Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-12-02


Woman Suffrage ana the C0n1eu'
tional Convention.
Previous to the meeting q the Uoatl
Convention which placed In nominatiou
candidates for the office Of Council Of
Oensors, in an editorial treating the gen.
eral subject, we said that In our judg.
meut the people would demand Of the
Council the submission OF the following
subjects Of constitutional reform:
lst. The abolition of the Council Of
Censors
Cd. The vesting Of power to amend our
Constitution in either or both branches Of
our Legislature, with submission to the
people for their Anal acceptance or rejec-
ton.
3D.. Biennial sessions Of the Legisla
ture.
9Th. An extension of the tenure Of all
State aud County officers to two years
9Th Prohibition of special acts of in.
corporation where they can be provided for
by general law.
We also referred to the question of wo-
man suffrage as one likely to be open for
discussion, and which would attract the
attention of the people, both in and out
ofour State, and force itself upon the con.
sideration of the Council of Censors.
TIE rna,,1t 80 <ha action Of ha Connect
has been 80 entirely in harmony with our
then conceived ideas Of what was the state
Of public sentiment on these questions,
that we have reproduced them in SUBJ
stance az above. Not for the purpose Of
proclaiming any unusual sagacity or fore
cast on our part, however, but simply az
an evidence that the Council have made
no startling demand upon the people, in
submitting these questions to the iudg-
ment Of Constitutional Convention.
Indeed, it requires no unusual forecast
paper, to zee and understand, without any
special effort on his part, the crystalizing
process ofNFublic sentiment, as it daily
progresses, and to Judge OF the form 1t is
likely to assume, when it appears az a
finished work from the hands and brain
of the peoples representatives. A special
aud general correspondence with all parts
OF tho State, aud an exchange list in
which the political and moral sentiments
Of every locality are exhibited, are but
the ordinary channels through which the
craft Of every State paper runs, gather
ing in the outgrowth of the hearts and
brains of the whole people.
The Council, it will be seen, have in
corporated in their amendments, the
identical reforms we sug gested, as in favor
with the people. They have gone step
further, in the reorganization of the
iudiciary-a proposition upon which we
believe there was entire harmony among
the members.
As we predicted, the question Of wo-
man suffrage was brought directly to the
tissue, and by the action Of a majority OF
that body, this 100 is to be met aud an
sWefcu pJ the Coustitutlouui convention
OF next year.
1t IL one which is being most earn estly
and thoughtfully considered by the best
minds Of the State and nation, and we
think we may say of the world. 1t Ia idle
TO talk or think of avoiding it. It is
discussed in the journalism every school
district debating club--in the lyceum-
on the platform and the stage, and in the
pulpit, and read in books, pamphlets and
tracts, scattered broadcast throughout the
land. We meet it as we meet the sun
shine and the rain-the starlight and the
dew-nor can we avoid itor escape from it
any more than we can from these univer-
sal influences of nature.
Aside from the one question of woman
suffrage, We believe no people will go
further than the people of Vermont, in
securing all of womans rights, and re-
dressing all her wrongs. If we mistake
not, in no State of the Union, are laws
more liberal for her security, protection
and Advancement; and no where is public
sentiment more in harmony with the ad-
vancement of woman in any sphere Of
business and occupation, than among our
people. Ii critical examination of our
statutes and laws should show US in error
on this point, then we have to say that
our Legislatures, uniformly ready to frown
upon injustice and oppression, will not be
a1,,xy 20, ~ nd tho ov,h of xpnm
every guarantee that the wisdom of legis-
lation can devise.
The history Of our State is one unin-
terrupted protest against righteousness,
both within and without her borders. To
suppose that she can belle her noblest and
porest instincts, aud now go backward,
instead of forward in her efforts to ad vance,
ennobie and dignity human character,
would be "a libel Oh our State and dis
grace 10 our race.
While this much must be said Of our
State policy, our history and our people,
it need not be concealed that there are
very many of our best men-our wise men,
If you please, and most earnest thinkers,
who, while they concede all for woman's
rights, womana work, woman's advance
ment, ths redress OF all wrongs, are yet
entirely clear in their convictions and
purposes that voting is NOT within the
sphere of woman.
We think the Council did wisely in
submitting this question to the people
1t would be weakness to ignore it, when
as we before stated. it is forced upon oul
attention at every step. While it cannot
be avoided, we desire that its discussion
shall be approached in theltrue spirit which
belongs to 80 grave question OF STATE
policy aud human rights. The time hal
gone by when so important measure, il
tobe ridnuled out of sight by the 'cradle
stocking, button and baby" line o
argument. True wives, mothers anC