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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1876)
s 1 1 f'"i''i'ggcj'riftwrimii'irri7" MRS. A. J? D CM WAT, Editor na Proprietor. A Journal for the People. Devoted to the Interests of Humanity. Independent In Politics and Religion. Alive to all Live Issues, and Thoroughly OFFICE Con. Fnoh-r A Washington Stbeets I Radical In Opposing and Exposing the Wrongs TERMS, IN ADVANCE: ol the Masses. One year -$3 00 175 - 1 00 Hix months .. Turee months... Free Speech, Free Press, Free People. Correspondents writing over assumed signa tures' must make known their names to the Editor, or no attention will be given to the!' ADVERTISEMENTS Inserted on Reasonable VOLTOIE "V. IPOXtTLAJVD, OREGON, FKIDAY, JUNK , 1870. NUMBER 40. Terms. communications. MADGE MORRISON, The Molalla Maid and Matron. Br Mrs. A.J. DUNIWAY, AUTHOR OP "JUDITH REID," "ELLEN DOWD," "ASIIE AND HENRY LEE," "THE HAPPY HOME," "ONE WOMAN'S SPHERE," "etc., ETC, ETC Entered, according to Act of Congress.ln the year lS75,by Mrs. A.J. Dunlway, in the office of 1 the Librarian of Congress at Washington City. I CHAPTER XXV Summer, with her bounteous fruitage of all things necessary for human sub sistence, had taken her departure, leav ing autumn, benignant and balmy, In undisputed possession of the golden bar- vest that smiled in the sunlight upon the brown bosom of mother earth, whils husbandmen were occupied in re moving crops to market by the slow teaming process yet in vogue In many rural regions, Mrs. Andrews was well-nigh crazed and wholly stupefied by the burdens of her life. The advent of Sara Perkins had resulted advantageously, Inasmuch as it had enabled the grandmother of Jason Andrews' children to secure for herself a little home very humble and unpretentious, but sufficient for her present needs, and quite superior to Mrs. Andrews' own; and Jason, being, for a wonder, disposed to be affable, had al- lowed her the custody of his four younger sons and daughters, thereby leaving the apathetic mother of Madge Morrison with a comparatively small family, and much reducing her daily toil. But it seemed that misfortunes beset Mrs. Andrews upon every hand. Her daughter Alice, who had been for sev eral years a wife and mother, returned to the maternal home widowed and al most destitute, with three children de pendent upon her for support, and no means at herdlspos&l until letters of ad ministration should be properly filed and otherwise acted upon according to the Jaws of men who claim to be the supporters of women, so the drunkard's wife's respite was brief and unreal. "Hasn't Madge gone back to her bus- band yet?" asked Alice, as soon as she could so far forget her own sorrows as to pause to consider those of her sister. ".No," was the apathetic reply. "She don't seem to consider her bargain bind' ing in any sense." "I am sure," said Alice, "that if I made a bad bargain, I'd stick the closer to it. "And that's your advice to me, is it, Alice?" "Yes," interrupted Jason Andrews, who had not forgotten his old habit of coming in upon the household when least expected, in the hope to overhear something not intended for his ears "That's what I'm alius tell in' Nance She rides a high hoss sometimes, an' swears she won't stan' this nor that, 'but she alius comes round about fodder time." Mrs. Andrews turned away with ill-concealed shudder of loathing. "Tbar's no tellln' wuat's went o' Madge," continued the step-father, "but I s'pose of course she's come to some bad end. When a woman forsakes her rightful master thar's mighty little show for her to come to any good. I want to know what ye propose to do for a livin', Alice? Ye surely don't expect to git yer grub offe' me 1" Alice, poor child-woman as she was, overcome by recent bereavement, and -weak and ill from long watching beside her sick husband and helpless little ones, of whom the youngest was an in fant of three months, looked up with an expression of anguish that was pitiable. "I don't see where I could come If not to my mother," she said, through her tears. "There'll be something left of the estate alter the law has gone through it, maybe, and then I'll see what I can do. But I must have some place to stay, and you wouldn't dare to object to my staying here if my mother were not your wife." "I'd have rjo right to object if she wasn't my wife, of course." "But what right have you to object now?" cried Mrs. Andrews. "I had more property before I married you than I now have. I paid my way in the world while a widow, and with less effort, and fur less suffering, than I have endured since I was married to you. I -earn as much as I used to, and I