The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-10-09
From the philadelphia Ledger.
Feminine Suffrage and Dram.shops.

'-D s"N'o oplochhS W oofoldi ptupoSt'
tions before the Convention, said that wo.
men ought 10 have the right of voting upon
the question whether dram-shops sheuld be
prohibited or not.
Whatever we may think about the righ,
or expediency OF feminine suffrage in gen.
eral, we cannot object to the proposition
here presented by Mrs. SwissheIm. II wo.
men be excluded from the polls in all other
cases, we think that they onght to be admit.
ted in this. Most objectors 10 feminine suf-
irsge seem 10 regard elections merely with
reference 10 officers and their salaries and
with this view of the subject, they grayely
ask why women should be interested in the
choice OF President, Governor, Senator
or Representative in Congress, or member
OF State Legislature, or the amount of their
paya Were these The only points involved,
their objection might be well founded. But
Legislatures are elected to make laws, Judi.
ciaries and executives 10 interpret, apply
and enforce them, and these laws govern
women, as well as men. The essence of
freedom is that human beings, of age rem
dering them capable of self-govemment,
have the right of making the laws by which
they are 10 be governed, and of exercising
this right personally or by deputy, at their
discretion. Old-fashionsd lawyers, who
have been educated in the doctrine or the
English common law, that married women
were ciuiay dead, tina. is, had no rights, were
political and social nonenties might admit
single women TO the elective right, but
would take for granted that the earth would
be Swallowed up alive" by the extension
OF such privileges 10 .fsmmes eousrtes. But
these same objectors must admlt that even
married women have some interest in the
laws that govern the commuA,y, at least so
far as such laws are designed 10 keep married
men in order.
Have married men an interest in the pun.
ishment of rape, adultery, slanjsr, of as
sault and battery, of burglary? Women
are the exclusive victims of the first, most
frequently the victims of tho three next,
and always, either alone or in common
with men, the victims of the last of these
crimes. Why then should they not have a
voice in legislation for the punishment of
the cri ninals ana the redress of ihe suffer-
ers? Have married womeh.nor ihierests in
the fight of dowerf In the 6iaribuilon of a
deceased husbands property? In the Gus.
tody of children upon divorce We think
that they have, and therefore think that they
should have some voice in making the laws
to govern these things. But we shall be
told that they would vote under the control
of their husbands, and therefore that the
right ir their hands would lead 10 no other
practical result than giving TO each married
man the right 10 vote twice. Even if this
were true, as men, according TO DR.. Frank.
lin, in marrying, give bond TO society for
their good behavior, they can be better
trusted with two votes thai single men. But
as husbands and wives do not al,oays agree
in every thing, we should doubtless have
quite as many independent and intelligent
votes from the latter, as from the former.
And ii would confne conventions and nomi-
mating committees TO the selection of candi-
dates Of good moral character, as the only
one who could obtain feminine votes and
this would certainly be an improvement in
the politics of Pennsylvania, if not of States
farther Sou.h,
But the objectors, alarmed by Independent
voting among married women, will raise old
objections about the disturbance of domestic
tranQniii,y. We believe that the right would
promote domestic tranquility; for as it is
much more frequently disturbed by men
than by women, If the latter were armed
with Legislative power, they would in con.
junction with all good husbands, and all
we'll disposed single yo,sng men, have ma
jorrty, aad make stringent laws against the
dsturbers
But however sound be the objection a.
gainst the right of suffrage ir married wo-
men, even the objectors must admit that
single women have some interest in the laws
by which they are to be governed, and there.
fore should have voice in making them.
And if single women voted, we doubt not
that the majority Of the siugly men would
be of their party. The objection about dis
order at the polls, to the terror of women, is
idle for their presence would shame or sof-
ten the worst into comparative good beha-
vior, and improve the behavior of all the
rest.
But if women be excluded from The polls
in all other cases, we agree with Mrs. Swiss.
helm in proposing their admission 10 vote
upon license laws. Women are the princi-
pal sufferers from intemperance. The pow
er:y, the misery, the disgrace, the cold, the
hunger, the rags, the desolaiion, the unkind-
ness, the insults, the blows, the murders,
which flow in such awful profusion from
the intemperance Of husbands, fathers, sons,
brothers, fall with heaviest, most crushing
force, upon women, upsn ;sivess mothers,
sisters. Who among woms9 that are cursed
with an intempsrate husband, father, son, or
brother, would vote against law to restrict
or suppress rum sellinga Not one !! No
Not one And how much crime and mis-
cry might have been prevented. how many
wives would haye been saved from prema-
turs graves, .d.which they were hurried b. |