New-York tribune., 1871-11-15
MISTAKES or THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE
N .,!f, ADVOCATES. .r..

No little dutter has been created in tho
WoOdhul-Cafi wing OF the Woman Suffrage party by
letter from Mr. Oliver johnson In Tho Repol,tiou OF
last week pfonouneing emp atcay against the efforts
to secure suffrage on the woodruff plan Tho ossontsi
points Of the letter are "a fonows; .r.
Tho Consultation Of the URtedates having proyided
for the choice Of Electors Of President President
In such manner tia Legsatufes OF tho respeotivO
ss thoss to rovSo by aW St %ceS 70
may vote for seoh electors, That the word manner"
S S pcpS nS
regard the proposed as In the Of
it plain that the discussion which the proposal Involves
would be mainly strife about words, In which the real
issue OF wonaus suffrage would bo lost sight OF In end
less and irnitless har-spltting. .... -..
g, TOO, OF the attempt 70 gain our end BY forced
onstitOn it now standsan attempt a. idle AZ hat
which VaA peristeny made by good people, for
n spits Of fts GsgrseSiSl ccmpSomscs and Sotwih
standing repCated Judicial decisions to the contrary for
bade Slavery The moment tue people 70 the con
cuslOn that Bavery must and should be abolished they
ever more clearly than before how absurd this or
was Indispensable Now w Just - certain that the
PEOPLE 2SS st % SSSPDs oP the to ys @
frsge 70 women ~ that IN rathying tho Constitution
se they did not mean to abolish slavery have read
all or nearly all the speeches reports, anf essays IN
tended q show that women have right to under
the Constitution % e now stands but TO me the arEn
can be Of anything m the future that there Is not the
rem SsSes ts nsS We may ~
well beat the bay tho moon rs SOCK our end In
this way The Whole argdmen turns upon the aosrd ami
seandalOus dictum OF Judge Taney IN the Dfed SoOt
case that man YhO not voter 10 not In tbe oye OF
the Constitution citizen Thus by diYcatpg the negro
Of cizenap, he proved that be had no rehts which
white man IL bound to respect" THIS decision was
secuted the conscience aud common sense OF the ma
ton absurd In the light OF history and OF for
er judicial Interpretation than 1t was Infamous In pur
nose and design and yet It s put forward ~ Hbasis
for wOman's claim TO the ballot. cannot reconcile u
ehor 10 oAnd0r or fair dealing TO atonpt TO force upon
tbe Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments an interpret
alton which neither Congress nor the people evef l
tended they should boar unhesiatlnRy DECLARE that
shOuld regard Judicial decision such es S sought IN
this case az calamity for, II the Constitution may bo
stretched by the courts to-day In the interest or liberty
and TO carry measure good IN itseif but which, tlo
can we have that IL win not hereafter be stretched. Ia
the interest OF desDOsm. IN obed1ence 70 the demano
OF corrupt public senttmentf Is behOoVes reforeIs "
treat the Constitution with scrupuous fairness ana non
esty and 60 tempt neither legislatures nor courts 70 ot
upon Il Interpretations It never tntondea 70 Dear
Ono other consideration 6eg leave 70 Pss.ehsc ga a 10
prOpOston that the new amendnents secure sunrlEo
women takes the question out Of the tmedate ufsdo
ton OF the people and leaves 30 DO oeciued ~ yuug
appointed for fe. Popular agitation OF Queson once
referred TO court III not absolutely napprOpriAto cAh
only be carried under reat disadvantages Inc poo
snOe our opinions have no weight win ths tiiDaL
that must make the final decisont The court WIZ h'H
council 10 cannot and 10 ought nOe 70 hton 70 u.s. or bo
sWeryed from right deeist0n BY any amount Of popular
eIamor. Let then patiently aud gupnlsslVely avail
Its utterance" The Sixteenth Amenament RTeSsns to
election Of Senators End aad looking IN
1t does to change Of public opinion, u nat5S OaSA
Tor the widest agitation and the closest appeals w Tue
hearts and cOns6!sn6es Of the people.