The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-04-26

\ iiS Isl, sfsS SuotdiouSifiP r va SHSH CuHuICu
by a former marriage. Here, then, is a
practical reform for the consideration oi
the Legislators of Kansas; and appeal
to them hopefully, believing that they will
regard such an act of justice. due as
much to themselves as to The women
whom their constituents have disfranehis.
ed, and expect them to represent.
Allow me here to say, that in laying
bare the injustice which the Legislation
of the past has perpetrated upon woman,
do not charge malicious nor intention
al wrong upon man. The long-es:ab-
lished customs and modes of thinking,
of the feudal ages, obscured the manly
intellects. which, with no happier prece-
dents, were too much intoxicated with
their own newly-discovered tenure oil
rights, to doubt the wisdom of holding
woman vassal still, to her loving lord
and master. Woman, too, intent only
on the triumph of father, husband, sons
and brothers, in the struggle for charter
ed rights, took no thought for self, put in
no plea for any right, but to aid in and
rejoice over the enfranchisement OF
manhood. Having disclaimed all inten-
ton to charge men with pre-medi ated
injustice to women in the enactment OF
laws infringing upon her sacred rights, |
will here take my position that on the
laws which diyest woman of her property
rights, at the very period when every
right of the individual woman is made
of tenfold more value by reason of her
greatly multiplied needs and responsible
tiles, in the new relations consequent
upon marriage, are based most of the lee
gal wrongs of which, as class or sex,
we complain.
With single exception, the wrongs
for which we are asking redress, are le-
gal wrongs. perpetrated by legislative
bodies, in defiance of the strongest con-
stitutional guarantees, and, therefore,
unconstitutional The constitutions of
the several different States, SO far as
know them. have perpetrated but single
wrong upon woman, as such-the deni-
al to her of the righto of suffrage. Aud
as if to prove by the most unmitigated
and wholesome outrages that taxation
without representation is tyranny" to
the death. our republican Legislators with
the declaration, Governments are, or
ought to be, instituted to protect the
weak against the stiong," warm upon
their lips-commenced their magnani-
NOUS protection" by legally executing
all the married women, and taxing all the
sing IL ones
Single women in Vermont, and the
same in all the Slales, mis- hit acquire
possess and defend property ;" might
'.tind a certain remedy, by having re-
course to the laws, for all injuries oil
wrongs which they may receive in theil
persons, property or reputation" Blu
these rights. guaranteed by constitutions
which also declare that they shall moi
be divested from the individuals, or VIC
lated by statutory enactnnents, "on az.
preteRce whatsoever, were all withdraw
from women at marriage; and unit
I 184s, not State in the Union, unles
, Louisiana be an exception, had reeogniz
ed to married women single one o
these natural" inherent, and isdkisna
ue % rights!
Married women, except tintwo or three
States which have recently restored Il
, them the right, can neither sue or bt
, sued, except joined with their husbands
consequently, it is only by consent of tn,
husband TO join them in the suit, tina
those women who hold property in thei
own right, can defend it; snd it the hus
band is not disposed to see his wife pro
tect her interests, or to aid her in the
same; if he shrinks from litigation, ever
with just cause, the wife is prevented
from obtaining justice. So. also, in any
injury sustained in her person or reputa
, ton. The married woman is denied the
r protection of the iaw. The will of tn,
l husband. whether he be q good man o.
3 reckless, wise or simple, is her sole reli
, ance for ''detence of her natural and IN
8 alienable rights" 1t j: a very common
!. ruse with bad husbands, either to max
!. out . case in their own favor, or L
It frighten wives from leaving them
i .hrea.en ruin to their reputations-t
: whisper the too readily believed slandel
A large number of cases of the kin,
: have come TO my knowledge. Two year
4 since. after a lecture upon the subject o
t woman's legal wrongs. in town whicl
: | will not name, was told the circum
, stsnees of a separation which had recent
ly taken place there between couple, o
: the highest wealth and intelligence. Th
> husband was \ secret wine- -bibber, ant
in the privacy of his chamber. accus
!. toned to abuse his patient and sorrowin,
5 wife. The wife guarded tie secret 0
: his misconduct with the jealous care o
. a dutiful and mortified spirit. till a
/ length his brutality was intolerable, ans
she made known to him her resolution I,
D leave him. At first she secuted the ides
j but when he found he was actually max
I ing preparations, he threatened, if SD.
did 20, TO ..rnin her reputation '.Ru
! in my reputation p repeated she; .'yol
) know my reputa. ion is above reproach! J!
: al do. said he, "but ! can ruin you
nevertheless. and BIZ CD ! will, if 20.
. leave me-" Curious to know what h
would do, the wife asked him Low b
would do it. "I will accuse you o
guilty complicity with Dr.. yo'
i Enavv he connsfiTnes af.coF1neniaS Vol