The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-01
FROM TENNESSEE.
PENIrENTIARY vs.. FBEE LABOR.

At a meeting Of the Mechan ~ \. au
facturers Association of Nashville, Iennes-
see, held few evenings since, the follow
ing actions relative to the interests Of the
mechanics Of that State was taken:
Mr. Wand, from the Committee on BY
Laws, submitted the following for adoption,
in addition to those already adopted
I. Ii shall he the duty Of the Committee
on Banks and Finance to perform such
duties as the Association may from time to
time require.
2 1t shall be the duty Of the Committee
on Appointment and Statistics, when re-
quired to make an estimate of stock on hand
and cash valuation Of same, and obtain such
statistical information az may be Of interest
to the Association.
g. 1t shall be the duty of the Judiciary
Committee to watch over and protect the
interests of mechanics and manufacturers in
50 far as State, county and municipal laws
affect the same.
t. 1t shall be the duty of the Committee
on Printing and Publication to have such
printing done as is necessary for the asso-
ciation, and revise all publications Of the
association.
5. 1t shall be the duty of the Committee
on Transportation to examine into and com
pare our facilities with other cities and
report the same.
G. 1t shall be the duty of the Committee
on Elections to decide all disputes Of elec-
tions Of the association, and to advise with
the Committee on Judiciary as to the best
steps to be taken to serve the interests of
this association by the election of municipal,
county or State officials.
On motion, the report was received and
the committee discharged.
/ I. ii. Jones, from the committee ap-
pointed on the Penitentiary, submitted a
report, including a communication to be
presented to the Inspectors Of the Peni-
Tertiary. The report was received and the
communication endorsed by the AssOcia-
ton. The communication from the com
mittee to the Board Of Inspectors is as fol
lows:
NesTs McNairy, Atchison and Nancy,
Commissioners for State Penitentidy !
GENTLEMEN We, as a committee, ap-
pointed for that purpose by the Mechanics
and Manufacturers Association of Nash
vile, and as members Of that class we are
now and have been the greatest sufferers
from that unfortunate system Of Legislation
which has placed convict labor in direct and
ruinOus competition with their honest in
|; dustry, and the only means by which they
can supply themselves and families with
bread, and as representatives Of an element
whose welfare and success are co-existent
! with and essential to the growth and pros
, perity Of the city and State-we, confident
: ly believing that in you, from your intimate
/ knowledge of all the surrounding circum
stances, we will find warm and able friends
: and earnestly desiring hearty cooperation
! on your part in the effort to reform a system
' which has already seriously damaged, anC
D is threatening to subvert and crush out tht
I, mechanical and manufacturing interests 0
) our State, would without any spirit Of die
: tation, or interference in State or privat
o affairs which do not directly affect our in
n terests, most respectfully represent and sui
: nit the following facts and questions 70
n your consideration and reply:
C 1. Assuming as fundamental principl
: that THAT government IS subordinate
e the people +; but as the agent and represer
h tative Of the people, it must be held superic
to mOnopOlies, which in themselves ougt
l. never to be granted, and which, where the
IN do exist, should be abolished as speedily 4;
possible and assuming that governmer
o was formed for the protection Of the ind
in vidual, and every act of the governmen
j. State, Federal, Or municipal, which intenc
. to infict iDjuty upon the honest industry
al the citizen, or to bring into unfair ccmpet
O ton with capital or penal labor, is contrar
e to the spirit of our government aud the il
Al tention Of its founder" we would "a
CD your attention to the fact: