Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
But, sir, that question as to whether ladies shall vote or not is
not an issue now. That was not the question at the last election.
That was not the question that was argued in another part of this
Capitol. That was not embraced in the bill now before us for
consideration. Questions of a different character engross our
attention; and, sir, we have but one straightforward course to
pursue in this matter. While I may and do indorse, I believe,
substantially all that my honorable friend from Ohio has said,
and while I can not state perhaps a good reason why under our
form of government all persona, male and female, should not
exercise the right of suffrage, yet we have another matter on
hand now. We have fought the fight, and our banners blaze
victoriously in the sky. The honorable Senator from Pennsylvania
stands humbled and overcome at his defeat, and he might just as
well bow his head before the wheels of that Juggernaut of which
he spoke, which has crushed him to the earth, and say, let the
_vox populi_, which is the _vox Dei_, be the rule of this land.
I believe that this issue will come, and if the gentleman
proposes to make it in the next elections, I shall be with him
perhaps on the question of universal suffrage; for, sir, I am for
universal suffrage. I am not for qualified suffrage; I am not for
property suffrage; T am not for intelligent suffrage, as it is
termed; but I am for universal suffrage. That is my doctrine.
But, sir, when it is proposed to crush out the will of the
American people by an issue which certainly is not made in
sincerity and truth, then I have no difficulty whatever. While I
do not commit myself against the progress of human civilization,
because I believe that time is coming, in voting "no" on this
amendment I only vote to maintain the position for which I have
fought, and for which my State has fought. My notions are
peculiar on this subject. I confess that I am for universal
suffrage, and when the time comes I am for suffrage by females as
well as males; but that is not the point before us.
Mr. WILSON: The Senator from Pennsylvania demands that I shall
express my concurrence in or my opposition to his amendment. I
tell him, without the least hesitation, I shall vote against it.
I am opposed to connecting together these two questions,
enfranchisement of black men and the enfranchisement of women,
and therefore shall vote against his amendment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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