, 1870-05-21


Mrs. Mary A. Livernore. now Of Boston,
would be better employed il she should 60
back West and take care OF hex family. Mr.
Blake continued in this Btrain for soue ame,
and it was reported that other ministers took
part in tho debate, which Eaa frequently BIZ
ter.
Ret Or. Savage Will probably come nut IN
print with bis views on the woman question,
and the sequel to the matter OF to-ddy prom
ises to be quite interesting.
FEMALE SUFFRAGE IN PARLIA-
MENT.
Speeches by jacob Bright Sir c.
Dilkc, Colonel sykes, and seres-
ford Hope.
In the House OF Commons, on tue evening
OF 3Iay 1. Mr. Jacob Bright moved the second
reading Of the Women Disabilities bill:
He said that il the bill passed into law
women being honaeholaerss, pasing rates, and
have votes in tho election Of members of Par
lament for boroughs. and would also haye
votes for county members, it they we're hold
ers Of houses in counties rated at -f12 and up
wa1ds, or if they possessed any description Of
property now emitting men to vote Tor coun-
ties. As the House might desire to know to
what extent women would be enfranchised by
the bill, be would refer to tho number of them
on the burgess roll in two or three towns.
Tho largest proportion ct women among
the municipal voters vas to be found
in Bath, where there was one woman
smallest proportion was At Walsall, where
there Was one woman to rs men among the
municipal voters. In Bristol the proportion
WAS one female voter to seven male in M4u-
chester, one female to SIX male in Newcastle.
one TO eight; and in York. one to seven.
When tho question OF the franchise WIS lsst
nnder discussion fears were EXPRESSED lest
those whom it was proposed TO place on the
electoral List might swamp the electors already
enjoying the franchise. but ho faucied that it
would lie admitted that the humber Of persons
he now proposed to admit to tho franchise
sion but that the ariatocratic sex N whose
hands we're placed al the material privileges
of life, would still be predominant He aa-
yocated the claim he now made on the ground
Of public justice, or lie would never haye taken
it up. considering the difficulty Which private
member experienced in psseine any measure
Of legislation. It should 10 remembered that
Parliament did not give rotes to men or
women; for there were thousands Of men OF
education and intelligence in every position Of
life who bad no votes; but Parliament applied
T. certain test, and gave votes to those men
though they might belong to the fraternity Of
London thieves, be drtlnkat,lB OF returned
conv.cts--eyen if they were 60 ignorant az not
to know the name OF the sovereign under
whom they lived, they we're elevated to TIE
rank Of voters and enabled to influence the
proceedings OF that House. II seemed to be
an anomaly that qualification which worked
such magic in the case Of men was wholly in
operative in the cage OF women, no matter
how much intelligence or property they might
given to the claim be now preferred il it could
| be shown that women did not bear some Of
the burdens bofne by men; but no was not
aware that that was the facs: He knew that il
! would be eaid tAat women did not take l. par1
| in defending the country. and he replied thai
meu were nofbound to defend their country
The business OF defence was voluntary will
| the men. and the women contributed to the
public exclequer come portion OF the none.
which enabled the State to maintain men fol
its defence. Moreover, sorne women had per
formed services in the hospital, which vert
aered in the camp. and woman woult
ever he found rendv for that kint
OF service. Great anxiety had ALWAYS bee,
shown by tie men to possess the franchise
because they felt that they ought to have
control over tho expenditure OF the revenue
which was raised by the taxes they wore calle,
on to pay, because the laws parsed by Parla
mcnt affected the whole OF the people an
because exclusion from the franchise was lik
mark Of moral inferiority Was there an
reason Which men urged fer possessing til
franchise which did not apply with equal Q
lie asked what advantage woutdit be TO wome
to be admitted within the political pale Sue
question was put to the non-eectors hefor
the passing Of the Reform bill and the iue
qualities Of the taw between voters and nor
voters we're not SO mich then as they now wer
between meu and women. Let them conside
the law as affecting married women. 1h
married woman in this country was, nccordin
to the Law, in the portion Of negro in Ii
Southern states Of America before the civ
Of her property, nor the possession Of OF
farthing Of her earnings. Her husband. HOY
ever unintelligens and worthless, ha
,, the a1to'use =, control Of h,
and her money. The House vas probab
unanimous us to the justice OF this claim, b,
edging an evil and finding + remedy. IT
Married Women's Properly bill had thrt
: times received the sanction Of the House, ar
: had been twice before select committee; b.
