The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-01
WOMAN AND THE BALLOT.

The House of Representatives., among
other diversions, has been wrestling with
petitions for The amendment Of the Con.
s:itu,ion OF the United States, 80 rs to
extend the right Of suffrage TO woman.
The judiciary Committee has gone all to
pieces over the enchanting theme of wo-
:nan--her rights and her wrongs. -Four
different reports have been submitted by
the Committee. The majority is adverse
10 the proposed amendment. Its report
was prepared by representative Mabury,
and says in part
ITO permit the entrance Of political
contention into the home would be either
useless or pernicious useless if man and
wife agree, and rcEnicicus If they differ.
lii the former event the volume OF ballots
alone would be increased without chang
ing the results In the latter the peace
and contentmcnt of home would be ex-
changed for the bedlam Of political de-
bate and become q scene of base aud
dcmoralizing intrigue. In another lucs
tion often suggested " hat portion and what
class of women would avail themselves
Of the privilege of suffrage if extended
70 women, your committee is Of opinion
that while & few intelligent women, such
as appeared before the committee in ad.
vocacy of the pending measure, would
overcome the obstacles in the way of
their casting the ballot, yet the mass Of
intelligent, refined and judicious women,
with the becoming modesty of their sex,
would shrink from the rude contnc. of the
crowd, with the exceptions mentioned,
leaving to the ignorant and vulgar the
exclusive right to speak for the gcntler
sex in public affairs"
sfcssrs. Reed, T.. r. Taylor, T. NJ.
Browne aud McCord, in their minority
report say: "The association of the sex
es in the family circle, in society and
business, having proved improving to
both, there is neither history, reason nor
sense to justify the assertion that associ-
alton in politics will tend to demoralze
either. No reason on earth can be given
by those who claim the suffrage as right
of manhood which does not make it a
right of womanhood also. If suffrage
be given man to protect him in his lite,
liberty and property, the same reasons
| urge that it be given to woman, for she
has the same life, liberty and property 10
protect.
MIR. Dorsheimer, while concurring with
the ms;o-;!y in recommending that tie
matter be- laid on the table, says II
think it probable that the interests of
society will soon require that woman
should have the right of suffrage, and
am not willing to say more than that the
present Is not an opportune time for the
submission Of the proposed amendment" J"
Mr.. Poland's report Gays: The Office
and duty which nature has devolved
| upon woman during all the active and
vigorous portions Of her life would often
render impossible and still more indeli-
cate for her 70 appear and act in caucus.
es, conventions, ETC., or to act as q mem.
Der of the legislature, or as juror or
judge. cannot bring myself to believe
that any large portion of the intelligent
women Of this country desire such thing
granted, or would perform any such du.
ties If the chance were offered them.
We agree with Judge Poland's philos.
ophy as far as indicated in this report
Tho extension of tho right of suffrage
to women would not likely conduce to
her pleasure or the welfare of the State
for the greater part of those whose voice
would be for the public good, from mo.
tives of delicacy aud refined sensibilities,
would not participate in the excited
throngs which gather about the polls or
election day.
II -