Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-06-08


wear; after that time we shall require compli- |
ance with the terms as published.
W The gravity of the Milwaukee Sentinel
was upset by the idea we advanced week or
two since in ain article on woman's rights, rela-
tive to laying hands upon peoples indvid-
ualities" We designed the article should have
been rather instructive than amusing, but as we
could not do the former for the Sentinel we are
gratified at having done the latter consideringt
much better than to have produced no effect at
at all. Perhaps though, our partial failure may
be attributed rather TO the manner of conveying
the idea than to the idea itself, in which case we
refer the Sentinel to an article on the outside of
our paper from "Judge Hurlbut, on Human
Rights" where the same idea Is expressed, But
in much clearer and more forcible language, and
may perhaps therefore, be better understood BY
the Sentinel. Wbman is there shown to be the
equal of man, constituted with the same powers
and capacities, AMI clearly having the same des-
tiny to fulfil. Admitting this basis, let us turn
to another point. Why do we claim the right of
suffrage? Because, say we, we have right to
the pursuit of happiness, and the right Of suffrage
of the right of moulding the government which
influences our fortunes and destiny, is necessary
to that end Itmust be borne in mind that when
the people of this country declared their indie
pendence of Great Britain, it was not from any
accidental extrinsc circumstances because
they were white or red, or because there was
certain number of them, or because they possess
ed definite trac It of conntry-but becatse they
were endowed by their creator with certain in
alienable rights-rights which grew out of their
natures as moral, intellectual, progressive and
accountable beings. Now if this was sufficient
ground for revolt--and who denies lt-et us ask
if all who possess the same natures do not of ne
cessity, possess the same rights and if Great
Britain had no right to possess the power to en-
act oppressive laws for this people, where do one
class of this people get the right to pass laws OPP
pressive of another class. We revolted because
of the oppression of the stamp act and others of
a similar character, and yet we pass laws redu-
cling woman to the condition of chattel, eleva-
ted in no wise in the political scale above the ne
gro
The Sentinel talks of our g distractions" 1t
should be borne in mind that it is question
which can be treated in no other way. A ques-
ton of progress in human rights is of necessity
an abstraction-our revolution was an abstrac-
ton, as also every step of progress in govern
ment. Democracy is an abstraction IN contradis-
tinction to whggery which cngs to the musty
past and th> Prosont. as the cloth clings to the
branch of the tree until shaken to the grourd by
sheer force. We do not expect our distractions
to find much favor with the entinel nor indeed
with any other genuine whg sheet, for it is not
in their sphere of action and thought. They
get their ideas from the present alone, and any
thing which looks to change of any existing
relations, they at once condemn. True the
world is full of human suffering, and the human
mind is forever yearning and struggling to over
come it but hands off, is the motto of these
philosoph ers-touch nothing, say they,whch has
been baptized in the hoary past, for it is sacred
Men, possessing the Physical strength, have 60
verned women, dictated her laws and ensaved
her from the foundation of the world, and hence
argue they, it must always be so. St Paul or
st. Peter, or some other antiquated citizen, has
said, wives obey your husbands in all things"
and this is as yet the foundation of law in oppo-
siion to the dictates of the Almighty, written in
unmistakeable characters in wonlan's mental Or
ganizatidn. The appfeheh5dns felt and urged
of the almost dissolution of society, by conceding
to woman rights equal to man, are unworthy of
rejecting minds. Let us ask if the relations be-
tween the sexes are not now full of discord and
unhappiness, and if it is not certain that a study
and adaptation of ourselves to the laws of our
being would allay rather than promote discotd
In the investigation then, of these questions, wo
must refer to the human constitution for know
ledge of human rights and when we find unmis-
tax oably that woman is at least our equal if not
superior In all mental attributes, how can we de-
ny her the possession of those rights which we
have proclaimed to the world to be essential in
the pursuit of happiness.