Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-05-11
The Rights Of Woman.

TO assert and commend the Right of Woman
10 equal participation with Men in Political
Franchises, and TO urge upon the Constitu-
tional Convention about assembling in Ohio
the duty and policy Of concedng and Sc
curing those Franchises to the genter halt
of the Human Race. The deliberations aud
discussions of the Convention appear to have
been conducted throughout with dignity, pro-
prety aud ability, afiording model which
Congress, our Legislatures and other mascu-
line nssenlbugcs might crediiably initiate
We heartily commend it TO their study and
emulation.
1T is easy to be smari, to be droll, to be
facetious, in opposition to the demands Of
these Female Reiormcrs and, in decrying
assumptions so novel and opposed TO cstub-
lished habits and usages inle wit will go
great way. But when sincere Republic
can is nskcd to say in sober earnest what
adequate reason he can give for refusing the
demand of Women to Rn equal participation
with Men in Political Rights, he must an
swer None at all. True, he may say that
lie believes il unwise in them to make tho
dcmand-he may say the great majority de-
sire no such thing; that they prefer TO de-
vote their time TO the discharge of Homo
duties and tho enjoyment of Home delights,
leaving the functions of Legislators, Sheriffs,
Jurymeu, Militia, to their fathers, husbands,
brothers; yet IL after all the question recurs
- But suppose the Women should generally
prefer complete Political Equality with
'Men-what would you say to that dcmand?'
the answer must lie, u accede TO it,
However lmwise or mistaken the demand,
it il but the assertion of natural right, and
as such must he conceded
Besides, the assumption that Women are
duly cared for in matters of Legislation and
htsN
facts. IL il were, a woman who raises her
husband from poverty to wealth by marriage
would not be herself consigned TO compara-
tive poverty on that husbands death by the
legal rcversion of what was lately her pro-
perty to others, leaving her but n liie-ntercst
IN third of IT, Ii II were, n woman afilict-
ed with drunken husband, and compelled
10 earn the scanty bread of her children
while he revels and blasphemes at the grog-
shop, would not be legally subject to be strip
ped of her hard earnings whenever her brute
chooses 70 lay hands on them. Ii it were,
the husband enriched by his wife's inheri-
eancc or earnings would be required nt least
10 ask her consent before s1uundering or
haEmding her estnte in extravaganza or reck-
less speculation. Ii il were, capable, reso-
lutte, industrious women would be enabled
10 earn nj least two-tbrds as much as men,
while in fact their average recompense at
present is hardly more than onc-third that of
mcn of equal capacity and resolution. No:
Power is never fully Just to Weakness, and
never will be. Charity may mitigate the suf.
fcrings of Want, but can never profer full
equivalent for subverted Rights. The pro-
per remedy of injustive is found not in com-
pensation but in restitution.
And yet, as question of practical utility,
there is much to be said against the demand
e a..
cediDg that none of them need be chosen
to offices like that OF Sheriff or Marshal,
which they would be poorly qualified to I'LL,
we ioresee many obstacles in tho way of a
benefcent enjoyment of Political Rights by
Women. One is the almost inevitable apa-
thy aud indifference of the better portion OF
the sex in regard to the exercise of these
Rights after they shall have been acquired
Presurnng that they are subject TO like in
frmties with men, we will warn them of IN
evil which, when cnfranchised. they will be
fairly required TO obviatc. Many of the
lovely, the delicate, the gentle, the domestic
will he reluctant TO discharge their Politica
duties, and will with difficulty be brought tC
the polls, while the reckless, the shameless
The unwomanIy, will be sure TO attend, ali,
10 vote at least once Their voices will b,
heard, perhaps in execratons; perhaps j
them behave so as to drive the refined an6
modest of their sex from the vicinity of the
ballot-boxes. These are drawbacks on tho
value of the Right Of Suffrage which vii
render its exercise far less pleasure than q
duty.
We bring il into view at this stage, be-
cause we wish IL distinctly understood that
demand of Political Franchises by Women
implies pledge that they shall be faithfully
and conscientiously used, no matter at what
personal inconvenience or sacrifice. When
ever the Women of our country shall gener-
ally demand the Right of Suffrage, on the
understanding and implied pledge that they
will not shrink from its responsibilities and
the sacrifices 1t requires, then we shall be
heartily in favor of conceding it. Whenever
majority of the Women in our own State
shall IN any manner signify their desire ic
be made voters, then we shall urge the cal
of a Convention with view to complianc,
with their demand. We only ask that tn
better portion of them wilt remember, whu
900 many good men forget, thnt Rights impl
Duties, that Power involves Responsible,
and that the elector who votes only whe
personally interested or warmly excited is
sorry patriot aud bad citizen. Commer
us TO the voter who makes point of alwa,
depositing his ballot, not because he Is i
seres.ed IA the result, hut because he should
-l-----N---------
Hospital ron Cars AND DoGs.---KEl
DALI, in one of his late letters from Pari
says there is a large house in the city fit,
up for the reception of cats, dogs, birds, g.,
when attacked by disease, aud where tn
are nursed and physicked according TO ru
They have class of practitioners who CO
fine themselves exclusively TO the cure
these aIimals, and fortunes are made in /
~