Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-07-15
Female Suffrage.

Mr.. Editor As this theme is becom-
ing important from the patronage it re-
ceives from both the forum and the press,
may also be INDUCED in little space in
your columns to confront what l regard
error. In doing this, 1 shall not seek the
aid of song, or attempt decorating with
dramatic style, but only bare argument
on sound fundamental principles. For
this purpose it may be well to first look
at the design and true intent of civil
government. Many and various have
been its forms, its claims and its tenden-
cies, but it will be sufficient to my pres
emit purpose to class political sentiment
under two heads which / will class despo-
tic and liberal.
Under the first I would class all that
political sentiment which would sustain
or favor the doctrines of the Divine
rights of kings, or clothe governments
with superhuman authority, thus making
the people the property, or in any way
the servants of its functionaries, as also
all that sentiment which would make
our system of government an arena OF
competition, where the prize at stake Is
an emolument of notoriety of money or
of fame.
BY the term liberal government, would
be understood to mean one which comedies
to every man, and to every woman also,
the right of self-possession, the right to
govern themselves by moral law, the law
of equal rights, and secures to all such
right. A government consisting OF
contribution of governmental power,
made by self-governing people, and or
ganized in due form, to govern such in
community as may be found too weak or
too wicked to govern themselves. Thus
| formed, the government is the servant of
the people, and its business is to hold the
scale of equity in society to see that the
liberties of the weak are not curtailed ;
to grant relief to the oppressed. and re-
dress to the injured. Such, together
with duties which belong to works of
pubic utility, is the proper. sphere of lib
eral government,-sim in its sphere,
and in its aspirations.
Ii this view of liberal government be
just, it not only leaves out, but would
strike out, chapter after chapter of those
dogmas which were long ago established
| by allied, civil and ecclesiastical despot-
! ism, and are still struggling for existance,
such az, government rightful hereditary
! inheritance, or, government a boon of the
possessor, to be acquired by military force,
or perhaps by adroit wireworking in a
game, in which, .'to the victors belong the
spoils." And here / may remark SO far
as right to participate in such game
is claimed Us a boon to be reckoned among
the inherant rights of man, so far the
true objects OF civil government are mis-
unprecedented. To treat our elective fran
chise as a game of competition where,
notoriety, fame and wealth are the prize
is but desecration of the trust. And
yet, are not such the leading motives
plea which may perhaps by some be re-
garded more plausible. 1t is couched in
language like this " Taxation justly en-
titles to representation, and az the pro-
perty of females is taxed they should be
allowed to participate in State affairs"
This plea however plausible involves an
error, an error which if carried out would
derange either our whole system of fran
chise, or, of taxation. Il is the tax
tho rorson, not on the property which
serves as an index for voting. 1t is tax
on his person that gives the man his title
to vote. Property taxes may differ 100
per cent, yet do not alter the case. Now,
if the amount of tax is to be made the
scale of representation, whore shall this
change begin and how progress. Shall
the grand lists of the rich and poor be
made equal? Or shall the right Of voting
be augmented for the rich Shall the
right of females to vote be confined 10 the
few who pay taxes, or shall the persons OF
/ all adults be taxed And beginning at
what age; Females at Is, md males at
I 81 when they have control OF their
persons These are but few Of the
many difficulties the change must meet.
A. resides in school district No / and his
/ land lies in district No . No. builds q
school house without allowing \. any
voice in the affair, yet As land il taxed
for IA share OF the expense. In No | \. r
person is taxed and he has n voice in its
( =, L. l..
supposed to be augmented 10 the amount
of the tax. Such IS the principle running
through our whole system 81 property
taxation, and the power Of liying legal
taxes is by the constitution OF the State
limited to it.
1t is not disputed that very respect
able proportion Of the female community
are better qualified to manage affairs Of
than many 10 whom that privilege is
open.
| Statute law cannot be 50 framed as to
secure exact justice in every case and if
our existing laws leave liability of in
justice to the property tax payer, admis-
sion Of universal suffrage must increase
that liability ten, if not one hundred fold.
1t must be obvious ut a glance that the
change contemplated would let in larg e
hord of material, fiji only for the machi-
nations of the designing demagogue. As
it now is, our Republic is more exposed
by its numbers of unworthy freemen, who
L ~. "a. n
principle to govern them, than from any
other source, and this exposure arises from
the difficulty of drawing quiet line of
demarcation which should exclude the
dangerous elements and evidently the
proposed change would enhance the diff
Guilty and thus add exposure at our most
exposed point.
As to the woman's receiving equal
wages with the man for equal service. and