The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-18

general understanding the black man,
in this country, had no rights which
the white man was bound to respect.
General understanding and aequies-
cence is q very unsafe rule by which
to try questions Of Constitutional law,
and precedents are not infallible guides
toward liberty and the rights of man.
1t is said by a majority of the
committee that 'if the right of female
citizens to suffrage is vested in the Con-
stitution, that right can be estat lished
in the courts
ave respectfully submit that, with
regard to competency and qualification
of electors for members of this House,
the courts have no Jurisdiction.
The judicial department cannot thus in
wade the prerogatives of the political
department. We, therefore, recommend
to the House the adoption of the follow
ing resolution:
"ResOlUed, by The House Of Represeatd-
tires, That the right of suffrage is one of
the inalienable rights of citizens of the
United States, subject to regulation by
the States, through equal and just
laws. That this right is included in the
privileges of citizens of the United
States which are guaranteed by section
of Article II of Amendments to the
Constitution of the United States, and
that women citizens, who are otherwise
qualified, by the laws Of the State,
where they reside, are competent voters
for Representatives in Congress.
''WM. LOUGHRIDGE.
'BENJ. +. BUTLER"
Eminent authorities, ancient and
modern, Roman, Grecian, English, Ger
man and American, are largely quoted
in the Report, and we regret that our
space precludes the possibility of pub
fishing the whole. Enough is given,
however, in our Judgment, to satisfy our
friend of the OrcgonidH that we can
comply copiOusly with his "demand"
for ''the papers" We assure him also
that Senator Carpenter has issued a
similar document, but he must take our
word for it till we hunt it up. These
things take time and labor, as he is well
aware. Our brother will observe, also,
that women have not yet attempted TO
vote for State officers. Where they
have voted or attempted to vote, they
have i'm every case been strongly ad-
vised to do so by lawyers Of eminence
and distinction. They do not desire to
override the law, but are rather deter
mined to test its efficacy.
We ask our brother to retract his
declaration in view of the above con-
elusive evidence to the contrary that
''in his view Of the law the Judge is un-
questiOnably sustained by current of
eontempOraneous opinion so nearly un-
broken that his decision may be called
| the unanimous decision of the profess
sion" Our friend also errs, i'm saying
that those who desire "Woman Suf-
frage" denounce as infamous every
officer who Obeys the laws as he finds
them, whether they believe in them OF
not. Women have not done so. \
man may not be Infamous himself, and
yet sometimes make infamous decisions.
Again, our brother says that Judge
Hunts "manifestly correct decision" Oi
] H.ua1 Hoo 90 Ia,
the enemy of suffrage. This we deny.
His action throughout was that of an
angular-brained, one-idead old fossil,
who would excel as first-class donkey,
but who has no more business upon the
judicial bench than you or we would
have in drawing dump cart. He
caused a change of venire from the
county which Miss Anthony had so ef-
fectually educated that its jurors knew
their duty, to one wherein she had not
had time TO disseminate the needed
truth. Then, he took upon himself the
duty of both Judge and jury; advised
the jury to find verdict of guilty; re-
fused to poll the jury at the request of
Miss Anthony's counsel and a number
of the jurors themselves-a most arbi-
trary proceeding, which we are surprised
to find Judge Hill defending-and then,
assuming, donkey like, that lie could
not err, refused to grant a motion for a
new trial, although Henry Selden's
argument in its favor was absolutely
unanswerable.
Now that our friend has got his
''papers," will he please to print them ?
SALEM CORRESPONDENCE.