The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-02

cumSLanceS Lne citizen should vote, so
that the rule applies uniformly, and ex-
cludes none. One-half of the people
were excluded, and this article removes
that exclusion, and that is all. Women
are not only citizens, but the Amend
ment says that ''no State shall pass or
enforce any law that shall abridge the
privileges and immunities of this citi-
zenship." These terms, privileges
and immunities," are not now used for
the first time in the American COnstitu-
tion. They are old acqusintances of
ours, and have done service a great
while. They occur in this same Con-
stitutiOn, as will be seen by referring to
the second Section of Article 4. If this
Amendment does not confer nor guar
antee the exercise of the elective fran
chise, then at infinite pains have we
dug among the foundations of our won
derful structure, and have deposited
there as one of them an utter sham,
full of the emptiness of nothing. But,
to sweep all doubts aside, we have the
further words of the Constitution as
contained in the Fifteenth Amendment.
Now, what does this Amendment say :?
To make assurance doubly sure, it says:
"The rights of the citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied nor
abridged by the United States or any
state, on account of race, color, or pre-
vious condition of servitude." But
some one will say that does not apply
to women, as they have never been in
servitude. The one that would make
such an assertion certainly does not
know that, according to the common
law, land that is in force unless there is
special statute to the contrary, that
q womaD's person and property are
under the absolute control of her hus-
band, and he can dispose of her prop
erty at pleasure, determine where she
shall live, etc. If that is not servi-
tude, fail to comprehend what would
constitute servitude. cannot COM
ment further on this point, as there is
another upon which I wish to say few
words.
1t is said that woman does not want
the ballot. Who says she does not
want it? Man says so, and nobody
else. Man asks the question, and an
swers it himself. L deny that women
have declared that they don't want the
ballot. They have never been asked
whether they want it or not. Gentle
men, how do you settle a question thai
is submitted for your consideration
Do you not go to the ballot-box anC
there express your wishes, and say by
your vote who shall represent you il
the legislative balls, or decide any othel
question that comes before you for de-
cision? Now PROFOUND this question
of suffrage to the women, and let them
take a solemn vote on the subject
Offer them the chance by which they
can speak for themselves, and SEE
whether they want it or not. Dou't
refuse to let them answer, and don't as
sumo to answer for them, and say yoI
represent them. You barely succeed il
representing yourselves. Let woman
vote, and then We can tell bette
whether you have a right to represen
her or not. Men have made all institu
tions for men, and for men alone. The!
have never consulted woman. The!
have said that she was nobody and no
where, or, if she was anywhere, sh
was out of her sphere, and must g
. back to nowhere and to nobody imme
diately. Men have gravely assumed t.
understand her nature and characte
better than she herself has done
pointed out her sphere and bade he
: walk therein, or incur their severe dis
pleasure.
} In concluding this somewhat dry dis
! sertation on "The Constitutional Righ
of Women to Vote" ".allow me, ladies
) to exhort you to do your duty by votin
at the coming election. Go to the poll
r with your husbands or fathers or broth
, ers, and demand the right to place you
ballot along with theirs, thereby ex
, pressing your individuality the same a
; they do. Vote for the persons yo
: think will best fill the positions the
: are striving for. And, gentlemen, yo
: who are in favor of equal rights regard
t less of sex, show your faith by you
= works, and take your wives, sisters
= mothers, and daughters with you to th
! polls, and with them demand that thei
l right to the ballot be recognized, anC
l If there are any objections to their vol
: ing, help them to prosecute the judge
of election, and test the matter befor
5 the Judiciary of the State.
VUrnOv, VAN COTn 1T il naroly hf