Rochester, Dec. 8, 1853.
Petition for the Just and Equal Rights of Women.—The Legislature of the State of New York have, by the Acts of 1848 and 1849, testified the purpose of the people of this State to place married women on an equality with married men, in regard to the holding, conveying, and devising of real and personal property. We, therefore, the undersigned petitioners, inhabitants of the State of New York, male and female, having attained to the legal majority, believing that women, alike married and single, do still suffer under many and grievous legal disabilities, do earnestly request the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York to appoint a Joint Committee of both Houses, to revise the Statutes of New York, and to propose such amendments as will fully establish the legal equality of women with men; and we hereby ask a hearing before such Committee by our accredited Representatives.
Petition for Woman's Right to Suffrage.—Whereas, according to the Declaration of our National Independence, governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, we earnestly request the Legislature of New York to propose to the people of the State such amendments of the Constitution of the State as will secure to females an equal right to the Elective Franchise with males; and we hereby ask a hearing before the Legislature by our accredited Representatives.
N. B.—Editors throughout the State in favor of this movement are respectfully requested to publish this address and the petitions.
[126] President.—Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Vice-Presidents.—Rev. S. J. May, Ernestine L. Rose, New York; Hon. William Hay Saratoga; William H. Topp, Albany; Lydia A. Jenkins, Geneva; Lydia Mott, Albany; Mary F. Love, Randolph.
Business Committee.—Rev. Antoinette L. Brown, South Butler; W. H. Channing, Rochester; Mrs. Catherine A. F. Stebbins, Mrs. Phebe H. Jones, Troy.
Secretaries.—Susan B. Anthony, Sarah Pellet.
Finance Committee.—Mary S. Anthony, Rochester; Anna W. Anthony, Cayuga.
[127] An Act Relative to the Rights of Married Women:—The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: