The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-05

the Government. Thus England is al
ways consistent; property being the
basis of suffrage, is always represented.
Here suffrage is based upon persons"
and vet one-half our people are wholly
unrepresented.
We have declared in favor of a gov
ernment of the people, for the people, by
the people, the whole people. Why not
begin the experiment? If suffrage is
natural right, we claim it in common
with all citizens; if it isa political right,
that the few in power may give or take
away, then it is clearly the duty of the
ruling powers to extend 1t IN all cases as
the best interests of the State require.
No thinking man would admit that
educated, refined womanhood would not
constitute more desirable element and
better represent the whole humanitarian
Idea than government OF men alone.
The objections to Mr.. Buffers bill, ex-
tending the provisions Of the enforce
ment act to women, all summed up, are
these: lst. This is too short cut to
liberty. 1t is taking the nation by
storm. The people are not ready for il.
The slower process of a sixteenth
amendment would be safer, surer, and
do more toward educating the people for
the final result. To all Of which /
answer, the women at least are ready
and as well prepared for enfranchise-
ment as We're the slaves of the Southern
plantation. There could have been no
plan devised to educate the people so
rapidly as the startling announcement
ia the Woodruff memorial that women
already had the right to vote. 1t has
reused wise men to thought on the
question, stirred the bar and bench of
the nation, with the prospect of a new
and fruitful source of litigation, il has
inspired woman with fresh hope that
the day of her enfranchisement is at
hand, given the press of the country
solid arguments for their consideration,
and changed the tone of the speeches in
our conventions from winnings about
brutal husbands, stolen babies, and
special laws, TO fundamental principles
of human rights.
This question has been up for discus
sion in this country over thirty years; il
split the first anti-slavery society in
two, was q firebrand in the worlds con-
vention, and has been a disturbing ele-
ment in temperance, educational, and
constitutional conventions ever since.
and it is high time it took a short cut to
its final cOnsummatiOn. There have been
many shorter cuts TO liberty than this is
likely to be, even with a dec claratory act at
this session. Why multiply amend
ments when we have liberty and Justice
enough in the spirit and letter Of the
Constitution as ii now is to protect every
citizen under this Government?
The simple opinion of chief Justice,
century ago, without any change in leg
lslation, settled in one hour as great a
question of human rights as we now
submit to your consideration. Lord
Mansfield, presiding in the Court of
Queens bench, listening TO the argu-
ments in the famous Somerset case,
with higher light and knowledge, sud-
denly awoke to the truth that by the
laws of England, a slave could not
breathe on that soil, and he so decided,
and the negro was discharged. Slavery
was abolished in Massachusetts in the
same way, without any amendment of
her constitution or new legislation, simply
by the decision of her chief justice. So
you perceive, honorable gentlemen, we
nave two precedents for the ''short cut'
we propose to liberty.
Second. Some object that it was not
the intention of the trainers of the |
original Constitution, nor of the amend |
ments, to enfranchise woman.
When ordinary men, in their ordinary |
condition, talk of the "intentionsU Of |
great men specially inspired to utter |
great political truths, they talk of what |
they cannot know or understand.
When by some moral revolution men
are cut loose from all their old moorings-
and get beyond the public sentiment |
hat once bound them, with no imme-
late selfish interest to subserve-as. for
Instance, our fathers in leaving Eng
and, or the French Communes in the /
ate war-in hardship and suffering they
ilg down to the hardpan of universal
principles, and in their highest inspira-
lonal moments proclaim justice, liberty,
.quality for all.
Visiting Chicago not long since, 1
aw great pieces of rock of the most
wonderful mineral combination-gold,
liver, glass, iron, layer after LAYER ali
Welded beautifully together, and that
lone in the cOnfiagration of a single
light which would have taken ages of
'rowth TO accomplish in the ordinary
ocky formations. Just so revolutions
n the moral world suddenly mould
deas, clear, strong, grand, that centuries
night have slumbered over in silence:
deas that strike minds ready for then,
With the quickness and vividness of the
lghtning's flash. 1t is in such ways
ma under such conditions that constitu-
ions and great principles of jurispru-
lence are written; the letter and spirit
IRE ever on the side of liberty: and
highly organized minds, governed Inv
principle, invariably give true interpre-
ationsi while others, whose law is ex-
Dedlency, coarse and material in all their
conceptions, viii interpret law, Bible.
everything, in harmony
With the public sentiment of their class
md condition. And here is the reason
Why men differ in their interpretations
II law. They differ in their organiza-
ions; they see everything from a differ
INT standpoint. Could ideas of Justice.
md liberty, and equality be more
and beautifully expressed than
n the preamble to our Federal Constitu-
ion?
1t is an insult to those Revolutionary
heroes to say that, after seven years
I'D world, in the first hour Of victory,
With their souls all on fire with new
ound freedom, they sat down like so
many pettifogging lawyers and drew up
little instrument for the express pur-
lose OF robbing women and negroes Of
heir inalienable rights. Does the Dre-
'mble look like it? Women did vote
n America at the time the Constitution
vas adopted. If the trainers of the Con-
titutiOn meant they should not, why
lid they not distinctly say So? The
women of the country, having at last
oused up to their rights and duties as
'itizens, have a word TO say as to the
intentions" of the fathers. 1t is not
afe to leave the "intentions" of the Pill
rim fathers, or the Heavenly Father.
wholly to masculine Interpretation, for
~ Bible and Constitution alike, women
n "a fa L.. Il. \ - ]