The History of Woman Suffrage Volume III Part 40

[94] A private letter was received from Mrs. Ellen Clark Sargent, enclosing a check for $50.

[95] Miss Stanton, having studied astronomy with Professor Maria Mitch.e.l.l, went to Europe to take a degree in Mathematics from the College of France; but before completing her course, she shared the fate of too many of our American girls; she expatriated herself by marrying a foreigner.

[96] Letters were also received from Rebecca Moore, England; Mrs.

Z. G. Wallace, Indianapolis; Frederick Dougla.s.s, Washington, D. C.; Theodore Stanton, Paris, France; Sarah Knox Goodrich, Clarina Howard Nichols, California, and many others.

[97] WHEREAS, The National Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation has labored unremittingly to secure the appointment of a committee in the congress of the United States to receive and consider the pet.i.tions of women and whereas, this a.s.sociation realizes the importance of such a committee,

_Resolved_, That the thanks of this a.s.sociation are due and are hereby tendered to congress for the appointment at its last session of a Select Woman Suffrage Committee in each house.

_Resolved_, That the thanks of this a.s.sociation are hereby tendered to Senators Lapham, Ferry, Blair and Anthony, of the Select Committee, for their able majority report.

_Resolved_, That it is the paramount duty of congress at its next session to submit a sixteenth amendment to the const.i.tution which shall secure the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of the women of the republic.

_Resolved_, That the recent action of King Christian of Denmark, in conferring the right of munic.i.p.al suffrage upon the women in Iceland, and the similar enlargement of woman's political freedom in Scotland, India and Russia, are all encouraging evidences of the progress of self-government even in monarchical countries. And farther, that while the possession of these privileges by our foreign sisters is an occasion of rejoicing to us, it still but emphasizes the inconsistency of a republic which refuses political recognition to one-half of its citizens.

_Resolved_, That the especial thanks of the officers and delegates of this convention are due and are hereby most cordially tendered to Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, for the exceptionally efficient manner in which she has discharged the onerous duties which devolved upon her in making all preparations for this convention and for the grand success which her efforts have secured.

_Resolved_, That the National Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation on the occasion of this, its fourteenth annual convention, does, in the absence of its honored president, desire to send greeting to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and to express to her the sympathetic admiration with which the members of this body have followed her in her reception in a foreign land.

[98] Committee on Resolutions, composed of Lillie Devereux Blake of New York city, Virginia L. Minor of St. Louis, Harriet R. Shattuck of Boston, May Wright Sewall of Indianapolis, and Ellen H. Sheldon of the District of Columbia.

[99] Mrs. Spofford, the treasurer, reported that $5,000 were spent in Nebraska in the endeavor to carry the amendment in that State.

[100] Short speeches were made by Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs.

McKinney, Mrs. Loder and others.

[101] This was the last word from this dear friend to one of our number. I met her afterward as Mrs. Hudson with her husband in London. We dined together one evening at the pleasant home of Moncure D. Conway. She was as full as ever of plans for future usefulness and enjoyment. From England she went for a short trip on the continent. In parting I little thought she would so soon finish her work on earth. E. C. S.

[102] Mr. Springer had never been present at a single meeting of the committee, though always officially notified. Neither did Mr.

Muldrow of Mississippi ever honor the committee with his presence.

However, Mr. Stockslager of Indiana and Mr. Vance of North Carolina were always in their places, and the latter, we thought, almost persuaded to consider with favor the claims of women to political equality.

[103] Reports of congressional action and the conventions of 1884-85 have been already published in pamphlet form, and we shall print the reports hereafter once in two years, corresponding with the terms of congress. Our plan is to bind these together once in six years, making volumes of the size of those already published.

These pamphlets, as well as the complete History in three volumes, are for sale at the publishing house of Charles Mann, 8 Elm Park, Rochester, N. Y.

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.

BY HARRIET H. ROBINSON.

