object. If we had had the money, we could have
bought the Legislature and the elective franchise long before
now. But as we have not, we must create a public opinion, and for
that we must have voices.

I have always thought I was convinced not only of the necessity
but of the great importance of obtaining the elective franchise
for woman; but recently I have become satisfied that I never felt
sufficiently that importance until now. Just read your public
papers and see how our Senators and our members of the House are
running round through the Southern States to hold meetings, and
to deliver public addresses. To whom? To the freedmen. And why
now, and why not ten, fifteen, or twenty years ago? Why do they
get up meetings for the colored men, and call them fellow-men,
brothers, and gentlemen? Because the freedman has that talisman
in his hands which the politician is looking after? Don't you
perceive, then, the importance of the elective franchise? Perhaps
when we have the elective franchise in our hands, these great
senators will condescend to inform us too of the importance of
obtaining our rights.

You need not be afraid that when woman has the franchise, men
will ever disturb her. I presume there are present, as there
always are such people, those of timid minds, chicken-hearted,
who so admire and respect woman that they are dreadfully afraid
lest, when she comes to the ballot-box, rude, uncouth, and vulgar
men will say something to disturb her. You may set your hearts
all at rest. If we once have the elective franchise, upon the
first indication that any man will endeavor to disturb a woman in
her duty at the polls, Congress will enact another Freedman's
Bureau--I beg pardon, a Freedwoman's Bureau--to protect women
against men, and to guard the purity of the ballot-box at the
same time. I have sometimes been asked, even by sensible men, "If
woman had the elective franchise, would she go to the polls to
mix with rude men?" Well, would I go to the church to mix with
rude men? And should not the ballot-box be as respectable, and as
respected, and as sacred as the church? Aye, infinitely more so,
because it is of greater importance. Men can pray in secret, but
must vote in public. (Applause). Hence the ballot-box, of the
two, ought to b