New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-24
SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN.
ADDRESS or ELIZABETH CADY STANTON IN BEHALF
OF TIE AMERICAN EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF TN STATE 81 NV
.Df-

ALBANY, Jan. 23-1his afternoon the Assembly
Chamber was crowded with Indies and gentlemen. TO
hear Mrs. stantOns and Miss Anthony appeal to the
Judiciary Committees of the Senate and Assembly
Mrs Stanton read her address in clear and effective
tone and many OF It's passages were appauded. The
following are the main portions Of Mrs ctautons adj
dress:
GENTLEMEN or TIFF JUDICIARY I appear before
You this time to urge you the justice Of securing To-
all the people Of the State the right vote for delegates
TO the coming Constitutional Convention The discussion
OF this right involves tho consideration Of the whole
question Of suffrage and especially those sections OF your
Constitution which interposc insurmounlanie quuluC-
tons TO its exercise. A. representatives OF the people
your !gtL 10 re n4tS Hm ''. ' Cor ynh
constitutional convention Is Uhsolnte- IL }, Ior 3vu
10 say when and where tins Convention shall De held,
classes shall be represented This j. yOur right.
The actions ~ the Legislatures Of 1901 ana ISL furnish
right 10 vote Tor Delegates 10 Constitutional Convention
Before those Conventions were called thc rght OF si
possessed freehold 20 the value of e2o, or rented
tenement at the yearly value of 40 shhngs ana had
been rated and actually paid taxes ~ he state and yet
the cgsatures of those years passed laws setting aside
al property limitations, ana providing thai al men,
black and while rich and poor should vote Tor delegates
Ia said Conventions. See Session Laws % 1851, page l90
cbaper 60 section q also those Of 1871 page S. 90
sections l aud 6. The constitutional Convention OF
mower Of te Legislature To extend the suffrage dis
fanChised classes The dsfranchsement Of any class OF
citizens IS in press violation of the spirit OF our own
constitution Which saws Ar. ], section !: 40 mem
her of ts state shall disanchsed, deprived OF any
of the r, or privileges secured To any citizen thereof
unless by the law Of the land and the judgment Of me
peers" Now women, aud negroes not worth $50
however weak and insignificant, are surely mem ~
EQUALITY The question o. G ,aSmGnt nal
their peers peer is an equal The white male cltzeh
who pompously parades himself ~ at ON codc7 ana
constitutions does not recognize women ana hegLo.s ~
Bis equals therefore his Judgment III ttit case amounts
20 nothing: aud women and negroes constituting uice
nm, OF Inc people 0i 5e t S ,9 I i rcr M , oT
republican theory that the majority governs women aud
state aud being taxed should be represented.
"Whlte males" the nobility OF TINS country IhDl
the privileged order, VINO have cgsaitd IL ln'lB
flr women and have the mobiles o England Tor
their DISTINGUISHED classes The existence Of thc English
cannot legislar for another Perhaps n may hc ncces
sary, IN tbi transition period OF our CIVILIZATION lo cnIte
q Lower HOuso fur women aud negroes, lest the dreadful
example OF Massachusett, should Zoe repeated here au9
black men take Their places beside our pu tG.
n ~ } o1 ,,not islet. MIN Justice for on,
another how car YOU honorable lcutD l'g slate Tor
women and negroes whom, by your customs crcd- ANA
codes ana common consent placed under The ban OF
inferoritvl II Won dislike this of the and
claim that woman T. your superior and thcriorr [ou
place her above all troublesome legislation tn sci9 he
by your protecting from the rough winds or He
have amply 10 say your statuehooe att snu i nm
meutary on this position your laW5 arsi", rainier tial
cxalt woman your custom. Cripple lithg! tiAu IIee
your System Of taxation Is alike enrioN arg 'gn1i
IN demanding surag' ioi ne hht. ih'n 81 .h, 'u'l'
tho dominant party recognizes Che Tact That a. il,ed
man, he 7 no longer pai or lh, iaiu lhls.iDI, n
now be liable to taxation hc must also have representa-
the contrary las l'ti niitll Nit
of the family rs to escap, taxation Alllonh9 ISie me
been no formal proclamation giving htl nn ihoN
istenco unmarried women have always hnd me Eh' 9"
IN their own name ana even MARI ~ women %! recent
rights A. least well secured a. thos. classes can DE
who do not hold tie ballot o. their own hands woman
now holdsa vast amount ~ property Boo the country ANA
paws her full proportion OF taxes. Itvcu. Included; ou
what principle then, do you deny h'r r,li u',ohl ~
you eay women virtually represented hF 90, men
o. 'ITil 1 . on tons Ris, n tr NNXINr Ton.
trrfa- UtIff Il f.II
phrase virtual representation was known n iHN "r
constitution. Il b. altogether sl'Hcy sId Musonr
10y an, surh phantom or amy other ic 'n or 1N or poll
s, ~ ~ 't ti'"n sfot Io.i to say.
