Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-04-13
From the N. Y. Tribune.
MAN AND WO MAN,

From the N. Y. Tribune.
MAN AND WOMAN.
P,anams Monthly for March contains powerful
and popular essay on 'Woman and the 'Woman's
Movement, which is by far the most liberal and can
did of any have read the conservative side ofthe
question If the writer had only begun by ascertain
ind what it is that he is opposingif he had designed
quote from any address or manifesto in behalf
of the 'Womans Movement synopsis of its aims and
demands-if he had ft 10 consider what is desi-
rable and necessary for Woman instead of looking at
the subject if the only point be considered were
how Woman shall render herself most bewitchng and
serviceable to Manhis stately rhetoric and forcille
diaeccs would have been far better welded than they
In order to show wherein he fails to do Justice
to the question--aer misapprehending 1t and ssme
times arguing one point and deciding another-we
will exhibit the matter in the form of Dialogue be-
tween Man and Woman, sometimes quoting passages
from the Putnam essay on behalf of Man, and some
times giving the substance only of the argument against
the wv oman's Movement viz:
TVonan-Pease, Sir demand my rights.
Mp-Adorabe angel what rights can you have
or desire that you do not possess
Woman ask to be regarded as a human being,
and as such entitled equal rights with other human
beings. If laws are to exist by which men and wo-
men are to be equally bound, and for infractons of
which they to be equally punished, ask equal
voice in making modifying them If labor is re-
quired for the common good of men and women-say,
in Education, Manufacturing, &c.,--then ask that
men and women be equally compensated according to
their relative ability and efficiency. If school, for
instance is taught in winter by and in summer
by woman of equal capacity, then l insist that the
woman's monthly pay shall be equal to the MANS
In Short demand equal and free access in all pur-
suits and educational advantages and especially pro-
l..
a masculine lawyer, priest physician, when should
greatly prefer the ministrations of my sex, had
woman been allowed free access to the Seninaries
where only may the requisite knowledge be obtained
M,a-Impossible "In the circumstance of her eX-
clusion from the learned professions, proof of
their contrarety her essential nature and habits
Woman-Ah! do you! Then why not trust to
her essential nature and habits, instead of shutting
,-. ,OOls II
Law, Physc and divinity against her.
! Man-Because ''We are told by the soberest of
our Judges that if Woman be admitted forensic prac-
tice it would soon be impossible to get right
eous decision from the BENCH so inevitable bias must
her advocacy of any cause produce on the judicial
mind"
Woman-Nay, Sir if her appearance in court as
an advocate would have disturbing and disastrous
an effect, why should not her appearance there a
party or leading 0itneSS prove equally baeful She
is noto at liberty to appear there plead her Olc,
cause and if she would be dangerous to the pose
of Justice, why not in that case Yet you permit her
(beng singe) and be sued, to lose and recover
to be witness for another advocate for herself
and perceive no bad result. Why should her appear
ing in anOterS perturb and disor the judg-
ment when it has no such effect in her own
, Man-"Democracy in breaking down the wall OF
partition between the professions and the aity has de-
sroyed the peculiar dignity of those professions, and
so renders the female aspiration in that direction alb
surd You act unwisely in making professional dis
tinctons prominent an element of your remedial
treatment for Womans grievances"
Woman-Nay, Sir you persist in misapprehend-
ing us. We have claimed access to the professions
not from any exaggerated notions Of their respectable
f ity or our lack of it. What seek is FREEDOM to
serve God and Humanity wheresoever we may do SO
most usetuly. We protest against the artificial and
arbitrary barriers which hem in this side and on
that because they barriers, and because deny
, the right of Man to enact erect such arbitrary linn
5 itatious 10 the sphere of Woman. Though woman
should evermore desire of the professions
we should nevertheless resist the arbitrary mandate
shutting us out of them.
2 Man-"It is an undenable misconception of Wo
man to suppose her capable of entering into rivalry
with Man -capable of competing with him for eccle
siastical and political distinction
! Wonan--But Sir! you just now objected to oul
appearing the Bar the assumption that we should
win all our causes you virtually object that we
. should win none of them These two absardlties JUS
neuraze each other, and leave the midway truth ii
f clear view But we have not assumed that the Ban
/ is within Woman's sphere-we have only protested
against your nterposing determine for her whether
t.. it is or is not Give her Freedom in all things con
r sistent with Moral Purity, and then if Law, Physit
or Divinity is within her proper sphere, she will pur
sue it if not not. All that you finely say abou
the natural and ineradicabe difference between Mar
and Woman is just much demonstration of tho fol
y and impertinence of laws arbitrary edcts attempt
t ing to preserve that difference. You might sensi
bly, enact that water shall freeze where the mercury
sinks to zero and shall refuse 10 down hill
v Mal-'Woman is by nature inferior to Man.
She is his inferior in passion, his inferior in intellect
and his inferior in physical strength. 1t is easy t.
quarrel with the fact, but it is quite impossible to dis
! pute it. 1t is easy to pronounce it very scandalou
and hagitous fact, if you please; but there the fac
stands nevertheless, full of quiet contempt of you
e petulance For the fact is wholly unborn of human
/ Legislation. No mans wit fathomed it. 1t tool
place by votes, but by the absolute decree of Ma
: ture."
S Woman-Then why are you not content to leav
}, the matter where nature placed it'll Why enact law
d at Albany and Washington to fortfy Natures resist
less fiat If nature has excluded Woman forever ror
q the Bench, tire Bar, and the Pulpit what need of you
d "fussy propping and bolsteringl We are willing