stitution was not adopted, the succeeding legislature felt
no interest in the proceedings of the convention, and the
journals were not printed; and the records of this battle for
justice and civil liberty were hidden in the dusty archives of
the state-house until brought out to tell their story for these
pages. As this is the only discussion of the question by Nebraska
statesmen which has been officially preserved, and as the
debaters were among the most prominent men of the State, and
many of them retain that position to-day, a few extracts will be
of interest:

The discussion began with the motion of Mr. I. S. Hascall to
strike out "men" and insert "persons" in the clause "All men
are by nature free and independent." The motion was lost.
General E. Estabrook moved to add "Every human being of full
age, and resident for a proper length of time on the soil of
the Nation and State, who is required to obey the law, is
entitled to a voice in its enactment; and every such person
whose property is taxed for the support of the government is
entitled to a direct representation in such government." Mr.
Hascall moved that "man" be inserted in place of "human
being." Mr. E. S. Towle desired to put "male" in the place
of "man." General Estabrook, on being asked if his amendment
was intended to cover "woman's rights," replied:

I take pleasure in making the amendment because it is a step
in the right direction. Justice to woman is the keystone in
the arch of the temple of liberty we are now building. That
no citizen should be taxed without representation is an
underlying principle of a republic and no free government
can exist without it.

General Estabrook seems to have stood alone in considering
that the principle of impartial suffrage properly belonged
to the Bill of Rights. The amendments were lost. When the
article on extension of suffrage was under discussion,
General Estabrook opened the subject in a comprehensive
speech, lasting all one evening and part of the next. He
proved that women were citizens, citing the petitions to
congress relative to woman's right to vote under the
fourteenth and fifteenth