Tho supreme power cnnio lhe nom Ah mum any pit
~ his property without NE consent ih 30" on ny Itt
scnutOn Taxes arr not Go Doe lnd or i' people aft not
Who represented appelrs O." inc Z" deprive them
continued sccr- bc egec AN entire d franchise
mcnt OF every OWL night Tor ST. Iii ''' ''- iNht l'
from him without his consent" Ia view ~ s1rl opin-
ions too much o. as The ineu OF hcV lo either ."
cufrarrhl-, women ~ wealth and clu.r'ou ol clse &c.
lease them from taXutOni II we cannot bo represented
a. indly dul's Nc .uoI9 i3 } ~. 49,. , ON i'' h
he taxes. There g. % logic SO powerful 90 opening tie
ewes az nc 10 THEN real Interests direct appeal To-
ported by yom constitution To- ara . sec l. you
say And no person ~ color shall be subject % direct
taxation uncs- nc shall Boz seized and possessed o. such
real estate Aforesaid" referring tothc $40 qualification
Nov o. poor widow who owns Tot worth So on los, l-
taxed Way this pariality 10 me black n.ani
lie may i've in the quiet possession Of tis
Il il on tho GROUND u color scy that tho black
finds greater favor IN tbc eyes OF ne law than ~ dang
ters Of the state3 IN order fully to understand s par
TALLY nave inquired into youG practice with regard 10
colorcd women. fd thht IN Seecca f"is there i've
highly csilmahc colortd woman by tlc hai' 81 AO'i
G0inorc She owns property 10 the amount OF 5000 II
paid from tho time sho Invested her tsi No the samr
taxes that any other citizen paid iai m proportion "a inc
yaluo OF hcr property orBs 10 il ASSESSED Aftor oNcuu-
prc-entat ou your Constitution tells us what other per
s sons arc oHioI ma, yi be- bo eTn o The ris
OF suffrage oil persona who have been OF may DC con
ana fr deprivlng every person who shall mako OF become
directly OF indirectly interested IN any bet or wager de
vote al such election" How hupillatngl for
respectable, lav-abding women aud 81 men oi Color
consideration with those convicted Of bribery larceny
bet on elections for how lost 10 ali o. honor must
that white male citizen" he who publicly violates a
WAC law 10 which he has himself given intelligent con
sent We are ashamed. honored sirs OF our company.
The Mahomedsn iorbhis fool malmal'ol q woman
10 call the hour prayers. II IL not FOR the lnydi
Ous classification might hope was tenderness rather
than contempt that moved the Maiomrdah 10 eAe9re
wcman from so severe duty But for the ballot, when
falls like a flake OF snow upon the sod We can ma u"
such excuse for New York Legislators. Article section
g. should he read and considered 10y thc women OF ls
surroundings OF some " the privileged Glasses OF Wie
male citizens" who may go 20 th' polia, io eo p ud
pose OF voting no person shall be deemed To nave ga'u
OF lost residence by reason OF Ms presence OF aps,,
while employed n the service OF inc lnieu 9tu,c no
while engaged IN navigating The waters oi llt nla 10
the United States or the hgh seas nor Wt hlueh'
OF seminary OF learning nor while kept ~ any aims
house ether nsyum, AZ public expense nor WlH con
fined in any public prison" what speatube piVi
lego to have that precious iowc-thc human SOU IN
setting OF rLe manhood, that thus 1t can pass tmogh
thc prisou the Asvum the Aims House, the muddy waters
OF the Erie Canal, and come forth undmmed o appear
the baOtbOX AZ the earliest opportunity there 10 DuY
its crimes its poverty, it, moral and physical deiornhes
all beneath the rights, privileges, ana imnlintcs o
citizen Of the state just imagine me motley ere" from
the 10000 dens of poverty and vice IN our large cities
lmping raying, cinging, staggering up To the pohs,
while the loyal mothers OF million soldiers whose bOt
lay bleaching every Southern plain stand outside 5iu