The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-09
LABOR REFORM.
Grand Mass Meeting at Belleville, Ill.
SPEECHES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.

Grand Mass Meeting at Bslleville' III.
SPEECHES, RESOLUTIONS, ETc.
Last Thursday evening, in company
with r. +. Trevellick, we left Chicago,
for Belleville, the centre of the coal
region of Southern Illinois, for the pur-
pose Of attending mass meeting Of
the producing classes of st. Clair Coun-
ty, called for the purpose of endorsing
the principles of the National Labor
Union. After a pleasant ride Of ten
hours, East ST. Louis was reached,
where our old friend, Mr.. John Hinch.
cliffe, was in waiting, to carry US to
our destination.
On Saturday, the whole town was
early astir. BY d O'Clock, the dele
gates from the surrounding districts
commenced to assemble. The weather,
winch for several days previously had
been Of the most oppressive character.
became delightfully."- cool. Everybody
seemed to be in the best Of humor,
thankful tbat the thermOmetT had
studied their interests more tina. L had
dcae fl several weeks past.
Promptly at eleven o'clock, the pro
cession, which was under the marshal
ship of Philip b. Maus, Esq, moved
from West Belleville, headed by Ma
ginis' silver cornet band, and after de-
ploying through the principal thorough
fares and the public square, repaired
to the place of meeting, the City Eall
Theatre, which was filled to repletion.
After the band had discoursed sew
eral lively airs the meeting was or
gained by the appointment Of the fol
lowing officers;
President-J. Hinchclifie.
lice Presidents. NJ. A. Owen, ANU,
Peter Ernst, President Of Cigar
makers Union; Ed. w. West, Farmer
Secretories-A. 3. Russell, Ben.
Boneau, G. A. Harvey, d. Miller.
The President then presented the fol
lowing resolutions
WHEREAS, Political power IL inherent ID the
people, and our State and Nation Al governments
| were founded on their authority and consent,
and establi> he'd for their benefit; we hold there
fore, that all laws passed in contravention OF
these fundamental principles of government
are without moral binding force, and should be
repealed. To effect this, and to secure the en-
actment Of Laws more in harmony with equal
and exact justice, is a difficult work, interviewer
-as much Of our legislation is-with pride
pre- JUDGE and selhshness, the natural out growth
of political ignorance; and disposed a ma
jnriy OF the people are, TO suffer while suffering
can be borne, rather than to attempt so difficult
a work. But. aimonished and impeed by q
knowledge Of the imperiled rights Of the pro
duciDg classes, to make organized effort to Sc
cure that equilibrium of Tights-that sim pie
justice 50 necessary to good government and
domestic tranqulity-we make the following
declaration of principles:
MONETARY LAWS.
Resolved, That the producing classes IN all
departments Of useful industry are suffering from
a system OF monetary laws enacted to meet q
temporary eXgency and that ss these laws
can 10 longer be defended on the plea that they
are ne cessary TO the life Of the nation" they
ought no longer to be continued in the exclusive
interest Of bondholding muaeyOcracv.
Res, lved, That the laws upou which the So
called National Banking system is established
have no warrant in the constitution of the
United States, that under these laws the burdens
of the producing classes are very largely aud
wrongiully increased, therefore We urge their
immediate repeal, and the substitution OF legal
tender Treasury notes for National Bank
notes.
Resolved, That the creation of Banks with the
privilege OF making, and Issuing their own bills
ss money, or putting into circulation National
Bank notes, or any other than United States
legal tender" notes, is abuse Of the power
vested in Congress by the fifth division Of the
eighth section Of the first article Of the Con-
stiLution of the United States.
Resolved, That the rate Of interest ON capi-
tai is in excess OF and disproportionate to tue
increase of national wealth, and, being the
power that governs in distributing the Joint pro.
ducts Of capital and labor, tends towards The
oppression Ut the producer, Restraints honest en-
terprst, aud Licenses the meTciless demands OF
the dangerously cenrdlizlng and ovcrshadowns
power of aggregated capital.
Resolved That the gold and silver coin of
the country y expensive and by no means
equal 10 our mOuctary wants as measure Of
value ana exchange, aud as all power ito coin
mOncv md regulate the value thereof" is vest d
in Congress by the Constitution, therefore we
favor The issuing OF Treasury notes hv the au-
thorltp Of Congress, which no,es shall be a legal
tender IN payment OF all debts, pubic and
private, ard made convertible into Government
three per cent boUds, and re convertible into
money At the option Of the holder
UNITED STATES BONDS
Resolved, That TO exempt from taxation the
Bonds of the United States, involves an uniuss
discrimination i'll favor of the capital class and
THAT Rs the power Of the federal government "a
assess and collect taxes on such bonds i. unonas
tloDable, ali the present issues should either Ia
subjected 10 taxation, or their holders he com
PEELED to exchange them for other bonds hear
ing rate of interest more nearly proportioned
To the ayoroge annual increase of the national
wealth.
TUE 1AK.FT.
Resolved, That the tariff -!,ould be 20 r.
mOGeled IS to supply fair revenue to the
government without taxing the necessarics oF
life SO simplited as to make the taxes EASY of
collection and infinitely less e1 1en,ive and op-
pressive than now; and SO adjusted as to sti-
mulatc and foster the industrial intcres's Of the
whole country without levyng contributions
upon tho producing millions to advance The
special interests Of few hundreds of designing
@ocopoEs4s.