Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-21
The supreme Cssrt Deeision on the
Woman-Sefrage Question.

In the Suprcnse Court Of the United
States. at Washington, Oct. 4. In The case
of Virginia L. Minor and Francis Minor,
her husband, plaintiffs in error. ca Reese
Happersett, in error 20 the Superior Court
Of the State of Missouri, Chief-Justice
Waite delivered the opinion OF the court,
10 the effect that the Fourteenth Amend.
ment Of the Constitution does not confer
upon woman the right 10 vote. The court
afIIrrns in the decision that women have
always been considered citizens under the
Constitution and entitled 10 all the priv
lepes and immunities ofcitizenship, but in
the admission OF this general point the
court decides that suffrage Ii not one Of
the privileges and immunities OF the ciii-
zen. and that IL IL nowhere made 80 In ex-
press terms, and even further than this,
that suffrage was not eo-extensive with the
citizenship Of the States at the time OF Its
adoption. Applying these general facts
10 the constitutional amendments, the
court shows that the trainers OF the -Four
teenth Amendment never contemplated
that IL conferred the right Of suffrage even
upon the colored persons because II In.
vested them with citizenship, and taxing
this view they framed the Fifteenth
Amendment 10 prevent any state denying
them the right OF suffrage because oil race,
color or previous condition OF seryitude.
Upon this point the court said
1.-THE Fourteenth Amendment had al
ready provided that no State should make
or enforce any law which should abridge
the privileges or immunities OF citizens OF
the United States II suffrage was one OF
these privileges or immunities why amend
the Constitution TO prevent It's being
denied on account Of race, etc. Moth
ing IN more evident than that the greater
must include the less, and II all were al
ready protected why go through with the
form Of amending the Constitution To pro-
tect partY"
The decision closes with the following
statement:
Certainly IL the courts can consider
any question settled this IL one. For
nearly ninety years the people have acted
upou the idea that the Constitution when
| Il conferred citizenship did not necessarily
confer the right Of suffrage. III uniform
| practice long continued can settle the CON
struction of so important an instrument as
the Constitution OF the United States con
/ fessedly il, most certainly II has been
done here Our province Is 10 decide
| what the law IL, not 10 declare what IL
should be. We have given this case the
careful consideration It's importance
demands. II the law is wrong 1t
ought TO be changed, but the power for
that Is not with US. The arguments ad.
dressed 10 US bearing upon such view OF
the subject may perhaps be sufficient TO
| induce those having the power 70 make
the alteration, but they ought not to be
permitted 10 influence our judgment in
determining the present rights Of the par
ties litigating before US. No argument as
10 woman's need Of suffrage can be con.
sidercd. We can only act upon her rights
M they exist. IL IL not for US TO look al
the hardship Of Withholding. Our duty
IL at an end If we find II IL within the pow
| or OF "a State 10 withhold"