“To the Honorable President and Members of the Convention of the State of Louisiana, convened for the purpose of framing a new Constitution:
“Petition of the undersigned, citizens of the State of Louisiana, respectfully represents:
“That up to the present time, all women, of whatever age or capacity, have been debarred from the right of representation, notwithstanding the burdensome taxes which they have paid.
“They have been excluded from holding office save in cases of special tutorship in limited degree—or of administration only in specified cases.
“They have been debarred from being witnesses in wills or notarial acts, even when executed by their own sex.
“They look upon this condition of things as a grievance proper to be brought before your honorable body for consideration and relief.
“As a question of civilization, we look upon the enfranchisement of women as an all important one. In Wyoming, where it has been tried for ten years, the Lawmakers and Clergy unite in declaring that this influx of women voters has done more to promote law, morality and order, than thousands of armed men could have accomplished.
“Should the entire franchise seem too extended a privilege, we most earnestly urge the adoption of a property qualification, and that women may also be allowed a vote on school and educational matters, involving as they do the interests of women and children in a great degree.
“So large a proportion of the taxes of Louisiana is paid by women, many of them without male representatives, that in granting consideration and relief for grievances herein complained of, the people will recognize Justice and Equity; that to woman as well as man ‘taxation without representation is tyranny,’ she being ‘a person, a citizen, a freeholder, a taxpayer,’ the same as man, only the government has never held out the same fostering, protecting hand to all alike, nor ever will, until women are directly represented.
“Wherefore, we, your petitioners, pray that some suitable provision remedying these evils be incorporated in the Constitution you are about to frame.”