" in the XIV., and supply the want
of the word "sex" in the XV. Such tantalization endured by
yourselves, or by any class of men, would have wrought rebellion,
and in the end a bloody revolution. It is only the friendly
relations that exist between the sexes that has prevented any
such result from this injustice to women.

Gentlemen, I should be sure of your decision could you but
realize the fact that we, who have been battling for our rights,
now more than twenty years, have felt, and now feel, precisely as
you would under such circumstances. Men never do realize this.
One of the most ardent lovers of freedom (Senator Sumner), said
to me, two winters ago, after our hearing before the Committee of
the District, "Miss Anthony, I never realized before that you, or
any woman, could feel the disgrace, the degradation, of
disfranchisement precisely as I should if my fellow-citizens had
conspired to take from me my right to vote." We have petitioned
for our rights year after year. Although I am a Quaker and take
no oath, yet I have made a most solemn "affirmation" that I would
never again beg my rights, but that I would come up to Congress
each year, and demand the recognition of them under the
guarantees of the National Constitution.

What we ask of the Republican party, is simply to take down its
own bars. The facts in Wyoming show how a Republican party can
exist in that Territory. Before women voted, there was never a
Republican elected to office; after their enfranchisement, the
first election sent a Republican to Congress, and seven
Republicans to their Territorial Legislature. Thus the nucleus of
a Republican party there was formed by the enfranchisement of
women. The Democrats seeing this, are now determined to again
disfranchise the women. Can you Republicans so utterly stultify
yourselves, can you so entirely work against yourselves, as to
refuse us a Declaratory Law? Can you longer deny us the
protection we ask? We pray you to report immediately, as Mrs.
Hooker has said, "favorably, if you can, adversely, if you must."
We can wait no longer.

In the House, on January 24, 1872, the following discussion took
place:

Mr. BUTLER, of Massachusetts.--I ask unanimous consent, out of
the usual course of the rules, to present a petition.