Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-10-19
A Woman Announces Herself a Candidate
for C0ngrcSS

We live in a fast age. In many instances
rowdyism controls our elections, and small
ward politicians use such an element to their
own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, against old
and quiet citizens. Another influence, it ap-
pears, is about to be brought to bear on the
politics of the country. One of the z strong
minded women" 80 called, publishes the fol-
lowing card in the New York papers:
10 the Elcctori Of the Eighth Conyression-
al District Although, by the constitution
of the State of New York, woman is denied
the elective franchise, yet she is eligible to
Office; therefore | present myself to you as a
candidate for Representative to Congress =
Belonging to DISTINGUISHED class, ] have no
political antecedcnts to recommend me to
your support, but my creed is free speech,
free press. free men and free trade-the car
dinal points of democracy. Viewing all
things from the standpoint of principle rath-
er than expedency, there is u fixed uniform
law, as yet unrecognized by either of the
leading parties, governing alike the social
and political life of men and nations. The
republican party has occasionally a clear vis-
ion of personal rights, while in its protective
policy it seems wholly blind to the the rights
of property and interests of commerce; while
it recognizes the duty Of beneyolence between
man and man, it teaches the narrowcst sell
fshness in trade between nations.
The democrats, on the contrary, while
holding sound and liberal principles in trade
and commerce, have ever in their political
affiliations maintained the idea of class and
caste among men an idea wholly at var-
ancc with the genius of our free institutions,
and fatal to a high civilization. One party
fails at one point, and one at another In
asking your sulfragos believing alike in free
men and free trade could not represent
either party as now constituted.
Nevertheless, as an independent candidate
] desire an election at this time as rebuke
to the dominant party for it's retrogrcssive
legislation in SO amending the Constitution
as to make invidious distinctions on the
ground of sex.
That instrument recognizes as persons al
citizens who obey the laws and support tho
State, and if the constitutions Of the several
States were brought into harmony with tht
broad principles Of the federal constitution
the women of the nation would no longer b
taxed without representation, or governed
without their consent. One word should no
be added to that great charter of rights tt
the insult or injury of the humbest of oul
citizens. I would gladly have a voice ano
vote in the fortieth Congress to demand ami
uersal Suffrage, that thus republican form
of government might be secured to every
State in the Union.
If the party now in ascendency makes it
demand for negro suffrage in good faith
on the ground of natural right, and because
the highest good of the State demands tina
the republican idea be vindicated, on no prin
ciple of justice or safety can the women of thu
nation be ignored.
In view Of the fact that the freedmen O
the South and the millions of foreigners nov
crowding our western shores, most of WHOM
represent neither property, education or civ
ilization, are all, in the progress eff events, Il
be enfranchsed, the best interests of the ma
ton demand that we outweigh this incoming
pauperism, ignorance and degradation, with
the wealth. education and refinement of til,
women of the republic On the high groune
of safety to the nation and justice to it's citi
zens. | ask your support in the coming cleo
ton.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON.