The working men's National Convention.
This body, which assembled in
Philadelphia last Friday, adopted resolutions to the following effect on Saturday:
- Resolved, That we, the working men of the United States, without distinction of party, believe that as a consequence of the sectional controversy now agitating our country, we are now approaching the verge of national, social and financial ruin; that our material prosperity, our hopes of happiness and future security, depend upon the preservation of the Union.
- 2. That in the mere abstract questions which have been used to distract and divide the honest masses, the working men have no real interest.--As we can hardly hope for a safe solution of pending difficulties through the politicians of the country, we therefore exhort our brethren to lay aside all their party feeling, surrender forever the ties that have bound them to favorite leaders, and unite in one solid column for a single purpose — the preservation of the Federal Union.
- 3.
That the territorial question ought to be settled on a constitutional basis, and the resolution then goes on to endorse the Crittenden compromise.
- 4. That the Union must and shall be preserved, and the co-operation of our brethren is invoked to "hurl with speedy hands the accursed traitors who have, with impunity, desecrated the tumost sanctuary" of freedom.
- 5. This resolution denounces all attempts made by partisans or public papers to promote disunion, and that the ship of State has been too long confided to men who are unworthy of the trust, and who have permitted her to run upon the quicksands of sectional strife; we will, therefore, vote against aspiring demagogues, and vote for firm and patriotic men.
- 6.
This resolution denies the right of any State to secede, but deprecates the use of coercive power by the General Government, as the Government rests upon the will of the people, the source of all political power.
- 7. This resolution deprecates the election of any man to any public trust who has by any means endeavored to prevent a just settlement of the present difficulties.
- 8. The Legislatures of the different States are requested to repeal all personal liberty bills that may violate any constitutional principles of the people of the United States.
- 9.
The working men of the thirty-four States are recommended to form associations, pledging themselves to lay upon the altar of their country all party predilections, and to maintain the Union of all these States, "one and inseparable, now and forever."
- 10.
The next National Convention of the Working Men is to be held at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 4th of July, 1861, and a hope is expressed that the working men will send delegates from every State.
After three cheers had been given for the resolutions,
Mr. John O. Lawrence, of
Virginia, moved in a very able speech, that an Executive Committee of three be appointed, with power to increase the number to thirty-four.
The following gentlemen are the committee: the
President,
Mr. J. B. Curry and
Mr. John Wolf.
Mr. Touchstone, of
Maryland, delivered a very impressive speech, and introduced several resolutions in support of the laws and the
Constitution of the country.
The Convention then adjourned
sine die. 
