New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-19
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN CONNECTICUT

A COMMITTEE REPORT IN ITS FAYOB-MINORITY
REPORT
Two reports were submitted to the Con-
necticut Legislature at Newayen last Thursday from
Joint Committee on Woman Suffrage. petition had
been referred to this Committee asking for amend
ment TO the Constitution in favor of Woman Suffrage.
| On the 9Th Of last month a hearing was given to
various champions Of the cause and OF it's
opponents in the House Of Representatives before
large audience Later public meetings of the Committee
have also attracted much attention. and the subject has
been exciting considerable interest I'm the state The
majority of the Commtteethe vote stood five 10 four
report in favor of the amendment asked and propose the
Every White citizen United States without distinction Of who
shall baye attained the Of p yeas who a! have resided ia t
state for term Of one year next preceding and in me town m wh
isl SIX il9hh lefl t,..l ,n ..e % s- o. ,t ]
abe to read any article o. ne Constitution or any c''l OF TOE [
OF th state ana s' sustain goa i " t i ' " 'lA
The maiorty in irving to sustain their report say first
that all moral government is based upon the principle
OF personal responsibility" The nth commandment, as
given Leytcus, is quoted e shall free every man
his mother and his father" Here the mother is placed
on perfect equality with the father under Gods law.
his mother and may legislate about her property
and her person without her consent True womanh00d,
rs true manhood depends upon personal reSpoI,DnIH'
and woman should no Longer be held IN special suDjee
lcn 10 law nor Ge sptGa prYtecteG p{ aE go' 9mI
their administration equally with man. secondly 1t is
claimed that political consistency requires the enran-
by common consent are Acknowledged TO be
be made, like men, Irresponsible citizens. Thirdly,
responsibility deyolyes power The apparent inca
owing to the nOnse of their faculties in that direction.
FOurthy says the report the plain and ordinary prn
cpes Of justice require that woman should be enan-
chsod" She has tile interests in the Government
has, she is often tax payer, and she is now
entering upon many pursuits that considerable part
OF the business Of community Will be in her hands.
Lastly, the irresponsible influence Of woman in public
affairs is dangerous. She has much influence
snonSihe The r@nori then reviews and answers what
Tho Tho
woman suffrage, as foowsI supposed natural
capacity in man TO govern ana corresponding inca
change fatal 20 true wOmanho0d The state rests upon
force" and women If in majority, might pass laws
which they would have no power TO enforce A.. Women
ought not TO vote, because not wiling 10 nSnti ..
by the withdrawal of woman from the hOme-circle.
Each of these objections the report answers at some
lengthFAs to the first, snpparenty special capacity
for government comes the fact Of his experience in
governing In former days his physical power was
necessary to government and so placed in
the back ground. new era OF intelligence in govern
mcnt has now come. The second opectoI presuppOses
that womans nature is purely thing OF circumstances
Eoman's nature comes from God, as mans does. she
alone must develop that nature, and she should have
perfect freedom OF choice IN dong so IN regard 10 me
basis OF the State force and the fighting objection
the majority think practically IN free gov,
eminent is not true that the state rests upon force
1t rests upon the hearts and interests Of It's citizens
IL must come, woman may be as good "sodler'
by working in the hospital where Sne alone Is competent
as is in the field. The OicehOldng objection the
writers think is weak one because Eth mat matter c VIII
whether men or women as will be best fitted to attend
children and the instances i'll which they desert them
for public office will be
The minority report says first, that the changes pro-
posed should not be made, unless majority OF women
desire suffrage. No evidences Of this is before the Com
mitee. On the contrary. there seems to be strong
feeling against the change among the women of the
state the advocates of woman suffrage should force
N ON the majority OF the opposed to IT, they would be
doing the majority injustice Secondly, change so
radical should not be made without sufficient reasons
The change would give the ballot 10 thousands OF
ignorant women The same objection may be applied 10
men but why duplicate the evils The Creator made
woman as sex unfit for public and political life. She
has pecuiar disabilities IL would be impossible 10 pre-
serve her domestic influence IL she into political
contact with man. Such remedy for the evils OF the
sex il desperate one 1t is better 10 enact statutes for
the fnrther protection of Thirdly the change is
not demanded by the highest interests of women one
reason given why should have the right OF
is that all moral and social reforms would move
on at more rapid pace. The temperance movement Is
often cited claimed that liquor saloons would be shut
p Legislation does not cure any evil unless that egsla-
ton il accompanied by prevailing opinion. The law
against liquor selling III the community Is stringent
enough at present II women desired they could so mold
and frame that public opinion that only no liquor should
be sold but that none should be drunk They have un
der the existing order of things field as broad as the eX
ercse of ballot could afford Influence Is better than
power gained through the ballot for it is the subtle yet
powerful, reflex of character. - ,
Tie majority report is signed by Messrs e. A. Wood
ward Chairman Gen. T.. u. Warner, John Cotton smith,
A. r. Goodrich and Talmage Baker; the minority report
10y Messrs Thomas Cowles Chairman on the part or the
House, Arthur W. Bacon, John W. Hall and Ed K Ian