The History of Woman Suffrage Volume III Part 70

[263] PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 10, 1870.--The formal opening of Swarthmore College took place this afternoon, when a large number of its friends were conveyed thither in a special train on the Westchester railroad. The audience a.s.sembled in the lecture room, where addresses were delivered by Samuel Willets and John D. Hyoks, of New York, Edward Parrish, president of the college, Wm. Dorsey, and Lucretia Mott. It was stated that the amount spent in land and buildings amounted to $205,000 and contributions were solicited for $100,000 additional to fully furnish the building, and supply a library, philosophical and astronomical apparatus. The building is a ma.s.sive one of five stories, constructed of Pennsylvania granite, and appointed throughout, from dormitory, bathroom, recitation-hall, to parlor, kitchen and laundry, in the most refined and substantial taste. It is 400 feet in length, by 100 deep, presenting two wings for the dormitories of the male and female students respectively, and a central part devoted to parlor, library, public hall, etc. Especially interesting in this division of the college is a room devoted to Quaker antiquities, comprising portraits and writings of the founders of the sect. Among them we notice the treaty of William Penn, a picture of the treaty a.s.sembly, a letter of George Fox, etc. The college opens with 180 pupils, about equally divided between the s.e.xes, the system of instruction being a joint education of boys and girls, though each occupy separate wings of the building. The inst.i.tution was built by the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends, but the pupils are not confined to members of that persuasion.

[264] The speakers at this convention were Lucretia Mott, Frances Dana Gage, Wendell Phillips, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B.

Anthony, Edward M. Davis, Robert Purvis, Aaron M. Powell. The officers of the society were: _President_, Robert Purvis; _Vice-presidents_, Lucretia Mott, William Whipper, Dinah Mendenhall; _Recording Secretary_, Mary B. Lightfoot; _Corresponding Secretary_, Frances B. Jackson; _Treasurer_, John K.

Wildman; _Executive Committee_, William Still, Ellen M. Child, Harriet Purvis, Elisha Meaner, Octavius Catts, Sarah S. Hawkins, Sarah Pugh, Clementina Johns, Alfred H. Love, Louisa J. Roberts, Jay Chapel.

[265] J. K. Wildman, Miss A. Ramborger, Clementina L. John, Ellen M. Child, and Pa.s.smore Williamson.

[266] _President_, Mary Grew; _Vice-Presidents_, Edward M. Davis, Mrs. C. A. Farrington, Mary K. Williamson; _Recording Secretary_, Annie Heac.o.c.k; _Corresponding Secretary_, Eliza Sproat Turner; _Treasurer_, Gulielma M. S. P. Jones; _Executive Committee_, John K. Wildman, Ellen M. Child, Annie Shoemaker, Charlotte L. Pierce, and Dr. Henry T. Child.

[267] Among those who addressed the members of the convention were Bishop Matthew Simpson, Rev. Charles G. Ames, f.a.n.n.y B. Ames, Mary Grew, Sarah C. Hallowell, Matilda Hindman, Elizabeth S. Bladen and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[268] Among the men who spoke for woman's enfranchis.e.m.e.nt were John M. Broomall, John M. Campbell, Lewis C. Ca.s.sidy, Benjamin L.

Temple, Levi Rooke, George F. Horton, H. W. Palmer, William Darlington, Harry White, Frank Mantor, Thomas MacConnell, Henry Carter, Thomas E. Cochran. In addition to those who spoke, those who voted _yes_ are John E. Add.i.c.ks, William H. Ainey, William D.

Baker, Charles O. Bowman, Charles Brodhead, George N. Corson, David Craig, Matthew Edwards, J. Gillingham Tell, Thomas Howard, Edward C. Knight, George Lear, John S. Mann, H. W. Patterson, T. H. B.

Patton, Thomas Struthers, John W. F. White.

