New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-06
WOMAN AND TIE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.

To the Editor Of Tie ~ y Tribune
Sir: The Massachusetts Legislature have refused
the night Of suffrage TO women, because majority Vf
them have not asked for IT,
The right Of the princple seems to be admitted In
the reply given. That numbers might prove the be-
lief in the gtt plain enough, but how the principle
can b. made any stronger f'on the application Of thou
sands instead Of one is not equally perspicuous.
Why should bot women vote a conclusive mega
tive reason bas never yet been offered.
Ia not xomar's sense Of right aud duty as much to
be respected a. mans? and who, pray is 10 set limits
as to what size shall think say Cannot she have
ideas that possess value for humanity, aud the utter
ance Of whoa is Necessary whence came tue night
Of authority in u.en to Gica,e Can he prove where
i.is Iaten, Tor superiority registerehf
Tie hons share If bis beceusc he IL II lion. VIVA;
wcnsn has the power ~ do has net been 50 much dis
cussed what she ought rot to do or what 10 proper
for her to 40.
True there il charm in appropriateness; but for
ber il II cans what desus fl, e1pedent or adapted,
willie for hiaelf il dOJiuatiOn aDd the widest
license. ,
TIE feminine element is essential in nature rs the
nasculirc-aId why should it be So ropujatei in the
governing prIuCipio Of country based equality,
ours uretends to bel "Oh say the Opp0nents ~ this
aim Of wonans, her deica' will suffer So, and
souan il 70 attractive IA her heipcssness. But what
il TO be done with these Restless, strong women who
can rec with mems vision, aud can reason and yet moi
lose bit at their tenderness OF feeling though they
have large brains and active Cnes IL not tine fact Of
their differing from the majority proof Of something
and does not this r-ste,suess Indicate power But
how can tbeee admirers vi the delicate aud dependent
lock with satisfaction upon tEiS portion when they can
bear the crush aud squeeze U as Heterogeneous
crowd at the theaters, yceUms and churches rs they
would be likely 10 meet al the polls VI caucuses
Then, delicate, tender women may be put TO base
uses, and society lie very qule over the maer; bat if
they aspire to divide with man the reno~n Of life, the
Indignation Of society flames " athfuy upon them.
More reasons be assigned for rendering IN women
share in legi.lation than for Withholding IT. lnevery
supt rlatve that used 10 express maLs greatness,
high qualities demanding Ike expression can be found
in her.
To institute comparisons between them wOnli he
fair and Unjust herfor while ne has joyod the
highett freedom, aud the best opportunities Tor culture
and she has been obliged to content hcr-
self with the privileges the sef-styled Lords of
Creation permitted 10 her.
That ali women are alike capable Of high mental
culture cannot be cOuceded, any more than that all
men are; but mai brings the inCOmpeteucy of
come of his rex for excluding those crpa-
bic from action except in 'e case OF negroes; but, as
II Is Lot decided by Cuf vice whether these
not, 1t will hardly serve as comp Irs0u.
Opinion upon woD,en and negroes is not yet evolved.
There is quite parallel IN their public disabilities
though their moral aud leg al liabilities unquestionel.
There men at this duy VINO believe women the
better tor an occasional whipping others who think
higher culture would improve them; many, that in
crease of knowledge wOuli make them less sub-erv
ent aud useful, ana few that the real good OF mai-
kind would be pr0moted by affOriing to woman the
same opportunities fUr culture ana development u are
granted 10 man.
An old winter says Nature dill In mistake
The rUad which she had traced formerly ana stray
ccedrgly from that exec Hence of Prvvieual ju1g-
IueBt by the which she had created and formed all
other things ana in the composing Of women, she
hath had much tendeTer regard To the delightful con-
sOrtsip and social deeCtaton vi man than to the per
fiction and accomplishment Of individual womanish-
hess Or muliebry. This is the old reading of mans
icea of wOnah's subCriuaton AMI obedience to him.
II he used his power wisely aud justly, obedience
might be the choice a., the gUv,rDed.
BE quiet, woman; be quiet, society; all tins IL
IOr yOur good, the priest told Don Carlos when he
slrsngleu him. .
Give won en- gewgsws, and let them be busy with
trhes; pt them ana that is enough: but protests do
arise against this system though has the sanction OF
ages.
There are women who see the mismsnage in
social and political ailalrs, ard those with hearts anu
brains mole tit ior Than The ho preside over
these aud furnish events Tor history.
We hear much rdicule Of " masculine women and
etrong-u,inded wOmeD, as II ii were truth that
" wOinans weakness is her strength Pretty sayings
Keep up petty wIygs.
What Is the value Of The feminine men who gen.
orally called Conservative i-lren afraid to grapplc
with srOIg questions and who hide their weakness I'M
der the garb of e8rihIg-who IRE useless IN pu0lic
hiei just lu7zliug are these sO-calied masculine
women, who EUre b. content with the narrow
sphere assigned them than you make Bosnerges oi
the former Society when the best material Is un-
ufed, be II man VI woman.
Would Lot the infusion ul the feminine element IN
public lie be the reform needed How advantageous
~ women might be associated with men IN
The management If public ChaIlties-pa particularly those
relating to women aud children Woman approbative-
ness better feeling to trust TO than mans acquls
tveuess.
.apta 10, 1859. WOMAN.
a. At