The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-03-24
Correspondence between Gen. Butler and
a feminine SecessiOnist.

1 AVAAAAkbS AkSSSSoAS]ASos ~ ~
louisville, Accomac, Co., Va, March
10, 1864. General B. f.. Butler:
SIR: My school has been closed since
Christmas, because, as [ understood the
oath required of US, [ could not conscien-
tiously take it. Having heard since then
that one of your officers explains the oath
as meaning simply that we consent to the
acts of the United States Government.
and pledge passiue obedience to the same,
| I take the liberty of addressing this to
you to ascertain if you so construe the
oath. I cannot understand how woman
can "support, protect, and defend the
Union," except by speaking or ,crittng
in favor of the present war, which could
never do, because my sympathes are with
the South. IF by those words you un-
derstand merely passice Submission, l am
ready to take the oath, and abide by it
sacredly. Very respectfully.
MARY S GRAVES.
Headquarters, 18th Army Corps,
Dep'tment of Va, and North Carolina,
Fortress Monroe, March II, 1864.
My DEAR MADAM: [ am truly sorry
that any Union officer of mine has at
tempted to fritter away the effect of the
oath of allegiance to the Government of
the United States, and to inform you that
it means nothing moro than passive obe-
dience to the same
That officer is surely mistaken. The
oath of allegiance means fealty, pledge of
faith to, love, affection, and reverence for
the Government, all comprised iu the
word patriotism, in its highest and truest
sense, which every true American feels
for his or her Government
You say, 81 cannot understand how a
woman can support, protect, and defend
the Union, except by speaking or writing
in favor OF the present war, which | could
never do, because my sympathies are
with the South"
That last phrase, madam, shows why
you cannot understand show woman
can support, protect, and defend the I'm
ion
Were you loyal at heart you would at
once understand The Southern women
who are rebels understand we'll ''how to
support, protect, and defend the Con-
federacy, "without either speaking or
writing" Some of them act as spies,
some smuggle quinine in their under
clothes, some smuggle information through
the lines in their dresses, some tend sick
soldiers for the Confederacy, some get up
subscriptions for rebel gunboats.
Perhaps it may all be comprised in the
phrase, "Where there is a will there is
way"
Now, then, you could Support, pro-
tect, and defend the Union" by teaching
the scholars of your school to love and
reverence the Government, to be proud
of their country, to glory in its flag, and
to be true to its Constitution. But, as
you don't understand that yourself, you
can't teach it to them, and, therefore,
am glad to learn from your letter that
your school has been closed since Christ
mas, and with my consent, until you
change your sentiments, and are loyal
woman in heart, it never shall be opened.
| would advise you, madam, forthwith
to 60 where your "sympathies" are. l
am only doubtful whether it is not my
duty to send you.
l have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
B. +. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.
TO Mrs. Mary L. Graves, Loeustville,
Accomac county, Virginia.