Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-04-27

human beings cannot attain the end for which
God the Father gave them existence. Where
and how, can the wisdom and ingenuity Of tho
world find truer, stronger, broader basis Of hu-
man nghtsi
To secure these rights, says the Declaration
Of Independence, "govcrnmcnts were institu-
ted among mon, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed = and "when-
ever any form of government becomes destruc-
tive Of those ends, it is the right of the people
to alter or abolish it, and to substitute now gov
crnmcnt, laying its foundation on such prin-
ciplos, and organizing its powers in such form
as to them shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness"
The government of this country, in common
with all others, has never recognised or at
tempted to protect women as persons possessing
the rights of humanity. They have been re-
cogniscd and protected as appcndages to men,
without independent rights or political existence
unknown to the law except as tho victims of
its caprice and tyrany. This government hav-
ing therefore exercised powers underivcd from
the consent of the governed, and having signal
ly failcd to secure the end for which all just
government is instituted, should be immediate
ly altered or abolished.
We cannot better describe the political con-
diton Of woman, than by quoting from dis
tinguishcd Lawyer of our own State. Prof
Walker in his Introduction to American Law,
says:
Of Husband and IIlfc-"Wc have a few
statutory provisions on the subject, but for the
most part the law of husband and wife is COM
mon ia,c, and you will find that it savors of its
origin in all its leading features. The whole
theory Is slagsh one, compared even with the
civil law. do not hesitate to say, by way of
arousing your attention to tho subject, that the
law of husband and wife, as you gather it from
the books, is disgrace to any civilized nation
j do not mean to say, that females arc degraded
in point of fact. only say, that the Heo-
ry Of Me lac degrades them almost to the level
OF slaves"
We thank Prof. Walker for his candor. He
might have added that the practice of the law
docs degrade woman to the level of q slave. He
also says:
"With regard to political rights, females
form positive exception TO the general doctrine
of equality. They have no part or lot in the
formation or administration of government.
They cannot vote or hold office. We re-
quirc then to contribute their share in the
way of taxes for the support OF government,
but allow them no Voice in its dircc-
ton. We hold them amonablc to tho laws
when made, but allow them no share in ma
king them. This language applied to males,
would be the exact definition of political slave
ry; applied to females, custom docs not teach
us SO to regard it,
OF married women he says:
"Thc legal theory is, that marriage makes the
IIusPand and wife ono person, and that person
is tlfe husband. He tffo substentivo, sho the
wtJectiye. InWwofd, there is scarcely legal
net Of any description she is competent to per-
form. II shelcevc him without cause" (lcgal)
che may seize and bring her back, for no has a
right to her society which he may enforce either
against herself or any other person." 3
"All her personality in regard to property
becomes the husbands by marriage, unless the
property has been specially secured to her If the
property be not in his possession, he may take
measures to reduce it to possession. lie can
thus dispose of it in spite of her. If debts
were due to her, he may collect them. If he
was himself the debtor, the marriage cancels
the debt If she has earned money by her
own labor during msrriage, he may collect it,
In regard to realty (rcal estate) he controls tho
income, and without her consent he cannot in
cumber or dispose of the property beyond his
| own life"
Women, married or single, have no political
rights whatever. While single, their legal rights
are the Same as those of mon. When married
their legal rights are chiefly suspended.
"The condition of the wife may be inferred
from what has already been said. She is al
most at the mercy of her husband she can ex-
orcise no control over his property or her own.
As general rule, she can make no contracts
binding herself or him. Her contracts arc not
merely voidable, but absolutely void. Nor can
she mako herself liable for his contracts, torts
or crimes. Her only separate liability is for her
own crimes. Her only joint liability is. for her
own torts committed without his participation,
and for contracts for which the law authorizes
her to unite with him. She has no power over
his person, and her only claim upon his proper
ty is for bare support. In no instance can
she sue, or be sued alone in civil action and
there are but few cases in which she can be Join
cd in suit with him. In Ohio, but hardly
anywhere else, is she allowed TO make a will, il
haply she has any thing to dispose Of
Women of Ohio whose check does not blush,
whose blood docs not tinglo at this cool, lawyer
like recital of the gross indignities and wrongs
which government has hcapcd upon our Sex p
With these marks of infcrority branded upon
our persons, and interwovcn with the most sa-
cred relations of human existence, how can VIC
rise to the true dignity of human nature, and
discharge faithfully the important duties assign
cd us as responsible, intelligent, selfcontroling
members of societyi
No wonder that so many of our politicians
are dough-faced scrvilcs, without independence
or manhood; no wonder our priests arc time
serving and sycophantic; no wonder that so
many mon arc moral towards and cringing
poltroons, without self-respect. What more
could be expected ofa progeny ofslavesi Slaves
are we, politically and legally How can we,
who it is said arc the educators of our children,
present to this nation any thing else but gen.
eration ofsenies. whilo we oursnlycs arc in n scr