Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-12
Letter from New York.
Special Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGER.]
NEW YORK, November 8, 1868.

Special Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGER.J
NEW YORK, November 9. 1868.
The long agony is over. We have
fought the good fight, and>the field is
clear. "We have met the enemy" says
the Republican, and he is ours" I'VE
have met the enemy" says the Democrat,
"and we are his" Greeley rejoices and
the Tribune is jubilant. The Democrat
acknowledges defeat, but Brick Pomeroy
refuses to admit that the party is beaten.
"We have only not won" says Brick.
We have moved upon the enemys
works, but have failed to carry them"
Then Brick calls upon the white men of
America to stand to their arms, after the
battle is over, and talks little highfa-
lutiup about sacred soil stained with
the blood of martyrs, and winds up by
insisting that Liberty in chains must be
set free. But, levity aside, everybody
is glad that the great question has been
decided.
Good men, of whatever political faith,
rejoice that election day passed without
bloodshed, and that the American people,
in all parts of the country, maintained
their dignity and did honor to their
name by acting as intelligent freemen
only can act in time of intense excite
ment. The perfect quiet which prevailed
in New York and Boooklyn during the
day was very remarkable, since it was the
general belief that before night there
would be serious trouble, owing to the
disagreement in the Board of Police
Com missiouers, the special order of Su-
perintendent Kennedy, the unusual aug
mentation of the sheriff's posse, and the
preparations made by the military. 1t
will be long remembered as a mest peace
full election day.
Over the river at Roseville Park, in
Orange county, New Jersey, there was
for little while fair prospect of foul
weather at the polls. Mrs. Hannah
Blackwell and Lucy Stone, both property
owners aud taxpayers, presented them
selves, and demanded to have their votes
recorded for Grant and Colfax. One of
the iudges was in favor of receiving the
votes Of the courageous little women,
but the other refused. and, after long de-
bate, the right of suffrage was denied the
applicants. 1t is but just to say that had
the question been left to the arbltrament
of the people, Mrs. b. and Mrs. 5. would
have undoubtedly voted. Until 1907 the
women of New Jersey did vote, you
know, for the Constitution OF the State,
which allowed that privilege to 7" all IN
habitants" worth two hundred and fifty
dollars. The Legislature excluded
women from the polls by an arbitrary
act, and in 1874, when the new Constitu-
ton was framed, they were again left cut,
and since that time have not been
allowed to vote even upon their own dis
franchisement
The article on suffrage in the present
Constitution confers the right upon white
male citizens, but does MT expressly
limit il TO such; and the ladies have
mentioned claimed that, from the absence
of any EXPRESS limitation in the Consti-
tuition. as well as from the compulsory
exclusion of the parties interested from
voting upon the adoption OF that Constr
tuition, the political rights OF women as
guaranteed BY the old instrument SUI
remain. Lucy Stone is brave little
woman, and very sensible and consistent
witkal As abe believes that taxation
without representation is wrong, she re-
fuses to pay taxes and every year the
Sheriff seizes and sells certain OF her
chatiels to satisfy the claims Of the State
or the county against her. She always
protests; but what can one disfrsnchised
woman do against the power and majesty
Of q great State governed exclusively By
strong men1
On Tuesday night an alteration took
place on Thompson street, between q ne
gro aud white woman, Who lived to-
geiher as man and wife, sad 10 ;be battle