The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-02-05

| Ia for Its interest to hound them down VII
circuit courts, and fines and penalties, II
gives them these. Year after year We have
been to Congress, asking the Republicans in
power to declare that these amendments
| mean what they say, but they have not the
courage to say they mean it or don't mean
it. And now to get rid of political respon-
| sibility in the matter, they take advantage
of my little ballot. Diner women have
voted in ether states, but no one arrested
| them. But two or three weeks after | had
| deposited my ballot, and was rejoicing over
it, feeling that We had got precedent,
the marshal appeared and arrested me.
After / had stumped Monroe county,
| nc jury could be made 10 bring in viIdc CT
| of guilty. This would mt do, ss there YVES
| a certain end to be achieved, therefore the
| case must no, be tried in Monroe county, but
must be moved over into Csnandaigua. At
| ter q time, information came that the SUI
preme Judge OF the United States would pro-
vide. When We got there they went through
the farce of having jury empaneled, and
hearing the testimony. When the time came
for my counsel to make an argument, he
| was going forward to state the facts in the
case when the court stopped him and said
| they didn't wish to hear any more. When
| my counsel asked to address the jury, he was
denied the right. II was just as evident to
Judge Hunt that the jury would no, bring in
| a verdict OF guilty, ~ it was to everybody
| else. Those twelve men knew had voted
honest ly-not illegally; they knew had de-
posted legal vote, and that had on my
side many Of the wisest and most sagacious
lawyers Of the country; that had the abl {
constitutional arguments of Longhridge and
| Butler proving nv right as a United States
| citizen, TO vote. Therefore there was but one
way to settle this question; and put down this
demand OF the women of the country, and
that was by taking it out of the hands of the
| jury. Ii was happy way of relieving the
| party of this question. and it would be so
easy TO dispose of il ever after BY simply say
| ing that Judge Hunt had decided il. And
all that the Republican party would have to
| say to women when knocking at the doors OF
| Congress would be; il is decided by Judge
Hunt that women can't vote, and it il your
| business TO apply for Sixteenth Amend
| ment, and work with petitions for the next
half a century. Work upon members OF
| Congress and educate them up to your ideas;
and then go into the SO Legislatures of
| the Union and educate them up to the
| grand i6ea of giving women the right I, vote
This ia the pleasant little programme they
have laid down for disposing of the women
| and getting this question out of politics. But
IMAM proposes and God disposes" We still
claim our right TO vote. Ii ia "a thoroughly
guaranteed a. that of any citizen in the
United States. | mean to present my
ballet in the Eighth Ward OF Rochester,
whenever l am there to do SO. When the
Judge pronounced his verdict, there
was surprise among all the members of the
bar in the house. OF course there was an
appeal made by my counsel tor new trial,
which was denied. Judge Hunts decision
was final, and ! could make no appeal. In
pronouncing the verdict, he asked the usual
question elias the prisoner any thing to
-ay why sentence should not be pronounc-
ed?" al said. "Yes, your honor, have
many things to say. All my rights, civil,
judicial and Political, have been stricken
down by your order"
Said he: "Madam, the court cannot lister
to argument
said: IL am not going to make an argu-
ment. You asked for my reasons why ser
tence should not be pronounced"
And for fifteen minuies, Judge Hunt and
had about "a close time in seeing which
ever witnessed. The Judge ordered the
prisoner to sit down. -
said: This il the only court OF Justice p
in which either myself or anyone belonging
TO nv degraded, di.franchisei class, ever
bad chance TO siy a word IN her own de-
fense am not allowed trial by jury OF
my peers; and worse than that, no jury of
any Kind is allowed to render a verdict in
my Gaze. You, my political sovereign, sit
there TO pass Judgment upon me. and pro-
nounce me guilty."
He said: Miss Anthony, YOU have been
tried according to the constitution ard the
laws
"Yes," -sid, ''and your laws are man.
made. Your laws are int-rpre ed by men,
and all for the bensii of men. don't pro-
pose to be governed by such laws. i viola
ted your laws in the old -lavery times, by
giving cup OF cold water or nights lodg-
ing to slave; and go help NE God, l will
continue u violate those laws which bear
equally hard on women. l had hoped to
gst justice at your hands, but failing in that,
| ak not leniency, but shall fight out this
battle to the end"
The Judge again said: "Sit down" And
|, having said all wanted to, sat down.
He then pronounced my ssnteuce-one hun
dred dollars fine and the costs. A a crimi
nal. suppose l ought ID hang my
head inshame; but l don't feel
a particle more like criminal
than did before. This whole prosecution
was merely dodge to get the Republican
party out of their disagreeble position where
they would have to speak one way or the
other on the woman question. They seized
upon the Case as a splendid opportunity to
throw the whole burden on the courts.
After having asked several questions which
disturbed the court considerably, i said,
"May it please the court, l would like to
correct false impression arising from some
newspaper squib II the affect that when /
took the oath swore that was a male citi-
Zen and so must have perjured myself. Now
1 took no ouch oath, but simply took the
oath of United States citizen. "But,"
said the Judge, ''you voted as a woman. did
You not"
"Not at all, sir" l repiied;'T vo'ei as
a United 5 at - cit;z,n-no:hins isss-noih-
ing more" [AppIause.l
Miss Anthony was frequently apylauded
during her speech. She carried the audi
ence with her. But what audience would
not have been with her? He who ha.
right on his side generally carries the win
ming oar. The day will come when that
farce OF a trial and the pro4eeution Of an
American citiz fpr exercising her inalien-
able right, will b. held up to the scorn and
contempt OF the world.
A. | have given You full report OF Miss
An,hony's speech, | shall haze to make |,
short work Of the second day's proceedings
of the Convention.
Friday morning the ICE ting Wa opened
with prayer, by Mrs. Dr.. L1zi-r, OF New
York, and the audience singing ''Oiuiie ne,
o thou grsa; Jehovah" Mi. Phoebe Coz /.
zens OF 81 Louis, spoke on the petition 20 |
Congress snr the acknowledgements OF the .
women in h, Ds.i of G. IN nbia, aud was
followed BY Miss Anthony, WHO read a me- !
MORN! u Congress 10 remove the fine hang I
ing over her head. She said she did not 90 /
before Congress TO ask for a reversal OF
Judge Hunts decision betai-e she had com I
United any crime, but because she believed .
the women of the land owed it to them [
selves u express an opinion on this question. Z
Vice President Wilson was present ut the !.
morning ssssion, and game in his testimony
in favor Of woman's Acknowledgement. Mrs. |
Stanton red a couple Of resolutions de- !
Judge Hunts resolution. ard Mrs.
Blacke and Mrs Cozzins made short speeches, 4
also Frances Ellen Burr, OF Hartford. At .
the afternoon session resolution WA passed .
tending vote Of thanks to the Misses /
Smith, Of Glaston-burg, Conn. for their pat
riotic re-i-iance to the tyrany Of taxation /