Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-15
B. B y: Batter francis Miller, and Mrs. Holmes
eKN. BUFFERS LETTER.

went further ont OF my way in this reg ard hay-
ing giving evidence that l am most strongly
committed TO the legality, prepriety and Justice
Of giving the ballot to woman. do not soc
how can add anything to 1t by appearing on
may come before me as a member of Congress.
and do not think my sense of propriety would
over-oalance such considerations. HopIng tn AZ
your cause may succeed, 4 have the honor to
be, very truly yours, BEN. f. BvrLER,
| NUS SESoR y. AptiOuy,
Mics Anthony then stated the
! CREED OF THE suFPRAGrsTs,
one clause OF which was that woman should get
her ballot into the bsllot.box wherever she can
md judge of election who will receive it; an
erty on which a tax Is assessed should refuse to
pay 1t, unless she has right to vote.
| PETITION . CONGRESS-.
! Miss Susan b. Anthony and others presented
petition for signers, which they propose lay
| ing before Congress. 1t sets forth that women
have been denied a hearing as to their polite al
| rights, at the bar of the Senate and the House,
they being entirely unrepresented there in tn at
| they have no voice In the choice Of mem bers TO
either body, although constituting one half the
| people of the United States, recognized by the
| Declaration of Indepe ndence and the Constitu-
| ton IS the only source of power, and one half
! the governed, whose consent is necessary TO all
| Just governments. Women are still subjected
| % many wrongs. among which is taxation with
out representation. They pray the honorable
| bodies to pass law that shall exempt women
| from taxation for national purposes, so long as
cils.
MES. SPENCER ON WoMAN's sCFFRAGEI THIS
DISTRICT.
Mrs. Sara j. Spencer was then introdu ced
I and delivered An eloquent address on W roman
suffrage, and particularly on the duty of Con
gress to give the women of this District and the
territories the right to vote by legislate enact
ment.
Mrs. Spencer then read form of a petition
which is to be presented to Congress by the
women of this District. 1t sets forth that
whereas the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia. in the case of the Board of Registra-
and hGt No.
decided that by the operation of the first sec
ton of the fourteenth amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States, women have
been advanced to full citizenship aud clothed
with the capacity to become voters" and has
also decided that said section Of the fourteenth
amendment does not execute itself, but re
quires the supervention of legislative power in
the exercise of legislative discretion to give il
effect, and Congress having exclusive jurlsdic-
ton over the District of Columbia, therefore
we respectfully pray your honorable body for
the passage OF an act amending the act entitled
an act to provide q government for the District
OF Columbia, approved Feb. n, 1871, by striking
the word male" from the seventh section OF
said act, thus placing the constitutional rights
OF the women of this District as declared by
the highest judicial tribunal under the protec-
ton OF the legislative power"
Mrs. Spencer stated that Gen. Butler had
promised to present the memorial of the women
sutfragists of this District, and to prepare a bill
IN accordance Herewith to submit to Congress,
and that on Tuesday next they would have a
hearing before the Committee on the judiciary,
ana nave an opportunity to speak in behalf of
the cause.
ADDRESS BY MRS. GAGE.
Mrs. Anthony then introduced Mrs Matilda
,Ioeelyn Gage, of Fayetteville, n. Y, who spoke
IN behalf OF the cause, rehearsing in brief the
action which has been taken by state legisla-
lures in reference to universal suffrage, aud
that wherever such suffrage had been granted
the public sentiment had undergone a raiical
change az to the eXpedi ency OF woman suffrage
the male citizens in almost all cases acknoWI-
edging its justice and its beneficial influence on
public morals. She alluded TO the part that
women were taking in the grange movement,
and stated that their power would soon be fell
in that direction; that the grange movement
was political move entirely, which would soon
be seen. Other political organizations were
being formed among the mechanics and arti-
sans OF the country, in which the power of
women would be felt.
Mrs. Gage spoke of the attention the subject
OF woman suffrage was receiving in other cOuu-
tries. In Australia women are allowed TO vote
and in other countries the question OF granting
and jurists She claimed that woman's invent
i've genius was superior to that of man; that
some OF the most valuable inventions dscOy-
cred in the past decade were by women but in
general their husbands get the credit and bene-
lit OF their brains. Patents were generally
issued to their husbands. She alluded to the
recent meeting of the Evangelical Alliance in
New York. when the question was discussed of
the propriety Of admitting women to member
ship and allowing them to take part, when IL
was decided that the men must maintain their
supremacy over the women. The men cheered
and the women Kissed, and the general senti-
ment wes in favor OF the women. She pre-
dicted that the time was not far distant when
women shall have equal rights with men.
COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED.
Miss Anthony announced Mrs Elizabeth Ca
a 2g Stanton Matilda u Joselyn Gage, Belva A.
Davis as the committee on resolutions.
Committee on Finance-Mrs. L. d. Blake,
Mrs. ;; j. Spencer, Mrs Jennie Jewell, Myrs
,. Johns, and Mrs. O'OOnnor.
VIEWS OF MRS. BLAKE.
The chair introduced Mrs. Lille Devereux
Blake, OF New York, who commenced by read
ing paragraph clipped from the EVENING
STAR few nights since, on the subject OF the
numerous memorials presented to Congress by
the women, praying Congressional action; She
expressed the hope that such efforts would be
continued to be made, as it was only by persist
ence that their rights could be secured. To all
such men as say that the women in general do
no, want the right to vote, all she would say is,
"Try u.s."
VIEWS OF MRS. STANTON,
The next speaker was Mrs. Stanton, who said
It was their desire to have the house filled every
day while the convention sits. 1t is their de-
sire to disseminate their doctrines among the
women OF this District. As to the question
whether women desire to have the ballot all
they want is to have the word 80 male" struck
from the constitution. The women desire to aid
In building up great and grand republic, and
to reform many Of the stupendous errors now
creeping into our system of government She
alluded to the frequent and enormous frauds
Perpetrated on the Treasury of the United
Ca
said that women must purify the different de-
partments of the government. Congress is now
busy in the consideration OF the civil rights
bill for the colOred men. Are the col
ored men OF so much greater impor-
lance than the wives and daughters of
white male citizens? IL is high time
mat Congress was considering the question OF
civil rights for the women. She recited the
haTCships women are constantly suffering in
consequence OF the laws Of the land. What she
wants Is to have a civn rights bill giving the
same rights TO women as to men; open the col
leges, the different Institutions of learning in
the country, and let the women have an equal
chance with them. Why shall the colored men
have more rights and privileges than white
women? Englishmen, Irishmen, Germans aud
even negroes, can make the laws for u.s. and
women are not willing to submit to it any
longer. ANY white woman who is willing to let
the lowest type OF Europeans make laws for US
Is not worthy OF the name of woman. CAp-
plause.
AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS.
Miss Susan Il. Anthony made an appeal to
the rich men present for funds to pay the ex-
penses OF the convention, 30 that all the depart
ment clerks and all the school teachers in the
District-whO, she had heard had not received
any pay for some months past-could come free
OF charge: They wish to have the convention
crowded daily.
DEVOTED sON-INLAw.
The Chair announced MIR. Edward NJ. Davis
son-in-law OF Mrs. Lucretia Mott. who came
forward and stated that he felt honored by
hptpR III 10 nfo o@rGo