Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-04-07
woman saMrase ]
People.

final action. At the next election
for Members of the Legislature, the
question will be partially in issue,
inasmuch as the next Assembly is to
finally decide whether a Woman
Suffrage Amendment shall be sub
mitted to the people. For ourselves,
we rejoice that this one step is gain
ed; and as the subject is one of gen.
eral interest to all classes of readers,
we compile from the Register the
following synopsis of all the Legisla-
tive proceedings on it. 1t will be
observed that, of our Delegation,
Asssss Catlasgt taad Rslsaaa
for the Resolution, and Mr.. Keables
against it. Let us hope that he may
change his mind on this point before
the time for final action comes.
But here is the full synopsis OF
proceedings:
In the House on the Goth, the Chair
announced the Special Order to be
the Resolution to so amend the Con
stitution as to confer upon women
the right of suffrage.
Mr.. Morrison moved that the
Special Order be taken up. Carried.
The reports of the Committee were
read.
Mr.. Green moved that the minori-
tx- 10 b-,.t hnf of
the majority, as follows:
BE ii reSofced bv the General 1ssem-
biz Of tie .Sidte ot Io,ra, That the fol-
lowing amendments to the Constitu-
tion of the State Of Iowa be and are
hereby proposed:
LIST. Strike from Section Of Arti-
Gle Of said Constitution the word
"malc."
.. Strike from Section Of Article
3 Of said Constitution the word
"male."
3. Strike from Section of Article
6 Of said Constitution the word
"male.o
Re$ofred further, That these Reso-
lutions proposing to amend the Con-
Of the State of Iowa are
hereby referred to the Legislature to
be chosen ut the next general cleo
tion, and that the Secretary of State
shall cause the same to be published
for three months previous to the
time Of the next general election Of
members of the Legislature in one
in each Congressional
District.
= mr..tTrun fsvorrd tyn adoptfDnof
the minority report. lie referred to
the determinations of the laWagainst
women, and pointed ont the cviden-
ceS Of the progress of ideas in this
and other reforms tending TO the
true realization Of our system Of
government.
Mr.. Ball opposed the motion to
adopt the minority report. lie re-
ferred to the teaching, OF the Bible
to show that the cOnIerring Of suf-
frage upon woman was contrary to
the Divine law. He thought it
would result in degrading female
character.
Mr.. Stutsman thought the ground
for and against the proposition had
been fully covered by the gentleman
from Scott, MIR. Green and the
gentleman fran JetIprsosi,f Mriff n BAH. ]
He thought it the duty OF the Gen
eral Assembly to submit to the pro-
pie any question for change IN the
Constitution that anW considerable
portion Of the people demanded or
.petitioned for. lie hoped the Reso-
luton would pass the House without
much opposition.
Mr. Russell moved to strike from
the joint Resolution 50 much as
made it obligatory upon woman to
serve in the militia, being the third
proposition i'm the Resolution.
Mr.. Irish thought that the General
Assembly should not refuse to allow
the experiment. He had confidence
that woman, If she foun6 the expert
ment TO be dangerous one, would
be the first to recede. he favored the
adoption Of the Resolution.
Mr.. Rogers said that for one he
was ready to vote for the Resolution.
Mr.. ROwell was not fully satisfied
as to what was the duty OF this Leg
isIature in regard TO the question.
1t was one Of great importance. We
tried the experiment of enfranchis-
ing the coIored people, and it had
been success. This question is
\ \Qlning upon us. and we are obliged
h meet it. Under our statutes there
are discrimination against the wO-
man. He proceeded to point out
some Of the unjust distinctions in
relation to the ownership of prop
erty.
Mr. Mills said he was not only
almost persuaded TO vote for this
measure, but altogether. lie had
heard no reason why women should
not be allowed to exercise the cleo
tive franchise. He thought if there
was any difference, she was even
superior to man in her intellectual
perceptions. He said he was ready
20 vote for these Resolutions.
Mr.. O'Donnell thought this move
ment was based upon false premises.
He did not think woman oppressed.
If he thought she was, by reason OF
not having the elective franchise,
then he would be in favor of the
Resolutions. He gave his reasons at
length why he thought the Resolu-
n n