fail to see by what code of ethics you judge me-when you treat me as a pauper." "Highly! tightyf I haven't heard sich yaup since Madge run away !" said Jason, angrily. "See here, ole woman," he continued. "If it makes ye so darned obstreperous as this to have yer Morri- son brats comln' round, I'll drive the whole batch of 'em out o' doors !" "I didn't mean anything, Jason!" pleaded the wife, In alarm. "Ye'd better takeltback !" exultantly exclaimed her legal protector. "I want ye to know that I'll have no women lordin' It over me!" Mrs. Andrews rocked to and fro upon her chair, soothing her nervous babe, as it clung in Its tender helplessness to her acblng breast, while itsobbed as though grieved beyond endurance. "Why don't ye talk, woman?" ex- claimed her excited lord. "I have nothing to say," was the apa- thetlc reply. "Coward are ye? Well, ye'd better' be! I'm goln' off to have another swig at my cask. I'd never drink In the world if I had a wife that honored me. Women'Il have a heap to answer for In the next world !" "Thank God !" sighed the wife, as he departed. "I always rejoice when he gets dead drunk, for then, and then only, do I have a little peace." "But, mother," said Alice, "do you think Jason will really forbid my stay- jng jjere tji something else can be done with or for me ?" 'God only knows I" replied her "How I do wish Madge mother, sadly. would come !" Scarcely had Mrs. Andrews spoken the words before a stage-coacb halted before ' the door, and Madge herself, looking pale, jaded, old, and careworn, alighted from its clumsy depths and walked hesitatingly toward the little old brown cabin, attired in the identical shabby dress over which her mother had sighed three months before because of its worn and dilapidated condition. Alice and her mother were for a mo ment almost stupefied with surprise, but recovering themselves, they ad vanced to meet her, while Sam and Harry, who were just returning from the fields, set up an exultant shout of welcome. "Thar comes that Bassy jade," said Andrews, to himself, as he peeped from a crack in the loft of the barn while be paused to take breath over bis deep po- tation. "I see that I'm to be eat out o' house and home!" It was well for the family's peace that the head was stupefied till the subordi nates could have opportunity to talk up their own affairs. The mother and daughters had much to tell each other. and tuejr deep and earne9t conversation awakened only the warmest sympathy for weary, suffering, heart-sick Madge. I couldn't remain away longer, mother. My wages were fair, and it would Have been well could I have longer concealed my sex. But alas, alas, there's little show for a woman when thrown upon her own resources In this world. I have come to you, dear mother, in sorrow and humiliation; but I sorrow not as those who have no hope. Depend upon it, there Is a Power higher than we, who will overrule all things for our ultimate good. There is a new power, a new impetus inspired within me which will not allow me to yield to discouragements. From the first mo ment that I fully realized my situation I seemed transformed. I have carefully hoarded my wages, and I am not desti tute. Thanks to the simple manner of my bringing up, I need but little, and that little is in ray trunk in the yard. I am going to stay with you, and see if we cannot all together manage to make life less burdensome. Surely we have sometiiing to live for, and we ought not to be left in darkness, as -to what that something is. With the little means at my disposal I will buy lumber, and Jason and I will build an addition to this old cabin. Thanks to the wool in the barn and the muslin and calico in my trunk, wecau make some extra beds and comfortables, and we'll fix up and live nicely." 'But you're not able to build houses now," said her mother, sadly. "Don't fool yourself!" said Madge. I never felt so strong and well in-my life." "Then your looks belie you," respond ed Alice. 'If women would obey the laws of nature they'd outgrow the worst and weakest forms of physical suffering, Madge replied. "I look old and thin and careworn because I've had so much mental agony to endure. If I knew I'd never see or hear of George Hanson again, I'd be happy as the day. Howdo Sara and Mrs. Perkins get on? And where do they live ?" Explanations were speedily given which brought up the subject of the Morrison arrest and imprisonment. "What nonsense to accuse him of murder!" said Madge. "I can testify that I saw George Hanson several days- yes, two weeks after Jason overheard that threat he tells about. The man ought at once to be set at liberty." "But the Grand Jury found a true bill, daughter. He