The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-02-08
" oman Suffrage.

that at the Universal Suffrage Associa
ton holden in that city last Saturday
evening, Albert u. liager, one of the
officers OF the Vermont Association, was
recognized in the audience by the Presi-
dent Of the meeting aud requested to ad-
vance to the platform and inform the
audience what was being done in YER
mont for the cause Of Woman Suffrage.
He responded that he was not expecting
to be called upon to speak, but he would
do so briefly. Vermont, he said, was
not large State, nor a fast one, that
there was probably smaller per centage
Of fast young men, and less of young
America there than in any other State
still, Vermont was not always behind but
in the progress of events was sometimes
found in the front ranks, She was the
first to be added to the original thirteen
States. Her SONS, at Bennington, were
the first to defeat the soldiers of Great
Britain in the Revolution. Vermont was
the first to send forth a regiment when
the President called for 100000 more
men, and he had heard it ntimated that
Vermont soldiers were as reliable as any
that went to the war and he believed
they were the first that checked Lee at
Gettysburg. Vermont was the first to
fire loud election gun for President
Grant after his nomination, and he be-
lieved she would be the first State to re-
store to woman the right of franchise
He was not led to these conclusions from
any great demonstrations, made by those
favoring woman suffrage, for the question
had not been much agitated in the State.
There had been no uprising of the women
demanding this, but he thought he knew
the character of the people. They were
a liberty loving, Democratic people who
had a profound respect for justice and
equal rights. They had always been
abolitionists in principal and practice, for
the time never was that they could not
have lawfully had colored man for
Governor or member Of Congress. Negro
slavery never had foothold there.
He said, that by constitutional provision,
thirteen men were once in seven years,
and, among other things, it was their
duty to recommend to the people any
amendments to the constitution which
they migth deem necessary for the well
being of the State. An election of the
kind was held last year. Thirteen good
men were selected out Of the two political
parties and met in council without in
structions. The friends of woman's
rights did not know the opinion of but
few,i any of those composing this Council
of Censors. They were not selected be-
cause they were the adherents of any par.
ty of policy but because they were good
sensible, honest, well-informed men.
On mature deiberation, nine of these
thirteen men were induced to vote in
favor of submitting to the people of the
State the proposition Of woman suffrage
This was not done because they were APP.
peaed to by women, but by sense Of
justice.
They knew, full well, that there is not
on the face Of the earth people that
possessed greater amount of virtue,
morality and intelligence than the wo-
men of Vermont They knew that many
of these were taxed, and all of them made
subject to the laws of the land. They
considered it right that the women of the
State should have voice in the enact
ment and execution of the laws, if they
desire it, and in case all should not desire
it, but portion should, they thought it
would be unjust to deprive such as want
ed it merely because others were indiffer-
ent to it. The question is now before
the people and is being discussed and will
be decided in June next.
A State Universal Suffrage Association
has been formed, numbering among it,
members, some of the best men in
the State. They asked no woman to
take an office in the organization Men
had enacted the laws that had deprived
women of the ballot, and it was men on
ly who could decide the question whether
that right shall be restored to them, and
it was but an act Of justice and right
that men only should be the ones to cor.
rect the wrongs that had been done
There is scarcely man in the State who
has not such respect for justice that he
would be unwilling to deprive the widow
ed mother who pays heavy tax, from
saying how that tax should be applied il
the education of her children. There
are but a very few intelligent men in the
State who would not restore the franchis,
to the woman if they all said they want
ed it.
There are also many who 60 beyont
these and insist that the interest right O
self-government was given alike to MAJ
and woman, and that right should be re
stored to woman, even if she does not asl
for it. They do not wish the intelligen
women of the State to ask for the ballo
any more than they wished the liberate,
slave to ask for it. They believe thu
ballot will be as safe in the hands Of thu
educated women of Vermont as it was il
the hands Of the uneducated freedman
1t had worked no harm with the latter
and he believe it would work to the goo,
of humanity if put into the hands of tn
former. Relying upon the intelligenc
of the people, and their deep and abiding
sense of justice, he said he did not thinl
when the vote is taken that majorit
will be found to say that the women G
the State shall longer be deprived Of tn
; right of citizenship.
CONTAMINATION. Halsey R. Wing, c
, Glen's Falls, N. Y, died on the Goth Q
: January, in the slxty-frst year ofhis ag'
He was graduate of Middlebury Colleg
/ class of 1882, studied law at Albany AN
r was admitted to practice in the State an
, Fedral courts He held successfully tn
Q offices of Assistant District Attorne
: for the County Of Albany, and Superb