other interests
Resolved, That the protection of life, liberty
and property, are the three cardinal principle
of government, and the two first more sacre,
than the latter therefore, money necessary 70
prosecuting wars should, as it is required, b
assessed and collected from the wealth Of th
country, and not be entailed as a burden Of
posterity.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption of suc
measures among all classes of workmen, in al
sections Of the country, as will secure the adop
ton of the Eight Hour system, and calls upol
the respective state legislatures to follow th
example of the National Congress, in recogniz-
ing eight hours a legal days work.
Resolved, That voluntary associations O
workinglnen and women are entitled, ut tn
hands of legislation, State and National, to tn,
same chartered rights and privileges granted
to associated capital, and we demand the
practical recognition and enforcement.
Resolved, That political equality being on,
of the cardinal principles of this organic ton
we therefore urge full restoration of civil right
to every American citizen, except such as hav,
been convicted OF felony.
Resolved, That we demand the abOlshmen
OF the system Of contract labor in our prisons
and penitentiaries, and that the labor performed
by convicts shall be that which will least coz
Aict'With honest industry side of the prison
and that tbs wares manufactured by the con-
victs shall not be put upon the market at les
than current rates
Resolved, That the Labor Congress woul
most respectfully recommend to the wOTkingme
Of the country that, in case they are pressed 10
SAINT Of employment, they proceed to the publ
lands and become actual settlers, believing tina
if The industry of the country can be couple,
With its natural advantages, it will result boil
in individual relief and national advantage.
Resolved, That we demand the rigid enforce
meut 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 tn
attention of the industrial classes to the subJec
Of tenant houses and improved dwellings be-
lieving it to be essential to the welfare of To-
whole community that a reform should be ef-
ftcted in this respect, as the experience Of th,
past has proven that vice, pauperism and Grim,
are the invarable attendants of the oveTcrow d
ed, illy-ventiiated dwellings of the poor; anC
we urge upon the capitalists of the country thei
attention TO she blessings to be derived from il
vesting their means in erecting such dwelling