An Account of the Proceedings on the Trial of Susan B. Anthony, on the Charge of Illegal Voting by Anonymous
page 62 of 270 (22%)
page 62 of 270 (22%)
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placed on the register." Her right was perfect in all respects excepting
that of sex. The court, after a very full and able discussion of the subject, sustained the decision of the revising barrister, denying to women the right to be placed on the register, and consequently denying their right to vote. The decision rested upon the peculiar phraseology of several Acts of Parliament, and the point decided has no applicability here. My object in referring to the case has been to call attention to the fact stated by the reporter, _that appeals of 5,436 other women were consolidated and decided with this_. No better evidence could be furnished of the extent and earnestness of the claim of women in England to exercise the elective franchise.--_Law Rep. Com. Pleas, 4-374._ I infer, without being able to say how the fact is, that the votes given by women, as mentioned in the newspapers, were given at municipal elections merely, and that the cases decided by the Court of Common Pleas relate to elections for members of Parliament. Another objection is, that the right to hold office must attend the right to vote, and that women are not qualified to discharge the duties of responsible offices. I beg leave to answer this objection by asking one or more questions. How many of the male bipeds who do our voting are qualified to hold high offices? How many of the large class to whom the right of voting is supposed to have been secured by the fifteenth amendment, are qualified to hold office? Whenever the qualifications of persons to discharge the duties of responsible offices is made the test of their right to vote, and we are |
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