[269] _Ayes_--William Styles, William McLain, clerks in the water department; A. W. Lyman, clerk in the custom-house; M. C. Coppeck, clerk in the highway department, who was defeated by one of the ladies for school directors.h.i.+p; John B. Green, a member of the board of education; John Buckley, clerk in the post-office; Theodore Canfield, sergeant of police; John Murray, contractor of the highway department; George W. Schrack, an ex-clerk, lately resigned from the tax receiver's office; Daniel T. Smith, ex-detective; Asher W. Dewees, Oliver Bowler, Mr. Agnew, Ezra Lukens, clerk in the United States a.s.sistant treasurer's office, president of the Republican Invincibles, candidate last year against Mr. Jonathan Pugh for commissioner of city property, and a candidate for the same office next year; William B. Elliott, collector of internal revenue; Charles M. Carpenter, alderman, who signed Mrs. Paist's certificate; Jackson Keyser, an employe in the navy yard; Alfred Ruhl, clerk in the custom-house; Mr. Jones, and Henry C. Dunlap, who is Republican candidate for common council--20. _Nays_--James W. Sayre, Joseph B. Ridge, Samuel Caldwell, Dr. Charles Hooker, John E. Lane, Lewis Bogy, John Mansfield. Daniel Rieff, William Githens, Thomas Evans, George Schimpf and F. Theodore Walton--12. So the resolution was carried by 20 yeas to 12 nays.

[270] Their modest home at 114 North Eleventh street has long been a hospitable retreat for reformers, where many of us identified with the suffrage movement have been most courteously entertained.

Anna and Adeline Thomson after long lives of industry have been, too, the steadfast representatives of great principles in religious and political freedom, always giving freely of their means to the unpopular reforms of their day and generation.--[E. C. S.

[271] The Executive Board of the New Century Club for 1879-1880, was: _President_, Mrs. Eliza S. Turner; _Vice-Presidents_, Mrs.

Emily W. Taylor, Mrs. S. C. F. Hallowell; Mrs. Henry C. Townsend, Mrs. Aubrey H. Smith; _Corresponding Secretary_, Miss Louise Stockton; _Recording Secretary_, Miss Anna C. Bliss; _Treasurer_, Mrs. Charlotte L. Pierce; _Directors_, Mrs. Susan I. Lesley, Mrs.

Henry Cohen, Mrs. Huldah Justice, Miss Emily Sartain, Miss Mary Grew, Mrs. S. B. F. Greble, Mrs. M. W. Coggins, Miss Mary A.

Burnham, Mrs. Ellison L. Perot, Mrs. Thomas Roberts. Others names found in its annual report as contributing to the efficiency of the club are: Mrs. Fannie B. Ames, Miss Grace Anna Lewis, Mrs. Emma J.

Bartol, Mrs. E. L. Head, Miss Mary C. c.o.xe, Mrs. Charlotte L.

Pierce, Madam Emma Seiler, Miss Amanda L. Dods, Miss Lelia Patridge, Miss Lily Ray, Miss Ella Cole, Mrs. Susan I. Lesley, Mrs.

E. C. Mayer, Miss Bennett, Mlle. Fra.s.son. The work of the club has its divisions of science, literature, art, music, entertainment, cooking, hospitalities, charities, employment for women, legal protection for working women, prisons and reformatory inst.i.tutions.

[272] See Chapter 30 for an account of this Philadelphia convention.

[273] The _yeas_ were as follows: Messrs. Ayers, Barnes, Blackford, Boyer, Boyle, Brooks, W. C. Brown, I. B. Brown, J. L. Brown, Brosius, Burnite, Burchfield, Chadwick, Coburn, E. L. Davis, Deveney, Duggan, Eckels, Ellsworth, Emery, Fetters, Gahan, Gardner, Gavitt, Gentner, Glenn, Grier, G. W. Hall, F. Hall, A. W. Hayes, Hines, Higgins, Hoofnagle, Hulings, Hughes, Jenkins, Klein, Kavanaugh, Landis, Lafferty, Merry, B. B. Mitch.e.l.l, S. N. Mitch.e.l.l, Millor, Molineaux, A. H. Morgan, W. D. Morgan, J. W. Morrison, E.

Morrison, Myton, McCabe, McClaran, Neill, Neeley, Nelson, Nesbit, Nicholson, Parkinson, Powell, Romig, Schwartz, Short, Sinex, Sloc.u.m, J. Smith, Sneeringer, Snodgra.s.s, Stees, Sterett, Stewart, Stubbs, Sweeney, Trant, Vanderslice, Vaughn, Vogdes, Wayne and Ziegler--78.

