Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-07-28
Shall the Women of Vermont Tote

Why not ? There are many reasons why
women should be allowed and encouraged
to vote, just as men are now But no sim
ry. What is it that votes ? 1t is not sex,
else, my horse might be made a voter. 1t is
not brute force, for al TX is stronger than
a man. 1t is not ability to fight, for 1 have
a bulldog who possesses that qualification
in a very great state of perfection. Evident
ly, Mr.. Editor, we must look higher for the
proper qualifications of a voter! We say it
is mind, conscience, soul, that constitutes a
citizen. Have the women of Vermont mind,
conscience and soul? We shouldJike to see
the man so wanting in these qualities as to
deny it. Therefore we say again-why de-
ny to women the right of suffrage?
Let me state a few reasons why women
should be voters.
First. Because women are personally I'M
terested in all that concerns the welfar6~'
the State ; as much so as men. Good laws
for the protection of pers,on and property
are even more important to women, because
their physical powers of Sc lf-defense are less
than those of the sterner sex. Good men ini
places of trust and responsibility are az mue
needed by women as men. In short, womaA
as a human being, a property-holder and a
citizen, is a subject of law and therefore she
should have an equal voice in the govern
ment she is required to obey.
Experience has always shown that class
legislation is unjust to the governed and de-
moralizing to the governing class. For men
alone to make laws for men and women is
class-legislation. Accordingly, the laws and
usages for women in Vermont are not such
as men would be satisfied to endure. In all
the relations peculiar to her sex, as wife,
mother and widow, the statutes of Vermont
are less favorable to women than those
which affect men as husband, father and
widower. In her legal rights of person,
offspring, property and earnings, the female
partner in the matrimonial firm is at a dis
advantage. Every intelligent lawyer knows
the fact. Yet the fact remains and will re-
main until woman becomes a voter.
Again, women need to participate in pub
lie affairs in order to enlarge and elevate
their minds by the consideration of great
questions of general interest. As a class,
women will always be occupied with domes-
este duties and occupations. But their mindi
should not be limited to the four walls Of their
Just as the farmer is a better farmer.
and the mechanic a better mechanic because
they are also citiz ms of a free state, so the
wife and mother will be a better wife and
mother because she too is conscious of exer-
cising the duties and responsibilities of an
American citizen.
Again-we need romans influence in our
elections, in order to infuse into our politics
a higher moral standard. Women, as a
rule, are more influenced by moral and rsh
ligious considerations They are more temf
perate ,sehaste, peaeeable and humane thNa
Thpn. -EneTrar more ooonvmI4-i - -
~expenditures, and more orderly in thel
tastes. These womanly characteristic al
precisely the qualities we need in our legiA
lation. And we can never expect thesY
qualities to be fully manifested in political
life until VIC bring into our government that
CLASS VI OuE pOHuAatiph AA I'm
the pre-eminent traits.
But there is a higher argument than ex-
pediency, which ought TO settle the who'll
question. Governments derive their juss
power from the consent of the governed"
Women comprise exactly one-half of all the
governed. And consent is suffrage. Now
each individual woman has the same right
to a voice in the government as each indi-
vidual man. If this right is withheld, the
government is unjust. And if there were
only one m in the state who desired 10
vote instead of the many thousands who do
desire to do so, it would be Just as unjust u
exclude her from so doing, as to disfranchise
any individual of the male sex. For rights
appertain not to classes, but to individuals,
and the right of suffrage, which is political
consent, is inherent in every adult human
being, irrespective of sex.
For these considerations, among others,
Mr.. Editor, we call on the Council Of Cen
sors to propose an amendment to the State
Constitution, extending suffrage to women
on the same terms and qualifications as are
prescribed for men. And if the Council Of
Censors fail to do so, we trust that the legis-
laturc will take steps to abolish the Council
of Censors~ altogether, and at once propose to
the people of Vermont to establish a truly
Republican form of government based upon
the consent of all the governed.
A CITIZEN.
TIE FRENCH CABLE is a grand success, and