Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-06-27
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

point OF view that bids fair 10 enlarge
It's operations upon the broad basis
Of universally.
That the loose uncircumscribed
manner In which the franchise hnp
been permitted to be exercised in the
United States for many years, has
tended TO cheaper its intrinsic value
in the eyes Of the masses and helped
to bring corruption, woe and desola-
ton upon the country, is fact
proven by the sad results Of the past.
Instead OF the innumerable blessings
so vividly portrayed by political
wiseacres which were to follow from
an extension OF the ines,imable right
OF suffrage, innumerable ailments
and disorders were grated upon the
body polite which have become
chronic and fostering sores. deiying
extirpation.
II Is proposed still further to en-
large the area OF expansion so as to
take into account tho female element
Indeed, Kansas and Wisconsin have
already moved in the matter to such
an extent as to have conferred uni.
verHal suffrage upon their women
population, and New York. Missouri
aud other States, are seriously dis
GUESSING the expediency Of doing
likewise.
In England. John Stuart Mill, the
great reform leader in tho House OF
Commons has opened the ball in IA
vor OF woman suff'age in a speech
characterized by profound argument
and eleqnsnce,
The admission oil women to the
right Of exercising voice and power
in tho political affairs of the country
may have restraining and happy
influences upon the excuses and abu-
ses incident to the present system Of
universal suffrage among tho men.
Many sound PENSIONERS and thinkers
like Mr.. Mill, are persuaded that tho
innovation will tend to work out a
reform in these particulars. Woman.
it is commended, by her great moral
and refining qualities. would prove
an invaluable agent in purifying and
the voting standard. If
so, let tho time be fastened when
sho shall be invested with the suf-
irage.
The New York Commercial Adver-
tiser disoourses wisely upon this sub
jeot, taking for its text Resolution
introduced into the New York Legis
lature, as follows:
"By Mr.. Graves, Republican, Re-
solued, That committee of five be
by the chair, to report to
tho convention at as early day ms
practicable, whether, in their opinion,
a provision should be incorporated in
the Constitution authorizing the wo-
men in the State to exercise the
franchise when they shall
ask that right by majority of all
tho votes given by citizen females
over the age of twenty-one years at
M election called for the purpose, Mt
which the women alone shall have
the right to vote"
The question is thus auspiciously |
inaugurated. Mr.. Graves has pre-
scented it to the Constitutional Con
vention, right end first This is the |
view we took Of the question in reply |
to Mr.. Mill. We are not unwilling
to trust the question to the good
sense of the women themselves.
They are intelligent, thoughtful, and
patriotic. If n majority of them
think that they can afford to enter
the political arena, we have nothing
to apprehend from the change. We
do fear that the ballot would work
change in their own occupations and
not at all favorable to the
social and domestic happiness Of
either sex. But of this we are will
ing they should Judge. II they err,
it will be not that existing relations,
providentially designed to promote
happiness, are defective, but
because in our legislation. and in our