CHAPTER x.x.xIX.

NEW JERSEY.

Women Voted in the Early Days--Deprived of the Right by Legislative Enactment in 1807--Women Demand the Restoration of Their Rights in 1868--At the Polls in Vineland and Roseville Park--Lucy Stone Agitates the Question--State Suffrage Society Organized in 1867--Conventions--A Memorial to the Legislature--Mary F. Davis--Rev. Phebe A. Hanaford--Political Science Club--Mrs. Cornelia C. Hussey--Orange Club, 1870--July 4, 1874, Mrs. Devereux Blake Gives the Oration--Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's Letter--The Laws of New Jersey in Regard to Property and Divorce--Const.i.tutional Commission, 1873--Trial of Rev. Isaac M. See--Women Preaching in His Pulpit--The Case Appealed--Mrs.

Jones, Jailoress--Legislative Hearings.

New Jersey was the only State that, in adopting her first const.i.tution, recognized woman's right to suffrage which she had exercised during the colonial days, and from time immemorial in the mother country. The fact that she was deprived of this right from 1807 to 1840 by a legislative enactment, while the const.i.tution secured it,[274] proves that the power of the legislature, composed of representatives from the people, was considered at that early day to be above the State const.i.tution. If, then, the legislature could abridge the suffrage, it must have the power to extend it, and all the women of this State should demand is an act of the legislature. They need not wait for the slow process of a const.i.tutional amendment submitted to the popular vote. In 1868, in harmony with a general movement in many other States, the women of New Jersey began to demand the restoration of their ancient rights.

The following is from _The Revolution_ of November 19, 1868, written by Elizabeth A. Kingsbury:

VINELAND, N. J., Nov. 5, 1868.

At a meeting of women, held the week before election, a unanimous vote was taken that we would go to the polls. John Gage, chairman of the Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation of Vineland, called a meeting, and though the day was an inclement one, there was a good attendance. A number of earnest men as well as women addressed the audience. Among them were Colonel Moss of Missouri, and James M. Scovel of Camden, State senator, who strengthened us by their words of earnest eloquence. At 7:30 A. M., November 3, John and Portia Gage and myself entered Union Hall, where the judges of election had already established themselves for the day. Instead of occupying the center of the platform, they had taken one side of it, apparently for the purpose of leaving us room on the other. We seated ourselves in chairs brought for the occasion, when one gentleman placed a small table for our use. Another inquired if we were comfortable and the room sufficiently warm.

"Truly," we thought, "this does not look like a very terrible opposition." As time pa.s.sed, there came more men and women into the hall. Quite a number of the latter presented their votes first at the table where those of men were received, where they were rejected with politeness, and then taken to the other side of the platform and deposited in our box. Shall I describe this box, twelve inches long and six wide, and originally a grape-box?

Very significant of Vineland. Soon there came to the aid of Mrs.

Gage and myself a blooming and beautiful young lady, Estelle Thomson, who, with much grace and dignity, sat there throughout the day, recording the names of the voters. It would have done you good to have witnessed the scene. Margaret Pryor,[275] who is better known to you perhaps than to many of your readers, as one whose life has been active in the cause of freedom for the negro and for woman; a charming old lady of eighty-four years, yet with the spirit, elasticity and strength of one of thirty-five, sat there in her nice Quaker bonnet by the side of Miss Thomson a great part of the day. Sarah Pearson, also advanced in years and eminent for her labors of love for the suffering and oppressed everywhere; with her peculiarly delicate organization and placid countenance, remained with us till the last moment. There was no lack of friends and supporters. The platform was crowded with earnest, refined, intellectual women, who felt that it was good for them to be there. One beautiful girl said in my hearing, "I feel so much stronger for having voted." It was pleasant to see husbands and wives enter the hall together, only they had to separate, one turning to the right hand and the other to the left, when no separation should have taken place.

