Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-06-28

4
dOns IN the case cf the women of this repub
lie, Without 9 direct violation of the funda
mental law Of the land. AS you hold tn
construction of The fathers TO be a sacr,
legacy TO Us and our children forever, we ash
you to so interpret that magma charter o
human tlgnts as 70 secure ustice and equality
70 all while STATE citizens, irrespective o
sex. We desire to call your attention 20 thu
violation OF the essential principle of Staft
government In the disfranchisement of the
women OF Tie several States. and we appeal
TO you not only because as a minority you are
in position TO consider the principle, bui
oeeaase because Son y, were were the party hrst to extend
ton from All. While you were thus maxi np
the political status of the richest and the
pooress citizen the same, that act of Justice 10
the laboring masses Insured your power with
but few interruptions till the war When the
Di trfct OF Cclumbia sufgiage bill was under
discussion In lso6, IL was a democratic Senator
| (Mr. Cowan, of Pennsylvania who proposed
| TO strike out the word finale" and
thus extend the right of suffrage 70
| the women as well as the black men
| OF the district. That am endment gave us a
| splendid discussion on woman suffrage that
lasted three days in the senate of the United
| States II was a Democratic legislature that
| secured the right of suffrage to the women of
| WgomlnsI and we now ask yonr national
| convention TO pledge the Democratic party 20
extend this act of Justice to the women
| throughout tbs nation, and thus call to your
] side new poi4 tcsl force that win restore and
| perEesnate 8 al power for years to come. The
Platform in 1872 pledging themselves TO a re-
specIut consioeration OF our demands. but by
| their constitutional interpretations, legtsia-
| tive enactments and tudicisl decisions, so lar
| from redeeming their pledges they have
buried our petitions and appeals under laws
IN direct opposition to their high-sounding
prom ises and professions and now, in 1876
theS give us another plank in their platform
approving the substantial advance made to-
ward the estab. .ishment of rights to woman, ,
cunntngly reminding us thai the privileges
ana immuntues We enjoy are due to Republi-
can legislation, although under q Republican
dynasty inspectors of elections have been ar
restel for taking the votes of women; tenn
perance women ARE ted and impris-
oned for praying in the streets; houses,
lands, bonds and stocks of women seized
ana sold for their refusal TO pay
unjust taxation, and, more than all, we havs
TINS singular spectacle of Republican wo-
man, VINO had spoken for the Republican par
ty throughout the last Presidential campaign
arrested by Republican officer for voting the
Republican ticket, denied the right of trial by
Jury bs Republican Judge, convicted and
sentenced to a fine of one hundred dollars
and COS IS Of prosecu ion, and al this for as
serttng at the polls the most sacred o a the
rights OF American c.tizenship-the right OF
suffrage, specifically secured by the recent
Republican amendments to the Federal con-
ttnqtlon against the supreme court of the
United states. By the recent decision in the
Minor Happersals case, Whereby that court
has stultlded its own Interpretation of Gonsti-
tutlona! law, negro, by virtue of his United
States cit zenship, is declared, U ulder the re-
cent amendments, voter in every State in
the United States; but, when woman, by
virtue of her United States citizenship, ap-
plies TO the supreme court of the United States
for protection in the exercise OF the same
right, she is remanded TO the State courts by
the unanimous decision of the nine judges on
the bench. The constitution of the United
States does coufer the right of suffrage on aDy
one. All concessions of pr vileges, or redress
of grievances, are merely for any class that
has no voice in making the laws or electiDg
the lawmakers. Hence We demand the bali
iot-that scepter of pOWer-in our own
hands, as the oniy sure protection
for our rights OF person and of
property under all conditions. If the few may
grant or withhold rights at their pleasure, the
many cannot be said to enjoy the blessings OF
self-government Mr.. Jefferson said that the
God who gave us lie gave us liberty at the
same tiIne The bond of force may de1troy
but cannot disjoin them, While the first and
highest motive we would urge on you is the
recognition in all your actions OF the great
principles of justice and equality that under
lie our form Of government, it is not un.
worthy to remind you that the party which
taxes this onward step VIII reap its just re-
ward. Had you needed our appeals made to
you at TanmanY hall in New York, in 1858,
and agaltI in Baltimore in 1872, your party
might now have been in power, as you would
have had what neither party can boast to.
day-a 1--we issue ON which to arouse the en-
thusiasm of the people. Reform is the watch
word of the hour, but ow can we hope for
honor and honesty in either party, in minor
matters, so long as both consent to lob one
nall the people-their own mothers, sisters,
wives and daRs Rshters--Of their most sacred
rights? AS a party you defended the right of
selfgovernment in Louisiona, ably and elo.
quentl, duiing the last Tession OF congress.
