and subvert the fundamental principles of family government,
in which the husband is, by all usage and law, human and
divine, the representative head. Besides, it ignores woman,
womanhood, and all that is womanly; all those distinctions
of sex whose objects are apparent in creation, essential in
character, and vital to society, these all disappear in the
manly and impressive demonstration of balloting at a popular
election. Here maids, women, wives, men, and husbands
promiscuously assemble to vindicate the rights of human
nature.

Moreover, it associates the wife and mother with policies of
State, with public affairs, with making, interpreting, and
executing the laws, with police and war, and necessarily
disseverates her from purely domestic affairs, peculiar care
for and duties of the family; and, worst of all, assigns her
duties revolting to her nature and constitution, and wholly
incompatible with those which spring from womanhood.

Besides, the ballot is the inseparable concomitant of the
bayonet. Those who practice the one must be prepared to
exercise the other. To introduce woman at the polls is to
enroll her in the militia; to transfer her from the class of
non-combatants to the class of combatants.--_Congressional
Globe_, part 1, second session Thirty-ninth Congress,
1866-'67, page 40.

Mr. SARGENT.--I have no doubt of the consistency of my friend
from Maine on this proposition and on every other. I have no
doubt that the remarks which he made formerly on this subject he
repeats to-day with the same idea of their entire correctness;
but I differ with him upon both the propositions which he
advances. He says that women do not desire the right of suffrage
and there is no evidence before Congress that they do desire it.
Why, sir, the tables of your committee-rooms have been loaded
with petitions from every State in this Union on this subject,
and they come forward day after day.

Mr. EDMUNDS.--And remonstrances also.

Mr. SARGENT.--Very few indeed.

Mr. STEWART.--I suggest to my friend from California if the only
question is whether women desire the right of suffrage or not,
that can only be determined by s