their property, as
it is the only means of their full protection in the enjoyment of
the immeasurably greater right to life and liberty. To be
governed without such consent is clear denial of a right declared
to be inalienable.

It is said that the majority of women do not desire and would not
exercise the right, if acknowledged. The assertion rests in
conjecture. In ordinary elections multitudes of men do not
exercise the right. It is only in extraordinary cases, and when
their interests and patriotism are appealed to, that male voters
are with unanimity found at the polls. It would doubtless be the
same with women. In the exceptional instances in which the
exercise of the right has been permitted, they have engaged with
zeal in every important canvass. Even if the statement were
founded in fact, it furnishes no argument in favor of excluding
women from the exercise of the franchise. _It is the denial of
the right of which they complain._ There are multitudes of men
whose vote can be purchased at an election for the smallest and
most trifling consideration. Yet all such would spurn with scorn
and unutterable contempt a proposition to purchase their _right
to vote_, and no consideration would be deemed an equivalent for
such a surrender. Women are more sensitive upon this question
than men, and so long as this right, deemed by them to be sacred,
is denied, so long the agitation which has marked the progress of
this contest thus far will be continued.

Entertaining these views, your committee report back the proposed
resolution without amendment for the consideration of the Senate,
and recommend its passage.

E. G. LAPHAM,
T. M. FERRY,
H. W. BLAIR.

The constitution is wisely conservative in the provision for its
own amendment. It is eminently proper that whenever a large
number of the people have indicated a desire for an amendment,
the judgment of the amending power should be consulted. In view
of the extensive agitation of the question of woman suffrage, and
the numerous and respectable petitions that have been presented
to congress in its support, I unite with the committee in
recommending that the proposed