Some women spent the day in going after their friends and bringing them to the hall. Young ladies, after voting, went to the homes of their acquaintances, and took care of the babies while the mothers came out to vote. Will this fact lessen the alarm of some men for the safety of the babies of enfranchised women on election day? One lady of refinement and aristocratic birth brought her little girl of ten years with her, and I a.s.sure you it did the men good as well as us. They said they never had so quiet and pleasant a time at the polls before, though it is always more quiet here than in many other towns, because the sale of ardent spirits is forbidden. John Gage--bless his dear soul--identifies himself completely with this glorious cause, and labors with an earnestness and uniformity of purpose that is truly charming. His team was out all day, bringing women to vote, half-a-dozen at a time, while his personal efforts were unremitting and eminently successful. He and his n.o.ble wife, Portia, seem to be, indeed, one in thought and action. Some time ago he sent a pledge to the candidates for office in this State.

By signing it, they promise to sustain the cause of woman suffrage by every means in their power. Nixon, candidate for the Senate, signed it last year. House, candidate for the a.s.sembly, signed the pledge at the eleventh hour, and though he lost two of our votes by the delay, yet he, too, is elected. Thus we have, at least, three public men in New Jersey pledged to sustain the woman suffrage cause. We think it is time to say to candidates for office: "You tell us we have a good deal of influence, and ask us to exert it for your election. We will do so, if you will promise to advocate our cause. If you do not, we will oppose your election." The result of the ballots cast by the women of Vineland is this: For president--Grant, 164; Seymour, 4; E. Cady Stanton, 2; Fremont, 1; and Mrs. Governor Harvey of Wisconsin, 1.

The president of the Historical Society of Vineland, S. C.

Campbell, has pet.i.tioned for the ballot-box and list of voters, to put into its archives. He will probably get them.

A gentleman said to me last week: "What is the use of your doing this? Your votes will count nothing in the election." "It will do good in two ways," I replied. "You say there will not be five women there. We will show you that you are mistaken; that women do want to vote, and it will strengthen them for action in the future." Both these ends have been accomplished; and on November 12 we are to meet again, to consider and decide what to do about the taxation that is soon coming upon us.

While the Vineland women expressed their opinion by voting, other true friends of woman's enfranchis.e.m.e.nt were moved to do the same.

_The Revolution_ of November 12, 1868, gave the following:

The Newark _Daily Advertiser_ says that Mrs. Hannah Blackwell, a highly esteemed elderly lady, long resident in Roseville, and Mrs. Lucy Stone, her daughter-in-law, both of them property-holders and tax-payers in the county, appeared at the polls in Roseville Park, accompanied by Messrs. Bathgate and Blackwell as witnesses, and offered their votes. The judges of election were divided as to the propriety of receiving the votes of the ladies, one of them stating that he was in favor of doing so, the two others objecting on the ground of their illegality.

The ladies stated that they had taken advice of eminent lawyers, and were satisfied that in New Jersey, women were legally ent.i.tled to vote, from the fact that the old const.i.tution of the State conferred suffrage upon "all inhabitants" worth $250. Under that const.i.tution women did in fact vote until, in 1807, by an arbitrary act of the legislature, women were excluded from the polls. The new const.i.tution, adopted in 1844, was framed by a convention and adopted by a const.i.tuency, from both of which women were unconst.i.tutionally excluded, so that they have never been allowed to vote upon the question of their own disfranchis.e.m.e.nt. The article in the present const.i.tution on the right of suffrage confers it upon white male citizens, but does not expressly limit it to such. It is claimed that from the absence of any express limitation in the present const.i.tution, and from the compulsory exclusion of the parties interested from its adoption, the political rights of women under the old const.i.tution still remain. Mrs. Stone stated these points to the judges of election with clearness and precision. After consultation, the votes of the ladies were refused. The crowd surrounding the polls gathered about the ballot-box and listened to the discussion with respectful attention; but every one behaved with the politeness which gentlemen always manifest in the presence of ladies.

The women of New Jersey may have been roused to a.s.sert their right to vote by an earnest appeal of that veteran of equal rights, Parker Pillsbury, in _The Revolution_ of March 25, 1868, suggested by the following:

At the recent election in Vineland, New Jersey, a unanimous vote in favor of "no rum" was polled. The Vineland _Weekly_ says: "Among the incidents of the late election was the appearance of a woman at the polls. Having provided herself with a ballot, she marched up to the rostrum and tendered it to the chairman of the board of registry. The veteran politician, John Kandle, covered with blushes, was obliged to inform the lady that no one could vote unless his name was registered. She acquiesced in the decision very readily, saying she only wished to test a principle, and retired very quietly from the hall."

