Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-20
r,, ,, FOR TIE ENQUIRER

THE RIGHTS OF WOME\
nave consulted for several days your Proce eding
the Legislative Committee, and watched with great
anxiety the various projefs of its Members can no
longer iorbear 10 express astlns hment and ndigna
on why il, that the pretensions of almost every
class oil society have been duly weighed by this nell.
gent Conmittee-hat the right of representation has
been virtually claimed Tor slaves that the rights of
married men to exercise the right of suffrage have been
expressly stipulated by one OF its chvalric members:
that votes to be given TO every free male CITIZEN of
81 years OF age, with a few excepon--and vet tina,
one nay OF me Specify is to be cut of, a, blow,
from all share in the administration of the government
Are as free the Lords of the Creation? Are
,oe not as much affected by the laws which are passed
as the Lords OF the Creation themselves, VIVA, i,s
reasons can he given for this unjust exclusion?
have waited with some Impotence fur some other
woman to draw the pen upon this OCCASION But no
accomplished Champion has yet appeared on our behalf
No modern Woolstencrast has gone forth TO
+" the Rights of women."-No Attorney p General has
devoted himself 10 assistance The pen which has
defended the rights OF the Non-eeholers sieeps ou-
city over wrongs Buias for these men, orsoo,h;
the proud Lords Of the Gre alton heir privileges must he
arrayed in all the force of Eouuence while we the
innocent and prescribed Caste Society are 10 he con-
empuously put by, as objects unworthy of attention.
So true IL that" the Age of Chiyalry il gone and
the glory OF (Virginia) really extingushed for
n the gay festive scenes of the Drawing rooms in the
light amusements of society, almost to be yor-
shipped your idols and the play things of your idle
hours "a the poor creatures of ordIy pleasures
when the Sultan chooses visit the iinnred victim.
OF his SeraglioBut when the great business of Socie
W 10 he carried on and is to be exercised for
furniture o ynur houses Il this the HbcriU of which
you boast! This the Equality which, YOU are ,abonr
ing to esabi-h:li TO suffer this continued de
graiaon, II shall no, he for want Of one humble ayo-
cate at least Ii it were left for TO choose would
rally every Virginia woman under my banners and
like the Roman Nations, would repair in body to the
Senate house, and demand 10 be h.ard.-Why are no,
claims respected? II is the old story of The Mans
being the Paner-instead of the Lion-Could the Lii.
on WELD the brush, you should hear the Rights of the
other party painted they ought to be.-But il left
| Tor weak and powerless woman vindicate her own
lights, VIII you permit me to offer few brief con side
ration 10 your ordy members Of the Convention in "a
vor OF her innocent and prescribed sex
Why are we prescribed? Why are we denied fine
privilege OF voting! Why eternally to he KEEP,
IN the bondage OF despotic government? "Uave 10,
not eyes! have zoe not hands, organs dimensions sen.
ses affections, passions? fed with the same food hurt
with the same ~eapons,'ubcct TO the same diseases
healed by the same means, warmed ard cooled nv the
same winter and summer, a man is? if Won prick us
do we not bleed: il you tickle us do we not auohp il
you poison us do not de' and il you wrong us .ha
| expose your gross injustice?
Aye; injustice; gross, fragrant injustice? You are
porn stronger than we are; and that is the only avan-
age you have over u.s. Nature has endowed YOU with
more physical, brute strength; and upon that founda-
ton, you raise up all your boosted pretensiops You
can beat us, and therefore you make us your slaves
your pretended right resolves itself into might II
IS tile law OF tyrants; the triumph OF the strong over tho
weak-anh upon this honorable basis. YOU raise the
standard OF your po~er-Having conquered us, YOU
smut us out oil The great means of Improvement You
are aching the part of other discreet conquerors You
first subdue by force; and then by keepino ne in TO-
norance, you attempt to perpetuate your owe power
| and make us your slaves. This Is the history of all
desposms; and upon This wise and noble hint YOU have
justly acted!-H Have you any better reasons for YOU,
usurped dominion?
| You say, have not intellect enough 10 vote and
assist in The Where are the proofs of YOU,
superiority! You keep us in igDorance-and then YOU
oodst oil your superior attainnens. You make us en-
oroidsr Tor you thfum upon the guitar or piano; draw
ches of your lordy faces; convert us into sinister
and seanstresses, TO make your garments but yo,
clude US from your best schools. You prevent us from
cuitIvating science, studying politics. improving our un
uerstandngs; aud then you insist upon ignorance AZ
the evidence Of our mental inc pacity-forgeung thai
we rank among the De StaeIs and Dacicrs OF
France and The Moores and Edgew orihs o. England and
Ireland Think you, that we have not much native
strength OF mind 10 give votes properly more than
EhaI oil your sovereign x! And that with little adj
vantage oil education, we could select fit officers a.
well as you can!
You boast too Of your superior Independence Of mind
~ on say that you alone exercise the right Of su
frdRe, hrmy and freely. ndeed! and what saw the dis
rdnchsed non reehoijers 10 this arrogant assumption
and what ought noe to say 10 iThai il is founded
IN ruin we enjoyed greater opportunities of inn
iroyement, zoe too, who know how TO make you Lord.
OF the erection ircmbc al our feet could think, and
iee and act Tor ourselves, in matters Of government
win as much independence, az you do Make us feel
our consequence more, and shall know better how
| TO value aud assert IT,
| We call upon the Convention then, In the name OF
justice and OF Truth, 10 listen our Claims anil secure
our rights. This Is the day Of r. form. While many
others are recovering their long lost Rights why should
we alone be excluded from the benefits Of the Conyen.
onf-"e call upon that wise and honorable body, TO
listen TO the just language Of our companand admi,
us participation Of their power II not to all of our
own sex we Claim the right in the name of lhose who
nave arrived at years Of dscretiowho have property
TO guard and no lordy husband represent or our.
| And this a. 10 duty bound we shall ever pray
Yours respectfully, Gin the name of ohers)
VIRGINIA FREEWOMAN.