Liberty Party , and women’s voting rights

October 19, 1855

Here is a brief exchange between William Goodell and Garrison. Goodell writes to Garrison, saying that he is mistaken in thinking that he (Goodell) makes “the condition of voting  to depend upon sex”; Goodell claims that he is a member of the Liberty Party, which Party is in favor of women voting.  Garrison’s response claims that the Liberty Party has sworn to sustain the Constitution of the State of New York; that state Constitution says that only men, of certain age, and possessions are entitled to vote.  Garrison says “..the Liberty Party goes, in theory, for equal political rights, without regard to sex or complexion”, but practically, “it says that such proscription is no outrage, by swearing to sustain the Constitution of New York.”