The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-10-27
LETTER BROM MRS. GRIFFING.
WASHINGTON, d. c., I
Sept. 11th, 1871.

Sept. llth, 1871.
Mrs. \. ]. DUNIwAY, EDITOR OF THE NEW
NORTHWEST
Dear Madam Your name has been
proposed for Member of the National
Woman Suffrage Committee (headquar-
ters at Washington, ID. c. by our mu-
tual friend, Mrs. l.. DeForce Gordon. 1t
gives me great pleasure to invite your
cooperation with the Committee, and
shall be happy to hear at your earliest
convenience that you will accept the po-
sition.
Our position is probably known to
you, and is the simple outgrowth of a
rapidly developing public sentiment in
behalf of woman's political and civil
equality. From all parts of the country
the demand now comes for united ac-
tion, and, to secure this, fundamental
knowledge on this subject must be ex-
tended to those called upon to act-and
the Committee are straining every nerve
to put this whole argument in favor of
woman's voting, and the evidence that
she is now entitled TO vote under the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
to the Constitution, into the hands of all
who manifest any interest individually
or through a representative TO US.
What we ask of members of this Com
mittee is, help to organize committees or
societies-in their localities or in any
way most effective-tO circulate petit
tions asking for "a Declaratory Act'' of
| Congress, the coming session, that will
strike down the State laws that now,
contrary to the Supreme law of the land,
deny and "abridge" the right of wom-
an to exercise the rights of a citizen Of the
United States, which is the only him
drance to her exercise of the elective
franchise over the whole country to-day.
You will see how important is this
work. We send you blank petitions
Another part of our work, and not less
important, is the circulation and sale Oi
our publications and the collection OF
money therefrom, and by other means
to print tracts and bear current eX-
penses. Our Address to the Women OF
the United States" containing 4 pledge
and declaration of sentiment, invites all
women favoring the same to send theiI
names in autOgraph-that is, on a slip OF
on sheet with a page of names-ac-
eompanied with one dollar for printing
fund-the same to be placed in the great
National Autograph Book, which is al
ready nearly filled with the names OF
noble and lire iUOmcR-tO be kept in the
archives of the nation. If more than
one dollar can be spared, let it come
and to all such contributors we respond
with a History of the Movement for
twenty years, lately published by Mrs.
Paulina w. Davis. You will readily see
that this constitutes the bone and sinew
of our movement. Without it we can
not print and continue our educational
work-that is, without the money. Con-
tributiOns are of course solicited in any
and all ways, that may best please the
taste or suit the convenience of the mem
bers of the Committee-and by each
ones effort, though it may be of small
amount, We shall accomplish the work
we propose to do, and, trust, shall real
ize our hope of the speedy and peaceful
enfranchisement of woman.
1 have written quite explicitly to indi
, cate our programme of work, and hops
= soon to hear of your favorable decision
l and be able to forward you the sample:
4 of our cheap tracts and Constitutions
: arguments, and so feel the support O
YOUR strong arm in the State of Oregon
Most respectfully,
: J. :. GRIPPING, Sec'y.