d, "I am doing but little now on the
suffrage question, for I will not stoop longer to ask of any
congress or legislature for that which I know to be mine by the
divine law of nature."

In 1857, Mrs. Jane Grey Swisshelm settled at St. Cloud, where she
lived until 1863, editing the St. Cloud _Democrat_, the organ of
the Republican party, and making a heroic fight for freedom and
equality. In 1860 she spoke in the Hall of Representatives, on
Anti-slavery; in 1862 she was invited to speak before the Senate
on woman's rights, and was listened to with great respect.[433]

In 1866, at a Fourth of July celebration, Mrs. Stearns accepted
an invitation to respond to the sentiment, "Our young and growing
State; may she ever be an honor to her citizens." This offered
her an opportunity for an off-hand woman suffrage speech, which
elicited hearty cheers, and gave, as an old gentleman present
said, "something fresh to think of and act upon." About this time
the friends of equality began petitioning the legislature for an
amendment to the constitution, striking out the word "male."
Through the efforts of Mr. A. G. Spaulding--the editor of the
_Anoka Star_--and others, these petitions were referred to a
special committee which granted a hearing to Mrs. Colburn and
Mrs. Stearns in 1867. Mrs. Colburn read a carefully prepared
argument, and Mrs. Stearns sent a letter, both of which were
ordered to be printed. In 1868 a bill was introduced proposing to
submit the desired amendment, but when brought to a vote it was
defeated by a majority of one.

In March, 1869, _The Revolution_ copied from the Martin County
_Atlas_ the following:

Show us the man who from the bottom of his heart, laying
aside his prejudices and speaking the unbiased truth, will
not say that women should have the same rights that he
himself enjoys, and we will show you a narrow-minded
sycophant, a cruel, selfish tyrant, or one that has not the
moral courage to battle for a principle he knows to be just.
Equal rights before the law is justice to all, and the more
education we give our children and ourselves, as a people,
the sooner shall we have equal rights. May the glorious
cause speed on.

In 1869, a suffrage society was organiz