The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-02-17
LEGISLATIVE.

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yesterday the report of the proceed
ings of the House, on the joint
resolution to strike out the words
'Ewhite male" from section l, article
5, of the State constitution, npon the re-
commentator of the Judiciary commit
tee to indefinitely postpone. We pub
fish this to give our readers faint idea
of the complexion of our Lawmakers
as body, on the question of universal
suffrage.
Mr.. Webb explained that an amend
ment to the federal constitution had al
ready virtually stricken out the word
''white," and the other word that was
to be omitted was, in effect, to enfran-
chise women. He moved that the bill
| be reported back recommending indefi-
| mite postponement.
Mr.. Benson thought that as long as
the word "white" remained as a dis
eliminating feature of the organic law,
Notwithstanding it was rendered null
by the fifteenth amendment, it was an
| insult to the citizens OF the state re-
deemed and enfranchised by the amend
ment. Mr.. Benson then, in a short
| speech, favored the investing of women
with the right of suffrage.
Question on Mr.. Webb's motion to
indefinitely postpone.
| Mr.. Veale hoped the resolution would
pass, He thought as much of the wo-
men of Kansas as any man in the state,
and he certainly thought too much of
them to favor proposition that would
make men of them.
Mr.. Reynolds thought it but right
that the ladies of Kansas should vote if
| they wanted to.
Mr.. Wilson was a radical republican,
| extreme even in his radicalism, but he
thought line of demarcation might be
| drawn between radicalism and fanati-
| cism, and he thought the line was cross
| ed by those who favored female suf-
frage.
| Mr.. Lindsay favored fanaticism
which would remove the stigma of in
| justice from our statute books of eX-
Guiding Taxpayers from a part in the
law-making power by reason of differ
ence of sex.
Mr.. Carpenter had portion of one
| of Mark. Twain's addresses on the sub
| ject read, and Marks ability as an adj
vocate, was testified to by roars of
| laughter.
Mr.. Higday was opposed to treating
this important subject with levity,
! and also opposed indefinite postpone
ment.
Mr.. Sells said that now the good hu-
NOR of the House had been stated by
having its laugh, the question should
be looked at in its serious and import
ant aspects. When such a reform should
be made, as it inevitably would be, in
the march of progress, we would have
| good government, and inaugurate q
reign of justice and legislative purity
| ard probity.
Mr.. Brice could never see why the
same right should be denied to his wife
and female relatives that he enjoyed
himself. He opposed indefinite post
| ponement.
Mr.. Webb said that all who had made
the science of government study uni
| ted in pronouncing the right of suffrage
political and not a natural right, as
its prominent advocates averred. Mr..
| Webb then recapitulated the objections
| to such an innovation as exemplified in
| the inherent attributes of the sexes. He
had made an examination of the ques-
| ton in all its phases, and found it mex
pedient, and he though if accomplished
would be disastrous to society.
Mr.. Sells said that the refusal of suff-
rage to women was incompatible with a
pure democracy.
Mr.. Higday opposed the positions of
|
Mr.. Buick hoped that the injustice
that had been done to women for GEN.
turtles, and the wrongs that had been
unatoned for by man, tending to the
| debasement of his helpmeet, and the de-
NAL of granting her inherent rights
| might be removed first from the wom-
en- of Kansas that this state might be
the pioneer of the worlds progress in
this direction. He therefore opposed
indefinite postponement, and favored
submitting the question to vote of the
people.
Mr.. Welsh said that women were en-
titled to hold property, even separated
from the community of matrimonial
relations, but they have no voice in
| legislation to protect that property. He
therefore opposed indefinite postpone
ment.
Mr.. Speer, though opposing woman
| suffrage, favored submitting the ques-
ton to vote of the people, that it
might be satisfactorily decided.
| Question on indefinite postponement,
The motion did not prevail.
/ Mr.. Bond moved to report the reso-
luton back, recommending its passage.
| Carried.
Mr.. Manning, from the committee of
the whole, reported as above.
On motion the resolution was subse-
quently ordered engrossed and placed
on the calendar for third reading.
S----