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Been going through some more research on the United States Arsenal in Philadelphia....I thought this might interested someone
Neal Hurst
“Public meeting of Working Women”
Philadelphia Inquirer
9-4-1861
Page 8
Public Meeting of Working Women.
-Opposition to the Contract System.-
Last evening a large and spirited meeting of women who have always been recognized as “the bone and sinew” of the United States Arsenal in Philadelphia, was held in Temperance Hall, Second and Queen streets, the object of which was to give expression to the sentiments they entertain respecting the giving out of contract for army clothing, etc, to contractors instead of private parties. Mrs. Martha Yeager presided. A number of resolutions were submitted and adopted, and an address to President Lincoln was drawn up, setting forth their views of the meeting in very explicit terms. The resolutions embrace, among others, the following sentiments.
Whereas, We the women of Philadelphia, employed to make the clothing for the loyal army of the United States, do hereby affirm, that we are ready now, as we have ever been, and ever will be, to sustain the interested of the country, and to sacrifice our selves upon its alter, if necessary, to perpetuate its existence and promote prosperity; therefore.
Resolved, That, as true loyal women, we express our entire disapprobation of the private contract system, as had been inaugurated recently, by when nearly all the Arsenal work has been taken from us, and we call upon the National Government to put a stop to the system at once, and appoint a commission of investigation, with power to send for persons and papers, if such a course may be necessary.
Resolved, That nearly three generations ago our grandmothers made up the army clothing in Philadelphia, our mothers made up the army clothing in the war of 1812, and that we and our daughters have made up the army clothing for the soldiers in the Florida war, the war with Mexico and some of the loyal soldiers now enlisted to put down the present rebellion against the National Government, and that we feel ourselves fully competent to promptly make up all the work in a satisfactory manner, as much as the Government may want, all the efforts of contracting parties to the contrary nothingwithstanding.
Resolved, That we are willing “live and let live,” the industrious working classes in all parts of the country, but we are prepared to say that, by the contract of which we complain (by which gross and inhuman advantages are taken of the necessities of poor sewing women.) much of the clothing made for our loyal three months volunteers was not as good as it ought to have been, or as it would have been made at Government prices.
Resolved, that out thanks are due, and they are hereby tendered to those gentlemen of the newspaper press who have voluntarily and generously without pay or hope of reward- used their pens in our behalf and made public some of the wrongs that have been inflicted upon the competent hands who have been for years employed in making up the army clothing.
Resolved, That an attested copy of these proceedings be carefully drawn up and forwarded to his Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, with the hope that, like the immortal General Jackson when Executive of the Nation, he will listen to our appeal and promptly apply the remedy which he in his wisdom may deem proper, as a simple act of justice to the sewing women of the United States Arsenal at Philadelphia.
The resolutions having been adopted, the President arose and addressed her fellow working women, in which after a suitable introductory, she said:- “The grasping propensity, and the mean cupidity of the narrow minded contractors, in making up the army clothing, form a striking contract with the Government (under which we live founded as it is upon most noble and liberal principles, in which is recognized the grand, and, we may say, sacred maxim, that the “Laborer is worthy of his hire.” The world owes every honest person a living, and our National Government, now undergoing a severe, fiery, and bloody struggle, testing the capacity of man for self government, has always paid the most liberal prices for work, thus enabling all its employees to support themselves.
But our nation is still rich, still great, still noble and liberal. Oh! Far distant may be the times when the sun of its glory and prosperity shall set to rise not more. (Applause) We are ready to live work, or die for such a Government. Our husbands, our sons, our brothers, aye even out fathers, have gone to fight for this constitutional Government, and more than this, those of our own sex have freely gone as nurses to take care of the sick and wounded. We are not willing that the Government should be used by baso-hearted contractors for selfish purposes. We are unwilling that a few men should get rich, very rich, at the expense of our honest labor. We will not submit to the starvation prices offered by these Shylocks, which they make the Government pay them full prices, which we are deprived of.
It is cue to the liberality of our noble National Government, it is due to our children, it is due to us as widowed mothers, for man of use are such, that we should make known, freely, fully, and plainly the cause of our grievance, and trust to a generous community to assist us in obtaining our right, as industrious, hard working, honest, women. (Applause).
I am sure that President Lincoln, though surrounded by agitating troubles, has always a king work for those approaching him, and I am confident that out appeal will not be made to him in vain. The plain fact that out sons, our husbands, our brothers, are now standing up nobly, patriotically, for the honor of the nation, willing to shed their life’s blood in defense of the flag of the Union, and ready to beach the insurgent Rebels, will at once appeal to the bosom of the President, and it will pulsate in our behalf.
The address was listened to with close attention, and elicited boisterous applause. Then followed a variety of speeches, each about five minute in length. One women was opposed to having contract given to Jews, because the “the Jews persecuted our Savior, and they would persecute women now.” We feel constrained to say that the deliberations, unparliamentarily thought they were evinced the warmest patriotism, and showed that the women of Philadelphia are not in any degree behind their sons, brothers, and fathers, in earnest devotion to the Union.
