Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-05-04
WHOLE NO. 242.

share after creditors arc satisfied, in cnse he
has not wilIed it away from hers
have said that the first act of fhoee who
formed this government was, TO deny 10 wC-
man the right Of the elective franchise. All
lot or part she has in the government is, 10
be counted In the Congressional reprcsentn-
ton; an honor for which we--tho free wo-
men--ought to bo very grateful. seeing thar
each Of US is counted ns one, while the slav8
Is counted as only tlree-ffths Of boing---
No governmental offices Of honor, trust or
profit are accessible TO us. The Executive
chair, Legislative hall, and Judicial bench
are not for woman. The duties and tho SAL
aries pertaining thereto belong exclusively 70
men. All the official honors that woman can
hope 10 enjoy must come through her htis-
band his light nlone must be like the self
created brightness Of the sun.
so far from having access to the Judicial
bench, she cannot hope TO enter the jury-box;
and there Is not woman In the land, who
was ever brought before court for trial,
whether she was guilty or not guilty. Of the
charges alleged against her, that has ever had
such trial Us she had right TO claim
First, body of men prefer u charge against
her; then another body of meu are sworn
70 try her. All the officers of the court from
the upstaf with his stnve TO the Judge upon
the bench, are men. Her prosecutor is man,
and the lawyer who defends her case Is
man. Now all this is wrong. Where man
is to he indicted, tried and sentenced, II he
prefers 1t, let il be done by men; but whena
woman has violated the law, claim that she
has right, If she so chooses, TO be indicted
If indicted at abby women, and also to
be tried by jury Of women. Who, ask,
gave man the exclusive right to sit in judg-
ment upon us Who gave him the exclusive
| al,
| in very many trials, where women are ar
raigned as criminals, il is mantestly more in
accordance with what the world calls pro-
pricty, and would better answer the ends OF
| Justice, ii none but women were officially
connected with them. But we must not hope
for such a state of things or for any material
Improvement in our condition, either legal,
social or religious, while woman is content
TO be the mere plaything and toy Of man, re-
ceiving from him fair speeches and prcttily
turned compliments in lieu of the acknow-
ledglDent OF her God-giyen equality. Never
did an Esau exchange his birthright for
poorer mess Of pottagc.
The occasion that has brought us together
nj this time is off no mean Importance. Tho
organic law of the Statc---tle Constituticn Of
Ohio, which imposes upon those Of Ms who
have properly, in our own right, taxation
without representation, which establishes
laws for our government without our consent,
ftlngcassppfsssrs ;sssI ~
, with death if we resist them--this organic
: law is abouf 10 be revised and Il is hoped,
corrected and improved. The Convention, to
whose members this labor has been entrust-
ed, will assemble ON the 9th of May, and tho
the time for action on our part Is short, il 10
long enough for us to express our opinions
in regard 10 our own wrongs, and to exer-
; else one of our few remaining rights, by pc-
titoning for a redress of grievances. The
very manner in which that Convention is to
be constituted is sufficient commentary up
on the inferior position of woman. When
new form of government is TO he framed,
when the question is TO be discussed aud set
tied as to who are to comprise the govern
ment, who shall he admitted TO the elective
franchise, and who denied, why should il DO
left only to the voters under the present Con-
stitution to decide who shall be the delegates
to that Conveuion? This is a subject that
deeply interests every inhabtant Of the ter
|. ritory over which the new Constitution is 20
be established. For those who constitute the
government to decide that they and they
alone shall be represented In that Cofwen--
ton, is simply tyranny, and manifests strong
desire 10 retain in their own hands the pow
or they have grasped.
But whatever may be the character Of that
Convention, whatever may be its decision
: upon those questions involving the rights of
! humanity, we know that the opinion and the
= action OF those am now addressing will, if
= conceived in liberal spirit, enuncated with
!. firmncss, and unshrinkingy maintained, pro-
= duce an effect upon the hearts of the people,
y and lead them to sec, in higher and tincr
!, light, the rights and the responsibilities that
4 belong to us.
y What then do we ask at the hands of the
q State Convention? Simply recognition OF
. our equality, practical adoption OF the doc
- trine that as in Christianity, so in true De
J. !. mocracy, there is neither male nor female.
!, F governments are necessary for the protec-
- tion of mankind, if laws are essential TO tho
!, weIl.being of society, we ask that our right
~ 10 share IN the formation and administration
.. of governments be acknowledged; and THAI
The laws 10 which we are compelled TO sub
nj, shall emanate not from favored class,
Int from the whole people. y universal
i suffrage be the safeguard 70 liberiy-snd
e we are assured il is--wc ask that II he IN
,rn,h universal, open ulke to woman as to
' man, And should the Convention see ct 10
\ refuse compliance with our requests, We
/ should demand Of its members a sight Of
/ the charter which gives man the exclusive
right 10 rule. Let them meet the question
f,irly let them tell if they can, what better
rigbt men have 10 establish government,
/ and deny women the right 70 participate in
IifI. ..IIL :. :
sThe legislature Of Ohio passed law in l54o.
securing to the married woman all the real
estate she possessed at the time of marriage, or
which NAV become hers by devise, OF which she
may purchase with her sole and seperase money.
, against any incumberance or sale without her
consent. during her life or the lives Of the heirs
Of her body and that any furniture on house.
! hold goods which she may become possessod OF
: in like manner, shall bo likewise secured, sun
less the husband shall have reduced the sane %
/ possession, so ns, by the ruios Of law, 70 have