Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-04-14
q New Phase Of the woman Quss,,o,

In another column will be found the petition
presented TO the Board OF Registration thi,
afternoon ~ = number Of ladies' Of this Di,t,ir,
asking that their names be registered az quail
ned voters in the several election districts n
This Territory in which they reside. 1t viii be
seen that Mrs. Lippincott (Grace GTesnwoodD
heads the list, and that it embraces the usnss
OF many other ladies OF prominence ami high
Standing.
As the Board OF Registration has air..I..
decided adversely upon. the applicable, &c
women to register, IL is understood that ,ha
formal application to day is made preljmi,.,,
10 entering suit In the courts to test the r,,bt A.
women to register and vote under ths Fou,-
'eenth amendment Of the Constitution.
tNlll ne remembered tba at the last ,assIo,
OF congress the Judiciary Committee of the
House made minority and majority report.
upon the memorial of Victoria G.. wootbuu
and others, asking under that amend IN an, f,r
the passage OF a declsratory act sscurin, m
citizens of the United states in IN. .svs,.,
States the right to vote without regard 10
sex" '"
The majority of the COMMITTEES. heasss h,
BIT. Bingham, declared in their report tina, in
tbe adoption OF the Fourteenth suendmsnt OF
tie Constitution there Is no longer anv rea.o,,
20 doubt that all persons, born or nsturalized
IN the United States, and subject to the juris-
iiction thereof, citizens of the Unitsd
states and Of the state wherein they reside. for
that 10 the express declaration Of the amends
ment. 1t Is undoubtedly the right of the people
OF the several States SO 10 reform their cops,i 1
tutions and laws to secure the ecu nj exerais.
Of the right Of suffrage, at all elections hsld
therein under the Constitution OF the Unitsd
States, to all citizens, without regard TO sex:
and as public opinion creates constitutions and
governments in the several States, II is not
TO be doubted that whenever, in any State,
the people are of opinion that such
reform is advisable, il viii be made.
II, however, as Is claimed in the memorial re-
ferred to, the right to vote ''is vested by the
Constitution in the citizens of the United
States, without regard to Ser, >" that right can
be established in the courts without fQrts,ar
legislation. The suggestion is made that Con-
eress, by a mere declAratory act, all say that
the construction claimed in the memorial il
the true construction of the Constitution. or 4,
other words, that by the Constitution OF the
United States the right TO vote s vested in ci.;
zeLS OF the United States "without regard In
scv-' anything in the constitution and law, of
any State to the contrary Notwithstanding In
the opinion OF the committee, such declaratorr 4
acts not authorized by the Constitution nor
within the legislative power of Congress-
C. y
Representatives Louehrdse and b. r Butler. |
m their report quote from various legal opip-
IONS and historical circumstances To show tina. |
by the common law OF England the authority is |
clear that women have a right To vote; aud il /
cannot be Questioned that from time imnemo-
rial unmarried women. by the law of ENGLAND
are competent to vote. After examn ming into |
Inc Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitu-
lion of the United States, the minority claim
that from the very beginning of our govern
ment the right OF Suffrage is Q Fundamental
Iight OF citizenship, not only included in the |
Term, privileges OF citizens OF the Emitted |
States, a. used in that amendment, but Also
Includedin other parts OF the Con titutior: and \
IA thlS they claim they are sustained by the an |
thoIities and by Teason. After discussing thu
Term citizenship" they say the right to a /
voice in the government ia bat the natur.,
night OF protection of ones Ife liberty. aud
property by personal strength, but brute fore.
has been so modified "a to be exercised IN the |
form OF q vote through the machinery OF a free
government. They conclude by saying.
"It Is perfectly proper, in orr oninien. for the
House 10 pass declaratory restitution WHICH
would be an index 70 the sctiOn of the House
should the question he brought before IL nv a
contest for seat. We therefore recommend |
thst The right or sur r8ge il one of the inalien-
able rights Of citizens or the United states snS
lect 20 regulation by the States throuyh eou.l
and Just laws; that this right Is included Ia the
I ,l'neses OF ciuzens of the United States |
which are guaranteed BY section OF article IA \
OF the amendment 20 the Consultation of fbs
nited states, and thst Won an cltizerswho az.
etherHIe qualified by the lava OF the states
Trsentatives In Congress-"
This then L the position in which the question
SANDS before Congress, and il remains to Ia
seen how the courts will decide upon il