The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-12

equhi III iiSh'si thaC All governments derive
their authority solely from the consent of the
governed; and that no government Is TO be &C.
knowledged as republican, in the sense of the
Constitution which Is not founded upon these
two essential ideas.
We have no thought of taking exception to
Mr.. SUMMERS leading principle, which as we
understand 1t, derives the right of govern :
ment TO act, from the eternal obligation i'm
posed by Con upon all men and all societies OF
men, TO do JUSTICE. Nor shall we complain
that his noble sentiments and comprehensive
principles are In nowise applied to the people
of the Southern States. We are so accustomed
TO regarding ourselves as no part of the pro
per constituency Gf the State, and not entitled
In any way TO participate in its functions
that we feel no practical interest whatever in
the conclusions of Mr.. SUMMERS speech But
we must express our surprise at the manner in
which he has since applied his principles, in
petition which he presented not long ago
from body OF persons representing twelve
millions at least of American citizens, who
are hagrantly deprived in some States OF the
right OF suffrage, without which he says
man Is slave,' to refuse which is "to
compromise human rights" but which,
once granted, becomes 4 social pCacemaker, -
schoolmaster, protector, and, in fine, Il
panacea for every human i'll. Yet Mr.. Sum
SER, and those whose views are expressed in
his speech refused 10 act upon this petition.
Because these petitioners happen TO be women,
he will not admit their claims 10 equality, and
he recognizes as republican no less than
twenty seven States IN which their political
existence is Denied in which they are practi.
oil DGla Npd hv han Of
sion," and taxed without representation"-
to him the mark and features of the most
odious tyranny whilst at the same time
he insists that they shall confer the suffrage
upon four millions of tho black race, who
have just emerged from the barbarism of
slavery" and whom THAD. STEVENS lately
described rs ignorant, debased, and half
brutal.
We defy SUMNER 10 show how, upon his own
principles, women can be consistently excluded
from the right Of suffrage The twelve millions
whom he proscribes are the most refined and
vrtuous part of the American race. Their aver
age intelligence is greater than that of the men.
They cannot possibly have less sense. If they
had controlled the affairs Of the American
Government since its foundation, wherein
could they have done il more injury than the
men They are, besides more unselfsh in
their patriotism, as in the exercise of every
other virtue, than the masculine gender
Their habits are better; their votes could not
be bought with a jug Of whisky; they would
not elect loafcrS and rowdies TO office. The
worst that can, with truth, be said of them Is
that they are equally incompetent for self
government with men. Some of them are as
we'll qualified for the Senate as Mr.. SUMNER.
There was an old woman once in England
who could guide the Ship of State in the Wild
est storm with one hand, and with the other
spank soundly any Of her Senators who were
inclined to be refractory. She had Il holy hor-
ror OF Just such rhetorical man-milliners as
SUMNER, and if she could have entered the
Senate Chamber during the delivery Of his
stilted grafton, would have been veryllIely 10
address him rs she did the Mayor Of Falkcn.