ason why this should not be done. I believe the question of
woman's rights necessarily involves the question of human rights.
The famous maxim of our fathers that "taxation without
representation is tyranny" applies not to one-half only, but to
the whole people. I am a Democrat in full of all demands, and I
can not, therefore, accept as a real democracy, or even a
republic, a government "half slave and half free."

Mr. Cook, of Illinois, who had charge of the bill, objected to
"cumbering it with such an amendment," and called the previous
question, which being sustained, cut off all debate. Mr. Julian then
called for the ayes and noes, thus making every man put himself square
on the record. The vote stood 55 ayes[141], 117 noes, 65 not voting.
The next day the House met for general debate, and Hon. Aaron A.
Sargent, of California, had an opportunity to express his views of the
Amendment, which he had not been able to do the previous day.

Mr. SARGENT: Mr. Speaker, if no other gentleman desires to
address the House, I will briefly remark that I was glad on
yesterday to have an opportunity to cast my vote in favor of the
proposition admitting the women of this District to the right of
suffrage. I believe the time is rapidly coming when all men will
conclude that it is no longer wise or judicious to exclude
one-half of the intelligence, and more than one-half of the
virtue of the people from the ballot-box. It is a matter of
congratulation that one-third of the members who were present
yesterday and voting, recorded their votes for that proposition.
It was a glorious commencement. I will not take up the time of
the House with any elaborate discussion of that proposition, but
content myself with the remark that I was very glad of the
opportunity to cast my vote for it. I trust the work thus
commenced will go on until fully successful. But I would like to
say further that I do not agree with those gentlemen who allege
that the women who advocate this movement are universally, or to
any considerable extent, desirous to unsettle family relations,
or that they would change the present honored form of union of
the sexes. I believe they embrace among their number, and largely
embrace, the best and purest women of the land, who will have an
influence growing year by year in favor of the recog