The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-18
[FoR THE REPUBLIc.l
The Rights OF Woman.


woman's rights-what are woman's rights?
What is the proper sphere in which she should
move? Should her voice be heard in the halls of
Legislation, in the noisy camp, and IN the battle
field of the army; should the limit of her infiu.
ence extend no farther than over the little domes-
tic circle around her, whether a mother, daugh-
ter, or sister? These questions which seems
folly to PROFOUND and yet they questions that
engage the attention of many of the would be re-
formers of the day, who, merely for the cake of an
ephemeral nooriety, would revert the natural order
ofthngs and break asunder the only bands that hold
society together
IT ia womans right to weep with those who weep,
to rejoice with those who rejoice to make glad the
home OF him who returns weary with the worlds
| rude commerce, to make the atmosphere of that
home atmosphere Of love and affection, where he
may take in holy breath, and reit for lfes rugged
pathway. 1t is woman's right to implant in the
genial soil of the youthful mind the seeds of virtue
to instil into it those principles that will be to it
"sun and shield" in the battle of life.
Is il the ught that woman's Of usefulness
are too contracted when confined to her own fire.
side? Few are conscious of the influence she there
yields, in morale and politics. If we refer TO the
worlds history, and to the lives ofthose whose
principles and actions have shaped its moral and
political destiny, will find that it ia to the teach
ings of mothers that we must trace the origin OF
those principles and actions.
What an influence did the mother of Lord Byron
exert upon his brilliant and powerful mind, and
how her imprecation fulfilled, when in fit OF
passion she called him 'lanle brat ;" and wished
that he might prove ''as misshapen in mind as he
was in body" gloomy and melancholy nissan
thrope, he did indeed become terribly "misshapen
in mind, - and the eDanations of his pen have been
poisonous to the minds of thousands.
--" He knew
How to make madness beautiful, and cast
Der erring deeds and thoughts a heavenly hue
OF words, like sunbcams, dazzling they passed
The eyes, which DER them shed tears feelingly and
fast
Under the different influences in his childhood,
who can estimate the good which such mighty
intellect would have been able to effect?
Instances innumerabe of similar as well as
those of entirely dissimilar character might, if
necessary, be cited in support of thesis; but
they will readily occur to the mind of the reader
In history we told of celebrated general
who led his little son, when but nine years of age,
to the altar of Jupiter, and caused him to make a
that he would be eternal enemy to people
who were then the masters Of the world and the
after life of that little proved how well he kept
to be the terror of that people. He led his army
over mountains that had before been considered
inpregnable barriers. and made them tremble in
their mighty capital"
Mothers do moro than that ancient general,
though their lot be cast in some humble home,
and their influence extend no farther than over the
little ones around them. They lead them to the
altar of TRUTH and teach them to lisp vow to wage
warare with power that holds the world in greater
subsection than did ever that mighty people, and
makes this earth, instead of being terrestrial
paradise. vale of tears''-a scene of wrong and
oppression-where brother preys upon brother. and
where "man's inhumanity to man makes countless
thousands mourn"
These are the natural and inaliendble rights of
woman. They are, indeed, holy rights Strange
to say, however, there are those who contend that
the sphere Of her influence is too narrow and hum.
Bile, and who would claim for her other rights less
worthy of an angel! Strange, too, that woman
herself would claim other lights, even the ruigar
right Of suffrage HCJR.