While thus mentioning the women with uncounted votes, it may be well to embalm here a historical fact, published in April, 1868:

In the year 1824 widows were allowed to vote in New Jersey on their husbands' tax receipts. The election officers paid great deference to the widows on these occasions, and took particular care to send carriages after them, so as to get their votes early and make sure of them. The writer of this has often heard his grandmother state that she voted for John Quincy Adams for president of the United States when he was elected to that office. Her name was Sarah Sparks, and she voted at Barnsboro', her husband having died the year previous.

N. M. WALLINGTON, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

Miss Anthony held a spirited meeting in Rahway on Christmas eve, December 24, 1867. The following October, 1868, Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony attended a two days' convention in Vineland, and helped to rouse the enthusiasm of the people. A friend, writing from there, gives us the following:

The Unitarian church in this town is highly favored in having for its pastor a young man of progressive and thoroughly liberal ideas. Rev. Oscar Clute is well known as an earnest advocate in the cause of woman. Last Sunday the communion or Lord's Supper was administered in his church. One of the laymen who usually a.s.sists in the distribution of the bread and wine, was absent, and Mr. Clute invited one of the women to officiate in his stead.

She did so in such a sweet and hospitable manner that it gave new interest to the occasion. Even those who do not like innovations could not find fault. And why should any one be displeased? The Christ of the sacrament was the emanc.i.p.ator of women. In olden time they had deaconesses, and in most of our churches women const.i.tute a majority of the communicants, so it seems particularly appropriate that they should be served by women.

Women vote on all matters connected with this church, they are on all "standing committees," and sometimes are chosen and act as trustees.

Rev. Phebe A. Hanaford sends us the following reports of the progress of the movement in this State:

While Lucy Stone resided in New Jersey, she held several series of meetings in the chief towns and cities before the formation of the State Society.[276] The agitation that began in 1867 was probably due to her, more than to any other one person in that State. The State society was organized in the autumn of 1867, and from year to year its annual meetings have been held in Vineland, Newark, Trenton, and other cities. On its list of officers[277]

are some of the best men and women in the State. Several distinguished names from other States are among the speakers[278]

who have taken part in their conventions. County and local societies too have been extensively organized. These a.s.sociations have circulated tracts and appeals, memorialized the legislature, and had various hearings before that body. At the annual meeting held in Newark February 15, 1871, the following memorial to the legislature, prepared by Mary F. Davis, was unanimously adopted:

_To the Honorable the Senate and General a.s.sembly of the State of New Jersey:_

Section 2, Article 1, of the const.i.tution of the State of New Jersey, expressly declares that "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is inst.i.tuted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right at all times to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it." Throughout the entire article the words "people" and "person" are used, as if to apply to all the inhabitants of the State. In direct contradiction to this broad and just affirmation, section 1, article 2, begins with the restrictive and unjust sentence: "Every white male citizen of the United States, at the age of twenty-one years * * * shall be ent.i.tled to vote," etc., and the section ends with the specification that "no pauper, idiot, insane person, or person convicted of a crime * * *

shall enjoy the right of an elector."

Of the word "white" in this article your memorialists need not speak, as it is made a dead letter by the limitations of the fifteenth amendment to the United States const.i.tution.

To the second restriction, indicated by the word "male" we beg leave to call the attention of the legislature, as we deem it unjust and arbitrary, as well as contradictory to the spirit of the const.i.tution, as expressed in the first article. It is also contrary to the precedent established by the founders of political liberty in New Jersey. On the second of July, 1776, the provincial congress of New Jersey, at Burlington, adopted a const.i.tution which remained in force until 1844; in which section 4 specified as voters, "all the inhabitants of this Colony, of full age," etc. In 1790, a committee of the legislature reported a bill regulating elections, in which the words "he and she" are applied to voters, thus giving legislative endors.e.m.e.nt to the alleged meaning of the const.i.tution.