Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-12-11


ENGLAND. -,REFoRMING SOCIETIES.
Female Reforming Society at Stockport.
FROM A MANCHESTER PAPER.
On Monday evening, 10th July, the
second meeting of the members of this
institution took place in the large room
at Tie Windmill in Stockport, when Mrs.
Stewart moved that Mrs. Hallworth be
President; she knew, from her well tried
principles, that she wasothe most proper
person Of any other she could propose ,
her requirements duly qualified her for
the Office, and if she accepted, she was
conscious she would give every satisfac-
zion.
Mrs. Hodgson seconded the motion,
when it was Immediately put, and una
nimously carried.
Mrs. HalIworth accepted the honor
they had done her, with becoming mo-
desty she then addressed the assembly:
g Ladies and Gentlemen-before we
proceed into the business of the evening,
] desire that the gentlemen will with
draw; it is not done with view to trans
act any business of a secret nature-for
it Is commonly said that women can keep
no scercts--but merely with view, that
if, in our debates, for it is something
new for women to turn political orators
we Should, for want of kne Wedge, make
any blunders, we should be laughed at (;
10 prevent which, we should prefer be-
ing by ourselves Theirmale brethren
immediately obeyed, and she proceeded
on.
Ladies-You have this evening
placed me in situation which l never
occupied before. l kindly thank you
FOR the honor you have done me, but can
not help observing, that / am very unfit
person for the office; but, as you have
placed me here to protect order and
peace, / will perform the task as well
as am able. ! assure you that | am
determined to dedicate to Liberty my
heart, my body, yes, my very life. IN
bounded APPLAUSE, 40iM cries ofs Li6er-
ty.'j I am young; but, ladies, young as
] am, can assure you that the borough
villains have furnished me with such a
woiul life of wretched experience, that
/ can feel for my injured, plundered
countrywomen. This feeling is so acute,
that an eternal war is waged betwixt us,
which will never end but in the emanci-
patton of distressed and overburdened
people from slavery to liberty. Reite-
rated APPLAUSE. These are sentiments
I imbibed when almost child, and as
grow older the grImbling spirit grows
stronger. cloud Laughter.) thank
you, ladies', for, your kind attention, but
assure you ! do not look for your APP
plauses. Applaud me not, it cannot
please me; for consider it is my duty
to use every ability in the cause, without
receiving any reward at all for my weak
endeavors. 1t is good cause; it is the
cause of God: we, therefore, are sure to
triumph. Seeing, then, that it is the
common cause, let US all unite, and never
cease from persevering in cause SO just
and holy, until we fully possess those
constitutional liberties and privileges
which are the birth-risht Of every Eng
lish man and woman"
The close of this speech was followed
by every demonstration of applause.
We are sorry we could not learn the
name of the lady who next addressed the
assembly she spoke nearly to the fol-
lowing effect:
"Mrs. President and Ladies-I consi-
der it piece of the greatest absurdity
and presumption in me to attempt saying
any thing, after hearing such display
of female ,eloquence from the chair; in
consideration Of which, l will not detain
you long, but briefly state what have to
say in conjunction with my worthy sister.
Twill act; it is good cause; l affirm it
in the most positive terms; tits the COM
mon cause, and cause that only requires
a little more attention paid to it to make
it victorious: yes !! the cause of liberty
certainly must be from God, and
ffrom him who can stand against it II
God be for us, who can be against us ?
Then, hail sweet liberty! expand thy
virtues into the breast of every female in
this once happy land let sacrifice be
made in every town and village in the
Kingdom unto thee, that thou mayest
once more take thy empire in the breasts
of brave, but enslaved people. ar
fllause,) understand that the intention
Of this union is to cooperate with other
unions for the general cause, and to give
relief to incarcerated victims who are
\ suffering, and are likely to suffer. l
need not say, that it is to be feared you
will have to look to our worthy, patriot
: 2. ID Ms Han