f voting in any other manner than that which
I have stated. In both these regards there is a vast difference
between the situation of the colored citizen and the women of
America.

But Mr. President, besides that, the women of America are not
called upon to serve the Government as the men of America are.
They do not bear the bayonet, and have not that reason why they
should be entitled to the ballot; and it seems to me as if the
God of our race has stamped upon them a milder, gentler nature,
which not only makes them shrink from, but disqualifies them for
the turmoil and battle of public life. They have a higher and a
holier mission. It is in retirement, to make the character of the
coming men. Their mission is at home, by their blandishments and
their love to assuage the passions of men as they come in from
the battle of life, and not themselves by joining in the contest
to add fuel to the very flames. The learned and eloquent Senator
from Pennsylvania said, yesterday, with great beauty, that he
wanted to cast the angel element into the suffrage system of
America. Sir, it seems to me that it would be ruthlessly tearing
the angel element from the homes of America, for the homes of the
people of America are infinitely more valuable than any suffrage
system. It will be a sorry day for this country when those vestal
fires of piety and love are put out. Mr. President, it seems to
me that the Christian religion, which has elevated woman to her
true position as a peer by the side of man from which she was
taken; that religion which is a part of the common law of this
land, in its very spirit and declarations recognizes man as the
representative of woman. The very structure of that religion
which for centuries has been being built recognizes that
principle, and it is written on its very door-posts. The woman,
it is true, was first tempted; but it was in Adam that we all
died. The angel, it is true, appeared to Mary; but it is in the
God-man that we are all made alive. I do not see that there is
any parity of reasoning between the case of the women of America,
entitling them or making it desirable that they should have
suffrage, and that of the colored citizens of the United States.

Mr. CONNESS: It does not appear that we can come to a vote
to