government of the District of Columbia is to
be revised by Congress, in consequence of the expiration of local
charters, within the next nine months. A rare opportunity is thus
afforded to bring the enfranchisement of woman to the attention of
Congress and the country. We urge you to send in petitions as fast as
possible, with as many signatures as you can obtain. They should be
sent to Mrs. Josephine S. Griffing, 213 North Capitol street,
Washington, D. C., who will acknowledge their receipt and attend to
their presentation.

FORM OF PETITION.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in
Congress Assembled_:

The undersigned ----, of the ---- of ----, in the State of ----,
respectfully petition, that in your revision of the government of the
District of Columbia, you will protect the women of the District from
being debarred the exercise of their right of suffrage.

[Illustration: Jane Graham Jones.]

CHAPTER XXI.

RECONSTRUCTION.

The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments--Universal Suffrage and
Universal Amnesty the Key-note of Reconstruction--Gerrit Smith
and Wendell Phillips Hesitate--A Trying Period in the Woman
Suffrage Movement--Those Opposed to the word "Male" in the
Fourteenth Amendment Voted Down in Conventions--The Negro's
Hour--Virginia L. Minor on Suffrage in the District of
Columbia--Women Advised to be Silent--The Hypocrisy of the
Democrats preferable to that of the Republicans--Senator
Pomeroy's Amendment--Protests against a Man's Government--Negro
Suffrage a Political Necessity--Charles Sumner Opposed to the
Fourteenth Amendment, but Voted for it as a Party Measure--Woman
Suffrage for Utah--Discussion in the House as to who Constitute
Electors--Bills for Woman Suffrage presented by the Hon. George
W. Julian and Senators Wilson and Pomeroy--The Fifteenth
Amendment--Anna E. Dickinson's Suggestion--Opinions of Women on
the Fifteenth Amendment--The Sixteenth Amendment--Miss Anthony
chosen a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention July 4,
1868--Her Address Read by a Unanimous Vote--Horatio Seymour in
the Chair--Comments of the Press--The _Revolution_.

The war settled two questions: 1st. That we are a Nation, and not a
mere confederacy of States. 2d. That all "persons" born or naturalized
in the United States are "citizens," and stand equal before the law.
Freedo