The History of Woman Suffrage Volume III Part 65

[221] For Judge Hunt's decision, see Volume II., page 677.

[222] Miss Charlotte C. Jackson, the valedictorian of the Normal College of New York; Miss Mary Hussey of Orange, New Jersey; Miss Mosher of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Miss Emma Wendt, daughter of Mathilde Wendt. In 1867, Mrs. Stanton had made a similar application to Theodore D. Dwight, that the law school might be opened to young women. In the course of their conversation Professor Dwight said; "Do you think girls know enough to study law?" Mrs. Stanton replied: "All the liberal laws for women that have been pa.s.sed in the last twenty years are the results of the protests of women; surely, if they know enough to protest against bad laws, they know enough to study our whole system of jurisprudence."

[223] It was peculiarly fitting that this application should be made by Mrs. Blake, as two of her ancestors had been presidents of the college. The first it ever had, when founded as King's College in 1700, was the Rev. Samuel Johnson, D. D., her great-great-grandfather. His son, the Hon. Samuel William Johnson, was the first president after the Revolution, when the name was changed to Columbia College.

[224] Julia Ward Howe, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Mary F. Eastman, Helen Potter, Sarah Andrews Spencer, Augusta Cooper Bristol, Alice Fletcher, Maria Mitch.e.l.l, professor at Va.s.sar College, Isabella Beecher Hooker, Frances Ellen Burr, Abby Smith, Rossella E. Buckingham, and others.

[225] Dr. Clemence Lozier was born of a good family in New Jersey.

She was married at the early age of 16, and widowed at 27, left with a young family without means of support. But being an excellent teacher, she soon found employment. For eleven years she was princ.i.p.al of a young ladies' seminary. By natural instinct a physician and a healer, she determined to fit herself for that profession. A physician of the old school a.s.sisted her in her medical studies, and in 1853 she received a diploma from the Eclectic College of Syracuse, and shortly after established herself in New York, where her practice steadily increased, until her professional income was one of the largest in the city. In 1860 she began a course of free medical lectures to women, which continued for three years, culminating in "The New York Medical College for Women," which was chartered in 1863. The foundation and establishment of this inst.i.tution was the crowning work of her life, to which she has devoted time and money. From the first she has been dean of the faculty, and after years of struggle at last has the satisfaction of seeing it a complete success, owning a fine building up town, with hospital and dispensary attached.

[226] Several ladies appeared last week before the New York Supervisors' Committee to protest against excessive taxation. The New York _World_ informs us that Mrs. Harriet Ramsen complained that the apprais.e.m.e.nt of lot 5 West One Hundred and Twenty-second street, was increased from $7,000 to $9,000. Mrs. P. P. d.i.c.kinson, house 48 West Fifty-sixth street, increased from $15,000 to $20,000; Mrs. Cynthia Bunce, house 37 West Fifty-fourth street, last year's valuation $10,000; this year's, $15,000. Mrs. Daly, who owns a house in Seventy-second street, informed the committee that the a.s.sessment on the house (a small dwelling) was put at $2,000, an increase of $700 over last year's valuation. This house stands in an unopened street. Supervisor McCafferty said that the committee would do all in its power to have the a.s.sessment reduced, and also remarked that it was a positive outrage to a.s.sess such a small house at so high a figure. Mrs. Louisa St. John, who is reputed to be worth $2,000,000, complained because three lots on Fifth avenue, near Eighty-sixth street, and five lots on the last-named street, have been a.s.sessed at much higher figures than other lots in the neighborhood. Mrs. St. John addressed the committee with much eloquence and force. Said she: "I do not complain of the a.s.sessments that have been laid on my property. I complain of the inequalities practiced by the a.s.sessors, and I should like to see them set right." Supervisor McCafferty a.s.sured Mrs. St. John that everything in the power of the committee would be done to equalize a.s.sessments in future. Mrs. St. John is a heavy speculator in real estate. She attends sales and has property "knocked down" to her. She makes all her own searches in the register's office, and is known, in fact, among property-owners as a very thorough real-estate lawyer. Many years ago she was the proprietor of the Globe Hotel, now Frankfort House, corner of Frankfort and William streets.

