Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-06-12
The Woman Suffrage question In the lnitea
STATES seuaIe

sumo the new treaty will be, II one Is ne
/ gotiated-
The Woman Suffrage Question In the United
STATES senate
An interesting debate on female Suffrage
took place in the Senate, during the discus
/ SION on the bill to establish the Territory OF
I Pembina. 1t was brought MP by Mr.. nar-
gent Of California. who offered an amend
ment forbiddinr the legislative assembly OF
the territory TO ahridge the right Of suffrage
or holding ofiee on account Of sex. race or
color. 4 number of Senators expressed
-bei- view. Mr.. Sargent argued that
women were citizens and entitled to vote
uDder the Constitution. Mr.. Stewart, OF
Nevada. thought the new territory offered
r,,1 opp0rtunitv to Try further the expert
ment. which, thus far. he understood,
worked well in Wyoming. M, Morton, OF
Indiana made an elaborate argument IN
support of the theory that woman has the
same natura right to participate IN the
Government that man has. and closed by de-
eIsr!nr .'From this time heneeforth l am
woman man.
Senator Merrimou. Of North Carolina,
argued that there is no such thing as a
natural right oi government that the
Declaration of Independence does not sus-
min tbe rieht of women 20 vote, that the
women have assou,od 10 our existing sys-
tom ana demand 300 change That their
condition could nos be berterei by allow
mo them 90 vote. and tina, the suffrage
should NOT be forced on them.
Mr. CARPENTER. OF Wisconsin. believed it
&. Pee NOT one of woman s rights. but one Of
man. that women should vote He be-
heyal their presence and participation
wound purify elections. and was ready to
vote for female suffrage anywhere and
everywhere
M-. Morrill,. of Maine, said be would not
impose on women the rugged and severe
service yt the ballot. OF place her IN the
militia Co enforce the results of ballot.
I'LL the women asked i5r L.
4lr. Ferry. Of Michigan. va- ready TO
vote f5r female suffrage.
NJ. Anthony. OF Rhode Island, thought
female suffrage was coming some time. and
was willing % trr tha experiment in Penn
b.n4. lie considered suffrage political.
not natural right.
Nh Morton took the h1or again 10 argue
tba- the distinction between natural and
political rights wa one without a differ
cue.. as whatever is requisite To execute the
nacura. right. bec1me- part of il.
SIR. Morton was badly craveiied on this
point hy a question from Mir. Eamunds, as
To- whether minors and children have not
tie same natural rights that people over
twenrv-oue u8yl Nr Morton was com
PEELED. with -aiae pressing. O. admit that
they had . and could -er away from the un-
aro.1st.e iuiccne only hy saving that
there is So certain common sense and practi-
chi regulation ai natural rights. the world
over
"B4.. said SIR. E-muui-. 1T is The con- .
mon sense of men alone. The children may
differ wiki u.s. Mr.. Morton could only re
nIy thar aa would n8t argue the point.
t1at 90 say a mature woman has not the .
ri-.t. because q child IN arms must have .
the same right. came 50 uea- 10 making +
nonsense of 1ae whole business that he F
v.-1 Dot talk OBJ &C.. and be went on to .
argue that women Will never have their I
other rights. TIL they nave the right to vote.
We quote M Edmuu1- reply from the
Congressional Hcr3~s
Mr. Edmuud- j thiu5 il rather mis-
take O. suppose. a~ the Senator IRON
Indiana seems o. DO. that the females of
;lIs country aye lablrIl- under any species
ot tyranny ar present growing ont OF any
state ot the laws The senator is I'M
d1uhtedlv aware thst IN the state OF Ind
ana which be 50 ably represents. females,
except as % tine question OF voting nave d
great many rights and privileges reserv-
ed O. them that men do not possess IL
respect % the ur0tecu0n of their property
and their power 10 dispose of l.. f0r IN
stance. il is not within the power OF q
married man in the STATE OF Indiana o.
dispose OF bis property. excluding his wife
from participation IN il. lt is IN the power
O. dispose of all her property and leave Nor
husband pennies and 20 starye, as the
the expression I- when Won reverse
the case without his having the
power % prevent i. ! could name
dozen other instances all Of which show
tia, IN ali the States of TINS mon speaking
as Q general rule. a. i ls 10 treat Britain
and IN almost almost al. other civilized .
countries. the law instead of discriminating
against w0mann00d. discriminate IN lis
favor in every respect whatever except the
political respect af voting That is q
tact thar no man can truthiully deny VINO
has studied the history of society or who
knows ANYTHING about the history Oi legi--
iati0u in civilized States. Therefore, II does !
not do 60 say that the right 10 vote. the
privilege of voting. or the duty Of voting
use those phra se> as not having
tle peculiar meaning that the Senator from
California lmputeS % theni-lS essential TO /
Iae protection Of the female sex as sucn; be
cause. as have said, the protection that
tte -aw gives them Is now M all respects.
where their rights and privileges come ii I
collision with the resi- ot society greater than
is extended 10 men.
The senator from Indiana Insist--and be ;
has perfect night o. do 50. Of cOur@e-that
-ne right % vote j. natural right. and
therefore Il females are excluded from voting D
BIS they are Jy the constitutions and laws of 4
the various State, il Is an infringement
anon natural right, and that that infringe
nent ought o. be abolished. OF courss. ?
ms conclusion l. correct if his premises are j
rue but De- the right 20 vote q natural p
-isht3 Can tie Senator refer 10 any work of
my philosopher or writer upon natural OF
municipal law which maintains any such o
doctrine n
Mr Morton do n1t call TO mind any ,,
uthor
M Edmund--No. the senator does not 4
With caui0r he says 50. because the sena- b
lr. learned IN history as ne l.. know. a. II
he Test OF Us know tnat there Is no such
hing. lie knows that In all the discussions L
nd al the turm0Iis Of society where the II
ghis OF men and women IN political res al
ac5s, the rights OF society at large, nave
zen discussed and turned over ana over and Il
u manner of experiments IN government II
led and suggested, II never has been sug- al
ssted that the right 10 participate IN the :
lvernmeut Of a political community Is -
sJural right belonging 70 every human u
sing in
W hat he means by natural rights no "
lubt Is what society recognizes. what or
lnlzed communities recognize as things Of
,fnraI right and those arc things winch lie!
e inherent In the person but are regulated he
ID limited and restrained according TO the On
Ehts and necessities Of all the other per ~
n In the community. In an organized "a
cietv the right of self-defense Is not vi
ltural right IN the broad sense, so that by
lder ali circumstances 4 B or c D has a No
ght 10 defend himself against all aggres-
Do. An officer may come TO arrest me on soi
warrant issued by court irregularly. "a
we not the right 10 STAY the officer be- pir
use be taxes me on the warrant. Nv =,
ace TO resist Is not by my natural force.
L by raising a mob, but by going 10 the OPP
uTt that issued the warrant and showing me
= - - n.- $50 oo'it!aIy 20 .aN- soc