The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-01
EQUALITY OF CITIZENSHIP.

ious that these articles should have as
extended a circulation as possible, beg
space for them in your already crowded
columns. These articles are called forth
by the fact that we are to have a con-
vention for the purpose of framing a
constitution preliminary to asking ad-
mission into the Union, as a sovereign
State.
Our national government is free re-
publican government, and its COnstitu-
tion expressly guarantees to every State
a republican form Of government; that
is, a representative governments gov
ernment wherein its citizens shall elect
their own representatives. Our ma
tional Constitution is a true republican
document, making no distinction among
citizens of the United States, and ex-
pressly forbidding the States from max
ing any distinctions, in these words,
"The citizens of each State shall be en-
titled to all the privileges and immuni-
ties Of citizens of the several States"
The States, however, disregarding these
express guarantees, disfranchised their
woman citizens by inserting the word
finale" in their constitutions, and re-
fusing to take the votes of women at the
elections. 1t is the duty of Congress to
right this wrong, and it is hoped that
body will soon do so. But as it is easier
to do a thing right in the first place
than it is to right a wrong, we hope our
delegates in convention will frame a
true republican constitution, making no
distinction in the political status of our
citizens on account of sex. And for
their better understanding Of this sub
ject, we publish these articles.
To begin at the beginning, let US in
quire, What is republican govern
ment? And how is it formed? In an
swering these questions, we hope to con-
vince all unprejudieed readers that the
rights of American citizens are the
same, whether male or female. Web
ster defines a republican government to
be one in which the exercise of the SOW
ereign power is lodged in representa-
tives elected by the people. This is the
ostensible form of our government, but
not the practical one; for, as we all
know, our representatives are elected
by only part of the people.
How is a republican government
formed? ? In order to fully understand
the answer to this question, let US i'm
agine a company of people thrown to-
gether in a wilderness, having no laws,
no government; being entirely in a state
of nature; subject only to such laws as
belong originally and inseparably to
them as intellectual, moral, and phys
ical beings. 1t is easy to see that from
these laws of nature, or natural laws, as
we call them, the rights Of nature are
determined and regulated. The term
right signifies consistent with law, and
the term wrong signifies inconsistent
with law. 1t is plain, then, that right
and wrong, in a state of nature, must
depend upon the laws of nature. Duty
and obligation are. determined in the
same way. If we are subject to any
law, we are under obligations to obey
that law. The term law carries with il
that Specification. If it is a physical
law, then it is a necessity of our being
and we cannot help obeying it. If it il
otherwise, then it is a matter of choice
and must be determieed by motives. Ii
this consists natural liberty. 1t is plain
then, that each individual composing
this company, which we have supposed
as thrown outside the pale of all gov
ernment, would be governed solely by
moral obligations. They having as ye
contracted no engagements with eacl
other, nor acquired any rights which
nature does not confer equally on all
1t is thus evident that in a state of ma
ture there is a perfect equality of right
and obligations. This is the only equal
ity that could exist, moral rights an,
obligations being the fundamental con
dition Of a state Of nature.
This was the condition of the peopl
Of our country at the time they dis
solved their connection with Grea
Britain. How long do you suppose hu
man beings could continue in this prim
tive state? Not long. The sense q
moral obligation in them is not stron
enough to long maintain order and har
mOny, and prevent the encroachment
of the strong upon the weak. Some
thing more than a moral governmen
was needed. A civil government mus
be established-a government that coul
maintain order among its own subject,
and secure itself against the encroact
ments Of other natiOns.> A civil govern
ment eau only be established in tw
ways-either by coercion or by eonsen
A government founded on coercion is
despotism, where one or more individr
ais make their will their law for the re-
of the people, and compel them to sui
NIT. Illustration; The present cond
tion Of our country, the men maxim
J the laws, and compelling the women
: submit TO them.
A government founded on the eonsel
of the governed is a free governmen
/ and could only be established by eaC
, member Of the community, male al
female, voluntarily yielding up son
portion Of their natural rights, in ord
! to obtain the better security for tho
: reserved. These would now be call,
civil rights. These individual conee
f siOns would and ought to be, the sam