Are the rights of women in all the southern
states, whose slaves are now their rulers less
sacred Than those of the men OF louisiana?
The whole art Of government" !" says Jeffer-
son, consist in being honest" IL needs but
little observation 10 see that the tide of pro-
gross iu all co3ntfios is setting toward the
enamel patton sal en fran n fssment of vyo-
men. And this step in civilization Is 60 be
taken in our day and generation. Whether
the Democratic party will take the iniatory
in this reform, ana reap the glory of crowning
fifteen million women with the rights OF
Araaa f11nr r,-kni Ha,nf
our theory OF self lfgovernment, is the moment
GUS question We ask you to decide in this
e' entful hour, ai we round cut the first cent
ury of our national lille.
President, Elizabeth Ca1y Stanton; chair
man executive committee, MstiIdA Joslyn
Gage; CORE Ponding secretary, Susan B.
Anthony.
Accompanying this address was the
following plank for the Democratic plat.
form:
WHEREAS, The Democratic party was the
first to abolish the property qualification and
extend the right OF saffrag5 TO all white men
OF The older States; snd,
WHEREAS, 1t was a Democratic legislature
that extended the right OF suffrage to the wo-
men of Wyoming; therefore,
Resolved That we plsdge ourselves to secure
tie right of suffrage to the women Of the
United States on equal terms with men.
The Chair-Gne Convention has heard
the.memOrial, and The chair will enter
tain motion as to what disposition it
will make OF it.
M'ClerDsnd [IlLl-I move that
the memorial be referred to the commit
tee on resolutions, for their respectful
consideration.
The Chair Without objection is
raised, the resolution will be referred,
under the rule, as moved by the gentle
man from Illinois.
The Chair-Tne secretary Of the con-
l. Ill
and as each State Is called the chair
man Of its delegation will send the name
Of the delegate appointed upon the COM
mittee on resolutions, to the secretary.
The secretary then called the roll for
the appointment Of a committee on res
olutiOns, with the following result:
Alabama, Leroy P. Walker; Arkansas, l..
V. Mangum; California, John &. Hagar;
Colorado, F. J. Marshall; Connecticut.
R; D; Hubbard; Delaware, George Gray;
P. Howell; Illinois, John A. M,Cler-
nand: Ind ana, D. w. VOORHEES,; I5wa,
b. b. Trimble; Kansas, Thomas l.. Davis;
Mann; Maine, D, u. Hastings; Maryland,
George Fresnor; Massachusetts,, Edward
avery; Michigan, William L. Bancroit; MIN Min
ton, Missouri, c. II. Harden; Nebraska.
George L. Me1len; Nevada, a. G. Ellis; New
HAMPSHIRE e. C. Barley; New Jersey James
-
North Carolina, Thomas l.. Clergyman; Ohio,
General Thomas Ewing; Oregon, NJ. V.
Brown; Pennsylvania, Malcolm Hay; Rhode
land, William 3. Bead; South Carolina,
Samuel MGowan; Tennessee, John Z.
Brown; Texas, Ashbel Smith; Vermont,
James q. Williams; Virginia, John A. Mere
dith: West Virginia, John J. Davis; Wiscon-
sin, Alexander Mitchell.
The following resolution, offered by
S. s. Hayes, of Illinois, was referred to
the committee on resolutions without
being read to the convention:
Resolusi, That, with a frankness aud
candor TO be expected of great
party coevai with the Republic.
truth and justice, We declare our opposition
first, to further increase OF the public debt
and of the deman5 no es of the go Ternmsnt,
which should be restrained by constitutional
amendments. SeconU, the interference with
the operations OF the laws Of trade by legisla-
tive favors to any class or by reckless changes
in the measures OF value. Third, to the re-
sumption clause of the act of 1875. which
eu biectS the country to years OF paralizing
and depression without the hope OF any good
result, an threatens the destruction of our
industries and the ruin Of our people. Its i'm
mediate repeal IS demanded by every consid-
eration OF sound policy. We also declare in
favor of the strict maintainanee OF public
| faith, and the payment OF all our oOl cations
according to law and the pledges we have
| made to our creditors. Fourth, an early re-
| turn to the specie standard, by providing for
| the redemption in cola or coin bonds of our
| demand notes with the proper provisions for
| their reissue. Fifth, the continuance of our
lesal.te ader laws and of the volume of our
| national currency, without imitation or con-
| traction, leaving our merchants, manufacture
| ers and labOT5Ts free TO prosecute their lawful
1 nf AMIR 70