The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-09


which ID now sought to be psrpetnated in the
interest Of bcndholders and bankers as means
70 subvert the government Of our fathera, and
establish on its ruins an empire, in which all
political power shall be centralized 70 restrain
and oppress the rights Of labor, and subordinate
its voGarfea % the merciIeas demands ct sggre~
gated capital and superscillous authority.
Resolved, Thatshe National Banking system
being inimicai 70 the spiris Of liberty, and sub
versive u the principles Of justice; and without
warrant 10 the Consultation 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
lie hmm edate re peal and the substitution Illegal
tender notes as the exclusive currency OF the
nation.
Resolved, That the National Labor Union
is opposed 70 the c0ntinuation and creataea oil
banks BY acts OF incorporation, by either State
or National authority, With the privilege oil
making, issuing, or putting In circulation, any
notes, bills or other paper Of any other bank %
circulate as money, except the Highlander
Treasury notes. therein contemplated
Resolved, That the present rate Of interest II
in excess Of and dispropoetinnase 20 the increase
Of national wealth, and being the governing
power in the distribution Of the products Of cap
ital and labor, is oppressive 70 the producing
clas3es-
Resolved. That the revenue laws Of the United
States should be altered that, instead OF sub
ordina ting labor to capital, they may afford Just
projection 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 OIL
debts, public and private, and convertible a
the option.of the holder INTO Government bcnds
bearing interest at the rate of three per cent
per annum, with privilege 20 the holder 70 re-
convert the bonds into money or the money into
bonds, at pleasure.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondhOlders
shas the bonds which were bought with green
backs, and the principal of which 10 BY law pay
able In currency, should nevertheless he paid In
gold, 10 unjust and ext0rtionate.
Resolved, That the exemption from tax Of
bonds and securities, il q violation Of the just
principle Of revenue laws
Resolved, That land monopoles are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that !" all freemen wher
they form q social comp ct are equal ia rights,
and II persisted in, must ultimately result Ia TIA
subversion of free institutions, also she sOcia
and political well being Of the lsbosing massea
To prevent this calamity, the public land
adapted to agriculture should be given, In rea-
sonable quantities, to none bnt American ctsi
Gems. and such as have declared their intentioE
70 become citixena Individual owners Of en-
tensive tracts Of land should be encouraged q
dispose Of the same In small parcels. at reason
able prices, TO actual settlerA that may thus BE-
cone identiHed with the soil, a. responsible, In
telligent citizens
Resolved. That IL 10 q duty which should b
exercised with pleasure, 20 guard with vigilan
care the delicate and sacred rights Of she daugh
ters Of toll who are engaged In various industri
pursuits, and solicit their hearty CO operatiou Il
our efforts 10 vindicate the rights Of the labor
ing classes, while ne pledge them, in return
our individual and undivided support
Resolved, That religion, morality and know
ledge, being necessary TO success, schools ant
other means Of education should be encouraged
such 10 the formation Of labor unions, mechan
les institutes, lyceums, reading rooms, ant
whatever additional agencies may hereafter b,
deemed conducive TO the cause Of morality ant
intelligence.
Resolved, That as labor is the foundation ant
cause of national prosperity, it Is both the dut
and interest Of government 70 foster and pro-
tect il. Its importance, therefore, demands tn
creation Of an Executive Department OF th,
government at Washington, 70 be disseminate,
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 sacret
thar the latter therefore, money necessary 70
prosecuting wars should, as il 10 required, b,
assessed and collected from the wealth Of Oh,
country, and not be entailed a. q burden OF
posteriIy.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption Of sucl
measures among all classes OF wOrkmen, In al
sections Of the country, as will secure the adop
ton Of the Eighs Hour system, and calls upoI
the respective state Legislatures 70 follow th,
example of the National Congress, in recognix-
ing eight hours as a legal days work
Resolved, That voluntary associations o
workingmen and women are entitled, at tht
hands Of legislation, State and National, to the
sane chartered rights aud privileges granted
to associated capital, and we demand theil
practical recognition and enforcement
Resolved, That political equality being on,
of the cardinal principles of this organic ttion
we therefore urge full restoration Of civil right
70 every American citizen, except such as hav,
been convicted OF felony
Resolved, That we demand the abolishmen
Of the system of contract labor in our prison
and penitenIiaries, and that the labor performet
BY convicts shall be that which will least coz
6ict with honest industry ou side of the prison
and that the wares manufactured by the con.
victs shall not be put upon she market at les
than current rates
Resolved, That the Labor Congress wouls
most respectfully recommend to the workiDgmeu
Of the country that, in case they are pressed To-
want Of employment, they proceed TO the public
lands and become actual settlers, believing tha
IL the industry Of the country can be coupled
with its natural advantages, it will result 5Otl
in individual relief and national advantage.
Resolved, That We demand the rigid enforce
meut Of the Law of Congress Of 1851, prohibit
ing coolie Importation.
Resolved, That when a workman 10 found ca
pable and available for any Office, the prefer
ence should be inv Ariably given 20 such person
Resolved. That we would urgently call the
attention Of the industrial classes 70 the SUBJECT
Of tenant houses and improved dwellings, be-
lieving il to be essential 70 the welfare Of the
whole community that a reform should be ef-
f cted in this respect as the experience of che
past has proven that vice, Pauperism and crime
are the invariable attendants of the overcrow d
ed, illy-ventiIated dwellings Of The poor and
We urge upon the capitalists of the country their