Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-05-25
Patriotic Organization of the Lades---No
More Foreign Dry Goods During the War.

economy By the ladies during the war, the
checking of the enormous importations of for
/ eIgn dry goods now draining the country of
gold and threatening to impoverish it
! The Organization is called the Ladies Cove
nant. The officers of the Central Covenant at
/ Washington are as follows:
| President-Mrs. Gen. james TAYLOR.
Vice President-Mrs Stephen A Douglas
! Recording Secretaries-Miss Rebecca ellis Mss
/ Virginia smith
1 Corresponding Secretaries-Mrs NJ Morris, Mrs
MS H. hooblns, Mrs. Prot. Henry, Mrs. Chitten-
den, Mrs Captain Hidden Miss " lllams Miss Ma
| These officers constitute the executive com
mittee Advisory and organizing commit
| tees were appointed for the several States
| That for Wisconsin consists of Mrs Senator
| Doolittle, Racine Mrs. Senator Howe. Green
| Bay; Mrs. Gov. Lewis, Madison
| The pledge or covenant taken by members
| Is as follows:
q For a,ree gears, or tie 1cay, sse DleRoe our
selges to each oe- md tie country to D,,ySAare mo
imported article Of aRParel."
They have also adopted an address to the
women OF America from which we take the
| following extracts:
Let II be well understood, that every ounce
OF gold that goes from the country detracts
from the pay of the soldier who is fighting
Tor our salvation, and diminshes the wages
! OF our sister women, who toll for their bread
into miserable pittance that scarcely spffcas
to keep them from starvation. The precious
metal that flows from this country to Eurone
| for the luXuies we do not need increases the
price OF gold here, depreciates the value of
our national currency, and helps TO sweep
the necessaries of life beyond the reach of
the working man.
1t is painful truth, for which we shall yet
learn to blush that the importations of the
most expensive goods manufactured in Europe
have been far greater during the war than at
any time in the history of our country. The
Importations last week at the New York Gus
tom house alone amounted TO five millions of
dollars !: and all that week-which viii vet
find its lgnoble record in historv-the streets
OF Washington were blocked up with weary
soldiers, marching through mud, rain or dust
down to the army of the Potomac, which now
wits with undated courage for the carnival of
death which is almost hinging its crimson
shadow over u.s.
For the good of our country and the honor
OF our sex, let Us redeem ourselves from this
reproach of wanton extravaganza Let US
prove by cheerful retrenchment that the wo-
men OF the country are not so welded to lux
urious sclf-indulgence that they cannot fill
glorious page in the history of this war, and
yet retain all that is retiring aud beautiful in
womanhood. In all humane works, they have
proved themselves charitable, kind and NUM-
hcent Let these comprehend that selfab-
negatl0n Will accomplish more than works of
charity, and they will not be less earnest to
sacrifice than they have been to act. 1t must
not be said OF US that we have been willing
to give up our husbands, sons and brothers.
TO fight or die for the Union, and vet refuse to
renounce our laceS, silks, yelvets and da-
monds. That thought would cover us with
shame before the nations of the earth No
our women of the Union only lack knowledge
of the means by which they can prove them
selves true help-mates of the heroes who are
fighting our battles Impress it upon them
that IN dlscoura5ing excessive importations
and adopting goods manufactured at home
they keep gold IN the country, reduce the
rates of exchange, and establish confidence
IN the government and they viii prove how
far patriotism can rise above vanity in the
hearts of American women.
In order to invoke this spirit of selfsacr-
flee, 1t Is important that the great object of
the covenant we have made should be broad
ly circulated and thoroughly understood. 1t
dlscourages proflgate expenditures of any
kind, recommends the of domestic fab
RIGS wherever they be substituted for
those of foreign make, and advises simplicity
OF attire, DoLH as d matter OF pOIlcN ana good
taste. 1t asks the great sisterhood of Amer
lean women to aid in this reform before it is
too late.
In every town and village throughout the
Union, some woman who lives her country
is implored to establish an auxiliary society
and forward the names of the ladies invited
to act for the State is which her duty lies
We ask simultaneous action, earnest work,
and generous selfsacrice at the hands of
sister women. With their ardent help,
work will be accomplished so important in its
results that the woman who shares in it may,
hereafter, leave the emblem of our object as
the richest jewel that she can leave to pos
terity.