h profit to the
whole Territory? This is indeed an extraordinary proposition, to
submit to a vote the continuance of a vested right. I will not
impugn the motives of the gentleman who makes it, but I demand as
a matter of justice that it shall be voted down by an
overwhelming majority, and I would that he had never presented
it.... We are told that if we put this clause into our
constitution as a fundamental law, we shall fail to secure its
approval by the people of Wyoming and its acceptance by the
Congress of the United States; but if it should so prove that the
adoption of this provision to protect the rights of the women
should work against our admission, then I agree with my friend,
Mr. Holden, that we will remain out of the Union until a
sentiment of justice shall prevail....

MR. BURRITT: ... Mr. Campbell destroyed any argument that he made
in favor of this amendment by saying, first, that woman suffrage
as a principle is right; second, that he would vote for it if
presented to the people. And he further said that he was not
afraid, in defending the right of petition, to come before this
convention and indorse this proposition to be separately voted
upon, even if it cost him the ladies' vote or the votes of any
other class. That certainly is very courageous on the part of the
gentleman from Laramie.... But I will say this much in addition,
which he did not say, that, as a member of this convention and
believing the right of suffrage to be a vested right, of which it
would be wrong and wicked for us to attempt to deprive women, I
have also the courage to rise above the single constituent that I
have in Johnson County who is opposed to woman suffrage (and I
know but one) and to rise above the majority even of its citizens
if I knew they were opposed, and I am sure that this convention
and this State have as much courage as I have. Believing that
woman suffrage is right, I am sure that this convention has the
courage to go before Congress and say that if they will not let
us in with this plank in our State constitution we will stay out
forever.... I stand upon the platform of justice, and I advocate
the continuance of the right of women to vote and hold office and
enjoy equally with men all civil, religious and political
privileges,