Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-08-04
Report on Woman Suffrage.


& as 10 extend the right Of suffrage 10 all the citizens
of tho state without regard to sex,
Having duly considered the same report
The Declaration Of Independence asserts that |
" all men are created equal, that governments |
derive their Just powers from the consent OF the
governed
The first clause Of our own State Constitution
declares that 3" nll men are born equally free and
independent, and have certain natural, inherent
and nalienabe rights, among which are the &c
Tending and enjoying life and liberty, acquiring,
possessing and protecting property, ana pursuing
and obtaining happiness and safety 81
" Taxation and representation are nsepanble,
Grid our fathers of the Revolution
We all believe these To be scli-eyidcnt PROPOSE
lions, and that they apply to all mankind, man
and woman alike.
| Suffrage il nm expression Of opinion by ballot
The qualifications are, capacity to understand inc
effect of public measures and desire for the pub
] lie welfare And il is the right OF any one per-
son who possesses these qualifications, rs much as
| it is the right of any other.
/ But one-half Of the people Of our STATE are
denied this right and woman has no vote Yet
/ .he has all the qualifcations-the capacity, the
desire for the public welfare. She is among the
[ governed. She pays taxes.
Even-handed Justice fair application OF the
principles of the Declaration Of independence
and OF our State Constitution, above quoted, give
woman the ballot and do not shut out from 1t
] one NAH hI inc lNAlAlNtlNf NlA tiNit AAittt NitN
/ half Of the moral power of the people Custom
and prejudice alone stand in the way. There Is no
reason why woman should not be allowed 10 do
what She Is ~ cmincntly fit to do. We have seen
no objection 10 woman suffrage that has not been
successfully met. We know no good reason why
/ the most ignorant man should vote, and the M
/ telligent roman be refused.
Our present political Institutions were formed
and shaped when men had their chief interests
and pursuits out Of doors, and women remained
/ the humble slaves at home. The social change
has been immense. Now woman sits by the side
Of man, j. his companion and associate in his
amusemcnts, and in all his abors, studies, pur-
suits and interests save the one Of governing the
country. And 1t is time that she should be his
/ associate IN this.
/ Some ofthc best minds olthe English race have
| been mthoming this subject. Il Is So extensive
/ that we cannot present 1t within the limits which
would secure the attention OF even members OF
/ this Council For statements OF some Of the views
of Woman Suffrage entertained hy your commit
{ tee the Council Is referred b. the speech Of John
Stuart Mill in the British Parliament, May 20,
[ 1867 the address Of Henry Ward Bcechcr at the
Cooper Institute, New York, and 20 the recent
/ report of the Joint Special Committee on Woman
Suffrage to the Senate of Massachusetts,, May 81,
/ 1869
We fully concur in the sentiments Of the fol-
lowing extracts from the address Of Mr. Beecher
Look for moment at some of the results that would
accrue from the grnntng Of the liberty 81 suffrage 60
What would be the effect Of their votes IN the selection
ofmen for ocestown, state and national Do you not
Know does not every politician Know does pot cvet3
man that b. at all convcrsant with puplic affairs know
that YOU obi gcd 20 choose men Tor Office IN refer
eue7 u those VINO are to vote Tor Them ana that me
wore selected whose election depended much upon the
votes or women upon the votes Of men, not bad
man would Do put up where there are my selected nov
The voting ofwomen would he the sitting through
out the nation.
Now, the moment You bring into our public affair.
woman influence her stronger moral sentiment, her
sentiment Of purity her moral courage and mith In all
that b. good her ycarnnH and aspirations fur the high
er screuer, aud more heavenly truths and knoWcges
the moment you bring together in public aairs vrilc
strength and female rehnemcnt--thcn you will have
uol i9anl4ug9 l9f moral purity and public peace and
take the place of seshness and miserable quarrclnE exc
pedieut Then, principles will be- discussed and APP
puel' ana legislation WI grow heroic again
lfvomen were to vote there would be an end Of indie
mother husband and wife brother and lister man AM
woman inspired ny the sanclty oipatrousm, were 10
would be characterized hy the yulgarty and vioeuc,
which now dcnlg them
What there ia dcpostnga vote that would subecta
woman % such peculiar c1posurei woman To- drop
s iul as much nucucate as In deposting her vote.