was regularly com mitted to prison after due preliminary examination, and there is no alterna- tive but to wait till the next regular meeting of the District Court." "Well, I'll visit mm In prison, any bow," said Madge, "and I'll do all lean to relieve the monotony of the outrage he's enduring. Sara Perkins knows, as well as I, that George was alive and well long after Jason Andrews last saw him. I'll try the effect of habeas corpus." "What do you know about law. child?" "I know euough to besure that a writ may be served in some legal way to res cue any one from false imprisonment "Very well," replied her mother. "Test the matter and do what you can, I'm sure I'd do auything in my power to aid Mr. Morrison. But my best wouldn't be much, for Jason's so fool ishlv jealous of the gentleman that would not dare to say anything In his favor, no matter what I knew." "Catch me being so much afraid of any son of woman that I would not dare to do what was right!" said Madze. The next morning found her upbe- times, figuring away ather bill for lum ber, and ordering everybody, Jason In- eluded, with the old active, administra tive ability. "Where's that whisky?" she asked Jason, after breakfast, as the poor drunkard was wending his way to the barn In quest of his dram. "D'ye want a swig ?" he answered, nnocently. "Yes, a big one." "It's In the loft." Madge looked In the direction Indi cated by the trembling victim's nervous digit, aud hurrying away, proceeded to demolish the cask with an ax, thus raising a perfume among the hay that spoiled a ton at least, for cattle are so far superior to men that they will not eat or drink spoiled food. "Now, Jason," said Madge, as she de scended the ladder, ax in hand, "I've made up my mind to submit to no more foolishness on my mother's premises. Three mouths ago I was a child. I am womau now, and I intend to see that you walk straight hereafter, or die try ing." Jason hung bis head. He was feeling bad from the effects of his night's pota tions, and was in that weakly, trem bling state induced by prostration, which is so often, under less favorable circumstances, the baue of the victim of strong drink. "You'd never be a Solomon under any circumstances," continued Madge, "for nature didn't make much of a success on you to begin with, but there's more manhood about you than you imagine, and I propose to see that you have a chance to prove it Do you remember the first time I saw you? Have you forgotten the pale, sick wife who went down to her grave, dying for the want of the love you forgot to bestow upon her? Do you remember how you and toiled side by side to make this home, such as it is? and how happy we lived till you got a legal claim on the body and will of my mother?" "Yes, Madge; I remember all." "Well, Jason, you haven't got mother to deal with now, but me. I Iptend to see that you respect yourself and your family. Not another drop of liquor shall you bring to this ranche. If you will be a man once more, I'll be your friend. If you go on debasing yourself, I'll see that you lose wife and children and home. Now, mark what I say, You shall have two days to sober up. Then you'll help me to build an addi tion to the house, and we'll all get along together first rate." "Well, Madge, I'll pledge my word " "There! there! no pledges! You'll break them if you make them. I know you'll succeed, for you shall. Now, you must help me to extricate Mr. Morrison from his difficulty. You must go with me to the Court-house. I must see the proper officers and make legal applica- tion for a writ of habeas corpus. The man isn't guilty. The very idea is ab surd." "I didn't say he was guilty," pleaded Jason." "Then who did?" "The Grand Jury." "Upon your testimony." "How do you know?" "I feel it in my bones." But Jason Andrews was not able to go to the new village that day, nor the next. It was a little cruel for Madge to cut bis long-indulged potations off so suddenly, but she was firm and unfilnch ing, and held her patient well in hand The very devil possesses Madge,1 said Harry. "Then he's a grand, good devil, aud I wish he'd make a business of possessing folks," retorted Sam. Never, since the old days when Madge bad been Inspired by the necessities that had be9et them in the wilderness when none but she could be relied upon in great emergencies, had she so risen to meet the difficulties that beset her way, Her mother and Alice watched and waited upon her plans with feelings akin to awe. The boys obeyed her be hests without a question, and the work went on like magic. As soon as Madge could leave Jason alone with the family, for he raved fear fully for several days if she were not in sight to