Sarah Hale’s letter to the President sheds light on the method through which the holiday of Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday. Hale believed that by institutionalizing the day, it would help to unite the Nation and to provide an American custom. Using Lincoln’s position and the general societal approval as her main points, she establishes the basis for her argument, and pleads her case to the President—the only person capable of making Thanksgiving a set holiday.
Hale spends the majority of her letter to “discreetly” establish credibility in her favor. Utilizing—from the very beginning—her role in society as a writer and editor, Hale attempts to gain the President’s trust: “Permit me, as Editress of the ‘Lady Book’, to request a few minutes of your precious time. ” Although her position is mentioned only twice throughout the letter, her use of the word “editress”—rather than “editor”—leads her audience to identify her as a woman who is proud of not only her title but of the difficulties through which she achieved it.
Women in society were on a much lower scale than men, so while most would assume the term editor—which could represent a male or as a female—Hale goes out of her way to establish her femininity. Hale uses the influence and position of high government officials as a method of connecting with Lincoln on a more professional level: “[O]ne from Governor (now General) Banks and one from Governor Morgan…have nobly aided to bring about the desired Thanksgiving Union”. By showing that others agree with her idea—Government and military officials, no less—Hale guarantees that Lincoln’s involvement would not go un-supported.
The Term Paper on Cover Letter. What is it?
It is generally accepted practice to include a cover (or covering) letter, together with your resume and any other documentation that you forward to the employer as part of a job application. Your covering letter essentially provides an explanation of why you are communicating with the employer. Imagine a prospective employer’s confusion if they received your resume without a covering letter ...
Given the time period, a difference in dialect is to be expected; however, there are many nuances that Hale utilizes that are considered odd. One such method is her repetitive referring to Lincoln in third person, as if discussing him with a friend: “[C]ould he not, with the right as well as the duty, issue his proclamation for a Day of National Thanksgiving…And would it not be fitting and patriotic for him? ” In this way, she calls him out, stating that it is his duty as President while also showing the extent of his influence. There are only three paragraphs in which this repetition is broken—the first two and the fourth.
Many written pieces concerning God refer to Him in a similar manner, and in this way, Hale personifies Lincoln’s power as an omnipotent being. Hale is intelligent enough to enter her proposal with a plan of action, and it is obvious that she has spent years on the concept of institutionalizing the holiday: “For the last fifteen years I have set forth this idea…and placed the papers before the Governors of all the States[. ]”. By showing that she has collected data and conducted general surveys to ascertain views on the matter, Hale presents the logical side of having Thanksgiving on a set day for all states.
Hale’s letter ultimately served its purpose by helping to institutionalize Thanksgiving and did so effectively. By making clear both her intentions and the role Lincoln was to play in the process, she gave a purpose and definition to the results that would come from setting a national day for Thanksgiving. Her two driving points—identifying Lincoln’s importance and the general approval of other important peoples—made up the bulk of her letter and was enough to encourage the President to see her way.
