Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-11
CURIOUS PETITIONS.

THE right OF expressing their opin.
ions and making known their desires by
petition, has always been dearly cher
ished aud abupdautly exercised by En-
ulishmen, who find satisfaction in
having said their say, even If nothing
comes Of IL,
Under the Declaration Of Rights the
like privilege undoubtedly appertains
10 the weaker sex; but whether II was
always held TO do so, is not SO certain.
When, ia 1912, Anne Stagg aud her
sister politicians, necessitated, rs they
ayerred, by their terror of papists and
prelates, TO initiate the example of the
women OF Tekoah. claimed equal right
with the men to declare their senti.
ments By petition, the Commons thank
fully accepted the petition OF the women
of London, but twelve months Inter,
upon the ladies coming to the front
again to demand the cessation ut civil
warfare, the self.same House told them
politics WAS not their business, and
bade them mind their household affairs
enforcing this new view Of the matter
by dispensing the petitioners by n cavalry
charge, in which two women were
killed and eight wounded.
Hardly amenable TO the charge OF
meddling with matters that did not
concern them were the ladies OF ST.
Albeus. who. upon George Ill. taking
wife unto himself, embraced the OPP
portunity OF calling royal attention 10
the grieyons distastefor matrimOny dis
played by the Young men Of the period,
by presenting petition to tho new
Queen, expressing the hope that, as
subjects were always influenced by the
example of their sovereign, the matri-
monial state would be honored by their
Majesties' dutiful subjects cheerfully
following the royal example -an exam,
pie too much needed in that degener'
ate age, wherein the happy state wa'
made the object of ridicule, instead o.
respect, by too many vain, giddy ant
dissipated minds "lf the riches of ;
Nation consist in its populousness,
argued the fair enthusiasts. "this happ,
country will too soon become poor
whilst the lawful means TO continue
posterity are either shackled by the re
straint of mistaken laws, or desplsed by
those who respect none. But rs every
virtuous and eommendahle action IL On
couraged by your royal consort, and
your own noble sentiments and conduct
we hope this example will be duly fol
lowed by your Majestys loyal sub
jects.n
If time comes when sex will be NJ
longer bar to possessing the franchise
bachelors will have TO beware; for un
less the ladies lose their hymeneal In
stincts, we may look for the enactment
Of laws for the encouragement OF mat
rimony and the inHiction Of pains an,
penalties upon obdurato men; as wa
within an ace of coming about not man,
years ago in Indiana. Mr.. Cutter
young member of the Legislature, ha,
rashly promised % introduce a bill 70
the taxation of old bachelors; and
number of young ladies went down 4
the House 10 see that he kept his word
lie would fain have cried of or delaye,
the matter; but MIR. Robert Dale Owen
seeing some fun in prospect, urged hin
to draw up q bill thep and there, i'm
posing an annual tax of ten dollars upoi
every bachelor above thirty years o
age who could not prove that he ha'
popped the question twice Intellectually
Then very rapid act of legislation wa
performed The rules OF the Hous
were suspended, and the bill read thre
times. passed and ordered TO be re
ported to the Senate without mo
ment's delay; the House adjourning i
order TO accompany tho young ladies
and see what the Senators would do
They, catching the infection OF the hour
read the bin twice; and il seemed as
It's passage was secured; but two o
three Of the older and graYer members
awaking TO a sense of their responsible
ity, then mdde a stand against its fan
ther progress, and procured the ad
ionrnment Of the debate. This prove
faiql to ne measure, Next day, Il wa