s and judicial opinions, thus far,
have been based on this purely partisan, time-serving opinion of
General Bates, that the normal condition of the citizen of the
United States is that of disfranchisement. That only such classes
of citizens as have had special legislative guarantee have a
legal right to vote. And if this decision of Attorney-General
Bates was infamous, as against black men, but yesterday
plantation slaves, what shall we pronounce upon Judge Bingham, in
the House of Representatives, and Carpenter, in the Senate of the
United States, for citing it against the women of the entire
nation, vast numbers of whom are the peers of those honorable
gentlemen themselves, in morals, intellect, culture, wealth,
family--paying taxes on large estates, and contributing equally
with them and their sex, in every direction, to the growth,
prosperity, and well-being of the Republic? And what shall be
said of the judicial opinions of Judges Cartter, Jameson, McKay,
and Sharswood, all based upon this aristocratic monarchical idea,
of the right of one class to govern another?

I am proud to mention the names of the two United States judges
who have given opinions honorable to our Republican idea, and
honorable to themselves--Judge Howe, of Wyoming Territory, and
Judge Underwood, of Virginia. The former gave it as his opinion a
year ago, when the Legislature seemed likely to revoke the law
enfranchising the women of that Territory, that, in case they
succeeded, the women would still possess the right to vote under
the XIV. Amendment. Judge Underwood, of Virginia, in noticing the
recent decision of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia,
denying to women the right to vote, under the XIV. Amendment,
says:

If the people of the United States, by amendment of their
Constitution, could expunge, without any explanatory or
assisting legislation, an adjective of five letters from all
State constitutions, and thereby raise millions of our most
ignorant fellow-citizens to all the rights and privileges of
electors, why should not the same people, by the same
Amendment, expunge an adjective of four letters from the
same State constitutions, and thereby raise other millions
of more educated and better info