The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-05-24
The Dress Reform Movement,
The Ladies' National Covenant.
From the Detroit Adver

rum Tue DtdOt AhNeturtTs
For some two weeks past, the sub.
iect of an association for the pur-
pose OF forming a Ladies' Nation
al Covenant" the object of which is to
unite the women of the country in the
earnest resolution to purchase no inn
ported articles of apparel, where Amer
lean can possibly be substituted, during
the continuance of the war, lad been
talked of, and the talk finally cuimina-
ted in grand mass meeting in the lee
ture room Of DR.. Sunderland's church,
on Monday afternoon, the 2d inst. The
meeting was composed of wives of
Cabinet officers, of Senators and Rep
resentatives, women of literary emf
nence, ''mothers who had lost their
sons, and wives who had lost their hus-
bands"
The leaders Of the movement had the
constitution, officers and pledge all pre-
pared according to their ideas of what
was required, and supposed they had
but1be submitted to receive the APP
Bro6a{pn of all. With the constitution
and effic&s all went smoothly; with
the pledgfit was different. This arti-
Gle was framed in the following Ian
guage: "For three years, or for the
war, we pledge ourselves to each 9TH
er and the country to purchase no i'm
ported article of apparel not absolutely
necessary; this pledge to take effect
from the 4th of July next" The Pres
dent of the meeting read the pledge
distinctly to the audience, and then
called for vote upon its adoption. A
dozen or so of"ayes'' came mp very
promptly from certain quarter and a
few scattering ones from other parts
of the house, the majority not voting II
all; when the ''noes" were called there
was but one voice replied. It was a
very quiet but decided "no," and. as
afterwards appeared, came from Mass
achusetts. The President, however
the vote unanimous on the adoption OF
the pledge, and remarked that the one
dissenting "no" seemed TO have more
of mischief in it than serious earnest
This brought Massachusetts to her feet
at once. In the same quiet and deci.
sive voice she asserted that she was in
serious earnest, and then asked why, il
we desired to aid in saving the country
that aid should be withheld till the 4th
of July next, thus giving ample time
for reckless spectators and enemies Of
our government to complete the ruin
already so surely begun? If our helr
is wanted, it is wanted Dowi We who
are in earnest want to begin the work
at once.
This sentiment was echoed by the
hearty clapping of hands and murmurs
of applause from those who had not vo
ted for the pledge, and had been toe
timid to vote against it. Here their
feelings had found voice. Little
Massachusetts, went on to say that sht
also discovered in the pledge, as read,
loophole through which any one
might crawl into all the foreign fabric,
they might desire. That clause, "ab
solutely necessary" might be made tc
cover q broad range, according to the
habits and tastes Of the ladies adopting
it. She would like to know what arti
cles of wearingapparel absolutely nee
essary for women were not made il
our own country? and if not alread,
made, how long would it be till the,
We're, if.Inerchants could be forced K
stop their importations? This agar
brought down the APPLAUSE Of the ear
nest ones; and now in reality the righ
way. - aa.a
An amendment was offered, striking
out the Fourth Of July clause, and tn,
vote upon it was unanimous, the lead
ers acceding to the popular wish with
very good grace. But the real test wa
the absolutely necessary" phrase
Here a lady Of Kansas came to the res
cue, and delivered a stirring little speech
full Of pith and patriotism, referring 1,
the hardships, privations and self deni
ais OF our soldiers in the field, and ask
ling If their wives, mothers and sister
could not, for their sakes, deny them
selves for time these luxuries of dress
that were draining the country of il
| gold, and thus embarrassing and endan
lgering the government2 A hearty re
sponse showed that this was the popu
lar sentiment Of the meeting. Hereup
on arose confusion Of tongues. YER,
like to what Babel must have been !
women were present at that ancien