mental in passing in the face of
ridicule and violent opposition. These amendments were: The abolition
of simple dower, giving to widows instead, a fee simple interest;
procuring for women the right to their own earnings; abolishing
tenancy by courtesy, which, in effect, made the husband the
beneficiary of the wife's lands, and in several matters of less
radical change rectifying, so far as he could, the injustice of the
common law toward widows; always keeping in view, however, the proper
heirship of children of a former marriage, and guarding the rights of
creditors.

In the matter of the divorce laws of Indiana, my father has not taken
as prominent a part as is generally supposed. These laws were referred
to him in conjunction with another member of the Legislature for the
revision, and they amended them in a single point, namely: by adding
to the causes for divorce "habitual drunkenness for two years." My
father has expressed himself in full on this point in a discussion
between Horace Greeley and himself, first published in the _New York
Tribune_.

As early as 1828, my father advocated an equal position for woman,
publishing these views through _The Free Enquirer_, a weekly paper
edited by Frances Wright and himself in New York.

My father's political life comprised several terms in the Legislature
of his own State, being elected in 1850 a member of the Convention
which amended the Constitution of Indiana, and chairman of its
Revision Committee. The debates in this Convention show the difference
in the position of my father and his antagonists.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATES.

Mr. OWEN: No subject of greater importance has come up since we
met here, as next in estimation to the right of enjoying life and
liberty, our Constitution enumerates the right of acquiring,
possessing, protecting property. And these sections refer to the
latter right, heretofore declared to be natural, inherent,
inalienable, yet virtually withheld from one-half the citizens of
our State. Women are not represented in our legislative halls;
they have no voice in selecting those who make laws and
constitutions for them; and one reason given for excluding women
from the right of suffrage, is an expression of confident belief
that their husbands and fathers will surely guard their
interests. I should like, for the honor of my sex, to believe
that the lega