nnection with the
Committee on Franchise was referred the petition of sundry
citizens of Kansas, "protesting against any constitutional
distinctions based on difference of sex," have had the same under
consideration, and beg leave to make the following report:

Your Committee concede the point in the petition upon which the
right is claimed, that "the women of the State have individually
an evident common interest with its men in the protection of
life, liberty, property, and intellectual culture, and are not
disposed to deny, that sex involves greater and more complex
responsibilities, but the Committee are compelled to dissent from
conclusion of petition; they think the rights of women are safe
in present hands. The proof that they are so is found in the
growing disposition on the part of different Legislatures to
extend and protect their rights of property, and in the
enlightened and progressive spirit of the age which acts gently,
but efficiently upon the legislation of the day. Such rights as
are natural are now enjoyed as fully by women as men. Such rights
and duties as are merely political they should be relieved from,
that they may have more time to attend to those greater and more
complicated responsibilities which petitioners claim, and which
your Committee admit devolves upon woman.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

SAM. A. KINGMAN, GEO. H. LILLIE, P. S. PARKS, JOHN P. SLOUGH,
SAM. A. STINSON, JOHN F. BURNS, J. D. GREER, G. BLUNT,
BEN. WRIGLEY.

MISSOURI.

In the spring of 1858, having arranged my home affairs, I set about
the prosecution of a plan for widening the area of woman's work and
influence on the Missouri border. Separated only by the steam-plowed
river from my Kansas home, Missouri towns and hamlets lay invitingly
before me. For more than three years I had held my opportunity in
reserve. The time to improve it seemed to have come.

When our company landed at Kansas City, October, 1854, members of a
Missouri delegation opposed to the Free State emigration to that
Territory met us. More than half the company that preceded ours had
been turned back by their representations without a look at the
territory. As our boat touched the landing, Col. Scott, of St. Joseph,
stepped on board, and commenced questioning Hon. E. M. Thurston, of
Maine, who,