The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-14

ty-hve eminent and representative
women of the State, was presented in
the House Of Representative recently
by Mr. John +. Fitzgerald, of Bos-
ton. After being read, il was referred TO
the Joint Special Committee on Woman
Suffrage.
THE WOMAN'S MEMORIAL.
To the Honorable Senate and House OF
Representatives Of the Commonwealth
Of MdssdchUsetts:-
We, the undersigned women, citizens
OF Massachusetts, possessing all the
qualifications now required of voters,
except that of sex, contributing our full
share to the wealth and prosperity of
Commonwealth, and entitled by the
theory of its government to an equal
voice in making the laws by which we
are governed, and in choosing the Off
GERS who execute them,-being unjustly
deprived of these inalienable rights
respectfully request your Honorable
Body TO do all in your power so to
amend the Constitution and laws as to
secure to US the exercise of our right of
Suffrage.
Immediately afterwards, the following
petition, signed by thirty-five eminent
and representative men of NIassachu-
sets, was presented by Hon. J. r. ID.
referred to the Joint Special Committee
on Woman Suffrage.
THE MEMS PETITION.
To the Honorable Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the Commonwealth
Of Massachusetts, IN General Court
assembled
We, the undersigned citizens and
qualified voters of the Commonwealth, 4
respectfully pray,
!. That you Will pass such an Amend /
ment to the Constitution, ~ be submit
ted to the people, as will enable women /
who are citizens of the Commonwealth, /
to vote at all elections, upon the same
terms as are prescribed in the case of
male citizens.
,. And also that you will enact such
laws as will enable women who are citi-
zens as aforesaid, to vote for all muni-
cipal and other officers, which they are
not prohibited from doing by the Con-
stitution Of the State.
8. And also that you will declare, by
a suitable Act, that women who are
citizens as aforesaid, may be elected or
appointed to any Office, in the same
manner as male citizens may be elected
or appointed to the same.
On the same day, the following Me-
mortal of the American Woman Suf-
frage Association was presented in the
Senate, by Hon. Isaac NJ. COe, of New
Bedford. 1t was also read, and referred
to the Joint Special Committee on
Woman Suffrage.
MEMORIAL OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Of the State Of MasSdcb1EsettS:-
The American Woman Suffrage As
sociation respectfully represents:
!. That, Whereas, the lst section OF
the Cd article of the Constitution of the
United States expressly provides that
leach State shall appoint, in such man
ner as the Legislature thereof may di-
rect, the electors for President and Vice
President"
And, Whereas, women are now un-
justly excluded from any participation
in the election of these highest officers
of the nation:
We, therefore respectfully pray your
Honorable bodies that you will exercise
the authority thus vested in you by the
Federal Constitution, and enact a law
comforting suffrage upon women who
are citizens of the United States, and of
the State of Massachusetts, in future
Presidential elections, upon the same
terms and conditions as men.
And we further respectfully repre-
sent:
>. That, Whereas, the Constitutions
of many of the States contain no restric-
ton upon the exercise of suffrage by
women, in regard to the election of GER
tain State County, Town and Munich
pal officers; we, therefore, respectfully
pray, that YOU will enact law, abolish
ing all political distinctions on account
of sex, except where the same are ex-
pressly contained in the present Consti-
tuition of your State.
And we further respectfully repre-
sent:
3. That, Whereas, the Constitution OF
the State of Massachusetts restricts SUI
frage for certain officers to men alone,
therefore we respectfully pray your
Honorable Bodies to take the necessary
steps to amend the State Constitution
so as 10 abolish hereafter all political
distinctions on account of sex.
This memorial is presented in accord
ance with a resolution adopted at the
annual meeting of said American Wom-
an Suffrage Association, held in st.
Louis on the odd day of November A.
d. 1872, composed of delegates from
auxiliary State societies.
THos. WENTWORTH HIGGINsON,
President.
LUCY STONE, Chairman Ex. Com.
HENRY Il. BLACKWELL, Cor. Sec.
MARY GREY, Rec. Sec.
The Joint Special Committee. having
the subject thus brought pointedIv he.
fore them, appointed Legislative hear.
ing in the Representatives Hall. which
on motion of William b. Stone. of IVES
Brookfield, was granted by four-fiftb,
vote.
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