quell him, she visited Mr. Mor rison as she had designed, and assured him that be would be released, and that right speedily. "Alas, poor child," he said, in reply 'I regret to say that I do not join in your enthusiasm. You will fail for want of properly accredited witnesses.' But Madge was not so easily baffled Repairing to the home of Mrs. Perkins aud Sara, who were overjoyed at meet ing her, while the latter was surprised when informed that she and "Tommy, the waiter boy," were one and the same' person, she unfolded the plan, already known to Jason Andrews, for the legal liberation of ber friend. But, alas for the vanity of woman expectations, the coveted writ was not procurable. One of the witnesses, or one who had essayed to be such, was the wife of the missing man, and her evidence could not be accepted as test! mony concerning his whereabouts; and the other was the wronged mother of bis Illegitimate child, and therefore in capable, according to the legal codes made by fathers of such children, of telling the truth concerning anything save only said child's paternity and her own degradation. Madge returned to her humble home with ber soul oppressed by a weight of overpowering sorrow, indignation, and shame. "Men call this a free country !" she exclaimed, vehemently. "What mock ery, injustice, and fraud !" To be continued. Then and Bow. Mr. George William Curtis lectured n New York recently and viewed the advance made in the position of women. The following is a report of his conclud ing remarks: Mr. Curtis then humorously described the discussions that were carried on in Dean Swift's time as to whether it would be prudent to marry a woman who bail good natural sense, some taste, and was able to read understanding!- the literature or tbe day. it was said that there, were radical objections against an Intelligent wife; that the natural levity of women needed a bal last of ignorance and stupidity. And such was the tenderness of the sex that the women consented tq remain Ignor ant that they might be equal to tbeir husbands. This was slow to change. Not more than sixty years ago Sidney Smith spoke of the disparity between the knowledge or men and women, ana intimated women should cultivate household duties to the exclusion of other acquirements. "That it is an in sulting idea of woman," said the lec turer, "which makes her happy when ber husband brings her home a brace let and screaming when a mouse hops across the floor. She Is not the fine lady of the fashion-plates, but Hebe, ioyous with health and pouring nectar, fitly married to Hercules, strongest of the gods. Is the Portia Shakspeare has drawn beautiful because a wise young judge, less truly feminine than Juliet whispering her love from a balcony l" Mr. Curtis sketched the great caution with which the Pilgrims and early set tlers of New England dealt out a little education to their girls, and in a strain of the keenest irony told how Boston, trembling for the bulwarks or freedom, opened a high school for girls, and stood aghast at the immense attendance upon it and the eager acceptance of Its privi leges. The notion that the education and usefulness of women should be con fined to home, simply because men had an idea that that was her "sphere," was ridiculed and disposed of by argument and copious illustration. "Yesterday is gone and to-day has come. The i ret ted slave of the Greek household, and the Idle toy and doll of the age of Ches terfield, has given place to a better idea; and we go forward with God's help to tind the true woman In the Iree Amen can homes." A case that puzzled a London magis trate was that of a woman who had as sailed her husband with an axe. It he sent her to prison, the husband would have to hire somebody to care for ber children while she was incarcerated. If be fined ber, the husband would have to pay the sum. If he put her under bonds to Keep tne peace, the husband would be responsible, she was dis- charged with an admonition. Sun. It will be observed that the magis- trate was very tender of the penalties that would fall on the husband in this case. As the English law gives the man the right to all his wife's earn ings, the hardship does not seem so great. Would it not serve the cause of ustice better to have each individual responsible for his or her own crimes and punishments, and also each indi vidual entitled to his or her own prop erty and earnings ? .Here is the otoer side of the picture. A California man beat his wife, was fined $10, and then sold hersilk dress to pay tor the line. This Is the average practical result of a so-called "justice' to wives who appeal to it for protection against brutal husbands. Fine