DEBATE ON WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, 2D SESSION, 49TH CONGRESS, DECEMBER 8, 1886, AND JANUARY 23, 1887, BY SENATORS H.W. BLAIR, J.E. BROWN, J.N. DOLPH, G.G. VEST, AND GEO. F. HOAR. WASHINGTON. 1887. * * * * * _Wednesday, December 8, 1886._ On the joint resolution (S.R. 5) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right of suffrage to women. Mr. BLAIR said: Mr. PRESIDENT: I ask the Senate to proceed to the consideration of Order of Business 122, being the joint resolution (S.R. 5) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right of suffrage to women. The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDENT _pro tempore_. The joint resolution will be read. The Chief Clerk read as follows: Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right of suffrage to women. _Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein)_, That the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; which, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, shall be valid as part of said Constitution, namely: ARTICLE--. SECTION 1. The rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power, by appropriate legislation, to enforce the provisions of this article. Mr. BLAIR. Mr. President, the question before the Senate is this: Shall a joint resolution providing for an amendment of the national Constitution, so that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of sex, and that Congress shall have power to enforce the article, be submitted to the Legislatures of the several States for ratification or rejection? The answer to this question does not depend necessarily upon the reply to that other question, whether women ought to be permitted to exercise the right or privilege of suffrage as do men. The Legislatures of the several States must decide this in ratifying or rejecting the proposed amendment.