from the State Constitutions. The second method is for Congress
to submit to the several legislatures a proposition for a XVI.
Amendment that shall prohibit the States from depriving women
citizens of their right to vote. The third plan is to take our
rights under the XIV. Amendment of the Constitution which
declares "that all persons are citizens," and "no State shall
deny or abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens."

Again, there are two ways of securing the right of suffrage under
the Constitution as it is; one by a declaratory act of Congress
instructing the officers of election to receive the votes of
women, the other in appeals to the courts by instituting suits as
women have already done, in order to secure a judicial decision
on the broad interpretation of the Constitution "that all persons
are citizens, and all citizens voters." The vaults in yonder
Capitol hold the petitions of many thousands of women for a
Declaratory Act, and the calendars of our courts show that many
are already testing their right to vote under the XIV. Amendment.
I stand here under indictment for having exercised my right as a
citizen to vote at the last election; and by a fiction of the
law, I am now in custody, and not free on this platform.

A series of resolutions[151] were reported, and discussed at great
length.

After the appointment of committees,[A] Matilda Joslyn Gage made the
annual report. She said:

Though the casual observer might think but little progress had
been made during the year, this is not the fact. There has been
in many ways a marked advance, and although I do not claim to
have a complete and exact record, I would mention points which
have come under my notice.

Soon after the opening of the last session of Congress several
important bills were introduced. The Hon. Mr. Hoar introduced a
bill against Territorial disfranchisement, which, as women vote
in two Territories, was a bill having an important bearing upon
this question of suffrage. About the same time, the Hon. Mr.
Butler introduced a bill for a Declaratory Law to protect women
citizens in their right to vote. During the progress of our
annual Convention in January last, a memorial was presented, and
a hearing obtained before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The
speeches ma