Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-06-10
volume L.

novelist her crow-quill; the youngmoth-
er has left her baby to nestle alone in the
cradle-the lkitchen-maid her pots and
frying. pans--to discuss. the weighty mat
ters Of state-to decide upon intricate
questions of international polity-and
weigh, with avordupois exactness, the
balances of power. The convention
was sittimg-we beg pardon of the MAJ
irons of the hen-coop for unwittingly
using the expression-we meant to say
the convention was in session several
days,fand from the accounts given by
those in attendance, the presiding divini-
ties-(what other phrase shall we use?
there being no chair-men or presidents
and presidentesses and vice-presidentes-
ses are too long words for ready and
euphonious enunciation)-the governes-
ses-(aye, that's the word)-the COVER
nesses, then strove to initiate the pro-
ceedings Of the public meetings of the
other sex. There was, therefore, stage,
or forum, on which sat the governesses,
like Juno, and her maids of honor. /.
There were, of course, resolutions spon-
taneously cut and dried beforehand--and
orators-we beg pardon-oratoresses,
10 move, second, elucidate and enforce
them. These, moreover, were present.
ed, and regularly introduced to the an
dience. And oh, what eloquence breath
ed sweetly forth from their sweeter lips !!
How melting their pathos How flo
ricultural their metaphorsl How gen.
tie their invective | How soothing their
indignation! Oh, cruel, cruel women
How could you have hardened your
sympathizing hearts to a degree Of indu-
ration prompting you to shut your doors,
and deprive the world of man, of the
high privilege of drinking from those
rich rivers of rhetoric which flowed
though the broad aisle of gathering up
some of those bright gems of genius that
dropped sparkling upon the floor 3
The lost Pleiad was but a safety-fund
note, in comparison with that Of our
greatly abused sex in this matter Of pet
icoat philanthropists
To what precise purpose have been
all these proceedings, is mystery yet
to be evolved, since for once, as we have
already intimated, a presbyterian church
was turned into closter, and the Ho-
tel Dieu itself is not more closely shut
against the eyes Of vulgar and imperti-
nent curiosity, than were those of that
conventicle to all but the initiated. But,
if the chains of the slaves do not all
drop from their limbs within fortnight
If the dark legions of the South do not
march forth in triumphant phalanx, " re-
deemed, regenerated, and disenthralled,"
before the moon changes-then, indeed,
have the days of chivalry departed
What shall it be said that the voice Of
woman is to be heard in this free land Of
slaves in vain? Spirit of Aspasia for
bid it Shall it be said that the aboli-
tion armies shall not be led by women
Spirit of the Maid of Orleans forbid it !!
Shall it be said that women ought not to
wear the unmentionables? Spirit ofthe
gentle Mrs. Xantippe Socrates forbid it!
Shall it be said that ladies shall not
mount the rostrum, and be eloquent .
Spirit of Fanny Wright Darusmount for
bid it Shall it be said that ladies do not
make the best statesmen? Spirits of
Boadicea and Elizabeth forbid it Shall
it be said that women cannot whet the
knife of insurrection Spirit of Char
lotte Corday forbid it Shall it be- said
that beauty hasnlost its power, bright
eyes their spells, carnation cheeks their
soft influence, ebon ringlets their attrac-
ton, and cherry-ripe lips their witchery?
Spirit of Mrs. Anne Royal forbid it'll
No, far from every American bosom be
the unworthy thought In the language
of the eloquent Junius, the divine
right of beauty is the only divine right a
freeman is bound to acknowledge, anda
pretty woman the only tyrant he is not
authorized to resist" Let every slave
holder, then, bow to the decision Of this
grand convention of feminine notables |
Let him fortify and arm his domicil-
gather in his horses and poultry-grate
This windows and double lock his doors
and then-uneducated and unprepared
without houses, or homes, or means, or
industry, or food or friends-carry out
the doctrine Of the immediate abolition
lists, by letting his slaves march forth to
revel in the unfed luxury of liberty
to steal or starve, in all the proud majes-
ty offreemenl M e
But, after all we may be wrong, and
it may be exactly right and proper, for
women, in this age Of utilita rianism to
neglect their domestic duties, the care of
their children, and the comfort of their
husbands-to roam about the country like
SO many female Quixotes. in search of.