New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-30
Z WANT TO VOTE.
The Memorial of Victoria G. Woo

The Memorial Of Victoria &. NCoGEusi
TO the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States in Congress as
sembled, respec tfally sh0weth:
That she was born in the State OF Ohio,
and is above the age Of twenty-on years !;
that she has resided in the State OF New
i ork during the past three years; that she
is still IA resident thereof, and that she is a
citizen Of the United States, as declared by
the fourteenth article of amendments to the
constitution Of the United States.
That since the adoption Of the fifteenth
article OF amendments To the constitution,
neither the State Of New York nor any
other State, nor any Territory, has passed
any law 10 abridge the right Of any, citizen
Of the United States to vote, as established
by said article neither on account of sex or
otherwise:
That. nevertheless, the right to vote is
denied to women citizens OF the United
States by the operation of election laws III
the several States and Territories, which
laws were enacted prior to the adoption of
the said fifteenth article, and which are in
consistent with the constitution "a amended,
and, therefore, are void and of no effect:
hut which, being still enforced by the said
States and Territories, render the cOnstitu-
ton imperative as regards the right o:
women citizens to vote.
And whereas, article six, section two, de-
clares that this constitution, and the laws
Of the United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made,
or which shall be made under the authority
of the United States, shall be the supreme
law Of the land; and all judges in every
State shall be bound thereby, anything in
the constitution and laws of any State to
the contrary notwithstanding"
And whereas. no distinction between citi-
zens ID made in the constitution OF the
United States Oh account of sex, but the
fourteenth article of amendments to it pro-
vdes that mo State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges
and inimunities OF the citizens" "nor deny
to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal prof ection NOT the laws"
Aud whereas, Congress has power to
make laws which shall be necessary and
proper for carrying into execution al, powers
vested by the constitution in the govern
ment Of the United States, and to make OF
alter all regulations in relation to holding
elections for Senators and representatives,
and especially to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions Of the said four
teenth article;
And whereas. the continuance of the en-
forcement Of said local election laws, deny
ing and abridging the right Of citizens to
vote on account OF sex, ia q grievance TO your
nnemorialist, and to various other persons,
citizens of the United States, being women
Therefore your memorialist would most
respectfully petition your honorable bodies
to make such laws as in the wisdom of Con
gress shall be necessary and proper fos
carrying into execution the right vested
by the constitution in the citizens of the
United States to vote, without regard tc
SEX. And your memorialist Will ever pray
VICTORIA C. WOODHULL
Dated New York city, December l9, 1870