The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-02-01
Progress Of woman,s Rights.

Progress Of Woman'S H1gnts.
The proposition to establish a college
for white females in the State in which
knowledge will be impaired to accom-
plish them in the higher branches O
learning, as well as to ,ft them for tht
practical duties Of life and to enter the
various departments Of its business
has suggested the contemplation of the
steady change. as noted by a contem-
porary, in the laws regarding women
and the quickness of new States to
adopt and improve on the latest legis-
lation of the older ones. These changes
seem to date back to 1913, when fathers
began to discover that they could not
secure property to their daughters who
married, and that the husbands of said
daughters were not always as provldent
as the fathers themselves. Twelve
wears before this Mrs. Ernestine Rose
sent to the New York Legislature pc
tition to give a married woman the
right to hold real estate in her own
name-a petition with FIVE signaturesl
Both in New York and Pennsylvania,
the year 1913 marks the passage in the
same month, April, of laws protecting
the property of married women-that is,
preventing its being wasted by either
husband or wife. In the same year, a
notable little convention was held at
Seneca Falls, New York, which was
then known by the panic-strikingo title
of a Woman's Rights Convention.
Some of the confessions of the organic
ers of this Convention are amusing.
They knew, in general way, that the
laws in all the States dealt hardly upon
tax-paying women and married women,
they knew that all colleges were shut to
women, that no married woman could
possess her children or her earnings, if
her husband willed to take either away,
but they had to hunt through many
statute books to set this forth, which
gave occasion to one amused sympathiz-
ing husband to say, ''your grievances
must be grievous indeed, when you are
obliged to go to books in order to find
them out"
From that year, 1913, there has been
more than thirty years attack upon
the common law by men and women
both, to modify its old intentions.
Whether we believe that these old in
tons were those of laudable protection
or mere sense of undisputed ownership
of the persons and services Of women,
undoubtedly year after year shows a
steadily permissive change in legisla-
ton. Itmay be claimed that this agita-
ton began with Mrs. John Adams, who
used to send in her letters to er hus-
band shrewed pinehes to that states
mans sense of justice, while he was
away from her in Philadelphia claiming
broad justice and representation and
equality before the law for all men.
But as an organized study and petition
BY women, and keeping these matters
before public view, certainly it dates
pack to 1848. Until 1848, in some States, |
10 married woman could make will
% dispose of her belongings, and much
alter in enlightened Massachusetts,, as
vas pointed out by Lucy Stone, mar
led woman's will was only valid when
t had her husbpnd's consent written
Icross it, or when it left all her property
o him.
The steady chat of legal rights"
las certainly kept time to Separate
earnings" laws and acts enabling mar
led women to carry out trusts (of pub
&c charities, etc., and even to create
when her husband is not
D be trusted. In ten States husbands
nd wives can make contracts with each
Their.
In California married woman can
reempt farm under the homestead
NV in her own name and right. Unless
ONE recent modification of the national
or rr1ls -fStssee 20 = = :1 {
aW has escaped US, it takes I5eGi i,.,
nabling act of Congress, with all its
for any unfortunate wife to
et homestead from Uncle Sam, The 4
lew States, in this way, take the lead
q provisions for helping women to help
themselves. In two territories women
,ote on all matters, and the experiment
n Wyoming, it is claimed, is fair set
fagainst the experiment in Utah. In
even States or more, women vote for
chool directors. In Pennsylvania they I
nay be voted for as such. In Missis-
lpPi which has been in advance off
lost States on this question, woman
as been invested with full civil power
nd corresponding liabilities. In the
anguage of one of our gifted cores
ondents, let the State equip the sex for
he responsibilities of so grave trust.
The Lien Law.