Year: 1870


Working Men In ICouncII-The Chinese to be


LesisInted Ont the COuntry-1OraI Suasion


vs., Violence.


Last evening a meeting of the Working Mems
League of the Sixth Senatorial District an Or
ganiZation newly effected through the efforts of
Mr.. John II. Hennessy and other laboring men of
the city, the object set forth in their circular
being "the protection of the rights and interests
of the laboring classes generally, and more es-
pecially to guard against any further introduce
ton of the coole or Chinese labor in our midst
was held at Putnam Hall, at the corner of Third
avenue and Twelfth street.


Between 300 and 400 persons were present,
and throughout the evening evinced the great
est interest in all that said regarding the in
PRODUCTION of the 'coming man" in our midst


Mr.. Hennessy presided, and introduced to the
meeting Mr. Nelson w. Young, President of the
Workingmen's Union. Such was the interest
that gentleman felt in this matter, that, as he
remarked, by way of introduction. ''he had
walked all the way from the City Hall minus
his evening meal, for the purpose of being
present to explain his views" It was with him
a source of qualification to meet so many of his
fellow laboring men in council. Labor unions
were assuming vast proportions, and it was well
that it was so, as interests of vast proportions
were at stake. He thought the introduction of
the coolie into this country one of the greatest
evils that can befall the great hosts who earn
their bread by the sweat of their brow, their
presence tending to degrade and impoverish an
honest and intelligent people. We cannot sit
still, he said, and see them coming. but must
organize and combat by hard work the question
as to their right to take away our bread from ls
who have struggled for years to preserve the
integrity of our institutions and the law of the
land. Alluding to the capitalists of the EBAY
State" who had first organized this system of
white slavery, 'he said they would be among
the first to suffer. 1t not on only account of
the poor, Ignorant Chinese that had been in
duced to leave their homes for this hemisphere
by spectators that these unions were being
effected throughout the country, but it was
to let them know Cthe capitalists) that work.
ingmen were determined to stand by one
another in their endeavors to keep them
from being mere slaves, subject to their
whims. He believed by a firm stand
and good organizations their efforts in this
direction would result to their benefit, and
eventually to the passage by Congress of laws
prohibiting their importation to this country
If those, said he, whom we have placed in high
positions do not attend to this matter, we our
selves will take it in hand and place in position
had said that he was in favor of using violence
to the Chinese, but such was not the case as
intelligence and moral suasion together were
all that were necessary. to accomplish what
they desired. The workingman, in his OPT
Mon, had as just right to place a market
valuation upon his labors as the rich man
on his; and it was an unjust thing
TO introduce race who by their
habits can live upon one-tenth that white man
can live on, and who, in time, if permitted,
would paralyze the arm of white labor through
out the country. The Industrial classes were
even now far more familiar with the events of
the day than the wealthy, who, in their eager
ness to grasp more, would involve the country
in utter ruin. He closed by urging the import-
ance of organizing clubs throughout the land to
keep the great subject alive in the minds of all
working men who were opposed to being made
slaves and beggars by the introduction of the
eoolie in the country.


The following resolutions were unanimously
adopted


to the stability OF our republican institutions and
more especially the well-being and progress of the
tempt to import in our midst the degraded aud
heathensh Asiatic for the purpose of Competing
with our own working men and reducing them to
the same level; therefore be it


ResolUed, That the working men OF the Sixth
Senatorial district, believing in the old maxim that
1orewarned is forearmed, organize themselves at
once into body, to be known as the Working
Mems League of the Sixth Senatorial district
the object and purposes OF which shall be the
prevention, by all honorable means, of an at
tempt in this city similar to those of recent
occurrence in Massachusetts, to debase and
virtually enslave our working men, by bringing
into forced and unnatural rivalry with them the
lowest and vllest Of the Chinese population.


Resoloed. That coinciding with the views of Sena-
tor Cassery, Of California in his late Grafton on the
4th instant we believe it 10 be the duty OF our work
ing men everywhere throughout the land organize
IN their own behalf and trust not to the idle promises
OF politicians OF any party for protection that by SO
doing they VIII be enabled to WELD the privilege OF
the ballot more effectively, and compel such eRisa-
ton on the part OF our lawmakers as will stop fur
ther 1nroads on their rights and stay the further
progress OF the impending danger.


Resol9ed, That We earnestly eXhort our brethren
and feoW-oltZens to take heed in time, and profit
ing by the warning already given, proceed without
delay to the work Of consolidating their ranks ere it
becomes TOO late, and thereby save us from what
may prove the cause OF the most terrible social and
political commOtions.


The meeting was addressed by President Hen
messy and Mr.. Coony, who reiterated Mr.
Young's remarks in regard to the coolie dues-
Won. It was then adjourned until the evening
Of July A.-N Y. Times to-day