The Women of America
Document D
Women's Pay
Note: Please view the instructional video for additional context.
Essential Questions:
Does this document show that Lincoln is supporting the advancement of equality, or does it simply show that he is supporting the status quo?
Essential Questions:
Does this document show that Lincoln is supporting the advancement of equality, or does it simply show that he is supporting the status quo?
To Edwin M. Stanton [1]
July 27, 1864 I know not how much is within the legal power of the government in this case; but it is certainly true in equity, that the laboring women in our employment, should be paid at the least as much as they were at the beginning of the war. Will the Secretary of War please have the case fully examined, and so much relief given as can be consistently with the law and the public service.
July 27. 1864 A. LINCOLN
Annotation [1] AES-P, ISLA. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a letter from Governor Andrew G. Curtin forwarding a printed petition, which appeared to him ``just and reasonable.'' The petition is as follows:
``To the Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
``SIR: Twenty thousand Working Women of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectfully ask your indulgence, while they narrate the causes which compel them to petition for relief at your hands.
``At the breaking out of the rebellion that is now deluging our land with blood, and which for a time threatened the destruction of the Nation, the prices paid at the United States Arsenal in this city were barely sufficient to enable the women engaged upon Government work to earn a scanty respectable subsistence. Since the period referred to, board, provisions, and all other articles of female consumption, have advanced to such an extent as to make an average of at least seventy-five per cent.,---while woman's labor has been reduced thirty per cent. What need of argument? To an intelligent mind, the result must be apparent; and it is perhaps superfluous to say, that it has produced great suffering, privation, and, in many instances, actual hunger. Such, however, is the truth.
``To alleviate this misery, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the houseless, we appeal to those in authority for a just and reasonable compensation for our labor.
``What we need most IS IMMEDIATE AID. You can give it; the power is lodged with you; issue an Order to the Quartermaster-General, authorizing or ordering him to increase the price of female labor until it shall approximate to the price of living.
``Let it be done without delay. Send the order at once, and you will have the proud satisfaction of knowing that you have done all in your power to ameliorate the condition of those who have given their all to their country; and who now come to that country, not as beggars, asking alms, but as American matrons and daughters, asking an equitable price for their labor. Comply with this, our reasonable request, and hundreds, yea thousands, will rise up and call you blessed.
``We also desire to call your attention to the fact, that there are a large number of men in this city who are making immense fortunes off the Government by their contracts; and who, instead of entering into an honorable competition as to who is willing to work for the smallest profit, seem to go upon the principle, who can pay the lowest prices. We ask you to so modify the contract system as to make it obligatory upon every person taking a contract to pay the Arsenal prices for making the articles for which they put in their bids. This would remedy the evil effectually.
``Lastly, we would respectfully ask your notice of a plan submitted by the Quartermaster of this city to the Quartermaster-General of the United States, about a year ago, urging the attention of the Government to the necessity for increased facilities for manufacturing articles in the Arsenal, whereby four times the number of women now engaged might be employed, and millions of dollars annually saved the Nation.
``Trusting in the generosity of your nature, the justice of our cause, and the claims which our sacrifices have given us, we confidently leave the issue in your hands, praying that the God of the husbandless and fatherless may so incline your heart, that your answer may shed light where all is dark; send joy for sorrow; and sunshine and peace to the thousands that are now bowed down by cloud and storm.
``We have the honor to subscribe ourselves your friends, &c.''
July 27, 1864 I know not how much is within the legal power of the government in this case; but it is certainly true in equity, that the laboring women in our employment, should be paid at the least as much as they were at the beginning of the war. Will the Secretary of War please have the case fully examined, and so much relief given as can be consistently with the law and the public service.
July 27. 1864 A. LINCOLN
Annotation [1] AES-P, ISLA. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a letter from Governor Andrew G. Curtin forwarding a printed petition, which appeared to him ``just and reasonable.'' The petition is as follows:
``To the Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
``SIR: Twenty thousand Working Women of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectfully ask your indulgence, while they narrate the causes which compel them to petition for relief at your hands.
``At the breaking out of the rebellion that is now deluging our land with blood, and which for a time threatened the destruction of the Nation, the prices paid at the United States Arsenal in this city were barely sufficient to enable the women engaged upon Government work to earn a scanty respectable subsistence. Since the period referred to, board, provisions, and all other articles of female consumption, have advanced to such an extent as to make an average of at least seventy-five per cent.,---while woman's labor has been reduced thirty per cent. What need of argument? To an intelligent mind, the result must be apparent; and it is perhaps superfluous to say, that it has produced great suffering, privation, and, in many instances, actual hunger. Such, however, is the truth.
``To alleviate this misery, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the houseless, we appeal to those in authority for a just and reasonable compensation for our labor.
``What we need most IS IMMEDIATE AID. You can give it; the power is lodged with you; issue an Order to the Quartermaster-General, authorizing or ordering him to increase the price of female labor until it shall approximate to the price of living.
``Let it be done without delay. Send the order at once, and you will have the proud satisfaction of knowing that you have done all in your power to ameliorate the condition of those who have given their all to their country; and who now come to that country, not as beggars, asking alms, but as American matrons and daughters, asking an equitable price for their labor. Comply with this, our reasonable request, and hundreds, yea thousands, will rise up and call you blessed.
``We also desire to call your attention to the fact, that there are a large number of men in this city who are making immense fortunes off the Government by their contracts; and who, instead of entering into an honorable competition as to who is willing to work for the smallest profit, seem to go upon the principle, who can pay the lowest prices. We ask you to so modify the contract system as to make it obligatory upon every person taking a contract to pay the Arsenal prices for making the articles for which they put in their bids. This would remedy the evil effectually.
``Lastly, we would respectfully ask your notice of a plan submitted by the Quartermaster of this city to the Quartermaster-General of the United States, about a year ago, urging the attention of the Government to the necessity for increased facilities for manufacturing articles in the Arsenal, whereby four times the number of women now engaged might be employed, and millions of dollars annually saved the Nation.
``Trusting in the generosity of your nature, the justice of our cause, and the claims which our sacrifices have given us, we confidently leave the issue in your hands, praying that the God of the husbandless and fatherless may so incline your heart, that your answer may shed light where all is dark; send joy for sorrow; and sunshine and peace to the thousands that are now bowed down by cloud and storm.
``We have the honor to subscribe ourselves your friends, &c.''
Source: To Edwin M. Stanton, July 27th 1864. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln: Volume VII. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/
Images Source: The House Divided Project: hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/
Images Source: The House Divided Project: hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/