Life and writings of Amelia BloomerBloomer, D. C. (Dexter C.)
History
Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer
Bloomer, D. C. (Dexter C.)
Bloomer, Amelia Jenks, 1818-1894; Women's rights -- United States
“We suppose the wise legislators consider the question settled
beyond dispute, but we fear they will have some trouble with it
yet. Although it may be an easy matter for them to arrive at such
a conclusion, it will be quite another thing to make women believe
it. We are not so blind to the weakness or imperfections of man
as to set his word above that of our Maker, or so ready to yield
obedience to his laws as to place them before the laws of God.
However blindly we may be led by him, however much we may yield to
his acquired power over us, we cannot yet fall down and worship him
as our superior. Some men even act as though women had no souls,
but it remained for the legislature of Tennessee to speak it to the
world.
“We have not designed _ourself_ saying much on the subject of
‘Woman’s Rights;’ but we see and hear so much that is calculated
to keep our sex down and impress us with a conviction of our
inferiority and helplessness, that we feel compelled to act on the
defensive and stand for what we consider our just rights. If things
are coming to such a pass as that indicated by the above decision,
we think it high time that women should open their eyes and look
where they stand. It is quite time that their rights _should be
discussed_, and that woman herself should enter the contest.
“We have ever felt that in regard to property, and also as to many
other things, the laws were unjust to women. Men make laws without
consulting us, and of course they will make them all in their own
favor, especially as we are powerless and cannot contend for our
rights. We believe that most women are capable of taking care of
their own property, and that they have the right to hold it, and
to dispose of it as they please, man’s decision to the contrary
notwithstanding. As for ourselves, we have no fears but we could
take care of a fortune if we had one, without any assistance from
legislators or lawyers, and we should think them meddling with what
did not concern them should they undertake to control it for us.
“The legislature of our own state has taken a step in advance on
this subject and granted to women the right to their own property.
We trust this is but a forecast of the enlightened sentiment of
the people of New York, and that it will pave the way to greater
privileges, and the final elevation of women to that position
in society which shall entitle her opinions to respect and
consideration.”
FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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