Welcome to the Posey Circuit Court
|
Welcome to the Posey Circuit Court
|
|
|
GAVEL GAMuT
by Judge Jim Redwine
“Remember the Ladies”
When John Adams went off to Philadelphia in 1776 to help in the birth of our country, he left Abigail behind in Massachusetts to rear their children and run their farm. And while Abigail fully supported the revolution against the British, she did not shirk her duty in the Battle of the Sexes. Abigail wrote to remind John that while he was struggling for “The Rights of Man” he should: “…[R]emember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could.” And if this appeal to fairness and reason did not melt the hearts and convince the minds of the original Philadelphia 76ers, perhaps Abigail’s stern warning would: “If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or representation.” I suspect John was more than a little concerned when he returned home. Those Yankee winters can be cold! As the wife of our second president and the mother of our sixth, John Quincy Adams, Abigail wielded great influence on such matters as women’s rights and the eventual abolition of slavery. She called for the education of women and Negroes. She even enrolled a young Black man in school in spite of fierce opposition. Of course, Abigail was saddled with day to day chores of caring for her family even as she engaged these great issues. She was the first First Lady to live in the White House (which was not nearly finished when she moved in). She had to make do and did so, even hanging laundry on makeshift clotheslines inside the empty rooms. For, as most women, Abigail, also, had at least two jobs. Another Lady who should be remembered is Dolly Madison who was married to “that great little” James Madison who was most responsible for drafting our Constitution. As First Lady in 1814, she braved the British assault on our capital and refused to leave the White House without George Washington’s portrait and many valuable governmental documents. Dolly Madison and Abigail Adams are among the many women who make it impossible to forget “The Ladies” and what they have meant to our country. If you have nothing to do for ten minutes next week and are so inclined, check in and we can discuss my favorite Posey County lady (say revolutionary if you wish) from the 19th Century. She was known as Mad Fanny! |
|
Send mail to pcc@sigecom.net with
questions or comments about this web site.
|