and im prisonment for him mean hunger and starvation to ber and ber cbildren. Widow Van Cott. now preaching over in .Brooklyn, la at last obtaining some success among the sinners there. Her daily meetings are crowded, and ber altar Is besieged by penitents. Hue is accomplishing what the other female revivalist railed in, and the scenes which were enacted in the towns up the river are repeated in Brooklyn. It Is evident that, next to Brother Moody, widow Van Uott is the most powerful revival ist in tne neid. Her language is more polished than Mr. Moody's; her reason ing is more orderly, and ber illustrations are more pointed. Mer earnestness can not be surpassed, and she seems deter mined to compel people to come in Widow Van Cott, while preaching in all the places around New York, has Bent out or the citv itself, home or her admirers are now trying to get her over here, to take up the work which Brother Moody left unfinished. Let ber come among us and do all the good she can. jsew xork Sun. High-Toned. They were trimming the church with evergreens, and after a couple of hours' hard work, the young ladles felt hungry, not being used to such arduous labor. One lady ex claimed: "I am so hungry ! I wish I had dish of pork aud beans, mum." "Pork and beans i" exclaimed another young lady; "why, I wish I had some sourkrout." The first lady looked holy horrors, and when the other bad passed out or tb church, the pork aud beans girl said "Oh, my! the ideal Sourkrout! did you ever hear anything so vulgar ?" And that girl went borne to dine on codfish and potatoes. Rochester Ex press. Did any man at his death ever regret bis conflicts with himself, his victories over appetite, bis scorn or impure pleas ures, or his suffering for righteousness sake? Did any man ever mourn that he had impoverished himseir by integ rity? Are these the recollections which narrow the soul and darken and appal the last hour? To whom is th last hour most serene and full of hope Is it not to him who, amidst perils and allurements, uas denied himseir ana la bored for humanity and freedom 7 The envelope makers and printers as 8ert that the Government loses $700,000 a year in the manufacture of postal cards, to say nothing of the cost of car rying them as mail matter, and tbey claim that if the Government would now abolish stamped envelopes, wrap pers, and postal cards, it would save THE CONSTITUTIONAL EIGHT OP W0HENJT0 VOTE. READ BEFORE THE YAMHILL COUNTY WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION MAY 17, 1S76, BY MRS. A9 M. MARTIN. Gentlemen and Ladies: You have heard argument after argument In favor of Woman Suffrage, and from almost every stand-point, but, not to my knowledge, from the position taken above,' namely, their constitu tional right to vote. We have the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States aying: "All persons born or natural ized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall bridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." Are not all these women citizens of the United States? Are we not amenable to the laws of this State aud the United States? Suppose we were to commit murder or theft, or any other crime that men commit, would not the sheriff arrest us just as soon as he would any man ? He would come, make his best bdw, and say: "Madam, I am sorry to trouble you, but you have violated the law, and it is my duty to arrest you." And, if we were to violate the revenue laws of the United States by going over to Victoria and trying to smuggle a silk dress, or any other article of ap parel that we should take a fancy to, we would be served like the lady who un dertook to bring a silk dress pattern from Victoria, aud wore it for a bustle, but one end of the silk slipped from its fastening bo that it came below .-her dress, and was seen by the revenue officer; and it was taken from her just the same as though she had been a man. Now, if we are citizens, and amenable to the laws which govern this State and nation, how can the udges of eiectious, 'law-makers, and others say we cannot vote because we are women ? The Constitution of the United States makes no such distinction. I am aware that the Constitution of Ore gon says "free white male," but, as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend ments to the Constitution of the United States were adopted, they took the word 'white" out of our Constitution, and every negro male can go to the polls and vote, and you dare not say him nay. Why don't they take out the word "male" as well? Why is this terra "male" used in the Constitution ? It was not by accident. If so, it would not be used so frequently. It was be cause every