Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-08-19

the ballot do this 2 And whom Al this
has been accomplished, and more
awaits speedy accomplishment By
the same divine influence, is 1t
any time to olamor for the ballot for
women2 Shall We undo, BY unsexing
woman, all that has been or can b 90
oomplishsd for her. By civilization or
christianity - y gv
8. Much criticism is bestowed upon the
feudal system Of our ancestors in conneo-
ton with the wrongs Of woman, the appli-
cation of which, to the subject in hand is
not perceived. That our ancestors in
Great Britain based marriage upon the
Bible doctine, is true. They called it a
sacrament. They made man and wife one
flesh, and they carried this divine theory
into all their Laws governing the family
relation. Their property was commingled
into common mass. The husband was
by law made her protector and defender.
If her property became his, SO did her
liabilities He was made responsible for
her misdoings. Divorces were not granted
except for Auxiliary, in accordance with the
scripture injunction. Sir, / do not ac-
cord wisdom to the modern legislation
upon this subject. We are already reap
ing its baleful fruits. In theory it is
attractive, in practice it is wrstched. 1t
weakens the ligaturs of the marriage re-
lation. 1t untwists the strands which
unite the husband to the wife. Divorces
are multiplied to painful extent
Infdelity is terribly on the increase.
Thus, while we are legislating for the
supposed seperate interests of the wife, we
are forgetful of the awful consequences
that follow from disregarding the divine
law, which can never be disregarded by
either individuals or governments with
out incuring the divine wrath and pun
ishment.
4. Ii is urged that woman may exer-
else the function of voting without going
out of her natural sphere, and that she
will carry into It's performance all the dl-
vine attributes Of her nature, and thus
throw good influence around the polts.
What an assumption ! 1t is belied by the
experience Of all history, and is contrary
to nature. Voting is a function, not a
natural right. 1t Is power exerted as
much as the thrust of a bayonet. Ii calls
up, in its exercise, all the passions of the
human heart, on its side of will and force,
as completely as does an engagement in
battle. And, sir, it is not merely the
casting of the ballot, which in the glowing
language of your committee, is said 10
fall like pure snow flake upon the breast
of the earth, that constitutes the entire
performance of this function. 1t is what
precedes it, II is the long political cam
paign. in which the worst human passions
get aroused. 1t is the political caucus
and convention, il is the prior private dis
cussion, the personal rivalrles, growing
day by dav in bitterness, breaking out IN
family feuds that last for lite, and descend
TO the children, even unto the third and
fourth generation, that make up the lnhe-
rent evil of the elective system OF gov
eminent In her own station, woman
may allav much Of this excithment. She
may allay the passions Of man with her
own sweet nature, and subdue him 10 the
]
gentle heart. But can she do this
I 10y participating with him in the excite
ment, the wrangling, the bitter partizan.
/ ship OF the strife Will not her more sus-
ceptble nature he more easily excited,
/ and her passions Ice more uncontrolled
I than his own I! Witness the French Revo-
luton Women led the column Of those
who shouted in frenzy for blood, and
. they padded their feet in iendish delight
IN the blood that flowed from the guilo-
tine SIR. within her own sphere, she may
control the dcstlnies Of the nation through
\ the ballot She may muster voters she
may send them to the polls filed with pat
rlotigm, a a Roman mother sent her son
TO the war, with shield, saying, This,
\ or on this
4 3. 1t is said that woman has shown
her capacity to rule, a. illustrated IN the
/ lives of the Queens who have occasionally
+ filed the thrones of the empires Of the
world. / deny it, Under the wise the
ory Of the government over which they
have relgned, they were not, by the general
rule. recognized as being in the line Of
monarchs. They were permitted TO
reign as Ia necessary evil, TO fill gap IN
/ the line Of male descent. Some Of them,
by the aid Of wise male counselors, have
made respectable figure IN history.
Most Of them have been lamentable fail
ures.
/ G. Sir, nowhere in any bill Of rights,
\ is the ballot defined 10 Ice natural right.
The right to'vote is not born with the per-
son. as Is the right TO life and liberty, and
the right of self-delence. Thsse rights
are inherent in the very worm Of the dust
that is trodden upon. The Constitution
of this State declares that the "eDjoyIng
and defending life and liberty" are
among the s.n4tUral, inherent and inalien-
ablen rights of men and also, that ''the
people have a right to bear arms for the
defence of themselves and the State" Sir,
II seems TO be logical, that if women are TO
claim the right TO vote, as being natural
right. il follows that she ought also 10
bear arms. AS that is declared by the Con-
s,tution TO he an inherent right. And,
sir, so believing. / offered resolution in
structing the Committee on Suffrage 10
inquire INTO the eXpediency Of so amend
ing the Consultation as 10 compel women
to bear arms as wen IA men. The ballot
Is a force as well as the bayonet The
bal OF il simply the order 20 forward,
march" Shall woman occupy the position
Of commander -in-chiei, to say "To arms
by her vote, and then send m,n TO fight
out the battle, and not go herself ! i
claim, sir, that The ballot aud the bayonet
90 together. Without the one, the other
would be- useless. Ii is no answer 10 say
that the duty to bear arms, is not by our
law, made 60 extensive with the right 10
vote. There Is no general rule without
ITS exception, and the exception proves
the rule. Age and ply sical infirmlty only
constitute the exception.
But, sir, 1t is sometimes urged that even
in war women do take an important part,
In acting as nurses TO the sick, In maxim <
Ill, a.. IL. -,