y it absolutely and forever is
another. And this is the safe practical rule of our government,
as James Madison expressed it, that "it be derived from the great
body of the people, not from an inconsiderable portion or favored
class of it." When Mr. Gladstone, in his famous speech that
startled England, said in effect, that no one could be justly
excluded from the franchise, except upon grounds of personal
unfitness or public danger, he merely echoed the sentiment of
Joseph Warren, which is gradually seen to be the wisest and most
practical political philosophy: "I would have such a government
as should give every man the greatest liberty to do what he
chooses, consistent with restraining him from doing any injury to
another." Is not that the kind of government, sir, which we wish
to propose for this State? And if every person in New York has a
natural right to life, liberty, and property, and a co-existent
claim to a share in the government which defends them, regulated
only by perfectly equitable conditions, what are the practical
grounds upon which it is proposed to continue the absolute and
hopeless disfranchisement of half the adult population?

It is alleged that women are already represented by men? Where
are they so represented? and when was the choice made? If I am
told that they are virtually represented, I reply, with James
Otis, that "no such phrase as virtual representation is known in
law or Constitution. It is altogether a subtlety and illusion,
wholly unfounded and absurd." I repeat, if they are represented,
when was the choice made? Nobody pretends that they have ever
been consulted. It is a mere assumption to the effect that the
interest and affection of men will lead them to just and wise
legislation for women as well as for themselves. But this is
merely the old appeal for the political power of a class. It is
just what the British parliament said to the colonies a hundred
years ago. "We are all under the same government," they said:
"Our interests are identical; we are all Britons; Britannia rules
the wave; God save the King! and down with sedition and the Sons
of Liberty!" The colonies chafed and indignantly protested,
because the assumption that therefore fair laws were made was not
true; because they were discovering fo