the other House, the committee reporting back those petitions
with the recommendation that the prayer be not granted. In the
Senate we have not yet been favored with the views of the
committee to whom those petitions were referred. Considering that
a great constitutional question was involved, it might be assumed
that these subjects would receive very early attention at the
hands of the committees of the Senate; but up to this time we
have had no light on the matter.

I believe, Mr. President, that the amendment which I offer to
this bill is justified by the organic law of the United States,
and in fact required by that law. Before the adoption of the XIV.
and XV. Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States women were hedged from the ballot-box by the use of the
word "male." Since that time another rule has been prescribed by
the organic law, giving to all citizens of the United States the
right to exercise this highest privilege of a citizen. By the
XIV. Article of Amendment it is provided that "all persons born
or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of
the State wherein they reside." This most important declaration
is now the organic law of the United States. It does not say "all
males born or naturalized in the United States," but "all
persons," and it can not be contended successfully that a woman
is not a person, and not a person within the meaning of this
clause of the Constitution.

This being the status of all individuals, male and female, they
being citizens of the United States, it is provided that "no
State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law." Of course if any State is prohibited
from doing this, any Territory should be prohibited from doing
it, because no Territory can constitutionally do that which a
State itself can not do. Then, if women are citizens of the
United States, and there is no right to abridge the privileges
and immunities of citizens of the United States, as proclaimed by
the supreme law of the land, what are these privileges and
immunities? G