pecifically
secured by recent Republican amendments to the federal
constitution.

Again, the Supreme Court of the United States, by its recent
decision in the Minor-Happersett case, has stultified its own
interpretation of constitutional law. A negro, by virtue of his
United States citizenship, is declared under recent amendments a
voter in every State in the Union; but when a woman, by virtue of
her United States citizenship, applies to the Supreme Court for
protection in the exercise of this same right, she is remanded to
the State by the unanimous decision of the nine judges on the
bench, that "the Constitution of the United States does not
confer the right of suffrage upon any one."

All concessions of privileges or redress of grievances are but
mockery for any class that has no voice in the laws and
lawmakers. Hence we demand the ballot--that scepter of power--in
our own hands, as the only sure protection for our rights of
person and property under all conditions. If the few may grant or
withhold rights at their own pleasure, the many cannot be said to
enjoy the blessings of self-government. Jefferson said, "The God
who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. The hand of
force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them." While the first and
highest motive we would urge on you is the recognition in all
your action of the great principles of justice and equality that
underlie our form of government, it is not unworthy to remind you
that the party that takes this onward step will reap its just
reward.

Had you heeded our appeals made to you in Tammany Hall, New York,
in 1868, and again in Baltimore, in 1872, your party might now
have been in power, as you would have had, what neither party can
boast to-day, a live issue on which to rouse the enthusiasm of
the people. Reform is the watchword of the hour; but how can we
hope for honor and honesty in either party in minor matters, so
long as both consent to rob one-half the people--their own
mothers, sisters, wives and daughters--of their most sacred
rights? As a party you defended the right of self-government in
Louisiana ably and eloquently during the last session of
congress. Are the rights of women in all the Southern States,
whose slaves are now their rulers, less sacred tha