vote is the simplest, the neatest the most unobtruve
quietly and gently as snowflake on the top Of the
Alps but, like them when collected, they descend like
avalanche. Woe be 60 the evil which they strike Let
most on hs refinement and fault, Il he can with The
vote OF MNmant-a thing that anule
that would carry into human Affairs power almost like
the right hand Of the Almighty
To-day the proudest throne on the globe is honored b.,
woman No person is shocked that she BE- at the head
oia empire. Every reason urged against larger l
ofv ior woman, Is ilustrousy oonuted by the dignity
purity and womanly proprlety with which Victoria
a'4sq az oeiore her empire anu os9ie tne world
privileges Woman In her simple self with nothing
deemed worthy d honor and publicity. With orowa
on her brow she may enter paramcnts and govern
may not lin ~ her hand cast vote II she repre-
sonts power state an art elias II she only stands
upon an arstocNtic base, she is INDUCED But
IN her own nature and representing her own self s dis
owned and rebuiiud Now as Christian democrat, /
tocracy accords her.
George W Curtis, in the New York Constitu-
tioual Convention, says
II seems 10 De though that II practically took
i part IN politics. the home would De leit bowling vii
uefness OF cradles and chaos 81 undArned stocking
and hutonlcg shirts But how is it with the monf Do
pass Their time al the polsi j. II credit 70 man o
be called professional politician The pursuits Of
lives ore On from political functions as those Of
Women taAe an eftfene case There nothing more
care Of children than there Is 10 ng bitches or max
ing shoes or 10 any other necessary employment, while
IN every superior interest Of society growing out Of the
family, the stake VI women Is not les than men. and
their knowledge is greater. In England woman who
owns shares IN the East India Company may vote In
this country she may vote stockholer upon rail
road from one end Of the country to another. But she
sells her stock, and buys house with the money She
has ia the laying out Of the road before her
door which her house T. taxed TO keep and pas Tor.
Ana why In the name OF good sense Il responsible
human being may vote upon specific Industrial projects
may she not vote upon the Industrial regulation Of the
state There u no more reason that men should assume
70 decide partcp ton In politics 10 be uuwomaly than
that woman should decide for men that ID Is unmsnly
The position Of woman in regard to the common
schools Of the State is the most absurd and unjust
that can be imagined. She must always be the
chief instructor of the young in point Of time
J and influence. She is their best teacher at home
and in the school. And her share in this ever ex-
banding work is becoming yaster every day Wo-
man as mother, sister, teacher, has an inteili-
gence, comprehension Of the educational needs
OF our youth, and an interest IN their develop
ment, far in advance of the other sex. She can
, organize control and teach the most difficult
school in the State yet she has no vote in the Sc
lection Of teachers, the building, arrangements
and equipment Of schOol-houses, neither in the
} method and extent Of instruction. She can pay
her share OF the expenses of schools but can hive
no legal voice in their management. She can
teach, but she can have no vote in determining
what shall be taught She is tie very corner
stone Of institutions which she has no lawful vote
in shaping.
Suilnge alone can carry woman's right and
privilege into the district school. And especially
et us have her OPEN avOwed and public response
blity and cooperation, always safer than indi-
rect infuence-always more honest and efficient
than kitchen cabinet
This subject is one that promises 10 engross the
thoughts Of this generation, and it will be agit-
2 ated till in the progress Of events the right Of
woman to vote will not be questioned. This re,
suit Is just as certain as it is that in the end the
cause Of truth ever triumphs
We believe that woman, married or unmarried
5 was made to be the companion of man. and not
his mere servant that She has the same right Ia
control her property that be has to control his
that she has the same right to aspire 10 any Oc-
cupation, opposition the duties of which She Is
competent to discharge that he has A right i
S worth nothing without the power 10 protect it,
| The ballot alone can do this.
, hen the black man Of the South was made a
= Tree man, the ballot was given him as the only
sure mode OF protecting his freedom and the equa
s rights freedom coniers
e And we should glory in seeing Vermont, frs. o.
l. all lands accord to woman her equal rights be
fore the law, and invest her with their only sur,
safeguard, the right OF suffrage.
Alter abolishing human slavery, the next grea
conquest OF the United States over wrong and er
A ror, will be to take woman from the feet of maj
: and place her by his side, invested with ever,