it is a
matter of grace only; that it is a privilege which is conferred
upon or withheld from individual members of society by society at
pleasure. Society as here used means man's government, and the
proposition assumes that men have a right to institute and
control governments for themselves and for women. I admit that in
the governments of the world, past and present, men as a rule
have assumed to be the ruling class; that they have instituted
governments from participation in which they have excluded women;
that they have made laws for themselves and for women, and have
themselves administered them. But, that the provisions conferring
or regulating suffrage, in the constitutions and laws of
governments so constituted, have determined the question of the
_right_ of suffrage, can not be maintained.

Let us suppose, if we can, a community separated from all
others--having no organized government, owing no allegiance to
any existing governments, without any knowledge of the character
of those present or past, so that when they come to form one for
themselves they can do so free from the bias or prejudice of
custom or education--a community composed of an equal number of
men and women, having equal property rights to be defined and to
be protected by law. When such community came to institute a
government--and it would have an undoubted right to institute one
for itself, and the instinct of self-preservation would soon lead
it to do so--will my friend from Georgia tell me by what right,
human or divine, the male portion could exclude the female
portion, equal in number and having equal property rights, from
participation in the formation of such government and in the
enactment of its laws? I understand that the Senator, if he
would answer, would say that he believes the author of our
existence, the ruler of the universe, has given different spheres
to man and woman. Admit that; and still neither in nature nor in
the revealed will of God do I find anything to lead me to believe
that the Creator did not intend that a woman should exercise the
right of self-government.

During the consideration by this body, at the last session, of
the bill to admit Washington Territory into the Union, referring
to the fact that in that Territory woman alre