The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-18
Appeal to Women Citizens Of the United
States.

By the unwearied efforts Of a few ear
3 nest women, we already number thirty
I years Of agitation on the question Of
wOman's enfranchisement, and fourteen
years Of persistent petitioning Congress
! for National protection against the
/ tyranny Of state action. While our de-
mands have not vet achieved political
equality, they have secured larger Op-
portunities FOR woman in education, in
dustry, art, science, literature and the
I professions more humane legislation
l in regard to her social and civil rights,
rs wife, mother, widow; and an iucreas-
ing respect for the right that includes
all otheTs-ihe right to vote.
The 40 600 votes for Woman Suffrage
i'm Michigan; the 900 in Kansas; the
6. 666 In Colorado the large minority
votes in many Of the State Legislatures
in favor Of submitting the question
the 26.f6S in Minnesota in favor Of
won ans voting on temperance the
rif ht to vote on the schools already
granted, and women actually voting
thereon in Kansas, Michigan, Mime
50 a. Colorado, California, Oregon, New
Hampshire and Massachusetts the
Minnesota Legislature at its last session
passing a resolution urging Congress To
submit a Sixteenth Amendment for
ment Of women in Wyoming and Utah
all these facts show that the best
classes Of men are in favor Of equal
rights for women, while the ignorant,
aud especially the vicious, are bitter Op-
poneuts.
The discussion In Congress on the bill
10 admit women To practice ia the Su-
preme Court OF the United States, and
It's passage in both Houses by over
whelming majorities, lead naturally To
the conclusion that, II woman may
plead "A case involving important inter
ests between man and man before the
highest Judicial tribunal, It is absurd 10
deny her the right to vote on the closing
of a dram shop or the opening Of town
pump.
The large number of petitions and ap- I
peais from women for acknowledgements I
during the Forty Fifth Congress speak /
for themselves on the pages Of the Con- .
grcSsiOHai Record, aud SO, too, do the .
majority aud minority reports of "the 4
Senate Committee on Privileges aud /
Elections - and in coming years the
six Senator'S who voted against political
freedom for women will look upon their
action with regret, while thnse who
iu our demands the coustitu-
tioual rights % United States citizen,
though represented in . womau's form,
VIII congratulate themselves that, in
liberty for her, they
strengthened the hoLds Of Union for all
The Forty-SiXth Congress contains an
large proportion Of new rep
reseutatives, fresh from the people,
ready for the discussion OF new issues,
who have already manifested Just
spirit in the consideration Of the re
peated appeals Of women citizens
On Tuesday, April 29th, the following
resolution was submitted 10 the Com
mittec on Rules" in the House: Re
'Oired, That a select committee Of nine
members be appointed hy the Speaker,
20 be called "Ihe Committee on the
Rights Of Women Citizens" whose
iuiy 90 shall be to consider and report
All petitions, memorials, resolutions aud
bills relating o. the rights Of women.
Admitting the Justice Of full and
air consideration of a question invOlv-
ng every right aud privilege of one half
he population of the country, major
ty uf this most important committee,
Alex. II. Stephens of Ga, James \
Garfield uf Ohio, WIN p FRYE Of Me,
declared themselves in favor Of the ap- |
continent Of said committee, and
Speaker Randall. Chairman, ordered it &
To the House, where it l. now =
pending \ similar resolution will be
introduced in the Senate at the opening D
if the regular session in December G
Tins propositions marks an era in our d
civilization. lt t. the first lime in our
experience as nation that il has been
10 appoint "A standing commit
zee To look after the special rights of
woman. Aud yet the record Of Congress
'or century is a history Of national 5
legislation on the rights Of man.
Political parties have each in turn de-
nauded national protection for the 8
measures they deemed sacred. The F,
Missouri Compromise OF 1920, its repeal
IN 1871. the Fugitive Slave Act Of 1850,
and all the national legislation 10 pre- 4
serve slavery, were so many successive Z
steps toward union, protecting the
right Of property in man, and empower
ng the master TO hold aud recover that
property everywhere under the national
lag
Since the war the spirit Of national {
legislation has been reversed. The I
Thirteenth Amendment Of 1860 abolish
ing slavery, the Fourteenth Of 1867 de-
lining citizen, the Fifteenth Of 1870 Sc
curing United States citizens in their
right 10 vote, are all milestOues on the
way 10 mark the triumph Of a true ma {
.ioualiiy, protecting the rights Of man
rs man and citizen. This conflict of the
has educated our whole people
INTO clearer ideas of individual rights {
From Tie very birth Of our nation, ,
gifted women like Abigail Adams aud
Lucretia Mott, inspired by our grand Z
principles Of government, have asked {
hat the rights Of women, a. citizens Of
4 republic should be secured.
Our unsuccessful efforts for eufran-
,hisemeut through the vote Of the peO- 5
pie in the several States, aud the speedy !
Of the African race in achiev- :
ng political equality 10y constitutional !
have educated US into the :
lrnaler demand for uatIou.l protection
Ever since the waF, ours has been the {
lhly Woman Sutiiage Organization, aud .
Ne the only class Of c!tizeus, who have
steadily mniutaiuei the doctrine OF ma
ional supremacy in the protection Of
Equal Rights for An,' while both Of
he political parties, aud even the Su- ;
Dreme Court 90 The United States, have
played fast and loose with this funda- /,
mental principle of republican gov-
,Tumeut, declaring that only male citi-
.eus Of African descent are protected in
lie right 10 vote by the Constitution
Hence we demand an additional amend
nent that shall specifically declare
yomau's right to vote in every State
lud Territory Of the Union, all State
or statute laws to the con
rary notwithstanding.
POLITICAL DISABILITIES
In considering this petition, let every
Eoman remember that, besides the
y Wholesale amnesty Of 1872. Congress has
-emoved, since the war, the legal and
,nliticaI isnhiliIies of Q2G man mnsf ,