e the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the State Legislature.

This can not be construed into a concession to the States of the
power to destroy the right to become an elector, but simply to
prescribe what shall be the qualifications, such as competency of
intellect, maturity of age, length of residence, that shall be
deemed necessary to enable them to make an intelligent choice of
candidates. If, as our opponents assert, the last clause of this
section makes it the duty of the United States to protect
citizens in the several States against higher or different
qualifications for electors for Representatives in Congress, than
for members of Assembly, then must the first clause make it
equally imperative for the national government to interfere with
the States, and forbid them from arbitrarily cutting off the
right of one half of the people to become electors altogether.
Section 4th says:

The times, places, and manner of holding elections for
Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature thereof; but Congress may at any
time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to
the places of choosing Senators.

Here is conceded the power only to prescribe times, places, and
manner of holding the elections; and even with these Congress may
interfere, with all excepting the mere place of choosing
Senators. Thus you see, there is not the slightest permission in
either section for the States to discriminate against the right
of any class of citizens to vote. Surely to regulate can not be
to annihilate! nor to qualify to wholly deprive! And to this
principle every true Democrat and Republican said amen, when
applied to black men by Senator Sumner in his great speeches for
EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL from 1865 to 1869; and when, in 1871, I asked
that Senator to declare the power of the United States
Constitution to protect women in their right to vote--as he had
done for black men--he handed me a copy of all his speeches
during that reconstruction period, saying:

Miss Anthony, put "sex" where I have "race" or "color," and
you have here the best and strongest argument I can make for
woman. There is not a doubt but women hav