The national Republican., 1867-09-21
LOCAL, DEPARTM EN- T.

LOCAL, DEPARTM EN- T.
woxAs's RIGnrs-UMvRRsAL SUFFRAGE
--sPnrrED ADpnEssEs--LARaz ATTENDANCE
tho UnivsrsL Franchise Association was held
last night at Union League Hall, Ninth street,
near Z.
In the absence Of the president, Senator s. @.
Pomeroy, Of Kansas Mrs. Josephine Grifhng.
hrst vice president, called the meeting TO order,
and the secretary, Mr.. George T. Needham, read
the minutes Of the last meetipgi which were sp-
proved.
The meeting was largely attended, three
Tho appeal and constitution of the association,
latsly published, was then read by Mr.. John H.
Crane.
The appeal says: Deeply impressed with the
condition Of woman, her duties and responsible
ties, and the demands Of the hour, this associa-
tion, through its board Of managers, determine
10 enter upon vigorous efforts for her enfran-
chisement, and continue that work, until,
throughout this country, she possesses the legal
right to vote In the Government she Is now taxed
TO support, and to defend which she Is required
TO sacrifice life, children. husband, property and
home. In the District Of Columbia, and most Of
the Territories, en parts laws exist which have
elsewhere been changed. This vast extent com.
prisss ons-hslf Of the area, and one-fortieth the
population Of our republic, and Is under the
immediate control Of Congress. It 10 public
domain In which you and every citizen have a
voice. We ask your influence and pecuniary
aid to sustain and assist us TO procure the pass
age Of equal laws, the right OF woman to the
guardianship Of her own children, the right to
her own earnings, and to hold property in her
own name; to . voice In the educational and
moral interests Of the esmmunityi and to the
one thing which embraces all these and more,
La t,hk a. ~ T.. Ia. Il.
We cordially invite the earnest minds in every
county and town to cooperate, organise and
develop tho question. bring facts before tho pso-
plo, agitats the subject In the family, the Ly.
osum, the school, and thus force IT, In q manner,
upon the pulpit and the press, and let the whole
country prepare for intelligent and harmonious
Mrs. Josephine @. Griflng stated that she did
not expect In the afternoon to be present at the
meeting, and was not prepared to make speech,
but having seen hsr name, announced through
the papers to address the meeting, she thought
Il best to be present, and would endeavor to
show that the rights Of humanity advocated by
our forefathers and statesmen applied to woman
as we'll as man. The few Of the country have
governed the many, and the ruin Of the country
is threatened by their rule. She did not venture
10 assert that those who fought In tho Rsyolu-
tion secured freedom, for slavery then existed
Tho cause Of tho rebellion was asserted TO bo
States rights. This was an error II was the
injustice to slaves that brought on tho war.
And shall 15, 900 women submit to the fatal
mistake by believing that their rights sre not
equal to the late slaves Of the South Equal
rights, universal franchise, and equal suffrage
arc the notices now emblszoned upon every
banner.
The speaker said whom she witnessed, during
the war, the dead soldier buried In the fields,
with no mother wife, nor sister to follow his re-
mains TO their last resting. place-when she wit.
messed the solitary funeral-she pledged herself
that the soldiers death should not DO In vain.
Freedom to all was the sacrifice made by the
heroes Of the rebellion Therefore 1t Is time that
ws should be up and doing, for We are not free
until We prove We are q republican people. 1t
vas the social, moral, and political influence Of
woman that would establish republication. The
sword Of liberty was yet unsheathed. Man and
woman were created to stand together-it was
never intended that tfey should be sundered-
and the speaker asked man to como up hand and
hand to battle for woman's rights. No freedom
or republican form Of government will ever be
obtained until the elective franchise Is exercised
by woman. Woman stood alone on the battle
fields and done deeds as heroic as men, and II
their acts had come before our statesmen II would
prove their ability for self. government.
Mrs. Grifing, In conclusion, said tho meeting
was ono simply Of confersnce-not to make
bpoecuobt put W thih uuu iutvtouhnko fioWb VI
the subject Of woman's franchise, to demand her
privileges and establish her rights,
Mrs. Julia A. Holmes was invited 10 address
the meeting.
Mrs. Holmes said, that she appeared as the
representative Of one half Of the governed,
pleading for civil rights which the laws deny
them, not because they are not human beings,
but because they arc women. She claimed
equal interest with all persons In the sacrifices
made by the martyrs Of American liberty in
1T76, who died for the rights Of human nature,
not tho rights Of the white man, nor even Of
manhood. Through years Of the seyerest trial
they established this republic on principles for
which they had been contending, that all just
govsrnmsnts are founded on the consent Of the
governed, and that taxation and representation
are inssparable. For James Madison had said:
"Lst II be remembered that II has been the
pride and boast Of America that the rights for
which she has oontended were the rights Of
hunian nature. By tho blessing Of the Author
Of these rights, they have triumphed over all
opposition, and now form tie basis of thirteen
inaspendsnt States!" Yet my friends, the rights
Of human nature Of one-half Of the race In this
republic have been for nearly one hundred years
trsmplsd upon without mercy.
She declared that the ballot Is the only guar.
antee by which their rights az citizens can bo
secured, and that man degrades his manhood by
dspriying woman Of her rights. Voting Is nsoes.
sary for woman's intellectual and moral develop.
ment, and to the advancement Of the human race
in civilization and Christianity, dependent in SO
great measure on the influence Of woman. 1t
ID necessary to secure adequate protection before
tho law the control Of their property, the guar.
dianlhip Of their children, and the only sufficient
remedy for the unequal compensation which
woman receives for labor. Our late war, though
ffaught with so much misery, had been Of this
advantage TO women: that II had compelled her
to assume responsibilities In order that she might
send husbands and brothers to the war She
oited numerous instances OF the energy displayed
by heroic women, In the cultivation Of farms and
other employments, to enable loved ones TO brave
death for their country's sake. She said that
within the last four years twenty thousand women
had entered printing Offices, and she was glad to
know that men Of position and influence were
beginning to appreciate the immense Importance
OF the tabor question as applied to women. The
yico president Of the Universal Franchise Asso.
citation, who resides In Paris France, has adopted
AZ life.work an attempt to provide light out.
door employment to those suffering women who
work in cities at unrsmunsratiye sewing.
From Mr., Thsddsus Hyatts great bsnsvolsncs