[227] The Albany _Evening Journal_ of January 22 said: A hearing was granted by the Judiciary Committee to-night, on the pet.i.tion of the Woman's Tax-payers a.s.sociation of the City of Rochester, for either representation or relief from taxation. The pet.i.tioners were heard in the a.s.sembly chamber, and in addition to members of the committee, a large audience of ladies and gentlemen were drawn together, including the president of the Senate, speaker of the House, and nearly all the leading members of both branches of the legislature. The first speaker was Mrs. Blake, the youngest of the trio, who occupied about twenty minutes and was well received. She was followed by Miss Anthony, who made a telling speech, frequently eliciting applause. She recounted her long service in the woman's rights cause, and gave a brief history of the different enactments and repeals on the question for the last thirty years. She related her experience in voting, and said she was fined $100 and costs, one cent of which she had never paid and never meant to. She claimed Judge Waite was in favor of woman suffrage, and believed the present speaker of the a.s.sembly of New York was also in favor of the movement. Calls being made for General Husted, that gentleman replied that Miss Anthony was perfectly correct in her statement. She summed up by asking the committee to report in favor of legislation exempting women from taxation unless represented by the ballot, remarking that she would not ask for the right to vote, as that was guaranteed her by the Const.i.tution of the United States. Miss Anthony then introduced Mrs. Joslyn Gage, who said if any member of the committee had objections to offer or questions to ask she would like the privilege of answering; but as none of the committee availed themselves, she proceeded for fifteen minutes in about the same strain as her predecessors. Calls being made for Mr.

Spencer and eliciting no reply from that gentleman, Mrs. Blake said they should consider him a convert.

[228] The speakers were Dr. Clemence Lozier, Helen M. Sloc.u.m, Henrietta Westbrook, Mrs. Devereux Blake. Mrs. J. E. Frobisher recited Paul Revere's ride, and Helen M. Cooke read the resolutions.

[229] Helen M. Sloc.u.m, Dr. Clemence Lozier, Mrs. Devereux Blake.

[230] Miss King, the head of a New York tea-dealing firm composed of women, who control a capital of $1,000,000, has recently gone to China to make purchases. Her previous business experience, as narrated by a correspondent of the Chicago _Tribune_, explains her fitness for her mission, while it incidentally throws some light on the secrets of the tea-company business:

"Previous to the outbreak of our civil war Miss King was extensively engaged in utilizing the leaves of the great blackberry and raspberry crops running to waste in the rich lowlands of Georgia and Alabama, and kept in that fertile region a large levy of Northern women--smart, like herself--to superintend the gathering of the leaves and their preparation for s.h.i.+pment to headquarters in New York. These leaves were prepared for the market at their manipulating halls in one of the narrow streets on the Hudson side of New York city. Over this stage of the tea preparations Miss King had special supervision, and, by a generous use of the genuine imported teas, worked up our American productions into all the accredited varieties of the black and green teas of commerce. Here the female supervision apparently ended. In their extensive tea ware-rooms in Walker street the business was conducted by the shrewdest representatives of Gothamite trade, with all the appliances of the great Chinese tea-importing houses. Here were huge piles of tea-chests, a.s.sorted and una.s.sorted, and the high-salaried tea-taster with his row of tiny cups of hot-drawn tea, delicately sampling and cla.s.sifying the varieties and grades for market. The breaking out of the war stopped the Southern supplies and sent Miss King's female agents to their Northern homes. But the business was made to conform to the new order of things. Large cargoes of imported black teas were bought as they arrived and were skillfully manipulated into those high-cost varieties of green teas so extensively purchased by the government for its commissary and medical departments."

[231] Mrs. Lozier presided. Addresses were made by Matilda Fletcher of Iowa, Mrs. Helen Sloc.u.m and Mrs. Devereux Blake.

[232] In Poughkeepsie, Yonkers, Harlem, Williamsburgh, Brighton, and in several districts in the city of New York.

[233] Matilda Joslyn Gage, Helen M. Loder, Mrs. Clara Neyman, Mrs.

Sloc.u.m, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Blake.

[234] _To the Women of the State of New York:_

The undersigned, citizens of the State of New York, who if free to do so, would express themselves at the ballot box, but who by unjust enactments are debarred the exercise of that political freedom whereto "the G.o.d of nature" ent.i.tles them, earnestly protest against the proposed reelection of Lucius Robinson as governor. They say naught against his honor as a man, but they protest because when the legislature of the Empire State had pa.s.sed a bill making women eligible to school-boards. Lucius Robinson, by his veto, kept this bill from becoming law. They therefore call on all men and women who respect themselves and dare maintain their rights, to do all in their power to defeat the reelection of one who has set himself against the advance made by Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ma.s.sachusetts, and New Hamps.h.i.+re, in many of which States woman's right to vote on school questions is also recognized.

