The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-05

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which Il to result, as they hope, in the revo-
We think Il is proper, Ia this connection,
to call your attention 70 the attitude In which
the minority have placed themselves by their
action Of the 10Th. Whom they became
members Of the Union they pledged them.
selves 10 support the constitution, bylaws,
&C., M required BY article III, section =,
thereof. BY their action Of the 10Th they
have violated this pledge: Article x III o. ne
constitution provides "Thls Union shall nos
be dissolved as long as fifteen members do
sire 10 preserve Its organization
These members, 1.-THE mlnorityJ a. long |
as fifteen members are opposed 70 it--and |
the majority arc opposed to it-hnve no right |
to ask for tho revocation Of our charter. |
The majority, which Ia over two hundred, |
are determined TO preserve the Union. The !
minority have pledged themselves, as long |
Union, TO uphold Il. In violation OF their
pledge they now ask you 10 destroy II.
A review OF the facts in the case 81 NJ.
Douglass cannot fall 10 convince any IN
preludiced mind that The entire ground Of
objection to him is on account Of his color.
The less hypocritical Of his opponents ad-
nit this, and even the most violent aud uu
fair leaders OF the minority formally offered
TO compromise the difficulty by granting Mr..
as long as he desired, provided we would
withdraw his name from the Union, thus
virtually confessing that he was a fair
printer, and they were willing that he should
work, but were determined 10 prevent the
admission Of colored men into the Union.
This proposition, II is needless TO say, was
promptly rejected by the advocates OF Mr..
Douglass on the ground that Il was In viola
ton Of the letter and spirit Of the coustitu-
l a .z.fs a. vi. laI. ii
nority claim that Mr.. Douglass Is q rat,) or
to work with them; that II Mr.. Douglass
was fair printer he should be admitted
Into the Union; II not, he should not be
allowed to work In q fair office that the
| printers of the Government printing Office
could not consent to work with o fellow
craftsman who was deemed unworthy to be-
come amember Of the Union.
We do not believe that color should be
made bar to tho admission Of Mr.. Doug.
lass, because
/. It is not made so by the constitution Of
our Union.
.. Because distinction on account Of color
Is antagonistic to the spirit Of the age and
the laws Of the land.
3. Such distinctions arc detrimental 10
the best interests Of labor associations, by
forcing those Of different color Into com
petition with us, which must eventually, II
|
prices OF labor and the ruin OF labor asso-
Citations.
4. Because II Is unjust, and relic OF that
barbarism which was engcndered by the
system OF slavery now happily abolished in
our country.
Our convictions on this subject arc lasting
and sincere. There Is q principle urd"rly
| ing the question OF the adr-ias!on of Mr..
Dougi"ss " iIiGn We arc unwilling to sacri-
! ncc-a principle for which many OF us have
fought and more have voted aud labored-a
principle Involving the rights OF human
nature. The simple admission or rejection
Of one or dozen applicants for membership
Is matter Of small consequence compared
with this sacrifice OF principle that a
minority ask us to make.
We ask no special favors Of the National
Union In this struggle for equal rights; but
we demand and insist that there shall be no
interference with us by the National Unioa
| In the exercise Of our constitutional rights
and privileges. Columbia Union Is able TO
settle the present difficulty In Its own time
and way In such manner that II will re-
main settled for all time to come. II, how
ever, the officers Of the National Union
should SO far outrage law, courtesy and COM
mon usage as to act upon the suggestion Of
the minority Of our membership, and declare
our charter forfeited, and grant new char
ter to said minority, we shall be driven to
the necessity Of appealing to our fellow
craftsmen throughout the country to with
draw from the National Union and to organ
lie new National Typographical Society,
which shall be founded on the principles OF
justice to all men, regardless OF race or color.
We should very deeply regret to be com
PEELED to resort to such a revolutionary
measure as this would be, but sclf-prcscrya-
ton, the highest Of all laws, would leave us
, no other choice. In such q contest we would
be sustained by the whole power OF the Gov
, ernmcnt wherever Its influence could be
brought TO bear In our behalf, by the great
majority Of the press Of the country, by the
, pulpit unanimously, and by q public senti.
ment as overwhelming as that which eman.
cipatcd the slave and gave him O common
legal and political status. There can be nc
| doubt upon whose standard victory would
, eventually rest.
s We appeal to you, therefore, with no com
A mon earncstncss not to hurl into the midst
: Of our organization so consuming q frebrant
0 as the one to which you are asked to give
: your official sanction, which would bt
8 without warrant In the letter or spirit Of the
: instrument from which you derive youi
power.
, We hope you will not follow the counsel.
, of prejudiced, selfish, desperate minority
and thus commit the National Union, so fal
as you can, TO course which must produce
ill-will, discord and eventual disruption
May you be endowed with that wisdom and
prudence which Is SO much needed In this
crisis.
To grant the request Of tho minority
would only more inHame the passions and
, prejudces already charged with too much
mischief, and II would surely rcnd the ma
, tional organization Into two antagonist,
bodies, each claiming similar powers ant
Jurisdiction. You may rest assured tina
. there are not less than three hundred prin
} tiers within the Jurisdiction OF this UnioI
/ who never will yield their rights and priv
ieges as members at the dictation Of a fac
: tious minority.
Q Mr.. President, great responsibility rest
: upon you. We hope you will not convulse
Q rend, and finally destroy that union Of on
y noble craft which has been so happily an,
/ successfully established after years OF toll
by causelessly and unlawfully interfering
| with what should have been a purely loca
question. Union and equal rights Is oul
a motto; may II be yours likewise.
r The address Is accompanied by letter.
8 from the Denver Union and Mr. Stanton, TO
: whom Douglass worked; also the majorit,
and minority reports, rs made at the Jun,
4 meeting of the Union, all Of which hay,
5 heretofore been published In tho REPUBLI
= CAN, and q copy Of series Of resolution
auOptcu Dy tue DuHalO tNeW Ofk) Union
5 complimentary to Hon. A. NJ. Clapp, Con
$ gresslonal printer. Both OF the addrcsse,
will be In the hands OF the President Of tn,
1. National body this week, and his decision II
4 looked for with interest.
9 DoS'T KILL THE BRuTEs.-If the poo
! horses belonging to Engine Company No.
were able to speak, they would certainly CRY
out against lnhuman treatment. On Satur
day afternoon, with the thermometer at q
degrees, those poor beasts were driven al
their utmost speed for over a mile, theli
driyers-thc hose cart especlally-meanwhil,
belaboring them with their whip, urging
| them to renewed exertions. Many were th,
expressions Of just indignation from tn,
pedestrians on Seventh street, who witnessed
the disgraceful proceeding.
A GIFT TO THE CoLoRED sCHoOLs.-Tht
Secretary Of War has instructed General o,
o. Howard to turn over to Messrs. syphax
Hall and Jones, the trustees Of coloret
schools, all the buildings owned by the Gov,
eminent which were formerly In use by tn,
Q Freedmcn's Bureau. The gin Ia conditioned