National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-01-29
fCommunicated
Woman Suffrage.

reference doubtless to the forthcom +
ing session of the Council OF Cen Ii
sors, which may he expected TO con 7
sider the question, and perhaps pro e
nose some change in the constitu
tion in favor of it. We are not of 5
that class who fear change. We he ,
lieve the perfection of social life and ;
civilization has not Yet been reached.
But we are Just SO much conserva
tive that we think it prudent to eX
anime all proposed changes on every
possible side before changes shall
he adopted that may possibly work |
mischi.' We have some thoughts !
on this subject of woman's voting
which We think are entitled TO care
full consideration.
We doubt the argument for ic-
male suffrage founded upon the
assumption of natural or abstract
right. This argument assumes
that each person is the unit on which !
the rights and authority of the GOV
crnment is founded that cachpcrson
is separate and independent of al
others or at least that one is as rate
and independent as another; that
4 has no more natural right to gov
eyn i than b has to govern \. Ii
this be so then each human being
must be held to have this natural
and inalienable right, unless it be
abridged for one cause, that is
crime. For il must he that crime
is capable of destroying personal
righis,espccially selfasscrted rights.
ANY person who would assert and
use his rights for the destruction of
he rights of others must be restrain
ed. But if such n person is re.
strained the restraint must be au-
thorizcd and enforced by the judg-
ment and the power Of others. So
here, at the outset the law Of natu-
raj and abstract right is denied tor
the injuring party may assert his
natural right against all restraints o
the law, and officers of the law
Again, the theory of abstract RICH
would invest not only the woman
but also the child and the person q
weak OF idiotic mind with the cqua
andinalicnal .igl s wheneversucl
person should desire or attempt K
assert them. We have all grades
of personal development from The
new born infant to the ablcst states
man, and from the bcastly idiot t.
the strongest intellect and souN,us
Judgment. Now it must be remcm
bcred that no natural law, no al
stract wisdom has determined til
dOint at which the child passes int
n man, nor that which distinguish
between iI.i0cy and competency, il
sanity and sanity. For every pra'
teal purpose this point mast be d'
tcrmincd by one portion OF the 1t
man race Tor the other, by son
persons passing judgment upo
other persons, and actually RESTRAIN
ing them in respect Of rights IN
privileges which they themscly,
exercise. Thus the theory of matt
raj, abstract, inalicnablc right
falls. They cannot be exercise
except with limitations.
The other basis for an argumel
for female suffrage is tls: That Il
unit on which the State is found,
is the individual. Let us look
this. II will be conceded that Il
first duty of the State is to perpct
ate itself. 1t would be Of little V;
ne to organize and maintain go
eminent for the individuals aloI
Who compose the State at the tin
OF its beginning. If none were al
cd to it by birth il would nccossa
~ and rapidly decline, and in u {,
years go ont of existence. The fl
duty of the State il To provide
its own continuance and grOwt
to provide for births and the rene
ing of the children; to provide
tho support, the healthy grow
the useful habits, the moral char
ter, the education into citizens n
Statesmen of those who are
make mp itself rs years go by.
Now OH the theory that the Sta
A. composed of individuals, ~ t
MGlt on which its foundation is lai
We might have u State composed
q mil'iep of men and no woman
Il or state composed Of nilli
s0iw women AID no man ia il; a,
either Of Thea, communities wo,
I'LL out the whole idea Of a State
this theory Bot The certainty
It's waning population and spec
destruction takes ava, from /,
ilreIy and al once the ,iktmenia A.,