where the black man was first recognized as a citizen of the
United States. But in removing all political disabilities from
the male citizens of the District, you have established, for the
first time in the history of nations, a government based on the
aristocracy of sex; an aristocracy of all kinds the most odious
and unnatural. While every type and shade of manhood is rejoicing
to-day in all the rights, privileges, and immunities of citizens
in the District, its noblest matrons are still living under the
statute laws of a dark and barbarous age, running back to the old
common law of England centuries ago, having no parallel in our
day, but in the slave codes of the Southern States. Here a
married woman has no right to the property she inherits, to the
wages she earns, or to the children of her love, and from laws
like these she has no appeal; no advocate in the courts of
justice; no representative in the councils of the nation. Such is
the result of class legislation, clearly proving that man has
ever made laws for his own mother with as little justice and
generosity as he has from time to time for different orders of
his own sex. Suffering, as woman does, under the wrongs of Saxon
men, you have added insult to injury by exalting another race
above her head: slaves, ignorant, degraded, depraved, but
yesterday crouching at your feet, outside the pale of political
consideration, are to-day, by your edicts, made her lawgivers!
Thus here in the District you have consummated this invidious
policy of the nation, placing outside barbarians above your
Pilgrim mothers, who have stood by your side from the beginning,
sharing alike your dangers and triumphs in the great struggle on
this continent for free institutions.

We urge you, therefore, to report favorably on Senator Wilson's
amendment, because woman not only needs the ballot for her
protection, but the nation needs her voice in legislation for the
safety and stability of our institutions. We simply ask you to
apply your theory of government, your declaration of rights, the
principles enunciated by the great Republican party, the
far-seeing wisdom with which step by step you have secured all
men in their inalienable rights, to our case, and you will see
that logic, justice, common sense,