resent. I am for this measure
religiously and earnestly, and I would vote down and vote against
everything that I thought weakened or that I thought was opposed
to it. It is simply with this view, without expressing any
opinion in regard to the merits of the amendment, that I shall
vote against it and all other amendments.

The PRESIDENT _pro tem._: The question is on the amendment of the
Senator from Pennsylvania [Mr. Cowan], to strike out the word
"male" before the word "person," in the second line of the first
section of the amendment reported by the Committee on the
District of Columbia as a substitute for the whole bill, and on
that question the yeas and nays have been ordered. Yeas, 9. Nays,
37.[58]

In the House, January 28, 1867, Mr. Noell, of Missouri,
introduced a bill to amend the suffrage act of the District of
Columbia, which, after the second reading, he moved should be
referred to a select committee of five, and on that motion
demanded the previous question, and called for the yeas and nays,
which resulted in 49 yeas,[59] 74 nays--68 not voting.

FOOTNOTES:

[48] FORM OF PETITION.--_To the Senate and House of
Representatives_:--The undersigned women of the United States,
respectfully ask an amendment of the Constitution that shall prohibit
the several States from disfranchising any of their citizens on the
ground of sex.

In making our demand for Suffrage, we would call your attention to the
fact that we represent fifteen million people--one-half the entire
population of the country--intelligent, virtuous, native-born American
citizens; and yet stand outside the pale of political recognition. The
Constitution classes us as "free people," and counts us _whole_
persons in the basis of representation; and yet are we governed
without our consent, compelled to pay taxes without appeal, and
punished for violations of law without choice of judge or juror. The
experience of all ages, the Declarations of the Fathers, the Statute
Laws of our own day, and the fearful revolution through which we have
just passed, all prove the uncertain tenure of life, liberty, and
property so long as the ballot--the only weapon of self-protection--is
not in the hand of every citizen.

Therefore, as you are now amending the Constitution, and, in harmony
with advancing civilization, placing new safeguards round the
individual rights of