Book/Printed Material And the truth shall make you free" : a speech on the principles of social freedom, delivered in Steinway Hall, Nov. 20, 1871 National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
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Image 1 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom “And the Truth shall make your Free.” A SPEECH on The Principles of Social Freedom, DELIVERED IN Steinway Hall, Monday, Nov. 20, 1871, BY VICTORIA C. WOODHULL, To an audience of 3,000…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 2 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom THE PRESENT CRISIS. When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad earth's aching breast Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from East to West, And the slave, where'er…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 3 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom Count me o'er earth's chosen heroes—they were somle that stood alone While the men they agonized for hurled the contumclioumtone Stood serene, and down the future saw the golden beam incline To…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 4 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom The Principles of Social Freedom. It has been said by a very wise person that there is a trinity in all things, the perfect unity of the trinity or a tri-unity being…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 5 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 4 We find the principle of Individual freedom was quite dormant until it began to speak against the right of religious despots, to determine what views should be advocated regarding the relations…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 6 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 5 King George III, and his Parliament denied our forefathers the right to make their own laws; they rebelled, and being successful, inaugurated this government. But men do not seem to comprehend…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 7 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 6 ownership in, another person, can have any valid objection to anything expressed in these resolutions. Those who are not willing to give up control over others; who desire to own somebody…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 8 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 7 equivocation. It means that every person who comes into the world of outward existence is of equal right as an individual, and is free as an individual, and that he or…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 9 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 8 From these generalizations certain specializations are deducible, by which all questions of rights must be determined: 1. Every living person has certain rights of which no law can rightfully deprive him.…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 10 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 9 forth in the law of their combination. Hence a government erected by the people is invested, not with the rights of the people, but with the duty of protecting and maintaining…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 11 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 10 appropriates does neither good to himself nor to any one else, and makes the loser poor indeed. Such persons are the worst enemies of society. I have been thus explicit in…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 12 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 11 in contracting for an hour, a day, a week, a year, a decade, or a life, and neither the government nor any other third party or persons, or aggregates of persons…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 13 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 12 today we stand upon the threshold of greater in more important things than have ever interested the intellect of man. We have arrived where the very foundation of all that has…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 14 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 13 If there be any who are not in harmony with this desire, then such have nothing to do with what I have to say, for it will be said regardless of…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 15 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 14 Or are both these processes required—first, the marriage union without the law, to be afterward solemnized by the law? If both terms are required, does the marriage continue after the first…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 16 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 15 If the test of the rights of the individual be applied to determine which of these propositions is the true one, what will be the result? Two persons, a male and…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 17 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 16 concluded, then, if individuals have the Constitutional right to pursue happiness in their own way, that all compelling laws of marriage and divorce are despotic, being remnants of the barbaric ages…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 18 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 17 Such is the character of the law that permeates nature from simplest organic forms—units of nucleated protoplasm to the most complex aggregation thereof—the human form. Having determined that marriage consists of…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 19 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 18 to which I refer, but of which I shudder to think, are not abuses of the sexual relations, what are? You may or may not think there is help for them,…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 20 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 19 existing would begin to turn into order and harmony. What then creates social disorder? Very clearly, the attempt to exercise powers over human rights which are not warrantable upon the hypothesis…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 21 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 20 upon, as to their personal rights, rights of property, of children, or whatever else they may deem proper for them to agree upon. And whatever these articles might be, they should…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 22 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 21 But, says another objector, though the repeal of marriage laws might operate well enough in all those cases where a mutual love or hate would determine continuous marriage or immediate divorce,…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 23 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 22 Now, let me ask, would it not rather be the Christian way, in such cases, to say to the disaffected party: “Since you no longer love me, go your way and…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 24 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 23 heart of such a woman in such a relation is “thy neighbor,” and that woman is “thy neighbor's wife” meant in the commandment; and whosoever, though he should have been a…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 25 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 24 the further right to demand a free and unrestricted exercise of that right, and it is your duty not only to accord it, but, as a community, to see that I…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 26 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 25 or promulgate a new doctrine, that they give it a name significant of its character. There are, however, exceptional cases to be found in all ages. The Jews coined the name…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 27 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 26 shall be fully understood that this is the love which we mean and commend there will be no objection to the term Free Love, and none to the thing signified. We…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 28 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 27 in crying down anything as of the devil to which name attaches that angels love. It may be very proper and legitimate, and withal perfectly consistent, for philosophers of the Tribune…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 29 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 28 clear, I will give it by illustration. Suppose that a pagan should be converted to Christianity through the efforts of some Christian minister, and that the remaining pagans should kill that…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 30 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 29 not the letter, of your marriage theory, which is slavery, and not freedom. I have a better right to speak, as one having authority in this matter, than most of you…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 31 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 30 myself to such as have souls, and whose souls are in question; if you belong to the other sort, take advice of a Tombs lawyer and not of me. I have…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 32 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 31 learn this great fact, they will have just begun to know how to live. Instead then of being the destroying angel of the household, I would become the angel of purification…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 33 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 32 choose to remain in debauch, and if our brothers choose to visit them there, they are only exercising the same right that we exercise in remaining away, and we have no…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 34 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 33 equally as good as were they, could gain fellowship in any of your Fifth avenue church palaces, since they were nothing more than the humblest of fishermen, of no social or…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 35 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 34 as just as respectable as the men who support them, society will remain in its present scale of moral excellence. A man who is well known to have been the constant…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 36 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 35 consorts with a man who consorts with other women, is equally, with them and him, morally responsible, since the receiver is held to be as culpable as the thief. The false…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 37 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 36 a means of physical gratification, regardless of the consequences which may result therefrom, and are administered by the dictum of the husband, which is often in direct opposition to the will…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 38 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 37 their real cause. Yet women, in the first instance, and men through them as their mothers, with an ignorant persistence worthy only of the most savage despotism, seem determined that it…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 39 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 38 pure and true. Every day farther and wider does it spread, and bolder does it speak. None too soon will the yoke fall by which the unwilling are made to render…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
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Image 40 of National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection copy
Speech on the principles of social freedom 39 itself. Now the whole difficulty in marriage law is that it endeavors to compel unity between elements in which it is impossible; consequently there is an attempt made to subvert not…- Contributor: Stone, Lucy - National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress) - Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)
- Date: 1871
About this Item
Title
- And the truth shall make you free" : a speech on the principles of social freedom, delivered in Steinway Hall, Nov. 20, 1871
Other Title
- Speech on the principles of social freedom
Summary
- This speech defends Woodhull's advocacy of free love or social freedom, which served to create divisions within the women's rights movement and led eventually to her ostracism by some women's rights associations.
Names
- Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin), 1838-1927
- Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893, former owner
- National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress)
Created / Published
- New York : Woodhull, Claflin & Co., 1871.
Headings
- - Free love
Medium
- 43 p. ; 25 cm.
Call Number/Physical Location
- HQ964 .M37
- JK1881 .N357 sec. I, no. 144, #11 Another issue. 45 p. 23 cm. Formerly owned by Lucy Stone. Gift of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, Nov. 1, 1938.
Digital Id
Library of Congress Control Number
- 09008216
Online Format
- online text
- image
LCCN Permalink
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Format
Contributor
- National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection (Library of Congress)
- Stone, Lucy
- Woodhull, Victoria C. (Victoria Claflin)