Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
It is claimed that "admission to the bar constitutes an office."
Every woman postmaster, pension agent and notary public
throughout the land is a bonded officer of the government. The
Western States have elected women as school superintendents and
appointed them as enrolling and engrossing clerks in their
several legislatures, and as State librarians. Of what use are
our seminaries and colleges for women if after they have passed
through the curriculum of the schools there is for them no
preferment, and no emolument; no application of the knowledge of
the arts and sciences acquired, and no recognition of the
excellence attained?
But this country, now in the second year of the second century of
her history, is no longer in her leading strings, that she should
look to Mother England for a precedent to do justice to the
daughters of the land. She had to make a precedent when the first
male lawyer was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme
Court. Ah! this country is one that has not hesitated when the
necessity has arisen to make precedents and write them in blood.
There was no precedent for this free republican government and
the war of the rebellion; no precedent for the emancipation of
the slave; no precedent for the labor strikes of last summer. The
more extended practice, and the more extended public opinion
referred to by the learned chancellor have already been
accomplished. Ah! that very opinion, telegraphed throughout the
land by the associated press, brought back the response of the
people as on the wings of the wind asking you for that special
act now so nearly consummated, which shall open this professional
door to women.
BELVA A. LOCKWOOD, _Attorney and Solicitor_.
_Washington, D. C._, March 7, 1878.
Mrs. Lockwood's bill, with Senator Edmond's adverse report, was
reached on the Senate calendar April 22, 1878, and provoked a
spirited discussion. Hon. A. A. Sargent, made a gallant fight in
favor of the bill, introducing the following amendment:
No person shall be excluded from practicing as an attorney
and counselor at law in any court of the United States on
account of sex.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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