The woman does not grumble at that; but still when he dies owning real estate, she gets only the rental value of one-third, which is called the widow’s dower.  Now I think the man ought to have the rental value of one-third of the woman’s maiden property or real estate, and it ought to be called the widower’s dower.  It would be just as fair for one as for the other.  All that I want is equality.

The women of our State, as I said before, are taxed without representation.  The tax-gatherer comes every year and demands taxes.  For twenty years have I paid tax under protest, and if I live twenty years longer I shall pay it under protest every time.  The tax-gatherer came to my place not long since.  “Well,” said I, “good morning, sir.”  Said he, “Good morning.”  He smiled and said, “I have come bothering you.”  Said I, “I know your face well.  You have come to get a right nice little woman’s tongue-lashing.”  Said he, “I suppose so, but if you will just pay your tax I will leave.”  I paid the tax, “But,” said I, “remember I pay it under protest, and if I ever pay another tax I intend to have the protest written and make the tax-gatherer sign it before I pay the tax, and if he will not sign that protest then I shall not pay the tax, and there will be a fight at once.”  Said he, “Why do you keep all the time protesting against paying this small tax?” Said I, “Why do you pay your tax?” “Well,” said he, “I would not pay it if I did not vote.”  Said I, “That is the very reason why I do not want to pay it.  I can not vote and I do not want to pay it.”  Now the women have no right when election day comes around.  Who stay at home from the election?  The women and the black and white men who have been to the whipping-post.  Nice company to put your wives and daughters in.

It is said that the women do not want to vote.  Here is an array of women.  Every woman sitting here wants to vote, and must we be debarred the privilege of voting because some luxurious woman, rolling around in her carriage and pair in her little downy nest that some good, benevolent man has provided for her, does not want to vote?

There was a society that existed up in the State of New York called the Covenanters that never voted.  A man who belonged to that sect or society, a man whiter-haired than any of you, said to me, “I never voted.  I never intended to vote, I never felt that I could conscientiously support a Government that had its Constitution blotted and blackened with the word ‘slave,’ and I never did vote until after the abolition of slavery.”  Now, were all you men disfranchised because that class or sect up in New York would not vote?  Did you all pay your taxes and stay at home and refrain from voting because the Covenanters did not vote?  Not a bit of it.  You went to the election and told them to stay at home if they wanted to, but that you, as citizens, were going to take care of yourselves.  That was right.  We, as citizens, want to take