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Untitled Article
Female tact in the discrimination of at least certain yiijfini trrf rftp ¦ racter is universally admitted ; and it can scarcely bes questioned ,, * U t such coadjutors would be highly useful in the selection of representative * * were their minds fully brought to bear on the merits of the candidate * * by their having a voice in the decision . With regard to any other
disqualification under which the female sex may labour , if any exist * , it has not hitherto been brought into discussion . The inconsistency of the exercise of a valuable political privilege with female delicacy will scarcely be alleged . Were a proper method of taking votes adopted , and such other appropriate measures employed as will be hereafter suggested when treating on the subject , to disencumber elections of what
at present renders them scenes of rudeness and riot , the exercise of the elective franchise would be compatible with the most scrupulous refine * ment of feelings and habits . ' On this subject , doubtless , abundance of sneers will be indulged in f and a thousand sarcasms uttered ; but when the happiness of human beings is concerned , and , as in this case , that of half of the human race .
the su bject is rather too important and sacred to be sacrificed to the fear of ridicule . If the exclusion of women is to be maintained , let it , at * J 1 events , be placed on some plain and rational ground . ' Even Mr . Bentham , bold as he was in the free expression of Us opinions , scarcely ventured to do more than hint his views on the
subject of female electors . After justly remarking that the propriety of disqualifying women for being members of the legislative assembly , and of disqualifying them for being electors , stand on very different ground * , he maintains , that , although there might possibly be some inconvenience in flfivinfl : them the franchise , there would be no absurd it v . •* Kv *»
ruwhere , " he continues , " have females possessed the whole power ol a despot ; everywhere but in France without objection . Talk of giving them , as here , the smallest fraction of a fraction of such a power , scorn without reason is all the answer you receive . From custom cotnes mer judice . No gnat too minute to be strained out by it , no camel too gx / eai to be swallowed . "
In the English Reform Act , a very small concession , without disturbing the legal relations in which the sexes stand to each other would have saved the appearance of injustice to females . No evil * in fact , could have arisen from placing men and women on such an equality , in regard to the franchise , as the present system of law would adnuU Wives , and sisters 1 and daughters living under the same roof with their
husbands , and brothers , and fathers , and not having independent potr sessions , would have been excluded , not on the ground of sex , but oa account of not being householders ; sharing , in this respect * thq condi tion of sons residing with their fathers , and of other mere lodgers . It would have been only widows , or single women keeping house , or
possessing the requisite amount ot property , that could have been entiUad to vote ; and it is difficult to conceive the shadow of a reason why they should be debarred from the privilege , except the tumultuous proceedi ng * which are the unruly progeny of unskilful arrangement . '—p . 236-t 949 . One would have imagined that argument on t }\\* point , instead ° ^ f * P ° ft ing the author >> the summary process p ( 4 Jo £ e * whi 4 will m > doubt bo served upon luun A wwud tmve l ^ ug ago ^ btepm e
Untitled Article
The MaJLigwde of Political Ripret&tiation . 4 & ? .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1835, page 409, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2646/page/45/
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