[Signed:] Matilda Joslyn Gage, _President N. Y. State Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation_. Jennie M. Lozier, M. D., _Secretary_. Lillie Devereux Blake, _Vice-President National a.s.sociation_. Clemence S.

Lozier, M. D., _President N. Y. City a.s.sociation_. Susan A. King, Cordelia S. Knapp, Helen M. Sloc.u.m, Susan B. Anthony, Amanda Deyo, Helen M. Cooke, Elizabeth B. Phelps, Charlotte Fowler Wells, Emma S. Allen.

[235] Chester A. Arthur, chairman of the Republican campaign committee, presented the motion.

[236] She threw her s.p.a.cious apartments open, and gave some of the voters a free lunch, that she might have the opportunity of adding her personal persuasions to the public protests. Miss King and Miss Helen Potter, the distinguished reader, then residing with Miss King, a.s.sisted in raising a banner for Cornell and Foster, applauded by the mult.i.tude of by-standers.

[237] Mrs. Lucy A. Brand, princ.i.p.al of the Genesee school of this city, a woman with abilities as good as those of any male princ.i.p.al, but who, because she is a woman, receives $550 less salary a year than a male princ.i.p.al, was the first woman in the State of New York to cast a vote under the new school law. On Sat.u.r.day afternoon she was at a friend's house, when the _Journal_ was thrown in, containing the first editorial notice of the pa.s.sage of the law. Mrs. Brand saw the welcome announcement. "Let us go and register," she at once said, her heart swelling with joy and thankfulness that even this small quant.i.ty of justice had been done woman. "Where is my shawl? I feel as if I should die if I don't get there," for the hour was late, and the time for closing the registry lists was near at hand. To have lost this opportunity would have placed her in the position of a second Tantalus, the cup withdrawn just as it touched her lips. But she was in time, and the important act of registering accomplished, she had but to possess her soul in patience until the following Tuesday. Who shall say how long the two intervening days were to her; but Tuesday morning at last arrived, when, for the first time, Mrs. Brand was to exercise the freeman's right of self-government. A gentleman, the owner of the block in which she resided, offered to accompany her to the polls, although he was a Democrat and knew Mrs. Brand would vote the Republican ticket. Although not hesitating to go alone, Mrs.

Brand accepted this courtesy. As she entered the polling place the men present fell back in a semi-circle. Not a sound was heard, not a whisper, not a breath. In silence and with a joyous solemnity well befitting the occasion, Mrs. Brand cast her first vote, at five minutes past eight in the morning. The post-master of the city, Mr. Chase, offered his congratulations. A few ordinary remarks were exchanged, and then Mrs. Brand left the place. And that was all; neither more nor less. No opposition, no rudeness, no jostling crowd of men, but such behavior as is seen when Christians come together at the sacrament. I have long known Mrs. Brand as a n.o.ble woman, but talking with her a few days since I could but notice the added sense of self-respecting dignity that freedom gives. "I feel a constant grat.i.tude that even some portion of my rights have been recognized," said she, and I left her, more than ever impressed, if that is possible, with the beauty and sacredness of freedom.--[M. J. G.

[238] Rev. Robert Collyer, Elizabeth L. Saxon, Clara Neyman, Augusta Cooper Bristol, Helen M. Sloc.u.m, Hamilton Wilc.o.x, Mrs.

Devereux Blake, and Dr. Clemence Lozier who presided.

[239] Mary Seymour Howell, _President_; Miss Kate Stoneman, _Secretary_. Miss Stoneman cast the first vote at the school election in Albany.

[240] See appendix.

[241] Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Sloc.u.m, Mrs. Saxon, of Louisiana.

[242] Miss Helen Potter, Miss Susan A. King, Miss Helen M. Sloc.u.m, Miss Harriet K. Dolson and Mrs. Devereux Blake.

[243] Mrs. Rogers organized a society in Lansingburg, Mrs. Loder in Poughkeepsie, Miss Stoneman held meetings in Chautauqua county, Mrs. Howell in Livingston county, Mrs. Blake in ten other counties, and held several parlor meetings in New York city. The annual convention of the State society was held in Chickering Hall, February 1, 2, 1882.

[244] The press generally commented unfavorably. The _Herald_ said: "The legislature pa.s.sed a bill in the interest of decency and humanity, authorizing the appointment of matrons in the several police stations in the city of New York to look after female prisoners who might be placed in the station-houses. This bill was recommended by our best charitable and religious societies, but failed to receive the sanction of the governor, although he very promptly signed a bill to increase the number of the detective force."