The Woman's Hour--Lydia Maria Child Pet.i.tions Congress--First New England Convention--The New England, American and Ma.s.sachusetts a.s.sociations--_Woman's Journal_--Bishop Gilbert Haven--The Centennial Tea-party--County Societies--Concord Convention--Thirtieth Anniversary of the Worcester Convention--School Suffrage a.s.sociation--Legislative Hearing--First Pet.i.tions--The Remonstrants Appear--Women in Politics--Campaign of 1872--Great Meeting in Tremont Temple--Women at the Polls--Provisions of Former State Const.i.tutions--Pet.i.tions, 1853--School-Committee Suffrage, 1879--Women Threatened with Arrest--Changes in the Laws--Woman Now Owns her own Clothing--Harvard Annex--Woman in the Professions--Samuel E. Sewall and William I. Bowditch--Supreme Court Decisions--Sarah E. Wall--Francis Jackson--Julia Ward Howe--Mary E. Stevens--Lucia M. Peabody--Lelia Josephine Robinson--Eliza (Jackson) Eddy's Will.

From 1860 to 1866 there is no record to be found of any public meeting on the subject of woman's rights, in Ma.s.sachusetts.[104]

During these years the war of the rebellion had been fought.

Pending the great struggle the majority of the leaders, who were also anti-slavery, had thought it to be the wiser policy for the women to give way for a time, in order that all the working energy might be given to the slave. "It is not the woman's but the negro's hour"; "After the slave--then the woman," said Wendell Phillips in his stirring speeches, at this date. "Keep quiet, work for us,"

said other of the anti-slavery leaders to the women. "Wait! help us to abolish slavery, and then we will work for you." And the women, who had the welfare of the country as much at heart as the men, kept quiet; worked in hospital and field; sacrificed sons and husbands; did what is always woman's part in wars between man and man--and waited. If anything can make the women of the State regret that they were silent as to their own claims for six eventful years that the freedom of the black man might be secured, it is the fact that now in 1885 his vote is ever adverse to women's enfranchis.e.m.e.nt. When the fourteenth amendment to the United States Const.i.tution was proposed, in which the negro's liberty and his right to the ballot were to be established, an effort was made to secure in it some recognition of the rights of woman. Ma.s.sachusetts sent a pet.i.tion, headed with the name of Lydia Maria Child, against the introduction of the word "male" in the proposed amendment. When this pet.i.tion was offered to the greatest of America's emanc.i.p.ation leaders, for presentation to congress, he received and presented it under protest. He thought the woman question should not be forced at such a time, and the only answer from congress this "woman-intruding" pet.i.tion received was found in the fourteenth amendment itself, in which the word "male," with unnecessary iteration, was repeated, so that there might be no mistake in future concerning woman's rights, under the Const.i.tution of the United States.[105]

The war was over. The rights of the black man, for whom the women had worked and waited, were secured, but under the new amendment, by which his race had been made free, the white women of the United States were more securely held in political slavery. It was time, indeed, to hold conventions and agitate anew the question of woman's rights. The lesson of the war had been well learned. Women had been taught to understand politics, the "science of government," and to take an interest in public events; and some who before the war had not thought upon the matter, began to ask themselves why thousands of ignorant _men_ should be made voters and they, or their s.e.x, still kept in bondage under the law.

In 1866, May 31, the first meeting of the American Equal Rights a.s.sociation was held at the Meionaon in Boston.[106] In 1868 the call for a New England convention was issued and the meeting was held November 18, 19, at Horticultural Hall, Boston. James Freeman Clarke presided. In this convention sat many of the distinguished men and women of the New England States,[107] old-time advocates, together with newer converts to the doctrine, who then became identified with the cause of equal rights irrespective of s.e.x. This convention was called by the Rev. Olympia Brown.[108] The hall was crowded with eager listeners anxious to hear what would be said on a subject thought to be ridiculous by a large majority of people in the community. Some of the teachers of Boston sent a letter to the convention, signed with their names, expressing their interest as women. Henry Wilson avowed his belief in the equal rights of woman, but thought the time had not yet come for such a consummation, and said that, for this reason, he had voted against the question in the United States Senate; "though," he continued, "I was afterwards ashamed of having so voted." Like another celebrated Ma.s.sachusetts politician, he believed in the principle of the thing, but was "agin its enforcement." At this date the popular interest heretofore given to the anti-slavery question was transferred to the woman suffrage movement.

