Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1867-02-12
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.


have exhausted their resources in advocating
= theory which confines the legitimate exer.
else Of the franchise to the heads of families,
and which they denominate household satf-
rage. The family, they claim, is the unit,
and should be represented as unit. It is
a little republic Of itself whose will can rrop-
erly be expressed only through its head. The
interests Of its members may be deemed ia
separable, and j, is becoming ,ha. its &C
knowledged head should represent those in.
terests.
At FIRST glance there might seem to be
some plausibili,v in this beautiful theory, bu,
. close scrutiny will reveal the fac, that i, is
founded on false basis and is nothing less
than an apology for arissocracy and tyranny.
Il Is otherwise beset with difficulties. which.
even if the theory be Acknowledged correct,
would render its practical application in the
present advanced state Of the human mind.
next to impossible.
This theory is falsely based, because j,
entirely ignores the individuality OF the hu-
man soul. |. is only by recognizing this in
dividualisy-,his personal sovereign,y-,ha:
correct and just theories Of personal and ma
sional freedom can be established and acted
upon. The Declaration of Independence is
indisputably based upon it; all government
al reform must approach it as the initial
principle ard the progress Of liberal ideas
cannot be STAYED until they reach it. Ii is a
principle not only capable of logical demon
stration, but selfproven in the consciousness
Of every person of intelligence. 4 recog-
milton of the right Of one soul to rule over
and circumscribe another, at once renders
slavery legitimate and demolishes the whole
framework Of liberal government. 1t
were scarcely possible to find a person who
would willingly admit such righ, in bis or
her own case, and it were equally impossi.
bic 70 demonstrate sha. its application can
Justly be made special and discriminating.
It must cover all cases, or none. else the
principle Of the practical equality Of all hu-
mani,y is false. The doctrine of household
suffrage, If carried out legisimasely, embrsc
ing the whole family, represented only BY
its head at the ballot box, ignores the per
sonal sovereignty Of the wife and mature
children. 1t destroys their individuality,
and places them wholly at the mercy Of one
Who ought TO. but certainly does not always
regard their interests and represent their
opinions. It is principle Of nature, which
does not at all contrayene that of personal
sovereignty, that children should be under
entire control Of their parents. until their
arrival at the age Of maturity, at which
time such control naturally ceases and the
newborn citizen steps forth with I'll the
rights Of selfgovernment which can be
claimed By the richest or poorest, the high.
est or lowest, the weakest or strongest. II
is an individual right. which admits Of no
question BY any parsonage or power, save
that Of the Almighty. 1t is not fer one sex
OF raee TO attempt 10 prescribe another.
By what process Of nature has A been
made the slave of 3 !? Can B claim any.
thing more than an involuntary birth into
the world, and cannot A claim just as much
Suppose A to be q man and B . woman
does it change The simple fact Of nature in
the least? The truth is, no casuis,ry can
demonstrate an inalienable right of any
person or combination Of persons to pro-
scribe another. Yet in our own midst, in
the enlightenment Of the progressive Nine
tesn,h century, one half Of our race are
politically at the mercy Of the other half
are arbitrarily estopped from the exercise Of
rights which pertain equally to all This is
: bare, open fact which cannot be, and is
not usually attempted to be gainsayed, but
is excused on the score of ezpedieacy; Is
though A were to say to B, Ny dear sir,
am we'll aware that have no more natural
right to . voice in the making Of those
PAWS which are 10 govern both Of US than
you, but circumstances have placed yon
completely q. my mercy-l can prevent
your. voting and | consider it ezpedieat to
do 50. You are gentlemen Of too deli
cate an organization, too refined feelings,
too confding and trusting disposition to
be degraded by contact with the rabble at
the polls Besides, your habits are seden.
tary aud your legitimate sphere is in your
stndy where il is essential your mind should
remain undisturbed BY acrimonious dis
putations upon the affairs Of the nation. It |
is thus essential to harmony and to the law |
# proprieiy that ] should deprive you Of
-oice in 5ous on scsesnnsnt, although