, 1873-02-24
W0MANsSUFFRAGE.
Debate in the Pennsylvania COnstl-
tuti0nMl Convention.

A Debate in the Pennsylvania COnstl-
tuti0nnl Convention.
1tI1IApELpHLA, FEB. -, 1873.
10 tho Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
SIN: Whilst soiourning in Philadelphia,
gained admission to tho hall in which..the Con-
etitutionnl Convention of tho State was u.s.
Rcmbled, and, as believe q fow facts pertaining
to tho Convention will bo interesting to your
readers, tako this medium OF transmitting
them.
This Convention is composed OF the leading
mon Of tho State. Among the most
prominent members I would mention tho
Hon. William II. Moredith considered tho
most able lawyer at the Philadelphia bar;
tho Hon. ]. s. Black, formerly Chief Jus
tico Of the supromo Court Of Pennsylvania;
tho Hon. Charles r. Buckalow, ono Of the ableBt
and most profound lawyers Of Pennsylvania !;
Coy. A. G. Curtin, widely known US "tho Sol
diors Friend" for his acts whilst Governor Of
tho Keystone State; JameH Gowan. President
Of the Reading Railroad Company; the Hon.
Wayne MoVeigh, Of Chester County, late Minis
tor to ConBtantinople; md many others whoso
namos figure prominently aud conspicuously in
tho history Of this State.
AS entered tho Chamber, discovered IN i'm
portant moasuro was under consideration, and,
from tho great number of ladies' present, was
satisfied 1t was subject of importance and in
eerest to them. Tho subject under consideration
was "Womans suffrago;" whether or not they
etitution. Tho momber who had the floor as
entered WIS advocating the cause. He remarkod
that nothing could be said in fnvor Of a mans
right to voto that did not equally apply to ovcry
referrcd to the struggle againHt American
elayory, md romarkod that prejudice WIS all-
powerful for timo against innovations upon
established uaages but that, when theao inno
Entfnra 3ynra found tn tDnr0 to ttn hanaf}t n
communities or nations, prejudice, III tho ond,
must give way, and tho barrior Of bigo'ry bo
brokon down. Onco it was conceded that NIL
Of thee 8 governed, and that women wore among
tho governed, tho whole argument would DO
admitted. But it waB Baid that women wero
elready. represented in tho Government
This tba n1 dooeo no a man @ h
IN tho Government. Dy what authority
vote Of tho family? Who gave that powor to
him3 Neither the Constitution nor tho law
sentative capacity, nor as tho head Of the fam
lily. But, II tho family was to bo represented
as n unit IN tho head Of it, who was to represent
It where a. woman was the head Of It? Tho
man. aud was not capable Of Bolf-goyernment,
ho declared to be untrue, and, il true, irroley-
ant: Tho results OF the experiment. Of Womans
Suffrage in Wyoming TorfitoF1y we're , referred 10, to
ns asss 'S EDaGp aipess' y England * c"sssin9 aa many e
other QuoenB Of history, in tho government Of
thoir kingdoms. Ho remarked that ono Of tho
mombors, in opposing the measure, had said
that women should not vote boca.ao they could
not fight" He contradicted the statomont. and
replied by references to Joan of Arc, tho Mail
Of saregosaa aud othor historic feminine warri-
ors, It had boon said that nobody Yau nsking
for woman suffrage but tho Woodhulls and Olaf
Inns, Of New York. That was unfair, for tho
aame renson It would be to seloct Judaa Us tho
representative Of tho Twolyo ApostloB. 6uch ns-
sertlonB Ao most emphatically denied. It lad
beon said that tho proposition vas new ono, md
would not work well; in other words, 1t would
havo tendency to domoralzo society. llo did
not betioyo 1t, for wherever. tllo experiment had
boon tried, 1t worked we'll. 1t had exhibited q
tendoncy to cleyato tho nun and improve his
morels- IN conclusion, glowing tributo waa
given to tho louderB Of tho movement.
Mr.. Walker, OF Erie, III opposing tic measure,
stated that tho gentleman had ntarte1 wrong.
Ho assumed what ho Ind no right to assume.
Ho regarded tho suffrage, not as natural, bnt
conventional right. Looking at tho man and
svoman IN q state Of nature, rights should not DO
tqthheltl from Other. but thia subject is not to
DO treated as natural right Tho quos.:
ton Ia, Ia 1t for the best interests OF
ibis State TINT woman should DO a.
and, In aaying 1t, ho did not nndoryano tho
ke1. In assuming this position, ho would not
Imply tl,at wo19on had not all thp Intelligence,
ciriin patriotism, and other qualities requisite
for an Intelligent voter. II IL because he bo"