The New England Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation was formed at this convention. Julia Ward Howe was elected its president, and made her first address on the subject of woman's equality with man. On its executive board were many representative names from the six New England States.[109] By the formation of this society, a great impetus was given to the suffrage cause in New England. It held conventions and ma.s.s-meetings, printed tracts and doc.u.ments, and put lecturers in the field. It set in motion two woman suffrage bazars, and organized subscription festivals, and other enterprises to raise money to carry on the work. It projected the American, and Ma.s.sachusetts suffrage a.s.sociations; it urged the formation of local and county suffrage societies, and set up the _Woman's Journal_. The New England a.s.sociation held its first anniversary in May, 1869, and the meeting was even more successful than the opening one of the preceding year. On this occasion Mrs. Livermore spoke in Boston for the first time, and many new friends coming forward gave vigor and freshness to the movement.[110] Wendell Philips, Lucy Stone and Gilbert Haven, spoke at this convention. It was on this occasion that the "good Bishop," as he afterward came to be called, was met on leaving the meeting by one who did not know his opinion on the subject. This person expressed surprise on seeing him at a woman's rights meeting, and said: "_What! you_ here?" "Yes," said he, "I _am_ here! I _believe_ in this reform. I am going to start in the beginning, and ride with the procession."

After this, not until his earthly journey was finished, was his place in "the procession" found vacant. Since 1869 the New England a.s.sociation has held its annual meeting in Boston during anniversary week, in May, when reports from various States are offered, concerning suffrage work done during the year. The American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation was organized in 1869. Since its formation it has held its annual conventions in some of the chief cities of the several States.[111] A meeting was held in Horticultural Hall, Boston, January 28, 1870, to organize the Ma.s.sachusetts Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation.[112]

The Ma.s.sachusetts a.s.sociation is the most active of the three societies named. Its work is generally local though it has sent help to Colorado, Michigan, and other Western States. It has kept pet.i.tions in circulation, and has presented pet.i.tions and memorials to the State legislatures. It has asked for hearings and secured able speakers for them. It has held conventions, ma.s.s-meetings, Fourth of July celebrations. It has helped organize local Woman suffrage clubs and societies, and has printed for circulation numerous woman suffrage tracts. The amount of work done by its lecturing agents can be seen by the statement of Margaret W.

Campbell, who alone, as agent of the American, the New England and the Ma.s.sachusetts a.s.sociations, traveled in twenty different States and two territories, organizing and speaking in conventions.[113]

As part of the latest work of this society may be mentioned its efforts to present before the women of the State, in clear and comprehensive form, an explanation of the different sections of the new law "allowing women to vote for school committees." As soon as the law pa.s.sed the legislature of 1879, a circular of instructions to women was carefully prepared by Samuel E. Sewall, an eminent lawyer and member of the board of the Ma.s.sachusetts a.s.sociation, in which all the points of law in relation to the new right were ably presented. Thousands of copies of this circular were sent to women all over the State.

The Centennial Tea Party was held in Boston, December 15, 1873, in response to the following call:

The women of New England who believe that "taxation without representation is tyranny," and that our forefathers were justified in defying despotic power by throwing the tea into Boston harbor, invite the men and women of New England to unite with them in celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of that event in Fanueil Hall.[114]

Three thousand people were in attendance, and it was altogether an enthusiastic occasion and one long to be remembered.

The record of conventions and meetings held by the Ma.s.sachusetts a.s.sociation by no means includes all such gatherings held in different towns and cities of the State. The county and local societies have done a vast amount of work. The Hampden society was started in 1868, with Eliphalet Trask, Frank B. Sanborn and Margaret W. Campbell as leading officers. This was the first county society formed in the State. Julia Ward Howe, a fresh convert of the recent convention went to Salem to lecture on woman suffrage, and the Ess.e.x county society was formed with Mrs. Sarah G. Wilkins and Mrs. Delight R. P. Hewitt--the only two Salem women who went to the 1850 convention at Worcester--on its executive board. The Middles.e.x county society followed, planned by Ada C. Bowles and officered by names well known in that historic old county. The Hampshire and Worcester societies brought up the rear; the former planned by Seth Hunt of Northampton. Notable conventions were held by the Middles.e.x society in 1876--one in Malden, one in Melrose and one in Concord, organized and conducted by its president, Harriet H. Robinson. This last celebrated town had never before been so favored. These meetings were conducted something after the style of local church conferences. They were well advertised, and many people came. A collation was provided by the ladies of each town, and the feast of reason was so judiciously mingled with the triumphs of cookery, that converts to the cause were never so easily won. Many women present said to the president: "I never before heard a woman's rights speech. If these are the reasons why women should vote, I believe in voting."

