The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-02-03

Legislature their petitions for equality III The
property laws d asking that s'eps be taken
u 81 amend the Constitution Of Indiana a
Il extend t. woman the the ight Of Suffrage,
had a most respectful hearing before both
Houses IF the Legislature, on Wednesday.
tie 10Th inst, at 2 o'clock, p NJ
Mrs Mary f. Tnoma, presented the pc
tition. making thereupon excellent and appro-
pirate remarks The utmost kindness and
courtesy were extended 70 tie Committee.
We give below AN extract from the Daily
journal Of the proceedings IN the House Vi
Representative, when the reception Of the
Committee was under discussion. LILY.
woNAN's RIGHTS.
Mr. Whiteman moved further To suspend
the rules to enable him to make motion to
take up the consideration Of the Seuats's con-
current resolution, inviting certain ladies to
present a petition ia their own persons, in
the Hall Of the House Of Representatives. on
"Wednesday next, the l9th instant, at -
O'Clock T.. VI.
Tie motion was agreed to and the resoIu
ton taken up.
On the motion of Mr. Dougherty. the
blank was filed with "two."
Mr. Merrifield and Mr. Thompson. Of Mad
ison demanded the yeas and nays on the
question Of concurrence.
Mr.. Branham hoped the House would not
concur. He was ia favor Of the right OF
petition, but did not think it right to waste
the time Of the House with such All exhibi
ton as was proposed. Ii was unnecessary
for these petitioners to come into this pres
ence. II they wish to petition for a redress
Of grievance let them proceed as in other
cases Of petition to the Legislature. H con
siderel It due to the reputation Of our wives
and mothers to refuse to concur in this reso-
luton.
Mr. Lawheal spoke in favor Of the a1op
ton Of the resolution.
Mr. Stiles would vote against the reSolu
ton out Of consideration for the sex.
Mr. Duysl, understanding that the pa>tion
was to be presented BY the ladies IN person,
WAS very anxious that the resolution be con
Cured in.
Mr.. Clayton thought this was carrying the
Joke a litllc too far in the way of petition
Such an exhibition he believed had never be
fore been proposed in deliberatiyc body.
Mr. Murray willing to concur in the
resolution, with the following a nendment:-
That the House VIII not organize TIL the
said petition is presented. and the parties pre-
senting the same shall retire from this Hall.
lie understood the reading Of the resolu
ton it was that this petition should be pre-
sented in person 10y the ladies' at ? O'Clock
next Wednesday. He was in favor Of giving
the ladies' the use Of the ildl for the prescn-
taton Of their petition They desired to pre-
sent il to the Lrgslaturc~to read it them selves.
He suppo ed 1t was 70 be read. IL was dl-
rected to the Legislature Of the State Of Ia
diana anI all the ladies claimed right
to read il to us as the Legislature of the
State With the gentleman from Jefferson,
(Alr. Branham,) he held that it would be sci.
ting bad example to give the right to these
LADIES to come in here and occupy oar time:
for it we allow il to ihem, we ought not 10
withhold the same ri 5ht TO the llumhlezt peti
toner in the State But what night had the
senate to set apart this Hall for this purpose?
Way did they not permit; the ladies TO come
iuto lheir chamber?
Mc Fowler shouiI ,o,e for the resolution,
bccuse his mother was . woman. and because
he loved the ladies generally.
The Speaker On reflection, the Chair de-
cidcs the amendment out Of order.
Mr. Hamilton, Of Boone. did not unler-
stand the programme; but il the petition wa-
10 be presented 10y ladies in prrsou-read by
themselves. and acted on here under thelriu
fueuee and deatiou, be could not bat i've
apprchensive Of the result of such Legislation
Stil. he could not refuse the exercise ct the
right Of petition, and would vote for the res
olu,ion with the proposed modification.
Mr.. Colgrove inierruptlng. Is tho gentle
man from Boone a married man?
Mr. Hamilton. ! am. SIR and have tdrey
little babies.
Mr.. Colgroye Then i, was not To be sup
posed that the gentleman was in danger ot
coming too much under the influence OF 'hes,
ladies Laughter
Mr. Speaker Gordon Mr. Blythe in th,
Chair) was never averso to doing act O
kiudness-and least OF all 10 doing an act o
kindness TO the gentler sex. lie did 10
think we could consume more time In tie hear
ius Of the proposed petition. than we hav,
occupied this moruiag in discussing this res
olution. Many ladies he oontInued) no
only in our State, hut every State ct thl
Union. deem themselves neglected aud thei
Gol-given rights withheld by our legislation
This may be true. | am not going TO dis
cuss thar. But l viii say tsey certaiui,
have the right Of petition. There can be n
discussion about the riLht-the only questo
is as to the manner OF petiUoning. Her
the ladies' ask to be heard-to present thei
petition in their own proper persons-to pre-
sent their grievances in their own way. An
as for the influence OF their presence here
there was need of II this moment 70 repreS
the dlscou,taous language OF gen n'iemen, 10
who could believe that in the presence ,
ladies. any gentleman could indulge IN eN
pressions Of contempt TOR their proposition
Gentlemen have made themselves merr
over it-bave made this proposition q sub
jec,af fburlesqua aud ridcale L Is not trish
that ladies' should be treated in that WAY.
we look at tie history Of right Of petition
aud the manner in which il has been exel
cised in connection with legi>ly,ioo--aA "
have of this is derived from the pariamenia
history of Great Rrif ain Sh
find it As old the right OF representa,o
in that Island. tha: men aud women cHtere
the parliament et Great Britain. s,.bmjttiu
thair erlevanaas In L..ir OWN -n.nrar ..-Is-..,.