.
Blake, the president of the society, introduced the speakers.[252]
A few days later the same committee gave a special hearing to Mrs.
Gougar, who made the journey from Indiana to present the case. The
committee reported adversely, but by the able tactics of General
Husted, after an animated debate the bill was placed on the
calendar by a vote of 66 to 62, and shortly after ordered to a
third reading by a vote of 74 to 39. On May 8 the bill was reached
for final action. Frederick B. Howe of New York was the principal
opponent, trying to obstruct legislation by one and another
pretext. General Husted took the floor in an able speech on the
constitutionality of the bill, and the vote stood 57 ayes to 61
noes, lacking eight votes of the requisite 65.

While the right of suffrage is still denied, gains in personal and
property rights have been granted:

In 1880, the law requiring the private acknowledgment by a
married woman of her execution of deeds, or other written
instruments, without the "fear or compulsion" of her husband, was
abolished, leaving the wife to make, take and certify in the same
manner as if she were a _feme sole_.

March 21, 1884, the penal code of the State was amended, raising
the age of consent from ten to sixteen years, and also providing
penalties[253] for inveigling or enticing any unmarried woman,
under the age of twenty-five years, into a house of ill-fame or
assignation.

Under the act of May 28, 1884, a married woman may contract to
the same extent, with like effect and in the same form as if
unmarried, and she and her separate estate shall be liable
thereon, whether such contract relates to her separate business
or estate, or otherwise, and in no case shall a charge upon her
separate estate be necessary.

It is by court decisions that we most readily learn the legal
status of married women, under the favorable legislation of the
period covered by this History. While referring the reader to
Abbott's Digest of New York Laws for full knowledge upon this
point, we give a few of the more recent decisions as illustrating
general legal opinion:

TROY, March 23, 1882.--The Court of Appeals decided that married
women are the rightful owners of articles of personal adornment
or convenience coming from husbands, and can bequeath them to
their heirs. The court held that separate and personal posse