The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-08-02
SENATOR PoMERoY ON INPARTTA1
SUFFRAGE.
UNITED STATES SENA4S CHAMBER
WASHINGTON. Julv Atb 1857

or and Beginning at Atchison on the ed
day OF Septe mber next. I have also re-
ceiVed several other letters from you up.
on me same topic, and 1 now embrace
The hrst leisure moment have. upon nv
arrival IN Washington, to reply to your
kind ivitation.
In the first place. respond: Yes. I
wlll address the people of Kansss, at such
places and times as may be convenient for
them to hear me, and for me to be pres
emit: But the precise places and time
VIII aud must be, to great extent, con-
troiled by the appointments which, am
informed, are placed for me by the STATE
Central COMMITTEE of the Republican par
~ OF Kansas. l have proposed to accent
the duties Of canvass this autum az thew
may be assigned to me by that Commit
tee. unless, indeed, they shall approve
OF my accepting the invitations already
extended to me to canvass and organize
Tor our party and the union cause in the
States lately in rebellion
Now, in the second place, l will say
that, should there be time and have the
opportunity, l will speak also as best I
can at other places and times which will
not intefere with the appointments made
by the State Central Committee. And
no place will suit me better to ''com-
meuce' at than the town Of Atchison, as
you have mentioned. For at no place
have l a more generous and cordial con-
stitueucy than at my own home.
The precise manner Of my treatment of
the topic you propose: as you ask me to
"speak" only ''in favor Of impartial suff :
rage without distinction of sex or color.''
l am now unable 10 state, for that is not
fully determined in my own mind. But
| shall state no doubtful views or take any
ambiguous positions, or occupy both sides
of any question. l shall go fully and
cordially into the discussion. And
although I shall not claim to have pio-
neered in any new movements for extend
ing suffrage to all, irrespective of sex or
color. still shall not leave the field
(even if l do not enter it until the slew
enth hour) before have done what con-
ceivs to benny full share of the labor.
That there should be equal and exact
justice with equal aud exact civil and
political rights melted out to all men,
irrespective of color, has been my convic-
ton, and has had my constant and cons
sistent efforts for more than twenty-five
wears past. Thank God, the day of their
hopes is dawningl What has been SO
long labored for will now soon be accom-
plished. But for the political snfranchiss~
ment of all women, I have, up to this
time, done or said but little,-and it is to
that question, now for the first time fully
and fairly presented, that l am address,
ing myself And to this investigation
and discussion l shall bring all have Of
talent, industry and requirements.
And 1 am very frank to say what
deeply feel. that such has been the heroic
devotion of the women of Kansas to the
cause of our Free State, the cause of the
law. ss the hope of mankind, they are en-
titled and fully qualified to vote, if any
women on this earth should exercise that
remember well, as you do, the early
settlers of Kansas, both the men and the
women, and the courage, the fidelity,and
labors of the one were not more than. the
other.
Yoa received the radical Free State set
tiers to Douglas county and shared with
them your half finished cabin, and diVid-
ed your meal sscks and bacon with them
freely; yet am fully impressed that Mrs.
Wood was not'a whit behind you In devo-
ton to our cause, or in sacrifices for its
promotion. She spread, remember, q
couch iu her unroofed cabin for sick
relative, who bore my own name, and
watched his violent fever, cooled with
water, brought from distance by her
own hand, his burning brow; and like the
L. e IL -. ~ - ut
most for his recovery and comfort, until
death settled the conflict, and the grave
near Lawrence received it's first victim.
So of other women, might also name
who distinguished themselves by dsvo-
ton, energy an sacrifices which no histo-
rian will ever record and of which coming
generations will never read. They form
a part Of that great unwFtten history of
freedom for Kansas and for the country.
Not only in our early struggles, but all
through the late war, when fields were
turned to waste by the absence in the
country's service of the husband aud the
father; the wife and the mother not only
watched the cradle and the Preside, keep
ing alec the family altar from decay, but
actually made fruitful and green those
deserted fields, and eften gathered hsrvests
of her own planting and cultured She
has done her full share in the making of
our State, and in the redemption of our
country! yield to no one in the hon
ors bring to her ability, her DEVOTION
and her love!
But this new entertainment TO which
she is now invited viii prove to be field
of labor, strife, toll and responsibility.
That she may be equal to it, and have
blessing from it, is my most earnest pray
err as it shall be my constant labor. But
this step before taken should be well con-
eidered. l am only cory you did not
submit the question 10 the ladies them
selves. fit results for good or ill,Nhey
would then sbure, if not bear, the rsspon-
sibiitv. While as a man shall hesitate
to giue: still, as a man. l have no dlspo-
sition to aOlthhotd Uote from any adult
person-qualifed to give it intelligsntly
especially as she must obey law and be
subject of government.
But should do this the more freely
if she would elect to assume the respousI-
bility for herself.
If votes of women for civil officers are
to be given anywhere in this broad land:
and If anywhere they ara qualified and
aud their votes are needed, IT IS Is THIS
u -,hs0h leada EnA