Archibald Baxter to Richard Yates, enclosure

51 Exchange Place

New York 27 Jany 1864

Hon Richard Yates

Governor of Illinois

Springfield

Sir,

I take the liberty of enclosing, for your information, Copies of Circulars concerning the Great Fair in aid of the U.S. Sanitary Commission to be opened in Brooklyn 22nd February next.

By the Circular of the Committee on Produce, it will be seen that an important feature in the undertaking is to exhibit Some production from Every one of the Thirty four States in the Union. The Treasury department aids us to accomplish this, so far as the Southern States are concerned, and we naturally look to the civil authorities to assist us in the other States.

May I therefore beg your cooperation in this good work? If you could at same time induce Express or Transportation Companies to carry your State's donations hither, free, it would be a further benefit to the cause. The goods should, if possible, be representative of the industry of the State, and may be sent to my address. Permit me to add that celerity in dispatching them will be of great Service to us.

I am

Yours respectfully.

Arch Baxter

Chairman of Committee on Produce B&LJ Fair.

Brooklyn and Long Island Fair,

in aid of the

U. S. Sanitary Commission.

Dear Sir: -

In the terrible conflict now being waged for the preservation of our Government and Nationality, everything belong to our personal, social, and political welfare is at stake, and the brave and gallant men in arms are perilling their lives, and giving up the comfort and joy of their homes, in our stead. They fight these hard battles for us. They endure these severe exposures for us. They are wasting away in the filth and starvation of Rebel prisons for us. And, when stricken down by the diseases of the camp, or wounded and maimed in the field, they have a right, sanctioned by every patriotic and humane consideration, to expect the Nation to come to their succor. The U. S. Sanitary Commission, by its most disinterested and gratuitous labors, has proved itself the wise, prompt, faithful, reliable, and sufficient agent of the Nation in this regard; and, therefore, by a Fair, to be opened on the birth-day of the Father of his Country, the 22d of February next, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, we purpose and confidently expect to secure from the City, and the entire Island, a contribution of at least One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars to its Treasury. The inspiring examples of the Cities---Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati---should excite among us an honorable emulation. Let it be seen that in this great national crisis, we are at least as generous, self-sacrificing, and resolved, as the foremost of them. This enterprise has been undertaken at the instance of the Woman's Relief Association, and the War Fund Committee of this City. As an earnest of the spirit which has prompted it and will carry it through, we point to the fact, that at a meeting of the General Committee, on the 19th ulto., Twenty-five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars, were subscribed on the spot; an amount already increased to Forty Thousand Dollars. As a further pledge that the enterprise shall not fail, we subjoin the names of those of either sex who have consented to share its Management; with those of the various sub-Committees, who are responsible for the complete working of the several departments of the Fair. We appeal to our fellow-citizens and noble women here, and through the Island, and to those elsewhere who may fairly be expected to sympathise with us in our undertaking, to lend their aid by personal efforts, and the largest contributions of Material and Money, of Agricultural Produce, of the fruits of Manufacturing and Mechanical skill, of Works of Art; of anything and everything from their industry, ingenuity, or abundance, which may swell the grand result for which we look.

Further particulars in relation to the arrangements for the Fair will be made known as early as possible, by Circulars from the several Special Committees, and by the other documents from the Executive Committee; and a complete History of the Fair, with the Contributions and Names of the Donors, will be published. A handsome Steel-Engraved Certificate of Membership will be also given to every active contributor.

Meanwhile, any desired information in regard to the Fair may be had of the Corresponding Secretary, either by personal application, at the Rooms of the War Fund Committee, 16 Court Street, daily, Sundays excepted, between the hours of 9 and 12, 2 and 5; or, by mail to his address; or, for Ladies, at the Depot of the Women's Relief Association, 30 Court Street.

Frederick A. Farley, D. D.,

Corresponding Secretary.

"The Union" Steam Presses, 10 Front St., Brooklyn.

Brooklyn and Long Island Fair,

in aid of the

U. S. Sanitary Commission.

Dear Sir:---

We, the undersigned, having been designated a "Committee on Produce" in connection with the above Fair, beg leave to enclose for your information the Circular of the Executive Committee setting forth the claims and objects of the undertaking.

Our principal duty under this appointment is to solicit contributions of every description of Produce, from those Citizens of Brooklyn who are engaged in the several departments of the Produce trade of New-York. We are also authorised to receive donations of money from those who may prefer to aid the undertaking in that way. But as the success of the Fairs recently held in other Cities---particularly Chicago and Cincinnati---was in no small measure owing to the profuse liberality of those who contributed "in kind," and as such a mode is more consonant with the idea of a Fair, we trust that those to whom this is addressed, will enable us to make such a representation in goods as shall compare favorably with the results in the Cities referred to.

It is moreover intended to exhibit in the Produce department, contributions from every State in the Union---Southern as well as Northern---disaffected, or partially so, as well as loyal---those from the South to be the product of Free Labor. The Secretary of the U.S. Treasury has considerately instructed the different agencies of his department in North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and the South-west, to assist us in carrying out our aim, so that on the opening of the Fair, we hope to present a picture which shall have this threefold emblematical significance:

First:---That a Bountiful Providence has lavished its gifts upon us in great variety and profusion.

Second:---That the Government has already so far succeeded in overcoming the rebellion as to make its influence felt in every State.

Third:---That the day is not far distant---as we fervently trust---when the country shall be thoroughly united as of yore---but with this difference, that its entire resources shall be developed and enjoyed without the taint of slavery.

Will you not by your contributions aid us in making this Fair a success worthy of Brooklyn, and of the ladies under whose benevolent impulses it has been undertaken? We forbear to add a word to the forcible appeal of the Executive Committee on the duty of succouring the sick and wounded, as the whole community seems fully aroused to the imperative obligations resting on it in this regard; but in discharge of our duty we shall endeavor to give each member of the Produce trade an opportunity to contribute his quota to the grand result.

Archd Baxter,

Chairman.

James P. Wallace,

Sam. A. Sawyer,

Smith J. Eastman,

J. H. Holcomb,

F. T. Carpenter,

Curtis Noble,

Seymour Burrell,

George B. Douglas,

Frederick Sherwood,

Sidney Sanderson,

Harvey E. Hicks,

Alex. E. Orr,

Smith Fancher,

W. D. Mangam,

Jas. G. Weld,

Hugh Allen,

Stephen W. Carey,

George Tucker,

Coe Adams,

Franklin Woodruff,

Brooklyn, 26th January, 1864.

Baxter, Archibald.

51 Exchange Place.

New York, Jany 27,/64

Requests Samples of the productions of the Industry of the State to be exhibited at the Brooklyn Fair, to be held for the benefit of the "US Sanitary Commission" on 22d Feb. next.

Feby 4th

Consulted Mr. Reynolds will get up collection of samples

H

Executive Office Febry 3/64

Confer with Mr Reynolds as to some samples of Production