Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-03-10
HISTORIC RELICS FOUND.
Letters of Martha Washington and
Mrs. Lincoln Come to Light.

Letters of Martha Washington an
Mrs. Lincoln Come to Light.
Washington, March I'm an W
lighted corner of the attic of the hous
of representatives, the committee o
accounts has rescued a large numbe
of letters and documents of the earl
days of the republic. Among ther
are letters from Washington, Jeffei
son, Lafayette, Jay and Monroe.
To two of them a peculiar sentimen
tai interest attaches. These are let
ters written by Martha Washington
and Mary Todd Lincoln, the forme
concerning the proposed removal of thu
body of her husband from Mount Yer
non to crypt in the capitol, and the
other applying to the government fol
a pension. Both are addressed to the
speaker of the house. The house to-
day voted an appropriation of So, SOC
to have these historic papers cared for
and deposited in the library of con-
gress as "the house of representatives
collection" The two letters are as
follows:
"To the Honorable Speaker of the
House, Sir: While feel the keenest
anguish over the late dispensation of
divine providence, cannot be insensi-
BILE of the mournful tributes, respect
and veneration which are paid the
memory of my dear deceased husband.
And as his best services and most anx-
ious wishes were always devoted to
the welfare and happiness of the coun-
try, to know that they were truly ap-
preciated and gratefully remembered
affords me no inconsiderable consola-
tion.
Taught by the greatest example,
which / had so long before me. never
to oppose my private wishes to the
public will, l must consent to the re-
quest made by congress which you have
the good wishes to transmit to me, and
in doing this need not-can not-say
what sacrifice of individual feeling /
make to a sense of public duty.
With grateful acknowledgment and
thanks for the personal re-
spect and evidences of coincidence ex-
pressed by congress and yourself. I
remain very respectfully sir, your most
obedient servant,
MARTHA WASHINGTON.
Mount Vernon, Va, 1779."
The letter from Mrs. Lincoln is as
follows:
"To the Honorable Speaker of the
House Of Representatives, Sir: 1 here
With most respectfully present to the
house of representative an
application for pension. am a wild
w of president of the United States,
whose life was sacrificed in his coun-
ry's service. That sad calamity has
'ery greatly impaired my health and,
" the advice of my physician, l have
ONE over to Germany to try the min
raj waters and during the winter to
% to Italy.
But my financial means do not per-
nit me to take advantage of the urgent
dvice given me, nor can live in a
lyle becoming a widow of the chief
magistrate of nation, although live
s economically as l possibly can.
In consideration of the great services
ny dearly beloved husband has rem
cred to the United States, and of the
earful loss I have sustained by his un-
imely death, his martyrdom, l may
ay, respectfully submit to your hon
rable body this petition, hoping that
early pension may be granted me so
nat may have less pecuniary care.
remain very respectfully,
MRS. A. LINCOLN.
Frankfort, Germany"
Mrs. Lincolon was granted pension
{ SIS, 900 a year.