The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-16


posed TO suffer while evils are siderable, t1an
to organize for their abolition, and,
KWhereas, We are adm0nished by the lmPer-
iIled rights Of labor throughout the United States
to organize aud agitste in our own behalf witn
the decree, "in the sweat Of the face shalt thou
eat bread, and the addage that The price OF
liberty is eternal vigilance" enthroncd In our
hearts aud emblazoned as notices on our
banners. assured Of success over corrupt
political schemes, and the spcculAtors anu
banker Who are preying like nsrpies upon
the fruits of honest labor, and thus restore
TO our political and social system that equil-
ibrium Of rights and justice 40 necessary TO
Oood government and domestic Tranquility
therefore, be it
Resolved. That laborers in all depart
ments Of useful industry are suffering from a
system of monetary lawsAwhich we're enacted
during the late war, as measures, It was as
sumed necessary to the 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 Cypress the rights Of labor, and subordinate
its votaries to the merciless demands Of aggre>
gated capital and superscilous authority.
Resolved, That the National Banking system,
being inimical to the spirit of liberty, and sub
versive Of the principles of justice, and without
warrant in the Constitution of the United States,
and wrongfuIls 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 as the exclusive currency of the
nation.
Resolved. That the National Labor Union
is opposed TO the continuation aud 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 ia
in excess Of and disproportinnate t. the increase
of national wealth, and being the governing
power in the distribution of the products of cap
ital and labor, is oppressive to the producing
classes
Resolved, That the revenue lava Of the United
States should be altered 30 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-t money should
be made a legal-tender in the payment of all
debts, public and private, and convertible at
the optionsof 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 were bought with green
backs, and the principal of which ia by law pay
able in currency, should nevertheless he paid in
gold, is unjust and extortiOnate.
! pasoIvad That tho from INV nj
bonds and securities, is a 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,
and il persisted in, must ultimately result in tht
subversion of free institutions as also the socia
and political well-being Of the lsboring masses
To prevent this calamity, the public land.
adapted to agriculture should be given, in rea-
sonable quantities, to none bnt American citi
Lens, and such as have declared their intention
/ to become citizens. Individual owners OF ex-
tensive tracts of land should be encouraged e
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, 10
telligent citizens.
Resolved, That it is duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, to guard with viglan
care the delicate and sacred rights of the daugh
tiers Of toll who are engaged in various industriI
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 and undivided support.
Resolved, That religion, morality and know
ledge, being necessary to success schools anC
other means of education should be encouraged
such as the formation of labor unions, mechan
les institutes, lyceums, reading-roOms, anG
whatever additional agencies NAV hereafter be
deemed conducive to the cause of morality anc
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. Its importance, therefore, demands the
creation of en- Executive Department of the
government at Washington, to be denominated
the Department Of Labor, which shall aid in
protecting it above all other interests
Resolved, That the protection of life, liberty
and property, are tie three cardinal principles
of government, and the two first more sacred
than the latter therefore, money necessary fol
prosecuting should, as it is required, bt
assessed and collected from the wealth of the
country, and not be entailed as a burden OF
! posterity.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress:
earnestly recommends the adoption Of suct
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 upor
! the respective state legislatures to follow the
example of the National Congress, in recogniz-
ing eight hours as a 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 organize ton
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 adjustment
Of the system of contract labor in our prisons
and pententiaries, and that the labor performed
by convicts shall be that which will least coz
6ict 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 woIkingmen
Of the country that, in case they are pressed for
want of employment, they proceed to the public
lands and become actual settlers, believing tina
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 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, ilyventiiated 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