m to me trivial, illogical, and
contradictory of one another.

First, it has been said that if women are entitled to the rights
of franchise they would correspondingly come under the obligation
to bear arms. But, sir, I do not know that there is any necessary
connection between the right of franchise and the requirement of
service in your army. On the contrary, I do know that all
Governments which have existed among men do now recognize the
fact that there is no necessary connection between the two; and I
do know that no Government has more distinctly recognized this
position than the Government of the United States. Are there not
large classes even among men in this country who are exempt from
service in our armies for physical incapacity and for other
reasons? And if exemptions which appertain to males may be
recognized as valid, why not similar exemptions for like reason
when applied to females? Does it not prove that there is nothing
in the argument so far as it involves the question of right?
There are Quakers and other religious sects; there are ministers
of the gospel--persons having conscientious scruples; indeed, all
men over a certain age who under the laws of many of the States
are released from service of that character. Indeed, it is the
boast of the republic that ours is a volunteer military
establishment. Hence I say there is nothing in the position that
because she may not be physically qualified for service in your
army, therefore you have the right to deny her the franchise on
the score of sex. It might be an inquiry of very great interest
and worthy of being pursued much further than I have the time or
the ability to pursue it just now, how far, if the ballot should
be extended to all the women in this land, it would go to modify
existing opinion and action and relationship among States so as
to obliterate in a great degree the very necessity for your army
and navy. I believe, sir, that a very large majority of the wars
that have been waged in this world have been wars that were
condemned by the moral sense of the nations on both sides; wars
that would have been terminated forthwith if that moral sense
could have had its rightful influence in controlling the affairs
of Government; and I say it is a question that is worthy of