Report of the National Trades' Union Convention of 1834
(New York, 1834)

The Committee to whom was referred the duty of drafting resolutions expressive of the views of the National Trades' Union Convention on the social, civil, and intellectual condition of the laboring classes, beg leave to report, that whereas all the actions and pursuits of man have for their object the possession of happiness, that this object is attained in proportion to the ratio of the intelligence and virtue of man individually and collectively must be apparent to the most superficial observer; and whereas society is conducive to happiness, it being good for man to associate with his fellow man, moral justice of necessity becomes the keystone to the arch of the social compact, and the permanence and value of all social institutions must be apportionate to their utility and their degree of assimilation with the principle of moral justice; and whereas the social, civil, and intellectual condition of the laboring classes of these United States, and the like classes in all countries, exhibit the most unequal and unjustifiable distribution of the produce of labor, thus operating to produce a humiliating, servile dependency, incompatible with the inherent natural equality of man. And whereas each and every man is by nature compelled to consume the produce of labor in the supply to his necessary wants, moral justice would exact from every individual, when not incapacitated by natural imbecility or accident, a fair and full equivalent to society for that which he consumes' and also that he should contribute his due portion of labor towards the contingencies of society, for the protection and security he derives therefrom; and whereas the accumulation of the wealth of society in the hands of a few individuals (which has been abstracted from the producers thereof by means of the erroneous customs, usages, and laws of society) is subversive of the rights of man, seeing that wealth or property only can be justly acquired in three ways, viz. 1st, by producing, 2d, by exchanging labor for labor in equal quantities, and 3d, by donation; it therefore becomes a duty imperative on every productive laborer, who values the liberties of his country, the welfare of the human; family, and his own social happiness, to keep the evils that exist in society steadily in view, that knowing them, he may the more effectually direct his energies to destroy the causes from whence they arise, and by a well; concerted union with his fellow laborers, concoct and' carry out into practice such measures as will secure, at least to the present generation, the gratitude of their: descendants, for their having barked the tree of Corruption, and nourished that of Liberty and Equality, without which life itself is a burden to its possessor;

Therefore, be it resolved, that this Convention, deeply impressed with the conviction, that the primary causes of all the evils and difficulties with which the laboring classes are environed, can be traced to the want of a correct knowledge of their own value as producers, and the just estimate of their resources, would recommend, that such of the working classes of these United States as have not already formed themselves into societies for the protection of their industry, do so forthwith, that they may by these means be enabled effectively to make common cause with their oppressed brethren, and the more speedily disseminate such knowledge as may be most conducive to their interests in their respective trades and arts, as well as their general interests as productive laborers.

RESOLVED, that this Convention view the systems of Education now in operation in these United States as destructive of that Equality which is predicated in the Declaration of Independence, because of their exclusive character in giving instruction to the wealthy few at the expense of the industrious many, fostering, by means of Colleges, Universities, Military or Naval Academies, &c., a professional Monopoly of Knowledge, thereby drawing a line of demarcation between the producers of all the wealth, and the other portions of society which subsist upon the fruits of the Working Man's industry.

RESOLVED, that this Convention do recommend to the various Trades Unions, that they take into their serious consideration the importance of an Equal, Universal, Republican system of Education, and that they take such measures thereon as may to them be deemed advisable.

RESOLVED, that this Convention deprecate the system now practised in the disposal of the Public Lands, because of its violating the inherent rights of the citizen, seeing that the whole of the unseated lands belong unto the people, and should not be disposed of to the prejudice of any class of society each and every citizen having a just claim to an equitable portion thereof, a location upon which being the only just title thereunto.

RESOLVED, that this Convention would the more especially reprobate the sale of the Public Lands, because of its injurious tendency as it affects the interests and independence of the laboring classes, inasmuch as it debars them from the occupation of any portion of the same, unless provided with an amount of capital which the greater portion of them, who would avail themselves of this aid to arrive at personal independence, cannot hope to attain, owing to the many encroachments made upon them through the reduction in the wages of labor consequent upon its surplus quantity in the market, which surplus would be drained off, and a demand for the produce of mechanical labor increased, if these public lands were left open to actual settlers.

RESOLVED, that this committee view with serious alarm the deplorable condition of the male and female children employed in the cotton and woolen manufactories in this country, and the many privations they are subjected to, arising from the early age they are put to: work in factories and the enormous length of time .allotted for a day's labor. This subject is earnestly recommended to the attention of the various Unions of our country, and it is to be hoped that they will forward.. memorials to the legislatures of their respective states, embodying therein the outlines of such a plan as may be approved by them, and it is also suggested that lawful security should be exacted from the proprietors of manufactories, for the education of every child employed by them therein.

RESOLVED, that the laws existing in portions of our: country, under which Trades' Unions among mechanics for the maintainance of their rights, and the correction of abuses, are declared illegal Combinations, are a manifest violation of the Constitution of these United States, and an infringement of the lawful rights of every citizen: and this Convention do hereby urge upon the serious consideration of every laboring man the absolute necessity of their repeal.

RESOLVED, that as productive labor is the only legitimate source of wealth, and as the productive laborers have been deprived of the advantages of their labor by bad legislation, it behooves this portion of the community to regain and maintain, by correct legislation, what they have lost by inattention to their own best interests.

RESOLVED, that hereafter it should be the first as well as the last duty of every laborer, to inform himself on the subject of his equal rights and labor to promote the good of the whole community, rather than to confer privileges on a favored few. Signed on behalf of the Committee. JOHN FARREL, Ch'n.