A rare relic from the Civil War linking the suffragist and abolitionist movements. The Women’s Loyal National League was formed on 14 May, 1863 by two vital figures in the suffragist movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) and Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906).
“Although the Women’s League built on the precedents set by women abolitionist petitioners in the 1830s, its organizers planned to do more. They hoped to create a political pressure group of women who would have an influence on the presidential election in 1864. Thus, Cady Stanton and Anthony endeavored to combine the goals of emancipation of the slaves with women’s rights” (Davis). Indeed, they collected 400,000 signatures for this petition, which was presented to Charles Sumner in February 1864 and proved essential to passing the Thirteenth Amendment.
The petition reads: “The Undersigned, Men of the United States above the age of eighteen years, earnestly pray that your Honorable Body will pass, at the earliest practicable day, an Act emancipating all Persons of African descent held to involuntary service or labor in the United States.”
OCLC locates copies at Harvard and the Library Company of Philadelphia.
Davis, S., The Political Thought of Elizabeth Cady Stanton … (New York, 2008) p.122.
