FIRST DISCUSSION AND VOTE IN U. S. SENATE, 1887 85-111
Joint Resolution for Sixteenth Amendment extending Right of
Suffrage to Women -- Able speech of Henry W. Blair; Government
founded on equality of rights, no connection between the vote and
ability to fight, property qualification an invasion of natural
right, man's deification of woman a shallow pretense, no such
thing as household suffrage here, maternity qualifies woman to
vote, fear of family dissension not a valid excuse -- Joseph E.
Brown replies; Creator intended spheres of men and women to be
different, man qualified by physical strength to vote, caucuses
and jury duty too laborious for women, they are queens,
princesses and angels, they would neglect their families to go
into politics, the delicate and refined would feel compelled to
vote, only the vulgar and ignorant would go to the polls, ballot
would not help workingwomen, husbands would compel wives to vote
as they dictated -- Editorial comment -- Joseph N. Dolph supports
the Resolution; if but one woman wants the suffrage it is tyranny
to refuse it, neither in nature nor revealed will of God is there
anything to forbid, contest for woman suffrage a struggle for
human liberty, its benefits where exercised -- James B. Eustis
objects -- George G. Vest depicts the terrible dangers, negro
women all would vote Republican ticket, husband does not wish to
go home to embrace of female ward politician, women too emotional
to vote, suffrage not a right, we must not unsex our mothers and
wives -- Editorial comment -- George F. Hoar defends woman
suffrage; arguments against it are against popular government,
Senators Brown and Vest have furnished only gush and emotion --
Senator Blair closes debate with an appeal that women may carry
their case to the various Legislatures -- Vote on submitting an
Amendment, 16 yeas, 34 nays.