Neal Hurst
“Public meeting of Working Women”
Philadelphia Inquirer
9-4-1861
Page 8
Public Meeting of Working Women.
-Opposition to the Contract System.-
Last evening a large and spirited meeting of women who have always been recognized as “the bone and sinew” of the United States Arsenal in Philadelphia, was held in Temperance Hall, Second and Queen streets, the object of which was to give expression to the sentiments they entertain respecting the giving out of contract for army clothing, etc, to contractors instead of private parties. Mrs. Martha Yeager presided. A number of resolutions were submitted and adopted, and an address to President Lincoln was drawn up, setting forth their views of the meeting in very explicit terms. The resolutions embrace, among others, the following sentiments.
Whereas, We the women of Philadelphia, employed to make the clothing for the loyal army of the United States, do hereby affirm, that we are ready now, as we have ever been, and ever will be, to sustain the interested of the country, and to sacrifice our selves upon its alter, if necessary, to perpetuate its existence and promote prosperity; therefore.
Resolved, That, as true loyal women, we express our entire disapprobation of the private contract system, as had been inaugurated recently, by when nearly all the Arsenal work has been taken from us, and we call upon the National Government to put a stop to the system at once, and appoint a commission of investigation, with power to send for persons and papers, if such a course may be necessary.
Resolved, That nearly three generations ago our grandmothers made up the army clothing in Philadelphia, our mothers made up the army clothing in the war of 1812, and that we and our daughters have made up the army clothing for the soldiers in the Florida war, the war with Mexico and some of the loyal soldiers now enlisted to put down the present rebellion against the National Government, and that we feel ourselves fully competent to promptly make up all the work in a satisfactory manner, as much as the Government may want, all the efforts of contracting parties to the contrary nothingwithstanding.
Resolved, That we are willing “live and let live,” the industrious working classes in all parts of the country, but we are prepared to say that, by the contract of which we complain (by which gross and inhuman advantages are taken of the necessities of poor sewing women.) much of the clothing made for our loyal three months volunteers was not as good as it ought to have been, or as it would have been made at Government prices.
Resolved, that out thanks are due, and they are hereby tendered to those gentlemen of the newspaper press who have voluntarily and generously without pay or hope of reward- used their pens in our behalf and made public some of the wrongs that have been inflicted upon the competent hands who have been for years employed in making up the army clothing.
Resolved, That an attested copy of these proceedings be carefully drawn up and forwarded to his Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, with the hope that, like the immortal General Jackson when Executive of the Nation, he will listen to our appeal and promptly apply the remedy which he in his wisdom may deem proper, as a simple act of justice to the sewing women of the United States Arsenal at Philadelphia.
The resolutions having been adopted, the President arose and addressed her fellow working women, in which after a suitable introductory, she said:- “The grasping propensity, and the mean cupidity of the narrow minded contractors, in making up the army clothing, form a striking contract with the Government (under which we live founded as it is upon most noble and liberal principles, in which is recognized the grand, and, we may say, sacred maxim, that the “Laborer is worthy of his hire.” The world owes every honest person a living, and our National Government, now undergoing a severe, fiery, and bloody struggle, testing the capacity of man for self government, has always paid the most liberal prices for work, thus enabling all its employees to support themselves.
But our nation is still rich, still great, still noble and liberal. Oh! Far distant may be the times when the sun of its glory and prosperity shall set to rise not more. (Applause) We are ready to live work, or die for such a Government. Our husbands, our sons, our brothers, aye even out fathers, have gone to fight for this constitutional Government, and more than this, those of our own sex have freely gone as nurses to take care of the sick and wounded. We are not willing that the Government should be used by baso-hearted contractors for selfish purposes. We are unwilling that a few men should get rich, very rich, at the expense of our honest labor. We will not submit to the starvation prices offered by these Shylocks, which they make the Government pay them full prices, which we are deprived of.
It is cue to the liberality of our noble National Government, it is due to our children, it is due to us as widowed mothers, for man of use are such, that we should make known, freely, fully, and plainly the cause of our grievance, and trust to a generous community to assist us in obtaining our right, as industrious, hard working, honest, women. (Applause).
I am sure that President Lincoln, though surrounded by agitating troubles, has always a king work for those approaching him, and I am confident that out appeal will not be made to him in vain. The plain fact that out sons, our husbands, our brothers, are now standing up nobly, patriotically, for the honor of the nation, willing to shed their life’s blood in defense of the flag of the Union, and ready to beach the insurgent Rebels, will at once appeal to the bosom of the President, and it will pulsate in our behalf.
The address was listened to with close attention, and elicited boisterous applause. Then followed a variety of speeches, each about five minute in length. One women was opposed to having contract given to Jews, because the “the Jews persecuted our Savior, and they would persecute women now.” We feel constrained to say that the deliberations, unparliamentarily thought they were evinced the warmest patriotism, and showed that the women of Philadelphia are not in any degree behind their sons, brothers, and fathers, in earnest devotion to the Union.