[245] Mrs. Emma Gates Conkling, Mrs. Clara Neyman, Dr. Clemence Lozier and Mrs. Blake.

[246] Major Haggerty, ex-Governor Thomas G. Alvord and Hon. James D. McMellan in its favor; Hon. Erastus Brooks and General Sharpe against.

[247] Mr. Hamilton Wilc.o.x at once prepared an able paper, refuting the attorney-general's a.s.sertion. It was widely circulated throughout the State.

[248] When the vote was announced, the ladies sent the pages with bouquets to the leading speakers in behalf of the bill, and b.u.t.ton-hole sprigs to the fifty-four who voted aye.

[249] _To the Women of the State of New York_:

The undersigned urge you to exert yourselves to turn every vote possible against Leslie W. Russell's reelection as attorney-general. His official acts prove him the unscrupulous foe of your liberties. By informing the legislature that you have no right to vote at common law, he has denied your sacred rights and misrepresented the law to your hurt. By stating that you have no natural right to vote, he has denied your t.i.tle to freedom and sought to keep your rights at the mercy of those in power. By informing the legislature that the bill to repeal the statutes which keep you from voting was unconst.i.tutional he misled the legislature and kept you disfranchised. By thus continuing your disfranchis.e.m.e.nt, he has subjected you to many misfortunes and wrongs which the repeal of your disfranchis.e.m.e.nt would cure, and is personally responsible for these sufferings. He has also sought to rob the mothers of this State of their votes at school elections, and thus to deprive them of the power to control their children's education.

[Signed:] Clemence S. Lozier, M. D., New York; Mary R. Pell, Queens; Lillie Devereux Blake, New York; Caroline A. Ba.s.sett, Erie; Susan A. King, New York; Lucy Shawler, Chenango; Mary E. Tallman, Oneida; Hannah M. Angel, Allegany; Ida Louise Dildine, Broome; Zerivah L. Watkeys, Onondaga; Asenath C. Coolidge, Jefferson; Sarah H. Hallock, Ulster; N. W. Cooper, Jefferson, and others.

_To the Republican and Independent Voters of the State of New York_:

The undersigned earnestly ask you to cast your votes against Leslie W. Russell, the present attorney-general. When the legislature last year was about to repeal the election laws which prevent women from exercising the right of suffrage, Leslie W. Russell stated to that body that women had no right at common law to vote, and that this bill was unconst.i.tutional. By these misstatements he misled the legislature, defeated this most righteous bill and prolonged the disfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women. Thus he inflicted on a majority of our adult citizens, who had committed no offense, the penalty of disfranchis.e.m.e.nt and the great mischiefs which flow thence, and, like Judge Taney in the Dred-Scott decision, perverted law and const.i.tution to justify injustice and continue wrong. A vote for Leslie W. Russell is a vote to keep these women disfranchised and to prolong these mischiefs. He who thus blocks the way of freedom should be removed from the place which enables him to do this. You can vote at this election for fifteen or more officers. It is but a small thing to ask, that each of you cast one-fifteenth part of his vote to represent women's interest at the polls.

[Signed:] Clemence S. Lozier, M. D., Bronson Murray, Susan A. King, Hamilton Wilc.o.x, Lillie Devereux Blake, Albert O. Wilc.o.x.

[250] Abigail Scott Duniway, editor _New Northwest_, Oregon; Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, editor "Woman's Kingdom," Chicago _Inter-Ocean_; Helen M. Gougar, editor _Our Herald_, Indiana.

[251] On the evening of March 8 the New York city society gave a reception in honor of the delegates to the National Convention, recently held at Was.h.i.+ngton, in the elegant parlors of the Hoffman House.

[252] Mrs. Gage, Mrs. Howell, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Duniway and Mrs.

Gougar.

[253] Imprisonment for not more than five years, or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

[254] The last census shows there are 72,224 more women than men in New York; that there are 360,381 women and girls over ten years of age who support themselves by work outside their own homes, not including the house-keepers who, from the raw material brought into the family, manufacture food and clothing three times its original value.

CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Carrie Burnham--The Canon and Civil Law the Source of Woman's Degradation--Women Sold with Cattle in 1768--Women Arrested in Pittsburgh--Mrs. McMa.n.u.s--Opposition to Women in the Colleges and Hospitals; John W. Forney Vindicates their Rights--Ann Preston--Women in Dentistry--James Truman's Letter--Swarthmore College--Suffrage a.s.sociation Formed in 1866, in Philadelphia--John K. Wildman's Letter--Judge William S.