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From Sarah J.
Hale to Abraham Lincoln , September 28, 1863
Private
Philadelphia, Sept. 28th
1863.
Sir.--
Permit me, as Editress of the "Lady's Book", to request a few
minutes of your precious time, while laying before you a subject of deep
interest to myself and -- as I trust -- even to the President of our
Republic, of some importance. This subject is to have the day of our
annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.
You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an
increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on
the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and
authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American
custom and institution.
Enclosed are three papers (being printed these are easily read) which
will make the idea and its progress clear and show also the popularity
of the plan.
For the last fifteen years I have set forth this idea in the
"Lady's Book", and placed the papers before the Governors of
all the States and Territories -- also I have sent these to our
Ministers abroad, and our Missionaries to the heathen -- and commanders
in the Navy. From the recipients I have received, uniformly the most
kind approval. Two of these letters, one from Governor (now General)
Banks and one from Governor Morgan are enclosed; both gentlemen as you
will see, have nobly aided to bring about the desired Thanksgiving
Union.
But I find there are obstacles not possible to be overcome without
legislative aid -- that each State should, by statute, make it
obligatory on the Governor to appoint the last Thursday of November,
annually, as Thanksgiving Day; -- or, as this way would require years to
be realized, it has occurred to me that a proclamation from the
President of the United States would be the best, surest and most
fitting method of National appointment.
I have written to my friend, Hon. Wm. H. Seward, and requested him to
confer with President Lincoln on this subject.
As the President of the United States has the power of
appointments for the District of Columbia and the Territories; also for
the Army and Navy and all American citizens abroad who claim protection
from the U. S. Flag -- could he not, with right as well as duty, issue
his proclamation for a Day of National Thanksgiving for all the above
classes of persons? And would it not be fitting and patriotic for him to
appeal to the Governors of all the States, inviting and commending these
to unite in issuing proclamations for the last Thursday in November as
the Day of Thanksgiving for the people of each State? Thus the great
Union Festival of America would be established.
Now the purpose of this letter is to entreat President Lincoln to put
forth his Proclamation, appointing the last Thursday in November (which
falls this year on the 26th) as the National Thanksgiving for all those
classes of people who are under the National Government particularly,
and commending this Union Thanksgiving to each State Executive: thus, by
the noble example and action of the President of the United States, the
permanency and unity of our Great American Festival of Thanksgiving
would be forever secured.
An immediate proclamation would be necessary, so as to reach all the
States in season for State appointments, also to anticipate the early
appointments by Governors.
Excuse the liberty I have taken
With profound respect
Yrs truly
Sarah Josepha Hale,
Editress of the "Ladys Book"
From: The Papers of Abraham
Lincoln, Library of Congress
Sarah J. Hale to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, September 28, 1863
(Thanksgiving)
Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and
Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg,
Illinois. |