: be was an imprudent man who would unde
take to SAY when it would become Law. tn;
was not tho way in, which they treated Il
: classes who had the francbiee. What was It
position Of woman who toet her husband Z
be died intcstate tile Law protected her, al
Gavo her a certain portion Of the income Of III
property. II he did uot die intcdtate, she VII
t left to his justice and mercy. He did not der
that tho m1iofity OF women were treated wit
4 fairness in that respect. but many casea migi
be cited Of the contrary. He merely pointe
to these inequalities, and reminded the Hout
8 that they had been made BY ! section Of Il
tirely without influence. It required ten TIM
the provocation man required befo
I 3 wotnan could obtain q divorce.
: woman had no control over her CHI
a dren after they we're years Of ago. n
| ;,,+, fc epa fha f4ifftc,11t;aa xrhfrh
G thrown in the way Of women obtaining Il
+ higher education. Women nna men might
y associated in the theatre and opera, but di
ference was made in the lecture-rnom. At Il
: present moment there Wac an admirable ft'
r tcllo in Manchester; it took male clil1rt
out Of the gutter, while the girls we're left
/ the street. This was the first proposal for Il
y extension Of the suffrage which was free fro
! rarty conflicts and the passions that arose O
9 Of them. When made hv Mr.. Mill, in 1867,
: ported it we're NOW members OF the gorcr
o ment, hrt that did not exhaust The uembe
s | of the government who were in itn favor.
u bad no doubt tie leader Of the npiositio
g had he been present, would have support
d the bill. In April. 1866, the right honoras
e ct opinion that il there is to be universal ST
d frage women have as much right to have
u Eote in a county IN which ehe may have man
rial courts. and sometimes act as
u ever claim Le lad to support on i
y other side Of the House, be had
II stil stronger clam on tho great Liberal pa1
:, 10 which lie had the honor TO belong. He d
n not ask for iberality. but for the barett iu
s. tice- II Justice did not require tha. eseEy
70 class sEould he represented in that Hous
q He waH told that women we're unfit to be {
=, frsncLiRed. but they never would be fit |
8 e they had the franchise and we're invested vi
l. ! its responsibility: On the other side, Of
a. Atlantic i.G00,000 negroes lad recently be
y enfranchised, aud nobody would deny that I
ol rexce and prosperity of the Southern Sta
1e were better secured by that measure. He v
? astoniEhed to hear it stated that women VI
ie unfit for the franchise, when he considered
70 70 ture. As the head Of educational establ1
III nents. managing farms aud factories, CONT
!, ling various industries throughout the col
u, tH, [1lear. heas.I As proof Of their ini
- ligence he might refer to the history OF
u agitation which had produced this bill, and
~ ing the email means at their disposal, ne
!e hsd question made euch rapid r
m gTess in 20 short space OF time.
y " was told by some Of his political friends Il
rh lI i this hill xeTe passed, the goveEnn
' sn ty in the ve1y crisis OF the countrv's fate.
ne Laugh. Vel, lie derived consolation from
g fact that this country had sometimes even g
-. v1Eed ConeerTative administration. 'Aea
ao ane laugh II there was any mes saing
an argument Of that kind, it vas this, that
-. tie country were properly and justly ,rer
~ ~ eented, the Federal party Ehou1d be sitting
y, tie other eide Of the House. laugh.J
did not believe word Of it. He undertook
~ eay there would be change from the nom
'ek women Obtained the franchise Ii the way
e. which subjects in Which they were interes
n we're treated By the House. 1t waa sometiI
Al sid that women ought not to be political i;
III might IS well be eaia that grass should not
cr. 1 - - 4{s,. nvr1rrfnJ u4, f4;,;n,.+. .