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It's Obscenity Law Thread time!
So, we all remember Anthony Comstock, right? Do we remember that he had Comstock Law named after him so they could prosecute people mailing filthy things through USPS?
This is part of how he got Comstock Law in 1873.
It's Obscenity Law Thread time!
So, we all remember Anthony Comstock, right? Do we remember that he had Comstock Law named after him so they could prosecute people mailing filthy things through USPS?
This is part of how he got Comstock Law in 1873.
Meet Victoria Woodhull.
Anthony Comstock didn't like her very much.
Anthony Comstock didn't like her very much.
Victoria Woodhull was, in no particular order, a feminist, a Free Love proponent, and a spiritualist. Let's see, who hates literally all of those things?
Oh yeah. Anthony.
On April 2 1870 she announced her candidacy for President of the United States.
Oh yeah. Anthony.
On April 2 1870 she announced her candidacy for President of the United States.
Two years later (yes it took a while) on May 10 1872, Victoria Woodhull secured the nomination of the Equal Rights Party to run for President.
Yay for Victoria! Spotlight time!
Yay for Victoria! Spotlight time!
In the intervening two years between her intent to run being in the paper, and her nomination, she gave some speeches about Free Love in New York City.
She spoke on how the law didn't have a right to interfere in sex, and how she had a right to sex, too.
She spoke on how the law didn't have a right to interfere in sex, and how she had a right to sex, too.
Woodhull's Free Love philosophy was not a fan of adultery though.
So when she found out clergyman Henry Ward Beecher was cheating on his wife... She published a detailed account of the affair in her own newspaper. Which was delivered via.... the federal mail service.
So when she found out clergyman Henry Ward Beecher was cheating on his wife... She published a detailed account of the affair in her own newspaper. Which was delivered via.... the federal mail service.
Well. We couldn't have detailed accounts of a clergyman failing to uphold his marital vows going through the USPS now could we?
Comstock couldn't get the state to care. So he went to the Federal Government and US Marshals arrested Woodhull on November 2 1870.
Comstock couldn't get the state to care. So he went to the Federal Government and US Marshals arrested Woodhull on November 2 1870.
It doesn't escape me that Comstock had Woodhull arrested for obscenity months after her candidacy for President of the United States was confirmed.
The offending words by the way? Well, Comstock didn't like that she printed the word "virginity" right there for G-d and everybody to see and then sent it through the mail.
Just to name one.
Just to name one.
Woodhull did spend time in jail. (For NYers - Ludlow Street.)
The newspapers were all over this, they called her Mrs. Satan, because after all, she called out a CLERGYMAN.
So a federal grand jury actually did indict her and her co-publisher.
The newspapers were all over this, they called her Mrs. Satan, because after all, she called out a CLERGYMAN.
So a federal grand jury actually did indict her and her co-publisher.
The legal costs bankrupted her tabloid, but she kept fighting the legal charges (and kept getting arrested) until finally when she was allowed to address the charge in June of 1873 the judge found the accusation of obscenity to be too weak.
Before I close, however, two "fun" facts (okay, one of them is fun, the other one is not.)
Woodhull's second husband (whom she was married to at the time of the trial) was named Colonel Blood. Why she didn't take his name I do not know. Who wouldn't want to be President Blood?
Woodhull's second husband (whom she was married to at the time of the trial) was named Colonel Blood. Why she didn't take his name I do not know. Who wouldn't want to be President Blood?
Second, Woodhull was what is termed a "eugenic feminist". Her Free Love philosophy spilled over into believing that women were the keepers of humanity and should only procreate "rationally".
Charming. She and Comstock probably agreed on that.
Charming. She and Comstock probably agreed on that.
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