The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-11-26
Woman Suffrage No. 2.
RICHMOND, IND, Nov. %, 1870.

AsAOuhONp lND., NV 80, low.
Editor Polladiam -
1t has often been truthfully remarked
that even the more enlightened part ..
mankind are too prone TO accept without
question, and 10 adopt without examin~
alton many customs, practices and theo>
ries, as right, almost unconsciousiy con-
sidering them as sanctioned by universal
suffrage, and as sanctifled by long and
undisputed usage. For centuries scarce
any one presumed to call in doubt the
heresy that might conferred right, and
all political institutions were founded On
that basis. and but rare few questioned
the divine right of Lings. But as the
civilizing Influence OF Christianity spread
its illuminating power--as education and
general intelligence became more difus>
ed--and as the arts and sciences advanc-
ed and contributed TO dispel the gloom
of ignorance--more correct views. more
just notions Of human right, and of the
relations of governing and governed, were
entertained.
It IS also observed that among the
moro intelligent, the re is Sc emirg aver
sion to thought and estigation it is
50 much more agreeable and more easy
to rest satisfied with what we know 70
be wrong, both in morals and in govern>
ment--so much more fattering to our
ease, than rcsoluteIy to attack and TO
overthrow vicious customs--errors both
in Church aEd in State. There is in the
mental. as in the material physical world,
an inertia, seeming tendency to con-
tinue in the state we happen to DO 4:
THE mind, lorg habi!uated to a lethar-
gle and quiescent state. is unwilling to
wake to the toll Of thinking and though
she may sometimes be disturbed by the
obtrusion OF rev IDEAS, sinks back to ig-
. norancs and to rest Every attempt 10
exterIninate error. and to introduce i'm
provements ia stIgmatized as innovation,
and the multitude rise up against it,
Unexpected opposition presents itself on
every side; the celebrated and the OBJ
scure join in the c,nfederacy. 'Snbtlety
furnishes arms to impudeHce, and inren>
ton leads on credulity. Irnpatience of
study Of mind lsb IA tendency to
cut the knots of difficulty. that require
industry to unite to solve intricacies by
Z sudden traditions Of intelligence and to
comprehend long processes OF argument
by immediate intuition,' seem to be the
mental diseases and the characteristics of
our age.
But there is a hopeful disposition of
inquiry abroad in the land, willingness
to investigate and discuss questions rela
ting to human rights, that are encouIag
ing to the true patriot. These are SUBJ
jects requiring but little subtlety ofreas
oning, or superior powers Of investiga-
ton, and I am 10th to disbe ieve that the
masses are honest, or that they would
yield ready acquiesence in changes VII
tally affecting the highest welfare Of one
half Of our people. When our Ravolu-
tionary sires proposed reducing TO prac~
tice the selfevident truth announced in
the Declaration of Independence, that
all are free and equal Tin Iights) and tina:
all governments derive their just powers
from The consent OF the governed
one halfof the governed. And when
they were taking steps to found govern
ment. on these fundamental principles,
the great objects to be attained we are
informed, were
To form more perfect union--to in
sure domestic tranquiIity--to establish
justice--to provide for the common de-
ferce--promote the general welfare, and
to secure to ourselves ard to our poster
ity the blessings of liberty, &c.
How q more perfect UNION is to be
secured, while one half its subjects are
inhibited from the possession and the ex..
ercise of the only means known among
men, the only agency by which the gov
ernlng class can have infused into them
Of all; how domestic tranquility is to be
comprised, when one half of the adult
population are inconsistency deprived
by force Of partial laws, Of the only eff
fective weapon. by which the self evident
rights can be upheld, defended and Sc
cured. How justice can be established
for all, while the governing power is
lodged in the hands of the physically
stronger part of the subjects Of the Gov.
eminent, with all ability withheld from
the physically weaker portion, to psacs>
ably enforce their wishss-their wants,
and reasonable Difference to their ne.
cessities. In what way the common de-
fence can be assured, with all political
power in the possession of man, while
woman is dependent suppliant for
protection, to guarantee which, she is
certainly entitled 10 the possession of
what man considers such a sovereign
remedy to redress his wrongs.
How the general welfare is to be pros
NOTED and secured, with one part of the
subjects of laws-in enaeting which they
had no asency-debarred from the .exer-
else of all power, in determining. what
these enactments should be. And final
ly, how the blessings of liberty, aud not
its curses, are to be shed abroad over all,
with all the political power lodged, not
certainly in the more'intelligent, the more