friend on my right (Mr. Conkling) that it can not spread unless
it is catching. (Laughter.) If it works well, if it succeeds in
protecting females in their rights and enabling them to assert
their rights elsewhere and obtain such employment as is suitable
to them, I hope it will become catching and spread all over the
country, if that is the light in which it is to be treated. I am
in earnest about this matter. I think this new Territory is the
place to try the experiment. If it works badly, we can see it,
and no great harm will be done. If it works well, the example
will be a good one and will be imitated. We first tried the
experiment of negro suffrage in the District of Columbia, and it
became catching and spread all over the South. Now, when there is
a large portion of the people of the United States desirous of
having this principle illustrated, here is a fair field for the
illustration of it, that they may see and we may see, whether
there is anything in their arguments by the practical
illustration of them for a few years until this new Territory
shall become a State. I say let them have female suffrage there
and try it. If it works well, their arguments will be vindicated;
if it works badly, it need not be followed. I hope that the
Senator from Minnesota will consent that this shall become a part
of the law. Let us try it. It will do no harm.

Mr. BOREMAN.--I do not propose to enter into a discussion of the
question of the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of woman
suffrage, nor a discussion of the propriety or impropriety of the
adoption of a provision in favor of it upon this bill. I think
this is not a very good time to "try experiments," to use the
language of the Senator from Nevada, and I trust we may have a
vote upon this question.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ingalls in the Chair).--The question
is on the amendment proposed by the Senator from California.

Mr. SARGENT and Mr. SPRAGUE called for the yeas and nays, and
they were ordered.

Mr. MORTON.--I desire simply to state my views upon this
amendment; views long entertained. I am in favor of the amendment
on what I regard as the fundamental principles of our Government,
upon the theory upon which we have based our Government from the
beginning. The Declaration