White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1867-08-22

have been 70 the Legislature-fAey are the very
persons who made the laws that you say op
uress you; they made the laws you are groan-
ing under. Shake them of; for tel you,
thew have jumped on this question foi . war
horse, upon which to ride into power.
Theobject Of conferring the right of suffrage
upon women. being to protect and maintain
her rights. we will inquire into. aud see wheth-
er her rights are protected under the law; and
first, by reference to Sec. 6. Art. Is, of the
Constitution Of the State of Kansas. you will
snd IS follows: "The Legislature shall pro-
vide for the protection Of the rights Of women,
in acquiring and possessing property, real. per-
sonal, and mixed. separate and apart from her
husband; and shall also provide for their equal
rights in the possession of their children" /"
We here see that the Constitution does not
ignore the right Of woman to hold and enjoy
property beyond the control of her husband
% far from it, that it makes it incumbent on
the Legislature 70 provide laws for the protec.
tion of that right; aud the Legislature. in com.
pliance with thisC Constitutional mandate, makes
statute provision giving her rights with re-
gard to property, &C., equal with men. We
will now see what these provisions arc. To do
this, We will refer to "An act TO protect the
rights of married women, and in relation to the
liabilities incident to the marriage relation"
page S97, Compiled Laws. We find that Sec.
provides that 3" The property, real and per.
sonal, which any woman in this Territory may
own at the time of her marriage, and the rents,
Issues, pro6.s, or proceeds thereof, and any
real. personal, or mixed property. which shall
come to her BY descent, dcvise, or bequest, or
the gift of any person except her husband,
shall remain her sole and separate property,
Notwithstanding her marriage, and not be sub.
Ject to the disposal Of her husband, or liable
for his debts" Sec. provides that "Any
married woman. while married. may bargain,
sell and convey her personal and real property,
ana enter into any contract in reference to tho
same, as il she were SOLE" Sec. 10 provides
that Any married woman may carry on any
trade or business, and perform any labor OF
services, on her sole and separate account, aud
the earnings Of any married woman, from her
trade, business, labor or services, shall be her
sole and separate property, and may be used
and invested by her in her own name, and she
may sue aod be sued, as If sole, in regard to
her trade, business, labor, services and earn
inss' and her property acquired by her trade
business, and service. and the proceeds there.
OF, may be taken in any execution against her. ,
we here see that women, separately and o.
their own account, can retain and acquire pro
perty of all descriptions, make contracts, en-
force them. carry on business, &C., &C., The
same as men, and their husbands have no NOR,
control over them than entire strangers; ani
the Legislature was so particular that womer
shouid not be encumbered with husbands, that
hnding that Sec. 3 Of the above mentioned ac
only gave her the right to sue and be sued IL
all matters having relation to her property, th.
same Us 1T she were sole, they subsequent,
amended it go as to read as follows: Sec. 3
Any woman may. while married, sue and b,
suod IN all matters having relation to her PRO
perty, person or reputation, in the same manne
as if she were SOLE" Eaii ---J @ d.
In willing their separate property, the hus
band and wife are on an equal footing; and IL
all the affairs Of life, in holding and acquiring
property. the man aud woman arc on an equal
footing, with this execution: the wife's proper.
ty cannot be touched for the husbands debts
while the husband is responsible for bis wife s
debts.
contend that the law OF Kansas gives to
woman all the rights she can ask for; gives her
ample protection in the enjoyment of "life,
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness" as much
so as it does to any other class in. he State.
All other rights not specially conferred by law j,
she enjoys in their fullest extent. She can 20
when and where she pleases; she can sit dow
and write her opinions on Government, or any
other matter, and who dare interfere, to deter
her from this privilege' g..
Aswe have seen, women enjoy all the rights,
lmmunties, privileges and benefits equal and
co extensive with men, in relation 10 her wei.
iare and prosperity in life. Now, would ask,
Tor what does she ask the right 10 votcl Some
say, to make them equal and free as men.
what! the right Of suffrage make you eoual7
That which men hold up in their hands to the
highest bidder7 That which thou..nd, of
men barter away for . dram Of Kquor7 Is this
The equality you want to share inf And is
voting the dividing line between freedom and
'iaveryl II so. every person under twenty -one
Tears Of age is q slave; every foreigner is
slave; and while We are extending this free
iom to the women, we are still keeping anoth
" class in slavery. .a ~ ? -5a
cannot see or imagine. after careful ex.
'mination, for what this change is to be made;
md IT any person can show me, that extending |
he right of suffrage beyond its present limits
will be conducive to better Government, that
will give more protection to the life, prop- !
ity, and the rights Of the whole community. |
would support it cheerfally; but falling in
his, is my reason for opposing It.
Respectfully. 8.
Work CoNnEScED.-Ws are pleased
o-lay before orr Iesders the following
ispatch, which means. a. thew will A.
nee see. "business :" 'Gases s.5f 70
DErRorr. August l6. 1867
ieneral james Craig:
Let Bemis go to work loca,inp The