The Portland daily press., 1871-09-26

Mrs. Abby Gould Woolson in a Wyomino
OF the opel alton of woman suffrage in tha,
Territory:
Probabilities can never be as potent as
facts, and whatever the testimony, nobod, s
eyes and ears are quite as good as our own,
and so we were very glad tc learn Tor our
selves what was the true state oil the case in
Wy oming. When upon its soil we asked It's
quiet undemonstrative Governor what had
been the practical working of woman suffrage
there. He replied at once; Excellent; it has
worked well. i approved the bill giving suf-
frage to woman without looking favorably up
on it, owing to my early prejudices, but have
seen no reason to regret the step, and an
rather forced by TIE results to become an ad-
vocate OF it," Then we began to think that
after all the rosy view might be the true one,
and SO 1t proved. His testimony was most
unequivocally in its favor, and so was that
OF every person whom we met in the terrific
ry. Ihose who are anxious to demonstrate
that woman suffrage is in its nature a svrt of
politleal and moral nitro-glycerine, sure at
some inopportune moment to explode and
Diow up tie pillars an foundations of the
social state, would find little comfort in oh
serving the new phase OF society In Wyo-
ming.
So quietly has this question of suffrage
been accepted by the people, and so little
change has 1t made il the manners and the
enplcyments OF women, that the possibility
of tnat general disturbance and upheaval of
all things which our eastern prophets tore
tell, seems never to have been entertained.
When we started the usual objections, to hear
how they would be answered, we were met
with surprised stare, as if they were wholly
new and unexpected. This Is accounted Tor
by the fact that no public discussions pre-
ceded the passage of the bill, and that the
people in making 1t law seemed in no wise
to suspect that tney were doing great or sim
guar thing. and one that was to draw upon
them the eyes of the world.
The women number two thousand and not
the least surprising thing is that not one of
them at present holds any Office 10 the terri
tory, not even that of Justice OF the peace.
There is no prejudice against it, but they do
not seek public lite. We did not hear men,
tion of a female orator while we were there
1t appeared that the matrons keep to their
housework and their firesides as of old, save
on election days, and then they all go forth
and vote as it seemeth unto them good. The
tickets they carry are by no means sure OF
being the same that their husbands support,
tor it is a we'll known fact that 1t was the
votes OF OF the women that swung the terri
tory round into the Republican ranks, where
1T has since remained. When we asked if the
husbands did not give their wives terrible
talkings to, for daring thus to differ with
them On grave questions. we were met with
the reply that 1t was quite as likely to be the
wives who administered the talkngs to, if
any were given. Since territory claiming
admission to the Union as State Is rated ac-
cordlng to its population and not its voters,
this was no measure for political gain; nor
Was IL a Sphama 0aVisab n .ba
population, as was the voting of the women
IN Utah. The measure is said TO owe It's ORR
gin to the wife OF the President of the coun-
Gil, which answers to our Senate, aud chen it
was first introduced into the House, then
wholly Democratic in politics, it was first de-
teated and subsequently passed.
When We asked if there was az disturb
ance at the polls, the Governor replied -
"There is no more jostling nor croadiug at
the polls than there is at a church door, nor
so much. If group OF meu are around a
door and women come up in carriage or on
foot, the men instantly give way and allow
them to pass IN and deposit their votes." 1t
was his opinion that nearly all voted, even
those who were opposed TO it at first.
Equally unequivocai was the testimony In
regard to the excellent service that women
had rendered as jurors. Their names are
drawn with those Of other registered voters,
tn6 pfOpOrIlOn OF WOnen 10 meU Dclng ueter-
mined wholly by accident. Twice it has
stood six to six; again two women were called
upon to serve, and at another time only one.
Their verdicts have been satisfactory to ali
save the culprits. In one case the "fore-
woman" Of jury, who rendered the verdict
| OF Guilty of Manslaughter, called the Same
evening upon the Governor and asked for a
pardon for the prisoner, thus showing
that while as a public officer she ad
mlnistered strict justice, as woman sht
| corld not forget what it was to be mercifu
and tender hearted. This same lady we were
privileged to see, and when we beheld her sh,
was acting as member of the Central Re
publican COMMITTEE, and holding converse
| ton with the Executive in reference TO the
work of the coming campaign. Her husband
moreover, was candidate of the opposite
| party. Cond there be more asgravatins
case? Well, what was she like? 1t is con
trary to all probability know, but as {
| chronicler of facts must avow that she ha'
| a very subdued and pleasant manner and /
winning smile, and was arrayed in the usus
female paraphernaIa of ribbons, necklace ant
jaunty hat, and looked as if she might be o.
her way to the sewing circe. She was dread
| fully out OF her sphere, no doubt, but it was
place that she filled charmingly.