The Concord convention was held about a month after the great centennial celebration of April 19, 1875--a celebration in which no woman belonging to that town took any official part. Nor was there any place of honor found for the more distinguished women who had come long distances to share in the festivities. Some of the women were descendents of Governor John Hanc.o.c.k, Dr. Samuel Prescott, Major John b.u.t.trick, Rev. William Emerson and Lieutenant Emerson Cogswell. Though no seat of honor in the big tent in which the speeches were made was given to the women of to-day, silent memorials of those who had taken part in the events of one hundred years ago, had found a conspicuous place there--the scissors that cut the immortal cartridges made by the women on that eventful day, and the ancient flag that the fingers of some of the mothers of the Revolution had made. Though the Concord women were not permitted to share the centennial honors, they were not deprived of the privilege of paying their part of the expenses incident to the occasion. To meet these, an increased tax-rate was a.s.sessed upon all the property owners in the town; and, since one-fifth of the town tax of Concord is paid by women, it will be seen what was their share in the great centennial celebration of 1876.

The knowledge of the proceedings at Concord added new zest to the spirit of the three conventions, and the events of the day were used by the speakers to point the moral of the woman's rights question. Lucy Stone made one of her most effective and eloquent speeches upon this subject. She said:

FELLOW CITIZENS (I had almost said fellow subjects): What we need is that women should feel their mean position; when that happens, they will soon make an effort to get out of it. Everything is possible to him that wills. All that is needed for the success of the cause of woman suffrage is to have women know that they want to vote. Concord and Lexington got into a fight about the centennial, and Concord voted $10,000 for the celebration in order to eclipse Lexington. One-fifth of the tax of Concord is paid by the women, yet not one of these women dared to go to the town hall and cast her vote upon that subject. This is exactly the same thing which took place one hundred years ago--taxation without representation, against which the _men_ of Concord then rebelled. If I were an inhabitant of Concord, I would let my house be sold over my head and my clothes off my back and be hanged by the neck before I would pay a cent of it! Men of Melrose, Concord and Malden, why persecute us? Would you like to be a slave? Would you like to be disfranchised? Would you like to be bound to respect the laws which you cannot make? There are 15,000,000 of women whom the government denies legal rights.

It might be supposed that a spot upon which the battle for freedom and independence was first begun would always be the vantage ground of questions relating to personal liberty. But such is not the fact. Concord was never an anti-slavery town, though some of its best citizens took active part in all the abolition movements. When the time came that women were allowed to vote for school committees, the same intolerant spirit which ignored and shut them out of the centennial celebration was again manifested toward them--not only by the leading magnates, but also by the petty officials of the town. Some of them have from the first shown a great deal of ingenuity in inventing ways to intimidate and mislead the women voters.

At the annual convention of the Ma.s.sachusetts a.s.sociation, in May, 1880, the following resolution was pa.s.sed:

WHEREAS, We believe in keeping the land-marks and traditions of our movement; and

WHEREAS, It will be thirty years next October since the first woman's rights meeting was held in the State, and it seems fitting that there should be some celebration of the event; therefore,

_Resolved_, That we will hold a woman suffrage jubilee in Worcester, October 23 and 24 next, to commemorate the anniversary of our first convention.

A committee[115] of arrangements was chosen, and the meeting was held. There were present many whose silver hairs told of long and faithful service. The oldest ladies there were Mrs. Lydia Brown of Lynn, Mrs. Wilbour of Worcester, and Julia E. Smith Parker of Glas...o...b..ry, Conn. On the afternoon of the first day there was an informal gathering of friends in the ante-room of Horticultural Hall. Old-time memories were recalled by those who had not seen each other for many years, and the common salutation was: "How gray you've grown!" Many of them had indeed grown gray in the service, and their faces were changed, but made beautiful by a life devoted to a n.o.ble purpose. There were many present who had attended the convention of thirty years ago--Abby Kelley Foster, Lucy Stone, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Paulina Gerry, Rev. Samuel May, Rev. W.

H. Channing, Joseph A. Howland, Adeline H. Howland, Dr. Martha H.

Mowry and many, many others. It was very pleasant indeed to hear these veterans whose clear voices have spoken out so long and so bravely for the cause. The speaking[116] at all the sessions was excellent, and the spirit of the convention was very reverent and hopeful.

The tone of the press concerning woman's rights meetings had changed greatly since thirty years before. "Hen conventions" had gone by, and a woman's meeting was now called by its proper name.

Representatives of leading newspapers from all parts of the State were present, and the reports were written in a just and friendly spirit.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Harriet H. Robinson]