The weekly Columbian., 1857-02-14
The WOman's Rights Question I'm
the Senate.


We copy the following report of the
debate in the Senate on the bill to extend
the act concerning corporations, in which
the woman's rights question, with what
applicability we will not take it upon
ourselves to decide, was discussed, tiom
the State Journal:
Mr.. MELoNEY, from the Committee on
Engrossment, reported the act to extend
the act concerning corporations to be
correctly engiosscd.
Mr. CosBY moved that the bill be re-
committed to the COMMITTEE on Corpo-
rations. with instr uctions to strike OUT
that part which authorizes married wo-
men to be Incorporated
Mr.. SHAw-The effect of that amend
ment would be to destroy the bill. The
object of the bill is to extend the sphere
of usefulness Of benevolent societies, by
allowing married women to form iucor-
porated societies. 1t is common in other
States to allow this to be done, and do
not see why any objection should be made
to it here.
Mr.. McCALLUM.-The amendment, If
adopted, will defeat the bill. The Sena-
tor from Siskiyou can accomplish his Oh.
ject Just as well by voting against tho
bill
Mr.. CosBY-I do not desire to pre-
vent charities Fl ON being dlsbursed, nor
do think by opposing thi, bill, that | am
throwing any obstacle in the way 20 i'm.
pede the opera ations of charity. There
is proper sphere for the exertions Of
women, and when we go beyond the
field that nature, law, and the experience
of all ages have sanctioned we shall find
that our efforts fail, and that less good
will result than would otherwise be &C.
complished. | have no objection that
married women should give their time.
that portion of time which is theirs, and
should contribute their means for purpo.
ses of charity; but we sholld rccollect
that the time of a married woman is the
property of her husband. And am op.
posed to the principles advocated in this
age of progress, with regard to the rights
of woman. l am not disposed to assist
by my vote in freeing her from that SUBJ
lection to her husband which the expert.
ence of all ages has held to be wise and
necessary. A womans first duty is to
her family, her proper field Of exertion is
at home. She can find abundant oppor.
tunities of dispensing charity without
stepping out of her appropriate sphere Of
action; but when you incorporate mar
ried women into societies, when you
have this one as mistress president, and
that one as mistress secretary, you de-
prive her of the influence that naturally
belongs to her. Women arc powerful in
their weakness. When you give them
political influence you embarass their ac-
ton. When you give them an existence
by law, you deprive them of more ihfu-
ence than you can confer. Woman can
do more in a private than in a public ca
pacity. |, therefore, am comTe ed to op-
pase this bill, for ] am opposed to Bloom
erism in any shape in which it may pre-
sent itself
Mr.. SHAW said he knew several be.
nevolent societies that were about to be
formed by married women, as soon as
they could become organized societies.
The arguments of the Senator from Sis
kiyou (if indeed. he was not offering this
opposition as joke) were of con-idera-
BILE force, but not conclusive. The most
appropriate path woman could pursue.
was the exercise of benevolence. This
bill had no other object than to aid them
in this work, and he hoped the bill would
be allowed to pass.
Mr.. CosBY said he did not offer this
opposition as joke; nor. if this bill did
not pass, would, in his opinion, the exer-
else of charity be obstructed. There
were many charitable men who could
form these incorporated societies-and if
thus formed, it would not close the door
against the contributions of married wo-
men. He must repeat, he was oppo ed
to married women becoming inco,pora-
ted societies.
Mr.. SHAW would ask the Senator from
Siskiyou, what benevolent societies exit
ed in this State were not chiefly under
the control of married womenl Males
might perform this duty, but for some
reason or other, they would net. The
object of this bill was to assist those who
took pleasure in works Of bensvolence;
nor did he see why, IN this instance, the
same privilege should not be granted to
women as to men.
Question upon recommitment. It was
lost. Yeas s; nays l2. Bill passed.