Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-17
unmarked graves Of two thousand soldiers
of the State of New York, buried In the
Cvrress Hills Cemetery.
ALetter from Washington.
woMAM's SUFFRAGE.

woMAMS SUFFRAGE.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March Ia, 1870.
Editor Rutland Herald: see by the
columns of your paper, that the citizens
of Vermont or portion Of them at least,
are awake upon the question of Woman
Suffrage, subject which is just now
agitating the minds of the people more or
less, throughout the country While l
am free to confess that my limited axper-
fence of the past history of Vermont has
taught me that she is never behing in any
object that tends to the general good OF
the country. must say that I am unable
to see the propriety of pressing the ques-
ton upon the people. I of course do not
intend to advance any argument against
those of.able advocates of the cause, but
simply propose to give my opinion, to
which we are all entitled, as well as to
the privilege of expressing them. L have
always been decidedly in favor of equal
rights to all, I believe that justice de-
mands that women should receive equal
compensation for their labor to that re-
ceived by men, and certainly when they
perform like duties. That their services
are not properly recognized as general
thing, is beyond question, that they ought
to be in every respect is certainly as I'M
questionable, yet I cannot think it is re-
ouired to give them the ballot in order to
secure to them those rights to which /
claim they are entitled, for I consider ii
is not applicable to the case, and if it is
done it is my opinion that it will prove
injurious to the common welfare OF the
country. I have given this enterprise, il
it may be so called, considerable atten-
ton, and especially since Tearing that 1t
is being agitated to such an extent in my
native State, and among other extracts
from articles which have read touching
the subject, is one which 1 noticed in the
Morning News" of this place, which
that paper refers to as from the pen of a
talented and respectable lady of this city.
She says, "without fear or favor, say
boldly, that would rather see the look
of trust from the manly eyes that loved
me, and hear the patter of little feet and
theIprattle of childrens, voices that glorified
me with motherhood, than to cr0ood TO Tx
ballot or stride to the rOStruna, or hold an
office under the Government, though ii
be the highest in the gift of this great
Republic" To be able to concur with the
authoress of this noble sentiment with the
sincerity evinced by her, is in my mind
unquestionably virtue which may wei
be cherished by every true woman
do not mean to be understood
by this that they should confnt
themselves exclusively to home and
its duties, that this is all they are good for
far be it from my intention to judge then
so wrongfully, for it is their privilege tt
breathe as freely as man the refreshing
effects of outdoor exercise, and share AZ
largely in the pure light of heaven. Yet
believe when they seek to grasp the bal.
lot they step outside of that sphere in
which the laws of prudence require them
to travel. The true mother has accom-
plished a noble task when she has learned
we'll how to guide the footsteps of her off
spring that they may mould bright pros
poets for useful and happy future, and
the daughter may prudently be proud O.
her experience when she has found her
self capable of relieving that mother of {
| poI tion of ho- donneotio dutias. and pre-
pared herself to discharge faithfully those
responsibilities which will naturally sur
round her ere she has completed the com
mon term of life, certainly their field fol
labor may not end here, but in my opin
ion it is sufficiently broad to furnish them
ample reason for industry without drag
cling in what [ believe would be the
| degrading influence that would visit them
with the right to WELD the ballot TC
this statement of my views, that they are
not brought about by any lack of conf
denee in the common sense and good
| judgment of that sex whose rights are il
question. I can but freely say that be-
lieve the best and quickest way to decide
eide this matter is to give them the bal
lot sufficiently long to enable them to de
eide it for themselves, the result of which
in my opinion would be to bury it so deeI
in the regions of darkness that light would
never shed its cheering rays upon it again
But perhaps we should not indulge ii
judging of the future, although we may
sometimes be justified in so doing by
meditating upon the past, therefore viii
close.
Respectfully yours,