constitution is the fundamental law, its provisions should
be general in their character, equally recognizing the
rights of all its citizens by its protective powers. Our
National principle, that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed, is becoming more
and more widely recognized.

At an early day suffrage was restricted by qualifications of
property and education in many of the States, and the
removal of such restrictions has been left entirely to the
States, except in the one instance of color. Within the last
two decades, by amendments to the national constitution, all
States are forbidden to exclude citizens from the ballot
upon that account.

As "sex" is now the only remaining disqualification, on
behalf of the National Woman Suffrage Association I ask you
to omit the word "male" from your proposed constitution, and
leave the women of Dakota free to exercise the right of
suffrage. We simply ask you to make your State a true
republic, in which all your citizens may stand equal before
the law. While foreign men of every nation are welcomed to
your magnificent prairies as equals, it is humiliating to
the women of the territory, who are helping you to develop
its resources, who have endured with you all the hardships
of pioneer life, to be treated as inferiors, outside the
pale of political consideration. It should be the pride of
Dakota to take the initiative step in the legislation of the
period, now steadily growing more liberal, and by one
generous and graceful act accord to the women of this
territory all the rights, privileges and immunities that men
claim for themselves.

MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE,
_Vice-President-at-Large, N. W. S. A._

_Aberdeen, Dakota, Sept. 3, 1883._

It is to be regretted that the argument presented by Mrs. Gage
could not convince that honorable body of the injustice of laws
towards woman. To me was given the privilege of addressing the
convention. I said:

_Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention_: The honor
conferred on me, of being allowed to a