Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-13

Female Suffrage may be conousivey regarded as
in opposition.
DO our Women Want the Ballot
Looking on with some concern while this
large question Of Woman Suffrage has been
agitated upon us Of late, desire now to put
forward one suggestion. The argument for
and against the proposed change. is in fair
way TO be urged quite sufficiently, and do
not propose to enter upon that Probably
not much more, for substance, can be sald IN
favor Of it than has been cried aloud up and
down the State by the very able champions OF
this reform, who have recently imported so
much light and heat among us. Here and
there an organ Of echo has been volunteered
among our State periodicals also. So that,
on the whole, we believe the argument for the
change has got itself, in all essentials, pretty
fairly stated The case has gone TO the jury,
and the sober second thought Of consideratc
men and women in all our homes has for some
time past been weighing IT, And a ripe con-
clusion on the merits Of the question has al
ready been reached by the men and women Of
Vermont conclusion which probably will
not be greatly changed by further agitation.
Now my inquiry is this Is there not
some way in which this conviction can be pro-
nounced among us especially the sober judy
ment and decisive wish Of the women of Yer
month For the danger is that they will
presently find this question decided upon
them. The noise that has been made under
outside pressure can easily be managed to
mean that the grieved women Of Vermont are
calling for redress. The only chance for
carrying woman suffrage in this State rests on
establishing the false presumption that the
women Of Vermont desire it. and all that pub
licity Of action and character which properly
70 with it. Persuade the voters Of Vermont
that this is the deliberate wish Of the women
Of the State, and they will surely give it, as
they will readily grant any and every correc-
ton of unjust legal disabilities which they
shall clearly ask.
But do the women of Vermont desire the
suffrage2 Who will pretend that this is the
spontaneous movement of Vermont women,
rescnting their wrongs and clamoring for the
ballot The truth is Just the contrary
They strongly and generally deprecate the
movement, and condemn the proposed change,
as surely containing in it forces of mischiey-
Gus influence TO the womanly character and
TO all the supreme interests of society. With
in pretty large circle we have reason to be-
lieve that not one in five, more probably not
one in ten, Of the thoughtful, considerate wo-
men among us, has any favor for the change
or looks upon it with any other feeling than
those Of alarm and disgust, as upon a bundle
of mischiefs seeking acceptance under the in
sidious disguise Of great cnlranchisement
Look around you, reader DO the women
Of true worth, the sober wives and mothers Of
Vermont crave the ballot as a privilege, or
do they deprecate it as worse wrong than
any and all they now suffer- DO not the
great majority of the women you know pro-
test against this whole movement as an at
tempt to thrust it upon them, against their
judgment and desire, the burden aud the
wrong of an unnatural public character Ty-
rants, are we? Well, let us not push our
tyranny so far as that.
Now, ought not the women of Vermont to
declare themselves in some way on this mat
ter ? 1t should be done in season. for the
question will be pushed TO a decision very
soon. Speak out, or the change which you
think scarcely possible may be carried. Your
silence seems to consent, and at some crisis,
when it is too late to speak, you will be said
to desire it because you had not spoken
More than you think, there is danger that the
change will be managed into effect. Show
your thought and wish now, before the ques-
tion is shut upon you. Leave no man at lib-
erty to presume or pretend that the women
of Vermont consent to the change. Convince
all that you condemn and resist it. The clear
utterance of your judgment and wish will
determine this question for as the voters of
Vermont will certainly give you the ballot
if they are assured or persuaded that you
generally crave it, so certainly they will not
thrust it upon you against your wish, if fairly
and Reasonably uttered.
The truth is, this is no movement Of our
Vermont women. A raid has been made on
US by certain professional reformers and GER
tain indignant and eloquent females from
abroad They have made this noise and furn-
shed gratis all the tears that have been shed
over our suffering sisters And let us under
stand the significance of this crusade on Yer
mont. If this rare little State, the cream of
New England for discreet sense and right
headed true-heartedness, can be carried for
this reform, il becomes a capital instance, n
much needed precedent and glorious example,
TO be quoted to the worlds end, and they will
make Of our Green Mountains a fulcrum to
pry up the rest of the world. All right, if
Vermont with deliberate choice, accepts the
position of leader in this revolution all
wrong il it be pushed in upon us by for
eigndrive, and imposed on the unwilling wo-
men Of the State.
But the question is raised and must be
met and it is broad and deep enough to war.
rant earnest and resolute action. Some thor
cugh canvass should be had, some fair and
general expression Of the feeling,and judg-
inent of our Vermont women, salse form of
petition, perhaps, uttering pointodly their
wish in this matter which so deeply concerns
them. Let us hear tbem--and then let us
see If the men of Vermont are tyrants enough
to push them out into unwomanly ways
against their will.
Some such petition as this
We, the women of Vermont legal residents of
the State, believing that God has wisely adapted
each sex to its own duties, and that the faithful
discharge OF our own fills all our capacity be
lieyeing, also, that the added burden uf the SUI.
frage, with the obligations which attend it, would
seriously Interfere with our duties 10 ourselves 10
our families, and 10 society and confidently re-
lying upon the honor and justice of our husbands
and fathers and brothers, to correct whatever laws
now discriminate unjusty against us do, there
fore, respectfully and earnestly protest against
any legislation TO establish woman suffrage in this
State.
The form matters less than the fact of some
clear, decisive utterance Only let il be
pointed, promptly pushed, signed generally by
the women Of the State, who are everywhere
protesting privately against this change, and
we shall soon see the last Of this movement
The fair thing would be for those who favor
the change, to circulate a petition FoR IT, and
thus prove that it is desired by some consid.
cradle part Of the women Of Vermont, instead
OF deyolying on US the burden of proving the
negative. Let as see petition for the
change, bearing the names of one in twenty
Of our women, and then we will begin to be.
lieve there may be some sparks Of FIRE under
all this smoke