UNITED STATES. 



731 



as a "bounty" to all bull Jon of ships, when rogU- 

 .' tho ruHjicctivo cu*torn-hounos of the country, 

 iiu amount ri(iiul to all duties and taxes undrr tlm 

 t.iri:!' air I iiHi Tiuil revenue lawn which would bo paid 

 <>r incurred on all articles, foreign or domestic, used 

 in their construction and outfits ; and further, to pur- 

 chase and withdraw, free of duty, from bonded ware- 

 house at all ports where they may be, stores, supplies, 

 and outfits of every description requisite for use or 

 consumption during their voyage (which stores and 

 supplies, on their return to a United States port, 

 should bo placed in charge of a Government officer, 

 not to be landed without payment of duties assessed 

 according to law); and that all repairs and outfits 

 from time to time required be entitled to the same 

 benefits proposed to be conferred as above. We also 

 recommend the enactment by Congress of a general 

 apprenticeship law wisely adapted to tho end of sup- 

 plying American seamen ana officers to command 

 our snips. Also to grant subsidies, in tho way of 

 mail contracts or otherwise, to lines established or 

 to be established to the north or south of Europe or 

 elsewhere, as their merits and services may deserve. 



In tho mean time, for a limited period to allow the 

 purchase by bona-fide American citizens, in an indi- 

 vidual or corporate capacity, of foreign-built ships, 

 to bo registered and placed under the American flag, 

 to supply tho present want of American-built ships, 

 under such regulations as the practical wisdom of 

 Congress may suggest. 



Our country abounds in material wood, iron, and 

 copper and mechanical skill ample for snip-build- 

 ing (mechanics in ship-building now seeking active 

 employment in more profitable pursuits). Capital is 

 ready, and it only requires legislation to secure the 

 restoration of American shipping and direct trade 

 between Southern ports and Europe. 



The committee on a settled policy in regard 

 to the disposition of the public lands reported 

 to the effect that it should be the settled policy 

 of the United States to regard the public lands 

 not as capital or a source of revenue, but as a 

 means of increasing the population and en- 

 larging the wealth of the country ; and to this 

 end the homestead law should be sustained. 

 The report was unanimously approved. 



Tho committee on charges on passengers and 

 freight traffic on railroads and water lines re- 

 ported the following : 



Resolved, That Congress bo requested to pass such 

 law as may be deemed necessary to establish a fair 

 and equitable schedule of rates for freight and pas- 

 senger transportation, without discriminating against 

 local traffic, on all roads endowed by the Govern- 

 ment, either by grants of lands or money, and that 

 the same action be invoked by tho State Legislatures 

 with reference to the roads under their control. 



The committee on free trade in money re- 

 ported the following resolution, which was 

 adopted : 



Resolved, That all restrictions upon the rates of in- 

 terest bo removed, they being of the opinion that the 

 price of money served to increase rather than dimin- 

 ish its cost, 'that, to bring the rate of interest to the 

 lowest practicable standard, the trade in money 

 should be left as free as tho trade in merchandise ; 

 and this convention recommend to tho several States 

 the repeal of all usury laws, and of all statutes by 

 which contracts expressed in money are treated ex- 

 ceptionally. 



No final action was taken on the subjects of 

 finance, taxation, and tariff. 



A National Labor Congress was also held in 

 Cincinnati. It convened on August 15th, and 



claimed to represent 400,000 men. The first 

 Labor Congress was held in Louisville, Kcii- 

 tiu-ky, in 1805, at which not more than twenty- 

 five or thirty delegates were present. The 

 second was held in Baltimore, in August, I860. 

 At this meeting the work was so well done, 

 and its objects so plainly set forth, as to at- 

 tract attention. During tho preceding year 

 tho labor agitation had assumed considerable 

 proportions in Massachusetts, and the interest 

 rapidly increased. The Crispins were jnst be- 

 ginning to organize, and similar movements 

 were in progress all over the country. Able 

 newspapers and public men went over to the 

 cause, and by the time of the meeting in Chi- 

 cago, in 1867, the movement was fully estab- 

 lished; and from this congress the real life 

 of the movement dates. At Chicago the idea 

 of labor unions, city, county, and State, was 

 carried out. In 1868 the congress convened 

 in New York, where a new feature was added. 

 The woman-suffrage agitators and labor-re- 

 formors.gained admission and recognition. At 

 the congress at Philadelphia there was pres- 

 ent a working-woman as delegate, and a warm 

 discussion ensued against recognizing Miss An- 

 thony, in which both parties were manifested ; 

 and lastly, there was a hearty rejection of 

 color as a test, and the admission of some 

 fifteen delegates of African descent. At the 

 congress in Philadelphia, Cincinnati was se- 

 lected as the next place of meeting. The fol- 

 lowing platform was adopted by the congress : 



Whereas, It is not deemed advisable to change or 

 modify the existing declaration of principles, but to 

 reaffirm the same ; and, for practical use, enunciate 

 the substance thereof in a more convenient and con- 

 cise form, with some additional resolutions ; and, 



Whereas, " all political power is inherent in the 

 people, and free government founded on their au- 

 thority and established for their benefit ; " that all 

 freemen are equal in political rights, and entitled to 

 the largest political and religious liberty compatible 

 with the good order of society, as also the use and 

 enjoyment of the fruits of tneir labor and talents ; 

 and " no man or set of men are entitled to exclusive, 

 separate emoluments, privileges, or immunities from 

 the Government, but in consideration of public ser- 

 vices ; " and any laws destructive of these fundamen- 

 tal principles are without moral binding force, and 

 should be repealed. To do so, however, is a difficult 

 work, when such laws or usages are interwoven with 

 pride, prejudice, and selfishness. Besides, experience 

 shows that laboring people ore more than others dis- 

 posed "to suffer while evils are sufferable" than 

 organize for their abolition ; and 



Whereas, We are admonished by the imperilled 

 rights of labor throughout the United Sates to organ- 

 ize and agitate in our behalf, in the decree, " In the 

 sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," and the 

 adage that " The price of liberty is eternal vigilance," 

 enthroned in-our hearts and emblazoned as mottoes 

 on our banners, assured of success over corrupt po- 

 litical schemers, and the speculators and bankers who 

 are preying like harpies upon the fruits of honest 

 labor, and thus restore to our political and social sys- 

 tem that equilibrium of right and justice so necessary 

 to good government and general tranquillity : be it 



in all departments of 



, That -the laborers 



useful industry are suffering from a system of mone- 

 tary laws, which were enacted during the late war as 

 measures, it was assumed, " necessary to the life of 

 the nation," which is now sought to be perpetuated 