man among them knew, when tinkering up a Constitution, that if he did not insert this word "male," women would vote. They bad the right, and there had to be a constitu tional barrier to prevent their exercise of it. The thing which we have to do is either to strike out this word "male, or convince our law-makers, our judges of eiectious, and the rest of the world that it is already expunged, which I think is easier. It makes no difference in how many constitutions it is found nor in bow many state constitutions it has been incorporated, for a single provision in the Constitution of the United States is of that poteucy to cor rect them all. But we would like to talk about ou citizenship a little more. We under stand that when the people or the legis lature speak by constitution or law, and use ordinary language, that tbey mean what they say, and nobody can say that they do not mean that, or that tbey mean something else. There is nobody who will for a moment argue against the plain, obvious meaning of words. When such are used, it is the end of argument and of construction The great object to be achieved, so far as women are concerned, is to bring them into the possession of the rights o citizenship. A "person" is oue thing, and a naturalized citizen is something more. He or she is the creature of a pollt- cal compact, having therlghts, the prlvl leges, and the franchises of that partic ular political association, whatever that may be. Now we use the term "cit izen," and apply it to a person in pos session of certain political rights an privileges. Let us, in this light, read the first clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and see what it does say "All persons" (not all male persons, nor all white persous), but "AH persons born or naturalized in the United States, or subject to the jurisdictio thereof, are citizens of the United States, and the State wherein they re side." They are citizens, that Is, "per sons" are citizens, and our opponents will have to prove that women are not "persons" before they can lawfully pre vent them from voting. Let us see, further, what the framers of this Amendment meant: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immuni ties of citizens of the United States. Is there auy doubt now as to what "cit izen" means? He or she, or both, are persons in pos session of, and have, by express decla ration, all the privileges and immuni ties of citizens. "But," says one, "minors would be citizens according to that, and would have the privilege of going to the ballot-box the first thing, They seem to forget that all power Is Inherent in the people, and it is per fectly proper for this "all power" to declare at whatage, and under wbatcir cumstances the citizen should vote, so that the rule applies uniformly, and ex cludes none. One-half of the people were excluded, and this article removes that exclusion, and that is all. Women are not only citizens, but the Amend ment says that "no State shall pass or enforce any law that shall 'abridge the privileges and immunities of this citi zenship." These terms, "privileges and immunities," are not now used for the first time in the American Constitu tion. They are old acquaintances of ours, and have done service a great while. They occur In this same Con stitution, as will be seen by referriug to the second Section of Article 4. If this Amendment does not confer nor guar antee the exercise of the elective fran chise, then at infinite pains have we dug among the foundations of our won derful structure, and have deposited there as one of them an utter sham, full of the emptiness of nothing. But, to sweep all doubts aside, we have the further words of the Constitution as contained in the Fifteenth Amendment. Now, what does this Amendment say ? To make assurauce doubly sure, it says 'The rights of tbe citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied nor abridged by the United States or any state, on account of race, color, or pre vious condition of servitude." But some one will say that does not apply to women, as they have never been in servitude. The one that would make such an assertion certainly does not know that, according to the common law, (and that is in force unless there Is pecial statute to the contrary), that woman's person and property are under tbe absolute control of ber bus band, and be can dispose of ber prop erty at pleasure, determine wliere she shall live, etc. If that is not servi tude, I fail to comprehend what would constitute servitude. I cannot com ment further on this point, as there is another upon which I wish to say a few words. It is said that womau does not want the ballot. Who says