Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-14
From tie .NatioRS' Ga:sttc.)
THE RIGHTS or WOMEN,

If we desire 10 ascertain the progress Of nation in
civilization cannot do better lan make ourselves
acquainted with the condition 81 a female sex therein
The savage shoots the deer, and home 10 o!de!
the unfortunate drudge, his sqs w, to the woods to
seek and draw it home He abandons his old encamp-
ment bnrtheaed with nothing but his gun and his am
munition leaving 10 her IL sise the tent, ana ut
tend to the transportation of its contents. The Its
sian woman participates in all the labors OF her hus-
| band and works herself when incompetence prevents
him from SO dong. On the Rhine, the traveller IS
struck with the sight OF women with ropes over their
shoulders dragging up against powerful current, the
large vessels used on that river In Switzerland he
secs them acting boatmen, aud IN France aboIng in
the field will: an asslduy equal, u not superior, TO
that of their husbands ~ The North OF England they
still labor in the field AID throughout tia: country,
of all ages arc found cinp"ysa u tie iaclo'
RIGS In the u. S. North Of Mason and Dixon's line,
women are never, believe engaged IN field labor,
except among the Germans q tins State who preserve
sill loo much Of the habits Of sIr iorefathers in this
respect In factories their employment almost nnyer-
sally ceases with marriage their husbands can,
they will find TO support them and Their families
leayinp them TO conne themselves 10 their appropriate
duties of the management OF their homes, end the cdu
cation OF their children. in no part Of the world are
they entirely exempt from severe aoor as IN tn,s.
NJ Cheyaer SAYS and Justly, that "not only does the
Amer can mechanic or farmer :clirre much as pos
sibe, his wife from all severe lahor-all disagreeable
empoy,nents-but there is also ~ relation to them, and
to women in general disposition 10 obge that is I'M
known il France in s" s saaeson
Every step in the progrcS ofty'l'2aiion tendS TO
the establishment of equality Q! rights between the
sexes In the earliest stage Of aoc'cty woman is the
slave of man. the advanced stages, she IS
found his companion and friend The depository of his
most secret thoughts and the adviser Of lis actions
In the FIRST she is herself 'hc property OF another
In the last, her claims TO 'c possession OF property
are admitted, but the ADMISSION is made slowly, ana
With extreme reluctance There yet, in the stronger
SEX too much of the old heaven 10 admit the acknow-
ledement of any equality Of rights. Much has been
done in this country, but much still remains TO be
done. The law still recognises IN the husband
right 10 the disposal, by :, of all his personal pro-
perty, however acquired. Fle may have received a
large portion of it with his wlc or he may have been
Greatly indebted to the aid Of her relations and friends
Tor his in acquiring IT. lie may have owed 10
her advice the adoption OF course that resulted IN us
acquisitions and she may have united with him IN his
labor of body and mind yet the law recognises in her
n no right any portion OF H. If her husband have
CHANGED to invest any portion Of his fortune IN real es
tate, she may claim he's 'ifd thereof but II IL remain
in the form of bonds mortgages, stocks or money she
is dependent upon the bounty Of her husband for oil
provision after his deceaseA
continue 70, than a. necessary to
estate the widow is entitled 10 claim onc,hrd of it,
and if this be Just it certainly is, why should she
not have an equal right to claim the proportion,
be il real or personal: Why should she be longer Left
dependent upon the bounty Of her husband How
: few husbands are entitled to BE- entrusted with such
: control, may be ndged troms the numerous extraor
e ean produce; wills, BY vii widows ere left bni
moderately provided, d"ria their wd0who0d, but
e cut off from all support shShld they think proper
10 enter again Tic matrimonial state and others, by
which they have FIVE ten c: fifteen per cent OF the
il property and are left in state Of poverty compared
with the in which they have been accustomed
d to live The man who makes provision Tor the con-
tinuance of widowhood pain of destiiuton, pre-
csey the one who would he mos likely 10 forget his
l. deceased wife, and to avail himself Of the fortune re-
ccived with her. for the support of another early as
= decency would permit change Of condition. No man
e of proper feeling could impose such restriction, be-
Y such man could view his wife as slave sub
ect to his control during life anu after the close of it.
n Even with Of the bes, feelings, very great mis-
takes made for want of proper consideration OF The
u righis of women consideration that will be
ryen until the law snail give tho power to assert them
Many such men, after having kept IN their hands dur
ing e the control Of their fortune, dlsposing the in
come thereof in the performance of acts of kindness
and violence, forget that their wi
dows and children-mlght with perfect propriety, BE-
permitted 10 initiate the example thus set them, and
&c busy themselves at the corc Of life in making sucl
disposition of the capital shall eectuaiy prevent
IS those from indugng any such good dspo
IS sition, however much disp so 10 do. We have be
e fore us at this moment, the contents of which
are passing through tie papers with great appro
~ baton on the part OF 'o" heisHy, ny Which, ioI
h Widow, $4,000
" 4 Children, 4U,0oo
) Societies. :. oo,ooo-Sl0o,oo'
1 This is characterised ns. act of great lberali'y
To whom, Is therehe any, ibera,y to the partner
of his BOSOM who is thus, Arhaps, compelled to va
cate the house in which she had spent large portion
of her fe-to discharge her scrvantso sell her books
Ito forego the charities in which she had been accus
toned to induge-to dispense with the performance
n nr nd tn harr andf
Certainly not! Is there any berality in deprivng hi
children of the power TO contribute their mites in ali
. of tie purposes for which these societies were insti'u
ted snt 10 Mus dsprvng them Of The pleasant feeling