The workingman's advocate., 1869-09-04

that laboring people are, more than Others, as
posed 70 suffer while evils are suneraDie' than
tn organize for their abolition, ana,
whereas. We are admonished By the imper-
illed rights of labor throughout the United States
| to organize and agitats in our own Denaii vito
the decree. In the sweat Of the face shalt thou
eat bread. and the addsge that The price Of
liberty il eternal vigilance" enthroned in our
hearts aud emblazoned as notices on our
banners assured OF success over corrupt
political schemes and the spectators and
banker who are preying like narpies upon
the fruits If honest labor, and thus restore
! to our Dolitioal and social system that equil-
ibrium of rights and justice 40 necessary to
! 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 were enacted
during the late war, az measures, It was as
sumed necessary to this life Of the nation. and
which is now sought to be perpetnated in the
interest of bondholders and bankers as 9 means
to subvert the government of our fathers, snd
! 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 votaries to the merciless demands of aggre>
gated capital and superscillous authority.
/ Resolved, That the National Banking system,
being in:mical to the spirit of liberty, and SUBJ
versive sf the principles Of justice, and without
warrant in 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
its immediate repeal and the substitution Of legal
tender notes rs the exclusive currency of the
nation. ,
Resolved, That the National Labor Union
is opposed 10 the continuation and creation of
banks by acts Of Incorporation, by either State
or National authority, with the privilege of
4 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 to the increase
ls7Of national wealth, and being the governing
upcwer in the distribution Of the products Of cap
i ital and labor, is oppressive to the producing
classes. sr
ResOlrsd: Thst the revenue laws Of the United
States sRapl6 he altered 80 that, instead Of sub
or6natinE lf6>f to capital, they may afford just
protectiehtS 1bor and the industrial interests
of the ,NhQl9 tpuntry.
Res4Eed,5 hat the legal tender money should
be md u kal tender in the payment of all
debtss 8 and private, and convertible at
the ~ he holder into Government bonds,
beat - est at the rate of three per cent
per u with privilege to the holder to re-
contGt4 bonds into money or the money into
boai6 Il pleasure.
RsaOlved, That the claim OF the bondholders,
that She bonds which were 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.
Resolved, That the exemption from tax of
bonds and securities, is a violation of the Just
principle Of revenue laws.
Resolved, That land monop poles are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that " all freemen when
they form social compact are equal in rights"
and If persisted in, must ultimately result in the
subversion of free institutions, as also che social
and political well-being of the lsboring masses
To prevent this calamity, the public lands
adapted to agriculture should be given, in res-
sonable quantities, to none bnt American ciEi-
zens, and such as have declared their intention
to become citizens. Individual owners of ex-
tensive tracts of land should be encoura 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
tellgent citizens
Resolved. That it is q duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, to guard with vigilant
care the delicate and sacred rights of the daueh-
ters of toll who are engaged in various industrial
pursuits and solicit their hearty CO operation in
our efforts to vindicate the rights of the labor
ing classes, while We pledge them in return,
our individual and 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-
t&>%t Its importance, therefore, demands the
\Setsa of an Executive Department Of the
or nrc c;nment at Washington, to be denominated
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 entailed as a 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 recognix-
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
to associated capital, and we demand their
practical recognition and 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.
A. G. CAMERON, III. Chairman
A. M. PUETr, Indiana.
RICH. TRKvKLLIcK, Michigan.
A. T. CAvIs, Dist Of Col
A. W!PHKLPs, Connecticut.
A. T. CRANER, Tennessee
JAS c. SYLvIs, Pennsylvania.
A. N. WEsr, Mississippi
L. E. De WOLF, Wisconsin.
JOHN MAGUIRE, Missouri
W. b. STYwALD, Virginia.
GEoRGE KEEN, Iowa
\ HUGH CAMERON, Kansas.
o. B. DALEY Ohio.
Ii. T. WALKER, Alabama.
G. B. JOHNSON, Georgia.
A. W. STOCKTON, Maryland.
s. P. CUNNINs, Massachusetts,
HORACE q. DAY, New York
Mr.. Cameron remarked, after concluding
the reading of the report, that it had been
consid and adopted by the committee
with great unsnimity. There were one or
/ or two points-that in regard to prison Ia
Dor, &C., which had not been perfected.
Mr.. Bryson, OF Philadelphia, moved that
/ the resolutions and the report be adopted
Mr.. Powers, Of Massach usetts, moved that
the report be again read, so that the dele
gates could thoroughly understand what
theE were voting on.
| Mr.. Day, of New York, moved to take up
! The resolutions serdtim, and 80 act on them.
! Mr.. Dunn, of Philadelphia, moved to
make the report special order for seven
\ o'clock in the evening.
The latter motion being Withdrawn. Mr..