The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-25
THE "RuLLETIN" ON LAW.

TH n BAILLhllh OA LA w.
Our brother of the Bulletin, whose
head is tolerably clear upon such mas /
culine rights as have been usually con-
sidered As vested in the Constitution,
continues as Democratic as the States
PigIts Democrat itself in relation TO its
new theory Of the right Of States TO
confer suffrage. Such an argument is
unworthy Of any journal claiming to be
Republican. While the Constitution
did originally leave the regulation of
suffrage to the control of States, il con
ferred upon these States no power to
prohibit a free-born, adult, tax-paying,
law-abiding citizen from exercising a
right which its own preamble pro-
nounces inalienable. We quote the
B1dlefin:
The States are now prohibited from eNclud-
ing citizens from the suffrage "on account Of
race, Color or previous condition of seryitude."
But no further Except in 50 far a. the rule
has been changed by this enactment, il re-
mains precisely as before STATES rights there
fore do not conflict in this matter with the Con-
stltution OF the United states. Nor do The
Courts attempt 10 set up state authority over
The supreme law. The simple object Of the
amendments was 10 confer the elective fran
chlse on the colOred men Of the country. No
one suggested that these additions 10 the fun
damental law would establish woman suffrage
That was not thought Of n is an after thought,
and no Court has YET held than amy warrant
can be- found for 10 in any accurate lntrrprtt;t-
lion Ol the Constitution.
The other day when We were in the
country a lady was painting behind a
baby carriage, which she was trundling
up hill, and which contained a prospect
i've voter of the unObiectionable sex of
the ripe age of fifteen months. said
the mother, turning to us with clear,
beaming smile: 81 am now undergoing
the previous condition Of servitude
which made you a voter"
How does our brother know that "the
simple object Of the amendments was
to confer suffrage upon cOlOred men?"
And if it were true, or supposed to be,
that the trainers Of these amendments
really meant to exclude women from
Justice, 10y what right, legal or moral,
does a position stand which is clearly,
in itself, Constitutionally untenable?
How does he know that "woman suf-
frage was not thought of?' We have
the most incOntroyertible evidence that
it lcGs thought of, and that the COnsti-
tutional amendments were framed with
direct intention 20 admit Woman Suf
frage as an after discovery. Men were
50 prejudiced against the negro vote
that they did not dare TO openly spring
but one question at a time. Mrs. Stan
ton and Miss Anthony, Mrs. Gage, Mrs.
Mott and many other ladies, seconded
by Wilson, Sumner, Butler, HigginsOn,
Curtis and Others, urged the open rec
ognition of the right of Woman Suf-
frage, but Mr.. Greeley, whose faculty
for always being timid when he should
have been brave, and rice Ucrsd, wa:
proverbial, said: "rhis is the negro'i
hour. Men cannot be prevailed upon t'
vote for Woman Suffrage now. Let tn,
negro be enfranch sed, and then women
turn will come" Acting upon this al
vice, the women waited, though, as tn
sequel proved, they were only fooled b,
Mr. Greeley, who had exhausted what
ever principle of freedom for humanit
that he possessed ia his regard for TIA
negro and JEFF. Davis, and had, there
fore, no philanthropy left for the moth
ers of men. Because no "COurt has VI
held'' to the truth does not prove tha
the truth does not exist. 1t rathe
proves that one-seXed law is necessaril
Dua-i1aal and half made nm
How the Bulletin can hold TO tl
right Of States 10 prohibit suffrage owe
and above Constitutional right, and y,
pretend TO believe in the supremacy
the United States over State Constiti
tions, is beyond our comprehension
What is this but Democratic Stat
Rights doctrine, simmered to a pulp:
The direct way To seek the elective franehi
Tor women b. 10 20 90 the state Legislatures
10. They have the right. IL is lodged there, d
yOnd question.
Now We declare that while We wi
not stand upon the order Of receiviI
il is already vested in the Federal Co
stitution Woman has had her DIR
Scott decision and her Bull Run defe;
but the cry now is, "On TO Richmond
and ia spite of fancy oy Greeley
Hunt her cause is marching on.
The BHlI,fiH is not alone in sayil
Judge Hunts opinion las settled {
question. 1t has settled il just as il
tice Taney's decision settled That a bla
man had no rights that white men We
bound To respect. Nobody holds
Judge Hunts opinion except slow-g
ing States Rights men, who still wa
the States to establish class lesislati
and minority representation. Let I
B,tYcfm rise above such harrow idei
They are unworthy of the times.