[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11328-H11330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING MARTHA COFFIN WRIGHT ON THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER BIRTH 
        AND HER INDUCTION INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 588) recognizing Martha Coffin Wright 
on the 200th anniversary of her birth and her induction into the 
National Women's Hall of Fame.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 588

       Whereas, Martha Coffin Wright, sister of Lucretia Coffin 
     Mott, was one of five organizers of the First Woman's Rights 
     Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848;
       Whereas from this convention came the ``Declaration of 
     Sentiments'', an appeal for basic rights for women, modeled 
     on the Declaration of Independence;
       Whereas when Martha Wright helped to plan the Seneca Falls 
     Convention, she was six months pregnant with her seventh 
     child, epitomizing the personal strength and dedication of 
     the participants of the women's rights movement;
       Whereas the sites associated with the First Woman's Rights 
     Convention are preserved in the Women's Rights National 
     Historic Park in Seneca Falls, New York;
       Whereas after the Seneca Falls Convention, Martha Wright 
     participated in many State and national women's rights 
     conventions in various capacities, often serving as 
     president;
       Whereas during the antebellum years, Martha Wright was 
     active in the abolition movement, attended the founding 
     meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia 
     in 1833, and later presided over numerous anti-slavery 
     meetings;
       Whereas Martha Wright's home in Auburn, New York, was part 
     of the Underground Railroad; and
       Whereas slavery was abolished in 1865 with the ratification 
     of the Thirteenth Amendment, and women's suffrage was 
     achieved in 1920 with the ratification of the Nineteenth 
     Amendment: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the 200th birthday of Martha Coffin Wright;
       (2) recognizes the induction of Martha Coffin Wright into 
     the National Women's Hall of Fame; and
       (3) honors the accomplishments of Martha Coffin Wright in 
     her fight for equal rights for all Americans.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

[[Page H11329]]

                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield such time 
as he might consume to the author of this legislation, Representative 
Michael Arcuri from New York.
  Mr. ARCURI. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of suffragette and 
abolitionist Martha Coffin Wright. Martha Coffin was born in 
Massachusetts on Christmas Day 1806, the youngest child of Thomas and 
Anna Coffin. After her father's death from typhus in 1815, Martha's 
mother assumed the responsibilities of the family's business, setting 
an example of an independent, self-reliant woman that would shape 
Martha's views about the role of women in society. In 1824 Martha 
Coffin married Peter Pelham. Soon the couple moved to a frontier fort 
in Florida where Martha would give birth to her first daughter. 
Tragically, Peter died 2 years later in 1826 leaving Martha a 19-year-
old widow with an infant child. To support herself and her daughter, 
she moved to Auburn, New York, to teach painting and writing at a 
Quaker school for girls. Soon after relocating to Auburn, she met and 
married a law student named David Wright with whom she would have six 
more children. In July of 1848, Martha's older sister, Lucretia Coffin 
Mott, a prominent Quaker preacher visited Martha's home in Auburn. 
During the visit, Martha, Lucretia, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton met to 
plan the Seneca Falls Convention at which 68 women and 32 men would 
sign the Declaration of Sentiments. This revolutionary document, 
modeled on the Declaration of Independence, stated that all men and 
women are created equal. It would be another 72 years before the 19th 
amendment gave American women the right to vote.
  In the years following the Seneca Falls Convention, Martha Coffin 
Wright was also active in the abolition movement. With her sister, 
Lucretia, she attended the founding meeting of the American antislavery 
society in Philadelphia in 1833 and later presided over numerous 
antislavery meetings, including two in upstate New York, in early 1861 
that were disrupted by angry anti-abolitionist mobs. Martha bravely 
opened her home in Auburn to the Underground Railroad in Auburn where 
she harbored fugitive slaves. In 1863 Martha and other women's rights 
activists formed the Women's National Loyal League to carry petitions 
for the abolition of slavery which would finally be achieved in 1865 
with the ratification of the 13th amendment.
  After the Civil War, Martha was also instrumental in the formation of 
the American Equal Rights Association, which attempted to merge the 
issues of black suffrage and women's suffrage; and in early 1874 she 
was elected president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. In 
December 1874, Martha took ill with typhoid pneumonia and died in 
Boston on January 4, 1865, at the age of 68.
  Madam Speaker, Martha Coffin Wright's dedication and commitment 
should inspire all of us. I am proud to represent the region of upstate 
New York where Martha Coffin Wright and countless others fought 
tirelessly for equal rights for all. I am proud to represent the people 
of Seneca Falls, New York, who established the National Women's Hall of 
Fame in 1969 to honor the contributions of great American women with a 
permanent home. I was honored to attend the induction of Martha Coffin 
Wright into the Hall of Fame this past weekend.
  I am proud to represent the birthplace of the women's rights 
movement, the importance of which was recognized by Congress in 1980 
with the creation of the Women's Rights National Historical Park in 
Seneca Falls.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to once again join me in honoring 
the contributions of Martha Coffin Wright and reaffirming the 
historical significance of Seneca Falls, New York with a voice vote in 
favor of House Resolution 588 recognizing the achievement of a truly 
great American, Martha Coffin Wright.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York for 
introducing this bill.
  Martha Coffin Wright was the quintessential women's rights pioneer 
long before most women entertained the notion. She, along with her 
sister, Lucretia, spent their entire lives fighting for basic rights 
for women. She had a strong, independent mother who served as a 
powerful role model. In 1848, Mrs. Wright decided, along with others, 
to hold a convention in Seneca Falls to discuss the need for 
substantial women's rights. The significance of that first convention 
was recognized by Congress in 1980 when Women's Rights National 
Historical Park was created. The bronze statue to Mrs. Wright at the 
park shows that at the time of the convention she was 6 months pregnant 
while she participated in the convention.

