Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-02
CITY NOTICES.
wORKINGMAN PARTY.
An Address Issued
Adoption of Resolutions.

A meeting was held last night at the
hall OF the Board of Aldermen, to organize
new party for the approaching municipal
election, and to nominate a ticket in the
respective wards. After some preliminaries
the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That we, the workingmen of
Nashville, in convention assembled, or
ganize ourselves into party, to be called
The WOrkingmen's Party of Nashville, for
the purpose of selecting and electing suit
able and capable workingmen to fill the
offices of this city; that the interests of
labor may be benefited thereby.
| Resolved, That werecommend thorough
organization in each and every ward in the
city; and that ward-tickets be nominated
by. this organization in each ward, of repre-
sentative workingmen of our party for
Aldermen and Common Councilmen.
without regard to past political differences
or party affiliations.
Resolved, That we welcome to our ranks
and earnestly invite all workingmen of
whatever trade, profession, employment,
race or nationality, to unite and cooperate
with Us in establishing this party, and in
suring the success of our principles.
| Resolved, That we hereby pledge our
hearty support to the nominees Of this
party, whoever they may be, and that We
will aid to the extent of our ability in
carrying out the objects of this organiza-
ton.
Resolved, That this organization ignore
all past differences of opinion, political
or otherwise, and welcome to our ranks
every man infavor Of free labor and the
prosperity of workingmen as class.
/ Resolved, That our thanks are due
to his honor, Mayor K. J. Morris, for the
use of the Council Chamber for the meet
ing of this organization
| Resolved, That the papers of this city
be requested to publish copy of these
resolutions and the proceedings of this
meeting in their respective sheets, to the
| end that all men NAV know the purpose of
| our organization.
Resolved, That we hold weekly meet
iugs in each ward of this city until after the
municipal election.
On motion, the resolutions were unani-
mously adopted.
The meeting adjourned to meet to-mor-
row night In the Common Council room at
| o'clock, when addresses will be deVered.
W. A. SUMNER, Sec'y.
The following address was then submit
ted by d IS Mundy, chairman of a COM
mittee appointed for that purpose, and
adopted, to-wit: tEN
ADDRESS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO THE
woRKNGMEN OF NASHVILLE
FELLow-CTTIzENs-We, as workingmen,
are bound together by a common tie-our
common interest,
Whatever retards or obstructs the pro-
gress of labor and the advancement Of its
interests is our common foe; whatever ad-
vances and enhances those interests is our
friend, ally and coadjutor.
Why should we permit our preiudices
and passions to control us to the injury of
our vital interests and the depletion of our
pockets?
We charge, and we challenge successful
contradiction, that our government, State
and municipal, has been and is now run
chiefly in the interests of capitalists. They,
or their willing agents, I'LL all our official
positions, our executive and Judicial de-
partmeEts and our Legislative halls, 80 that
it is proverbial that money Influences and
controls our legislative enactments, our
Judicial decisions, as well ss our political
caucusses and popular elections. A rich
man can aspire to any position, for wealth
and unscrupulousness will obtain it, while
poor man can attain no position a rich
man covets, .......-. ...-..
Workmen of Nashville, will you be long
er controlled by party ties and led by par
ty shackles to your own hurt for the benefit
of grasping capitalists? Our form of labor
has been fixed, forever liked by inexorable
wars decree. 1t is henceforth to be freed.
To foster and maintain our interests is
then our common work, and its success our
~ l. IL
injure and degrade the labOrer; if you els-
vate and dignity labor, you elevate, protect
and dignity the laborer Just as free labor
is fostered, protected and dignifed, SO
prosperity, wealth and happiness dwells
with free people. The people mourn be-
cause of oppressive taxation and unjust
determinations against industrial trades
and pursuits, heaped upon them to screen
capital from bearingits share of the public |
burdens
In the light of the bitter past, in the sad |
experiences of the thriftless present, and in |
the direful forebodings of proftless fu- |
ture, we appeal to you, workingmen Of |
Nashville, to abandon all party ties and af- |
fliations and join together for a common 1
purpose, our common good.
We appeal to you, half clad, half-paid \
sons sf toll, overburdened with debt and |
unjust taxation, manfully struggling early |
and late, through storm and shine. heat |
and cold, to earn a decent support, pay |
onerous rent for roofs to cover the heads Of |
your loved ones and TO educate yaur chill
dren so that they may not be crushed in
povertys relentless wheel. We appeal to |
you, artisans, mechanics aud manufacturers,
who have the heritage of toll, we appeal to |
all without distinction of color, class or
race, profession, trade or employment, TO
unite with us to secure legal protection to
the interests of labor so that the grasp of
capital may be loosened from the throat of
labor. So that property shall be taxed,
not men and the privileges of trade. Let
Us join to do away with class legislation
and the prerogatives Cand privileges of
wealth.
Let us put representative men, who have
risen by toll, in official positions to legis- |
late, adjudicate, advocate and demonstrate |
the rights and uphold the interests of free |
labor
Letlit be understood we do not seek to |
ARRAY one class against another, or to |
trench upon the righs of any, but rather |
to do equal and exact justice to all. Nor |
are we the enemies of capital on the con-
trary we seek to become capitalists, and
desire the enactment and administration |
of such laws Regarding taxation, protec- |
ton and remuneration of labor and its man. |
fold interests, that it may be possible for the |
laborer, by industry, perseverance and |
economy to become landowners and CAPT. |
talists.
Workingmen, we are greatly in the ma
jority in this city, and can controlthe COM
ing municipal election if we will What |
say you? Shall the friends Of the poor
laboripg men control and bear rule in our
Rock City, or shall wealthy sristocrats re-
lease, or refuse to enforce collection of the |
taxes of the rich, as in the past and con-
tinue to grind the faces of the poor Shall |
industrial interests and the very heads of
the true yeomsnry of Nashville, to-wit
the laborer, be taxed to pay the |
municipal debt as well as expenses and fat |
salaries to fat contractors, speculstors and |
sristoorats? Listen not to the siren voice |
of luara II ratrop and 1