she does not waut it? Man says so, and nobody else. Man asks the question, and an swers it himself. I- deny that women have declared that they don't want the ballot. They have never been asked whether they want it or not. Gentle men, how do you settle a question that is submitted for your consideration? Do you not go to the ballot-box and there express your wishes, and say by your vote who shall represent you in the legislative halls, or decide any other question that comes before you for de cision ? Now propound this question of suffrage to the women, and let them take a solemn vote on the subject, Offer them the chance by which they can speak tor tnemseives, ana see whether they want it or not. Don' refuse to let them answer, and don't as sume to answer for them, and say you represent them. You barely succeed in representing yourselves. Let woman vote, and then we can tell better whether you have a right to represent her or not. Men have made all institu tions for men, and for men alone. They have never consulted woman. They have said that she wa3 nobody and no where, or, if she was anywhere, she was out of ber sphere, and must go back to nowhere and to nobody imme diately. Men have gravely assumed to understand her nature and character better than she herself has done, pointed out her sphere and bade her walk therein, or incur their severe dis pleasure. In concluding this somewhat dry dis sertation on "The Constitutional Eight of Women to Vote, ".allow me, ladles, to exhort you to do your duty by voting at tbe comlug election. Go to the polls with your husbands or fathers or broth ers, and demand tbe right to place your ballot along with theirs, thereby ex pressing your individuality the same as they do. Vote for the persons you think will best fill the positions they are striving for. And, gentlemen, you who are in favor of equal rights regard- leas of sex, show your faith by your works, and take your wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters with you to the polls, and with them demand that their right to the ballot be recognized, and, If there are any objections to their vot ing, help them to prosecute tbe judges of election, and test the matter before tbe Judiciary of the State. Widow Van Cott. It is merely be cause she Is a woman, and not from any desire to retard her work or redemption, that so many of the Brooklyn clergy hold aloof from the Widow Van Cott. This is her own account of the matter, hut It merelv increases the obscurity. If theBrooklyn clergy really believe that she is carrying on tbe work of redemp tion, that she is truly successful in the business of regenerating sinners, and that her labors are thus approved by the Almighty, how can they withstand her on any account wnatever i n mey nau salil that her work was of tbe devil, that ber religion was a sham, and that tbe penitents around her altar were but victims of delusion, there would be no difficulty In seeing why they should frown upon her. But their present po sition is illogical. One part of It Is con tradictory of tbe other part. It is the dutv.of the clergy to explain their attl tude toward Widow Van Cott's work of redemption. New York Sun. "Is that marble?" said a gentleman, pointing to a bust of Kentucky's great statesman. "No, sir; that's Clay," quietly replied the dealer. Woman Suffrage in the District of Co- lumoia. To those who profess to believe that Woman Suffrage is losing instead of gaining ground, we commend the pe rusal of the following, taken from tbe Congressional Record of April 1st, and ask that they will compare the treat ment accorded to the petition here given with that which similar petitions received at the hands' of legislative bodies a few years ago. It would, in deed, ill become the representatives of a great nation to treat with contempt a petition of 400,000 of its citizens, and the time is near at haud when courtesy, though well enough in Its place, will give place to justice. These women do not sue for grace and favor, but they de mand a right. Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker. I am re quested to present a memorial from the women cltizeus of the United States. asking for a form of government in the District of Columbia which shall secure to its women citizens the right to vote; and I ask tbe grace and favor to have their memorial printed in the Record. Mr. UAJSlvb. Mr. Speaker, I beg the privilege of saying a few words in favor of the request made by the gentleman irom JNew York who presents this me morial. It Is a hundred years tluiday since Mrs. Abigail Adams, or Massa chusetts, wrote to her husband, John Adams, men a member of the Conti nental Convention, entreating him to give to womau the right to protect .the rights of woman, and predicting a gen eral revolution if justice was denied them. Mrs. Adams was one of the noblest women of that period, distin guished by heroism and patriotism never surpassed In any age. She -was wife of the second, and mother of tho sixth President of the United States, and her beneficial influence was felt in political, as well as in social circles. It was perhaps the first demand for tlio recognition of the rights of her sex made in this country, and is one of the Centennial incidents that should be re membered. It came from a good quar ter. The memorial represents 400,000 American women. They ask for an or ganization of a government in the Dis trict of Columbia that will recognize their political rights. I voted some years ago to give women the right to vote in this District, aud, recalling the course of its government, I think it would have done no wrong If they had enjoyed political rights. Mr. KASSON. I suggest that the memorial be printed without the names. Mr. COX. There are no names ap pended except those of tbe officers of the Association; and I hope they will be printed with the memorial. - Mr.HENDEE. I trust tbe gentleman will allow this petition to be referred to the committee of which I am a member, the Committee for the District of Columbia. Mr. COX. I have no objection to that. There being no objection, the memo rial was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed in the Record as follows: MEMORIAL OF WOMEN CITIZENS OF TIIIS NATION. To' the Senate and House of Repre sentatives af the United Stales in Con gress Assembled: Whereas, the Supreme Court of the United States has re-affirmed the de cision of the Supreme Court of the .District oi (joiumnia in the case of Spencer vs. the Board of Reg istration, and Webster vs. the Judges of Election, and lias decided that, by the operation or the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, women have been advanced with full citizenship, and clothed with the capac ity to become voters; and, turther, that this first section of the Fourteenth Amendment does not execute itself, but requires the supervention of legislative power in the exercise of legislative dis cretion to give it effect; and, whereas, the Congress or the United States is the legislative body having exclusive juris diction over this District of Columbia, aud, in enfranchising the colored man and refusing to enfranchise any woman, white or colored, made an unjust dis crimination against sex, and did not give the intelligence and moral power of the citizens of said District a fair op-, portunity for expression at the polls; and, whereas, Woman Suttrage is not an experiment, but has had a fair trial In Wyoming, where women vote, where tbey hold office, where they have the most orderly society of any of the Territories, where the experiment is ap proved by the executive officers of the United States, by tbeir press, and by tbe people generally, aud where it has "rescued that Territory from' a state of comparative lawlessness," and rendered it "one of tbe most orderly in the Union;" and, whereas, upon the Woman Suffrage Amendment to Seuate bill No. 44 of the second session of the Forty-third Congress, votes were re corded in favor of Woman Suffrage by the two Senators from Florida, the two from Indiana, the two from Michi gan, and the two from Rhode Island, one from California, one from Illinois, one from Alabama, one from Arkansas, one from Louisiana, oue from Kansas, one from Massachusetts, one from Min nesota, one from Nebraska, oue from Nevada, one from Oregon, one from South Carolina, one from Texas, and one from Wisconsin; and, whereas, a fair trial of equal suffrage lor men and women in the District of Columbia, under the immediate supervision of Congress, would demonstrate to the women of tbe whole country that jus tice to women is policy to men; and, whereas, the women citizens of the United States are governed without tbeir own consent, and denied trial by a jury of their peers, are taxed without representation, and are subject to man ifold wrongs resulting from Unjust and arbitrary exercise of power over an un represented class; and, whereas, in this Centennial year the spirt of '76 is breathing its influenee upon the people, melting away all prejudices and ani mosities, and inspiring into our na nional councils a finer sense of justice and a clearer perception of individual rights: therefore, We pray your honorable body to frame a government for tbe District of Columbia which shall secure for its women citizens the right to vote. 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