Litchfield enquirer., 1870-07-28

ligence and experience, and virtue, and patriotism, will be of great service to the state. 1. It is also argued with great reason that women citizens may be as safely trusted to determine the relative importance of their public and private duties. as men citizens; and that there is no reason why the state should be deprived of the valua- ble service of some women because certain other women are unfit for such service. or could not render it without neglecting their higher duties. The great majority of men are unfit for holding office, either by circumstances or want of capacity, but there is no reason why the few who are fit are enfranchised, much less why all men should be disfranchised. l.... In other words, citizenship should con- stitute all citizens eligible to office; of cir cumstances each citizen must judge for himself or herself-of capacity or fitness for office, the constituency must decide.
 In conclusion, it is urged first, that ob- iections on the ground of present expedi ency, where clear and authoratiye general principles have been established ought not to have serious weight. 1t is 8 low order of statesmanship that allows views of seeming expediency to override great fun dameatal principles. Such views are apt to be the result of unreasoning prejudice, or bigoted conservatism, which are the worst foes of real progress. Second, that aslarge class of objections against woman suffrage lie equally against the universal enfranchisement of men. But the policy of universal suffrage in this country, with limitation perhaps of certain tests of ed ucation, is too well settled as practical question to be opened for discussion, what ever opinion may be entertained by it on theoretical grounds, and it is claimed by the advocates of woman suffrage that they are not called upon to answer any objec- tion in the general enfranchisement of women that lies equally against the gene ral enfranchisement of men. They con- tend that they have established their case when they have shown that women are en- titled to suffrage upon the recognized and established theoretical principles of our government. In this outline of the argument in favor of woman suffrage. the undersigned con- cur and recommend to the general assem- bly, the passage of the following resolu- tion: gr.-...t j ..4 .r.'. ..t
 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May Session, A. D. 1870. Resolred, The following be proposed as an amendment to the constitution of this state which, when adopted and approved in the manner provi- ded by the constitution, shall, to all inents and purposes, become part thereof, viz:
 Every white citizen of the United States, without distinction of sex who shall have attained the age of twentyone years, who shall have resided in the state for term of one year next preceding, and in the town in which such citizen may apply to be admitted to the privileges of an elector, at least six months next preceding the time of snch ap- plicaton. and shall be able to read any article ot the constitution any section of the statutes oi the state and shall sustain goodmoral character shall, on taking such oath as may be prescribed by law, become an elector. -3 51sG#
 Resolced, That the foregoing proposen amend nent to the constitution be continued to the next general assembly. and be published with the isws passed at the present. sessfun. -s
 B. A. WOODWARD, chm, Senate, ROBERT l.. WARNER,
 JOHN COTTON SMITH.
 A. R. GOODRICH,
 TALMADGE BAKER. ..