New-York tribune., 1867-07-26
WOMAN IN POLITICS.

WOMAN IN POLITICS.
The Constitutional Convention Of our State
Yesterday negatived-Yeas 10; Nays 125-tho
proposition that Women should share with
Men the duties and responsibilities of Voters
at Elections. This decision was preceded by
an earnest, protracted discussion, in which the
right and expcdency of extending the Elective
Franchise to Women were most eloquently
urged by Mr.. George w. Curtis, and less
elaborately by several Others The Judgment
pronounced yesterday by the Convention must,
therefore, be regarded as final
We do not understand it as q verdict against
participation in public affairs by Women.
On the contrary, we hold that WOman's infu-
ence not only is but should be felt in legs-
lation and government and must increase lii
power as the race becomes more enlightened
and humane We only insist that she shall
speak and be heard distinctively as Woman,
not commingled and confused with Man. To
make women voters at our elections as now
held, and eligible to Office in competition with
men, would be far better calculated to corrupt
Woman than to reform and purify our politics.
To have women mingle freely with men IN
primary meetings, caucuses, nominating con-
ventiOns, legislatures, investigating committees,
iuries, &C., &C., is not, in our Judgment, cal
culated to elevate Woman more than to reform
existing abuses in legislation and practical
politics We should greatly prefer system
substantially like this:
Let the Women OF our State, after due dis
cussion and consultation, hold a Convention
composed of delegates from the several COun-
ties, equal in number TO the Members Of As
sembly To this Convention, let none but
Women be admitted, whether as officers OF
spectators. Let this Convention, keeping its
debates wholly private, decide what depart
ments of legislation and government may be
safely assigned and set apart to Woman. We
would Suggest all that relates To the Family
Marriage, Divorce, separation from bed and
board, The control and maintenance of children
education. the property rights of married
women, inheritance, dover. &c, &c. as sub
jects that could wisely and safely be set apart
to bo legiSlated upon by Woman alone And
we believe that, if she [not few women but
the sexl shall ever suggest and require such
an apportionmcnt of legislative powers and
duties, Man will chcerfully conccdc it.
-" But would you have Woman hold elections
"liko ours r.
No, we would not. We would have her teach
us how to take the sense of the electors far
more quietly and cheaply. When department
of legislation shall he assigned to Woman, we
would have her collect, through school district
or kindred organizations, the names of all
female citizens who possess the qualifications
other than Of sex required from male voters al
our elections. These being duly, lucidly regis
tered let three women in each Assembly dis
trict bc designated 10 collect the votes of It's
women. Let them simply advertise the address
to which votes should be sent, and appoint a
week wherein 10 collect them Now let every
female citizen write her ballot and inclose it,
signing her name, to the address indicated
and, due time having been allowed for votes to
arrive by mail or otherwise, let the votes be
duly canyassed, the result ascertancd and de-
clarcd, and certificates of election issued ac-
cordingly. Under this plan, the invalid, the
bcd-ridden, the bercavcd and even the absent,
could vote as well as Others and the cost of
holding an election throughout the State need
not reach $4,000.
Such are the outlines OF our views regarding
Woman in Politics They are doubtless sus-
cepGblc of improvement, but we think not by
ellacing i'm politics the natural and time hon
ored distinction between Women and Men. a
female legislature, jury of women, we could
abide; a Legislature of men and women, jury
promiscuously drawn from the two sexes, we do
not believe in.