suffrage.

The 4th Article of the Constitution declares that "_all the
inhabitants_ of this colony of full age who are worth fifty
pounds, shall be entitled to vote for representatives."

Those who support the rights of women say, that "all inhabitants"
must mean "_all women_" inhabitants as well as "_all men_."
Whereas, it is urged on the other side that the makers must have
meant "all _male_ inhabitants," and that the expression is to be
restrained so as to arrive at the _intent_ of the framers of the
instrument.

This difference of sentiment has given rise to diversity of
_practice_ on this head, and furnished a pretence from which many
an electioneering trick has resulted. I could refer to instances
which would prove what is advanced, but the people want no
proofs. It is well known that women are admitted or rejected,
just as may suit the views of the persons in direction. The thing
should be rectified. If women are fit persons to take part in
this important franchise, though excluded from other public
functions, it should be expressed in the Constitution. They would
then know their rights, and those rights could not be sported
with to serve the wretched purposes of a party election.

To my mind, without going into an historical or philosophical
deduction of particulars on the subject, it is evident that
women, generally, are neither by nature, nor habit, nor
education, nor by their necessary condition in society, fitted to
perform this duty with credit to themselves or advantage to the
public. In a note the author adds: It is perfectly disgusting to
witness the manner in which women are polled at our elections.
Nothing can be greater mockery of this invaluable and sacred
right, than to suffer it to be exercised by persons who do not
even pretend to any judgment on the subject. The great practical
mischief, however, resulting from their admission under our
present form of government, is that the towns and populous
villages gain an unfair advantage over the country, by the
greater facility they enjoy over the latter in drawing out their
women to the elections. Many important election contests have
been terminated at last by these auxiliaries in favor of
candidates supported by town interests.

I believe that the Conventi