                              {time}  1445

  This was particularly remarkable at a time in history when women 
didn't often go in public as an activist, much less when they were 
pregnant.
  After the Seneca Falls Convention, Mrs. Wright served as president 
and in other leadership positions in many other women's rights 
conventions. Martha Wright was also a fervent abolitionist, and her 
home in Auburn, New York, was a station on the Underground Railroad. 
She often allowed fugitive slaves to sleep in her kitchen.
  Martha Coffin Wright was truly a woman whose significant 
accomplishments and contributions to both women's rights and civil 
rights set her apart as a leader and pioneer. Because of these, I rise 
today to recognize Martha Coffin Wright on the 200th anniversary of her 
birth and induction into the National Women's Hall of fame.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the 
consideration of H. Res. 588, a bill that recognizes Martha Coffin 
Wright on the 200th anniversary of her birth and her induction into the 
National Women's Hall of Fame. H. Res. 588, which has 55 cosponsors, 
was introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Arcuri) on July 31, 
2007. H. Res. 588 was reported from the Oversight Committee on 
September 4, 2007, by a voice vote.
  Madam Speaker, Martha Coffin Wright was the youngest of eight 
children, and her sister Lucretia Coffin Mott was the second oldest. 
The two sisters worked tireless hours as activists for women's rights. 
Mrs. Wright participated in many State and national women's rights 
conventions in various capacities, often serving as president. She was 
also active in the abolition movement.
  With her sister, Mrs. Mott, Mrs. Wright attended the founding meeting 
of the American Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia in 1833. Later, 
she presided over many anti-slavery meetings which were often disrupted 
by angry anti-abolitionist mobs. She used her home in Auburn, New York, 
as a station on the Underground Railroad to help runaway slaves gain 
their freedom. Mrs. Wright was a good friend and supporter of Harriet 
Tubman.
  Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Arcuri) for seeking to honor the life and accomplishments of Mrs. 
Wright and remind us all of what she and other people like her taught, 
a lesson that we remember even to this day, and that is the primary 
right that we actually have is the right to struggle. Those who would 
dare to struggle would dare to be victorious.
  Madam Speaker, again, I commend my colleague from New York (Mr. 
Arcuri) for his introduction of this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Berkley). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 588.

[[Page H11330]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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