Not at all.
On the contrary, they stand, in this respect, upon the same
footing as men, with the sole exception of the right to vote and
the right to hold office. In every other respect, whatever rights
and powers are conferred upon persons by law may be exercised by
women as well as by men. They may transact any kind of business
for themselves, or as agents or trustees for others; may be
executors and administrators, with the same powers and
responsibilities as men; and it ought not to be a matter of
surprise or regret that they are now placed, by the XIV.
Amendment, in other respects upon a footing of perfect equality.

Although not directly connected with the argument as to the right
secured to women by the Constitution, I deem it not improper to
allude briefly to some of the popular objections against the
propriety of allowing females the privilege of voting. I do this
because I know from past experience that these popular
objections, having no logical bearing upon the subject, are yet,
practically, among the most potent arguments against the
interpretation of the XIV. Amendment, which I consider the only
one that its language fairly admits of.

It is said that women do not desire to vote. Certainly many women
do not but that furnishes no reason for denying the right to
those who do desire to vote. Many men decline to vote. Is that a
reason for denying the right to those who would vote? I believe,
however, that the public mind is greatly in error in regard to
the proportion of female citizens who would vote if their right
to do so were recognized. In England there has been to some
extent a test of that question, with the following result, as
given in the newspapers, the correctness of which, in this
respect, I think there is no reason to doubt:

Woman suffrage is, to a certain extent, established in
England, with the result as detailed in the London
_Examiner_, that in 66 municipal elections, out of every
1,000 women who enjoy equal rights with men on the register,
516 went to the poll, which is but 48 less than the
proportionate number of men. And out of 27,949 women
registered, where a contest occurred, 14,416 voted. Of men
there were 166,781 on the register, and 90,080 at the poll.