overnment. When he becomes subject to civil government he
surrenders a part of his natural rights--agrees that civil
government may regulate these and then enjoys the benefit of
civil rights conferred by civil government; but then he does not
thereby necessarily become entitled to political rights. He can
not become entitled to political rights until they shall be
conferred upon him by government.

Mr. MORTON.--Will the Senator cite what follows?

Mr. MERRIMON.--When our fathers adopted the Declaration of
Independence, and declared these general truths, they had
reference to the natural rights of man, and only to those rights.
They well knew the distinctions to which I have adverted, had
them in view and acted upon them, as I shall now proceed to show.

Mr. MORTON.--It says that "to secure these rights" referred to,
the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
"governments were instituted which derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed." Now, I ask if women are a part of
"the governed?"

Mr. MERRIMON.--Yes, sir; they are a part of "the governed," and I
say that they have not only assented, but they have consented to
this system of government.

Mr. MORTON.--How?

Mr. MERRIMON.--I say so, because they have never raised their
voice in opposition to it; they have given for nearly a century
their highest moral sanction to it; we have had a moral
expression from the American women with a degree of unanimity and
cordiality that is striking. I am warranted in saying that nine
hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand have given their
moral assent, in as full a measure as it was possible for them
to do, to our system of government. They have sustained it under
all circumstances with their love, their hands, and their hearts,
with their smiles and their tears, educated their children to
love it and to die for it. They have manifested their love for it
in every form, it has never appeared, be it said to their honor,
that they disliked or disapproved it. They have had the right
under the bill of rights of every State in the Union, they have
had the right under the Constitution of the Union at all times to
memorialize the States and to memorialize Congress, protesting
against any abridgment of their natural